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The EDO Education Program regularly conducts environmental law seminars. Below is a list of upcoming seminars and brief descriptions of past seminars that have been organised by the EDO. Please note that upcoming seminar dates may be subject to change. For more information on the EDO Education program, please contact
Upcoming SeminarsFREE Seminar Series Urban Sustainability in SydneyThe Environmental Defender’s Office (EDO) would like to invite you to the first in its series of seminars on urban sustainability sposored by the City of Sydney. This seminar will discuss incentives, policies and legal frameworks to encourage sustainable homes including BASIX, waste management and rebates. Date: 5 March 2010 Light refreshments will be provided For more information or to RSVP, email or call (02) 9262 6989.
Past SeminarsClimate Law after CopenhagenHow can global warming be kept to 2 degrees, as proposed in the Copenhagen Accord?Port Macquarie, Bellingen, Ballina and Murwillumbah, February 2010Free public seminars with the Environmental Defender's Office Northern Rivers.
FREE Seminar - The Health Impacts of Coal Sydney, 11 December 2009The EDO presented a FREE seminar that canvassed the risks posed to public health by open cut coal mines, and what the legal response to those risks might be. The public health impacts of open cut coal mining is an issue that is increasingly concerning communities throughout NSW, as a consequence of the recent mining boom, and one that the NSW authorities are yet to address in a comprehensive manner. FREE SEMINAR: Planned retreat, climate change & biodiversity – Byron Bay Byron Bay, 3 December 2009In response to a rising wave of interest from all levels of government in threats to coastal communities from climate change, the Environmental Defender's Office Northern Rivers presented a free public seminar on coastal management. The seminar focussed on how liability issues, adaptation strategies and biodiversity protection are dealt with in recent initiatives including Byron Council's Draft Coastal Zone Management Plan and the NSW Government's reforms to coastal erosion management. Understanding the Carbon Pollution Reduction SchemeHomebush West, 2 June 2009The Edmund Rice Centre's Pacific Calling program, in partnership with the Environmental Defender's Office, presented a free morning seminar that explained the ins and outs of the Federal Government's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS). The seminar provided a broad plain-language overview of the CPRS and the various implications of its implementation in Australia.
Reporting Back on the Climate SummitSydney, 26 February 2009Climate change remains one of the most critical environmental challenges facing Australia. The Federal Government has committed to tackling the problem but is it on the right track? From 31 January - 3rd February 2009, community climate action groups from across Australia met at Australia's Climate Action Summit in Canberra. The Summit aimed to make the community climate movement in Australia more effective and more coherent, and to help set the agenda for the second year of the Rudd Government. In this seminar, key players from the Climate Summit reported back on what happened during the four days, including what policy outcomes were decided and next steps. This was an opportunity for all city residents who couldn't make it to Canberra to get a first-hand account of this significant event. This seminar is one of a series sponsored by the City of Sydney.
The Dying Murray - Is There a Legal Cure? - Free Lunch-time SeminarSydney, 22 August 2008Guest speaker Professor Rob Fowler examined various issues surrounding the plight of the Murray River such as the ecological impacts resulting from an increasing demand for water resources, the proposals from the South Australian Government, the most recent COAG agreement on the Murray-Darling Basin and efforts by the Commonwealth to buy back water for environmental flows. This seminar is one of a series sponsored by the City of Sydney. The EDO wishes to thank the Ciity of Sydney for their support and also DLA Phillips Fox for providing the venue and catering for the seminar.
Public Participation on the Endangered ListSydney, 10 July 2008This seminar incorporated the launch of the EDO's new national environmental law journal, IMPACT.It followed the theme of IMPACT which looked at the recent national decline in opportunities for public particpation in environmental decision-making. The seminar was Chaired by the Hon. Murray Wilcox. The speakers were Roland Browne, Chair of EDO Tasmania and Michael Bozic SC. Roland discussed the approval process for the Tasmanian Pulp Mill which saw the public frozen out of the decision-making. Michael talked more generally about threats to public participation such as SLAPP suits (Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation). The EDO wishes to thank DLA Phillips Fox for providing the venue and catering for this seminar. Thanks also to the City of Sydney for sponsoring the EDO's seminar program.
Legal and energy seminar: Heron's Creek Power Station12 June 2008To clarify the legal and energy implications of the proposal by International Power to build a diesel-fueled peaking power station near Kew, on the mid north coast, the EDO in conjunction with the North Coast Environment Council and Residents Against Power Pollution (RAPP), held a public seminar at Laurieton. The seminar was attended by over 500 people. Slides from two of the presentations are below.
Climate Change Seminar Series - Seminar IIIBest Practice Climate LawSydney, 16 April 2008This seminar doubled as the launch of the EDO's Model Climate Law Discussion Paper which asked 'if Australia was to introduce a national Climate Change Act, what should it cover?' Presenters were Rachel Walmsley, EDO Policy Director and Richie Merzian from the Australian Youth Climate Coalition. Both Rachel and Richie spoke about their experiences as delegates at the Bali UN Climate Conference. Download the Discussion Paper. If you would like a hard copy sent to you please email or call 92626989
Can Whaling in Antarctica be Stopped?This seminar explored the legal and policy implications of the Japanese Whales Case. The case was brought by Humane Society International in the Federal Court of Australia. HSI successfully sought a declaration that the Japanes whaling company Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha Ltd breached Australian law by whaling in the Australian Whale Sanctuary off Antarctica and an injunction to restrain future breaches.
Speakers were:
This seminar was kindly supported by the City of Sydney.
State Planning Reforms: What do they mean? How can I participate?Following the introduction of Part 3A into NSW planning law in late 2005, the NSW Government has announced its intention to embark on another round of planning reform in early 2008. The Department of Planning has released a discussion paper which sets out the proposed reforms. In an effort to help the community understand key issues and prepare submissions to the Department, the EDO hosted community forums in Sydney and Byron Bay. The forums were well attended and provided an opportunity for participants to share their concerns about the proposals. EDO staff members were on hand to point participants in the right direction with regards to the best way to respond to the discussion paper. The forums also provided the EDO with valuable public feedback on the proposals which will inform the EDO 's own submission to the Department. This seminar was kindly supported by the City of Sydney. 
Grey Nurse Shark - FREE Public SeminarMonday 26 November 2007The EDO represented the NSW Nature Conservation Council (NCC) in proceedings brought in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) against the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and Heritage.The legal action was for strict no-fishing zones to be introduced as part of a bid to protect the dwindling numbers of Grey Nurse Sharks. NCC presented evidence to the AAT that the NSW Ocean Trap and Line Fishery (OTLF) has a significant impact on the nationally listed critically endangered east coast population of the Grey nurse shark. The OTLF is a multi-species targeted fishery that operates within the habitat areas of the Grey nurse shark and a number of other threatened species. The NCC was seeking the implementation of
fishery closures of specific key shark aggregation areas and the banning of the use of wire traces in deeper waters. It was also seeking an order that that sanctuaries be established in areas including Maroubra Beach in Sydney and Montague Island. In a judgement handed down on 18 October 2007 the AAT upheld the Minister’s approval of the OTLF as a wildlife trade operation on the basis that the fishery, operated in accordance with the conditions imposed by the Minister, will not be detrimental to the survival of the Grey Nurse Shark. This seminar explored some of the legal, environmental and scientific issues and outcomes from this important and interesting legal case. Speakers:
We would like to thank DLA Phillips Fox for generously providing a venue for this seminar.
Climate Change Seminar Series - Seminar IICoasts, Climate Change and Liability: the future of waterfront real estateSydney, 24 October 2007This seminar explored the complex legal issues concerning current and future impacts of climate change on waterfront real estate.
This seminar is the second in a four-part Climate Change seminar series organised by the EDO. The EDO would like to thank DLA Phillips Fox for providing a venue for this series.
Climate Change Seminar Series - Seminar ISydney (Town Hall), 18 September 2007 This seminar looked at the Carlton United Brewery (CUB) case (Drake-Brockman v Minister for Planning & Anor) in which a local resident, represented by the EDO, challenged the approval under Part 3A of a massive redevelopment of the CUB site on Broadway. The challenge was partly based on a failure to adequately apply principles of ecologically sustainable development, in light of climate change. The seminar explored how we can tackle climate change impacts in our cities, with a particular focus on the future of the CUB site. Speakers were:
This seminar was the first in a four-part climate change seminar series.
How to get Heard: insider tips on advocacy and the lawSydney, 13th September 2007The EDO asked 3 ‘insiders' to share their tips on how best to lobby, engage with decision-makers, and participate in formal public processes. The seminar dealt with issues ranging from writing objections and gaining access to Councillors to presenting evidence before the NSW Land and Environment Court. Participants were treated to a unique insight into what works and what to avoid when participating in environmental decision making. Speakers:
Chair:
The Environmental Defender's Office would like to thank DLA Phillips Fox for kindly providing a venue for this seminar.
Campaigning for Environmental Rights in MongoliaSydney, 28 June 2007In 2006/2007 Cerin McMillan spent 10 months working in Mongolia as an Australian Youth Ambassador for Development. She worked with a local NGO – the Centre for Human Rights and Development as an environmental rights awareness raising campaigner. Cerin shared her experiences at this FREE seminar, hosted by the Environmental Defender’s Office. She discussed her work in Mongolia, including working on reforms to the Mineral Law of Mongolia, campaigning for public participation in environmental decision making, promoting public interest law and educating rural communities on environmental issues. Cerin’s placement was supported by the Environmental Defender’s Office, an Australian partner organisation of the AYAD program.
EDO Public Seminar – “Part 3A and the Public Interest”7 March 2007On March 7, the EDO held a public seminar on the Part 3A amendments to the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. The seminar was presented by representatives of the various interest groups who campaigned on the Part 3A amendments. They were:
The 2-hour seminar was attended by over 100 participants ranging from government employees to community group representatives and environment professionals who were given the opportunity to ask questions of the panel. The evening was chaired by EDO Chief Executive Officer, Jeff Smith The EDO would like to thank DLA Phillips Fox for their generous support in hosting the seminar and providing refreshments for the audience. More information on the Part 3A amendments
Planning Law Reforms, Implications for the Community and the Environment, and the Court's Response23 February 2007Presentation by EDO Northern Rivers to the Annual Seminar of the Far North Coast Law Society 23 February 2007.
CEDHA Pulp Mills Campaign: A Case Study in International Civil Society Legal Advocacy17 May 2006On Wednesday, 17 May 2006, the EDO presented a seminar on international civil society legal advocacy, which drew on the current campaign by the Center for Human Rights and the Environment (CEDHA), a non-government organisation based in Argentina, to prevent the construction of highly polluting pulp mills in Uruguay. The seminar was presented by David Barnden, an Australian law graduate currently working with CEDHA, and Sue Mahony, Senior Legal Officer with the NSW Department of Environment and Conservation, who undertook an internship with CEDHA last year. Both David and Sue worked closely on the CEDHA pulp mills campaign. The session was chaired by Professor Don Rothwell, Director of the Sydney Centre for International and Global Law. Using the CEDHA campaign as a case study, the seminar explored a range of international civil society legal strategies, including:
The EDO gratefully acknowledges the Sydney Centre for International and Global Law for hosting this seminar. For more information about the Centre's research, teaching and consultancy programs, please visit: www.law.usyd.edu.au/scigl.
EDO Climate Change Seminar, Wednesday26 April 2006On 26 April, the EDO hosted a seminar on Climate Change and International Biodiversity Law.The seminar was presented by Ilona Millar, EDO Principal Solicitor, based on work undertaken during a recent three month fellowship with the IUCN Environmental Law Centre in Bonn, Germany. The seminar discussed the international legal framework in which obligations to protect natural ecosystems from the impacts of climate change arise. There was an analysis of the obligations that arise in relation to biodiversity and climate change under Conventions such as:
This seminar also reviewed the steps being taken by Australia to implement its international obligations.
The EDO gratefully acknowledges the generous support of Baker & McKenzie for this seminar series. For information about Baker & McKenzie's internationally recognised climate change practice, please visit: www.bakernet.com.
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view presentation Lesley Hughes |
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view paper Lesley Hughes |
Relevant papers by Paul Adam:
Preston, B. J. and Adam, P. (2004) Describing and listing threatened ecological communities under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (NSW): Part 1 - the assemblage of species and the particular area. Environmental and Planning Law Journal 21, 250-263
Preston, B. J. and Adam, P. (2004) Describing and listing threatened ecological communities under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (NSW): Part 2 - the role of the supplementary descriptors. Environmental and Planning Law Journal 21, 372-390
Adam, P. (2004) Opening a can of words. The importance of definitions in the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act. In Hutchings, P., Lunney, D. and Dickman, C. (eds). Threatened Species Legislation, is it just an Act? Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, Mosman. Pp 59-67
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