In 2013, EDO and legal firm Slater & Gordon won a major case in the Supreme Court of Western Australia to protect James Price Point, near Broome on the Kimberley coast. They represented The Wilderness Society of WA (Inc) and Mr Richard Hunter, a Goolaraboolooo man and traditional owner. The court case challenged the approval […]
Most new developments require approval under the Western Australian planning laws. The Planning and Development Act 2005 (WA) (the Act) is the main legislation that governs planning in Western Australia. This Fact Sheet examines Western Australia’s planning law framework – explaining what the planning laws are as well as discussing local planning schemes, regional planning […]
Overview A new law passed by the WA Parliament in late 2025 – the State Development Act 2025 (WA) (Act) – creates extraordinary legal powers for the government to fast-track handpicked projects and make ad hoc changes to the way our existing laws apply. 1 This legislation required multiple late-night sittings of the Legislative Council to debate amendments, and a last-minute recall of the Legislative Assembly for a single sitting day prior to Christmas. […]
Read More… from Legislation update: State Development Act 2025 (WA)
We are a leading Australia Pacific not-for-profit public interest law practice. We protect peoples, nature and our climate through law. We value our deep connection to communities and places. We provide access to justice, empower communities and drive the systems change necessary to achieve a world where nature thrives. EDO CULTURAL STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE A thriving EDO EDO is […]
Expressions of interest for the First Nations Strategic Advisory Committee can be provided at any time. EDO will keep a pool of those interested, and contact you when a place becomes available. What is the Environmental Defenders Office? EDO is the leading environmental western law practice in the Australia-Pacific region, delivering western legal solutions for […]
Read More… from First Nations Strategic Advisory Committee – Expressions of Interest
This factsheet provides information about water planning and licencing in WesternAustralia, including the regulation of surface and groundwater, water rights and exemptions, water licences and Water Allocation Plans. […]
This International Women’s Day, we celebrate an incredible, diverse group of women who share their knowledge to drive innovative legal and scientific solutions to protect climate, wildlife and Countries in the Australia-Pacific region. EDO relies on its ability to bring the strongest legal arguments and most robust science into court rooms, committee rooms and board […]
Read More… from IWD2023: Celebrating women sharing their knowledge for climate, wildlife and Country
With bold legal action, brave clients and your incredible support, together we’ve notched up tremendous wins for nature in 2022. Groundbreaking cases take thousands of hours of legal and scientific work to win. These victories are only possible with the support of people like you who help enforce the law and defend our wildlife, culture, […]
Read More… from The stories behind the biggest wins for nature of 2022
By EDO Managing Lawyer Kirsty Ruddock & Senior Solicitor Zoe Bush Last year, the EDO on behalf of its client, the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility, brought a world-first case against Santos Limited for its allegedly misleading net zero emissions claim. [1] While expanding its fossil fuel production, Santos claimed it had a credible plan […]
Read More… from The UN says it is time to draw a red line around greenwashing
Meet the two climate-impacted Knitting Nannas using the law to protect our democratic freedoms in NSW Following four years of devastating disasters and government inaction on climate change, two women from the flood and fire-ravaged NSW mid-north coast have launched a Constitutional challenge to NSW’s new anti-protest laws. The EDO recognises and pays respect to […]
With support from people like you, we can run more groundbreaking cases and deliver expert legal advice to people all over the Australia-Pacific region.
Authorised by Joanna Shulman, Environmental Defenders Office Ltd, Suite 8.02 Level 8, 6 O’Connell St, Sydney NSW 2000 • ABN: 72 002 880 864
Postal Address:
PO Box R1105 Royal Exchange NSW 1225
EDO recognises the traditional owners and custodians of the land, seas and rivers of Australia. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders past and present, and aspire to learn from traditional knowledge and customs so that, together, we can protect our environment and cultural heritage through law.
