EDO seminars

The EDO presents regular seminars on hot topics, usually held in the meeting rooms of the 60L Green Building in Carlton. Where possible presentations are made available afterwards for download - scroll down or navigate using the right-hand menu.

The EDO also presents at other seminars and lectures for community groups, legal professionals and others. Where appropriate these presentations will also be made available below. To enquire about the EDO speaking to your group, call us on (03) 8341 3100.

To be kept informed of forthcoming EDO seminars, subscribe to our e-Bulletin by emailing your subscribe request to edovic (at) edo (dot) org (dot) au. Click here to read latest eBulletin

EDO SEMINAR SERIES 2010

Tuesday 19 October 2010, the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. Stay tuned for details.

 

2010 past seminar topics and presentations available for download

• Talking Toxic Waste, 24 August 2010: An update on Victorian licensing reform and hazardous waste management. John Merritt, CEO, Environment Protection Authority; Harry van Moorst, Director, Western Region Environment Committee; Elizabeth O'Shea, Lawyer, Social Justice Team, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers. Presentations:
  • Presentation by Elizabeth O'Shea, Social Justice Team, Maurice Blackburn (PDF, 368KB)
  • Presentation by John Merritt, Chief Executive Officer, Environment Protection Agency (PDF,1.5MB)
    

• The Precautionary Principle, 13 July 2010. The precautionary principle has been around for over 20 years and is a key principle in Australian environment and planning legislation. But how useful is it for decision-makers and does its application assist in environment protection? This seminar looked at how the precautionary principle has been used in recent cases and at how VCAT and Planning Panels Victoria apply the principle in practice. Speakers & presentations:
  • Speech by The Honourable Justice Kevin Bell QC, Former President of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) and member of the Supreme Court of Victoria (PDF, 82KB)
  • Presentation by Nick Wimbush, Senior Panel Member of Planning Panels Victoria (PDF, 86KB)
  • Presentation by Professor Lee Godden, Director of the Centre for Resources, Energy and Environmental Law at Melbourne University (PDF, 316KB)

 

• Activist Tools - the Law and You, 15 June 2010: Isolde Lueckenhausen, Senior Policy Analyst, ACMA, on "Keep talking about what matters - how to avoid a defamation action and still make an impact"; Brian Walters SC, barrister and human rights advocate, on "Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation - what happened in the Gunns 20 case?"; Anthony Kelly, The Change Agency, www.activistrights.org.au, on "Your rights as an activist". No presentations available.

• Coastal Law and Climate Change, 27 April 2010. Discussion of Victorian coastal laws, the planning system, and how we are planning for the impacts of climate change on Victoria's coast. Presentations and resources:
• Implementing Coastal Climate Change Policies in Victoria, Australia - Presentation by Geoff Wescott,School of Life and Environmental Sciences;Deakin University;Vice President of Australian Coastal Society (PDF, 140KB).
• Coastal Climate Change Advisory Committee 'Issues and Options' paper - see DSE website
• Planning policies discussed by Adrian Finanzio - Barrister; member of new Victorian Bar Climate Change and Environmental Law Panel (PDF, 180KB).
• Relevant cases discussed by Adrian Finanzio - summaries on Environmental Law Online:
  • Wade v Warnambool CC
  • Tauschke v East Gippsland SC
  • Gippsland Coastal Board v South Gippsland SC & Ors

• Careers in Environmental Law, 23 March 2010. A panel of experts discuss options for career paths in environmental law and the skills and experience that will get you there. No notes available.
  
  
• Biodiversity law update, 2 March 2010. Presentation:
  • Biodiversity Update - What does the future hold? (PDF, 338KB)

 

2009 SEMINARS - TOPICS AND PRESENTATIONS AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD

• EDO Event with presentation from Dr Kate Auty: 'What will a lawyer bring to the role of Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability?', Thursday 12 November 2009. No notes available.
  
  
• Costing the Earth? A new approach to costs in public interest litigation, Thursday 22 October 2009: Speakers Gary Cazalet, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Melbourne; Vanessa Bleyer, Principal Solicitor, Bleyer Lawyers; and Rupert Watters, Solicitor, Environment Defenders Office discussed the current law on costs, how it is applied, the effects of the current law on public interest litigation and what the alternatives are. Presented in conjunction with the Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH). Resources:
  • Presentation: The application of the ‘old’ approach to costs in public interest litigation (PDF, 155KB)
  • EDO Briefing Paper: Executive Summary - Costing the Earth? The case for public interest costs protection in environmental litigation (PDF, 77KB)
  • Presentation: The case for public interest costs in environmental matters (PDF, 107KB)
    
    
• New road, rail and port development fast track: Victoria's new major transport projects laws - what do they mean? 29 September 2009: Brian Walters SC and EDO Solicitor Leilani Kuhn discussed the community participation and environmental concerns with the new Major Transport Projects Facilitation Act, and Department of Transport representatives, Paul Salter (Project Manager, Reg Policy and Legislation), Ashley Cook (Manager, Transport Projects Faciliation Act) and Ian Shepherd (Deputy Executive Director, Statutory Policy and Legal) discussed the Government's perspective on the Act. Presentations:
• EDO presentation - Overview of the Act and opportunities for public involvement
  
  
• Can economists save the earth? - Using Markets to Protect the Environment, 21 July 2009. Dr Richard Denniss (Executive Director, The Australia Institute) and Mr Gary Stoneham (Chief Economist, Department of Sustainability and Environment) discussed the possibilities and problems of markets and MBIs, in light of the Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission's push to use markets for environmental protection in Victoria. No materials available.
  
  
• Greenwashed?, 24 June 2009: Patrick Crouche and Tom Wilcox discussed what rights consumers have when buying 'environmental' products and services, what information they can demand and what action can be taken over inaccurate or misleading environmental claims.
  
  
• Environmental Law Online, 21 May 2009: Stuart Morris QC, Rosemary West and Brendan Sydes discussed community participation in Victoria's planning system and how community access to online legal information has helped to redress the imbalance between developers and environmental objectors. The Environmental Law Online site www.envirolaw.org.au was launched at this event.
  
  
• Human Rights and the Environment, 6 May 2009: Speakers from the EDO, the Human Rights Law Resource Centre and the Public Interest Law Clearing House discussed how inclusion of environmental rights in a human rights charter could provide real protection for the environment. Presentations and submission templates:
  • National Human Rights Consultation: Getting Involved (PDF, 53KB)
  • About the National Human Rights Consultation (PDF, 30KB)
  • Factsheet: Human Rights and Climate Change and the Environment (PDF, 48KB)
  • Template Submission - Individual (PDF, 31KB)
  • Template Submission - Organisation (PDF, 36KB)
    
    
• "Cash for Cans" - a refundable deposit on drink containers in Victoria?, 22 April 2009: Expert speakers discussed the benefits and barriers to Victoria establishing a similar "container deposit" scheme to the South Australian scheme.
  
  
• All at Sea? Oceans Law in Australia, 17 February 2009: Examination of current laws governing our oceans and a proposal for a Commonwealth Oceans Act. Presentations:
  • All at sea:oceans law in Australia by Chris Smyth Marine Campaign Coordinator, ACF (PDF, 426KB)
  • An overview of current laws that apply to Australia'a Oceans by Jeremy Semkiw, Environmental Lawyer (PDF, 389KB)
    
    
• Careers in Environmental Law - 24 March 2009: panel discussion with speakers from private practice, DSE, EDO and the Victorian Bar discussed options in environmental law, skills required and tips for success. This is an annual event held in March.
  
  
  

2008 SEMINARS - TOPICS AND PRESENTATIONS AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD

• A proposed Global Safe Climate Covenant, 19 November 2008: EDO event with Philip Sutton, Convenor of the Greenleap Strategic Institute, Assistant-Convenor of the Climate Emergency Network and co-author of Climate Code Red. Presentation not available.
• Restoring riparian land - threats & opportunities, 18 November 2008: Presented by the EDO in conjunction with the Victoria Naturally Alliance. Three expert speakers on the complexities of and the tremendous conservation opportunities offered by riparian land. Presentations not available
  
• Water and Sustainability, Monday 15 September 2008: Presented by the EDO in conjunction with the National Environmental Law Association (NELA). Presentations not available.
  
  
• The White Paper – how green will it be? Tuesday 17 June 2008. The Victorian government released the Land and Biodiversity at a Time of Climate Change Green Paper in April 2008. The final White Paper is due in 2009 and promises to "set the direction for Victorian Government policy and investment priorities in natural resource management, land health and biodiversity for the next 20-50 years". Presentations:
  • How green will the white paper be? The case for a new legislative framework (PDF, 48KB)
  • Victorian land and biodiversity legislation - mind map (PDF, 32KB)
    
    
• Environment Protection and Contaminated Land, Tuesday 13 May 2008: the Environment Protection Act 1970 and contaminated land. Presentations:
• Contaminated land - who's liable? (PDF, 193KB)
• Contaminated Land, the EPA & the Environmental Audit System (PDF, 22KB)
• EPA Environmental Audits (PDF, 451KB)
  
  
• Careers in Environmental Law, 18 March 2008, panel discussion: speakers from private practice, government authorities, Australian Conservation Foundation and the Victorian Bar discussed options in environmental law, skills required and tips for success.
  
  
• Climate Change and the Planning and Environment Act 1987. Wednesday 27 February 2008 3pm, LegalWise seminars.
• Presentation by Brendan Sydes (PDF, 530KB)
  
  
• Human Rights and Environmental Law. Wednesday 27 February 2008, EDO Seminar Series 2008. Rights and responsibilities under the new Victorian Human Rights Charter and the implications for the Planning and Environment Act 1987.
  • An Overview of the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities 2006 (PDF, 38KB)
  • Human Rights and Planning Law (PDF, 43KB)
  • Implementing the Charter in the planning and environment context (PDF, 315KB)
    

Note: the Charter and associated documents can be downloaded from the Human Rights Law Resource Centre website (external site).

 

2007 SEMINARS - TOPICS AND PRESENTATIONS AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD

• The Water Act 2007, Monday 26 November 2007. The EDO and Environment Victoria presented an analysis and discussion of the new Water Bill 2007 accompanied by expert commentary from the Australian Conservation Foundation. Presentations:
  • The Water Act 2007 (PDF, 347KB)
  • Clean Water, Good Food, Prosperous Communities (PDF, 1.4MB)
    
    
• The Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006, Tuesday 30th October 2007. How the Act works and how it interacts with environmental legislation. Presentations:
  • Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 (PDF, 179KB)
  • A New Way of Protecting Aboriginal Heritage in Victoria (PDF, 400KB)
  • The Cultural Heritage Advisor's Perspective (PDF, 120KB)
    
    
• The Law, Animal Welfare and the Environment, Tuesday 25 September 2007. A public interest seminar highlighting the intersections between wildlife legislation, conservation and animal rights. Presentations:
  • Commercial Kangaroo Harvesting and Compliance with the Code of Practice (PDF, 159KB)
  • The Possums of Catani Gardens, St Kilda (PDF, 426KB)
  • The Challenge Posed by Feral Animals (link to Graeme McEwen's paper recently published by the Victorian Bar Association)
    
    
• Gene Manipulation and the Law, 7 August 2007. Seminar on the the Commonwealth Gene Technology Act and the Victorian review of the moratorium on GM canola. View presentation (PDF, 45KB)
  
  
• Implementing Emissions Trading - The Big Picture and the Small Print, 22 May 2007. The legal and policy issues that arise in implementing an emissions trading scheme in Australia. Presentations:
  • Possible Design for a National Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (PDF, 118KB)
  • Constitutional implications of implementing a NETS in Australia (PDF, 470KB)
  • Can the invisible hand adjust the thermometer? Carbon trading and Australia’s challenge (PDF, 1.3MB)
    
    
• Careers in Environmental Law, 22 March 2007, seminar and panel discussion: speakers from private practice, government authorities and the Victorian Bar discussed options in environmental law, skills required and the future.
  
  
• Forestry on Trial - Brown v Forestry Tasmania, 13 February 2007, seminar: discussion of the Wielangta Forest decision of 19 December 06, and the implications for forestry and biodiversity protection. View presentation...(PDF, 168KB)

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