The EDO has both advice and casework guidelines to help determine the circumstances in which it can assist the public.

Advice Guidelines

The EDO will consider acting for you if it is of the opinion the matter involves a public interest environmental issue.

In determining this, the EDO needs to be satisfied that the issue has significance beyond the material or financial interests of a particular individual or group and will also have regard to relevant matters, such as whether:

• the issue involves a real threat to the environment; or
• engagement in the issue has the capacity to result in good environmental outcomes; or
• the issue concerns the manner in which the environment is regulated, now and into the future and across all areas of government; or
• the issue raises matters regarding the interpretation and future administration of statutory provisions.

Having determined the matter is a public interest environmental issue, the EDO will act for you provided the EDO has the human and financial resources to properly act in the matter.

In considering any application, the EDO will also have regard to the financial means available to the applicant.

Casework guidelines

The EDO will consider acting for you if it is of the opinion the matter involves a public interest environmental issue.

In determining this, the EDO needs to be satisfied that the issue has significance beyond the material or financial interests of a particular individual or group and will also have regard to relevant matters, such as whether:

• the issue involves a real threat to the environment; or
• engagement in the issue has the capacity to result in good environmental outcomes; or
• the issue concerns the manner in which the environment is regulated, now and into the future and across all areas of government; or
• the issue raises matters regarding the interpretation and future administration of statutory provisions.

Having determined the matter is a public interest environmental issue, the EDO will act for you provided:

• the matter has reasonable prospects of success;
• the EDO has the human and financial resources to properly act in the matter; and
• there is utility or value in commencing proceedings.

In considering any application, the EDO will also have regard to the financial means available to the applicant.