The Federal Court has invalidated Woodside Energy’s approval to conduct seismic blasting for its Scarborough Gas Project after a legal challenge by a Traditional Custodian. Mardudhunera woman Raelene Cooper filed a judicial review in August, arguing the offshore regulator NOPSEMA made a legal error in approving the blasting and that Woodside had not met a […]
A Western Australian Traditional Custodian has been granted an urgent injunction to prevent Woodside Energy conducting seismic blasting. Mardudhunera woman Raelene Cooper filed the application last Thursday (7th September) after Woodside warned it was ready to commence blasting, despite an unresolved legal challenge to the validity of its approval. Woodside subsequently agreed not to blast […]
Now is the time for a major re-write of legal frameworks to ensure a world where nature thrives. New reports, informed by input from EDO’s legal experts, have shone a light on the inadequacies of key biodiversity conservation and native vegetation laws. As we stare down triple crises (climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss), and […]
CASE UPDATE: On Thursday 14 September, Justice Colvin decided that the injunction should be granted in part due to the reasonable prospect that the first ground of Raelene Cooper’s substantive legal challenge to NOPSEMA approval of the seismic blasting will be successful. His honour brought the hearing for that argument, and a separate question of […]
A Traditional Custodian will ask the Federal Court to find that approval for Woodside Energy to carry out seismic blasting in her Sea Country was unlawful. Gas giant Woodside said last week it was ready to begin seismic blasting for its Scarborough Gas Project, despite objections from Custodians who say they still have not been […]
Joint statement by Slim Parker, Kado Muir, Dr Anne Poelina, Clayton Lewis and Dr Hannah McGlade on the potential repeal of the Western Australian Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2021. The WA Government/Premier has indicated that the Western Australian Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2021 (ACH Act) may be repealed due to private landholder concerns. From a […]
Woodside’s Scarborough gas project, off the coast of Western Australia, is one of the most polluting fossil fuel projects currently planned in Australia. Climate change is the greatest threat to our fragile Great Barrier Reef. Yet Scarborough was approved without its potentially disastrous impacts to the reef ever being assessed by the Federal Environment Minister. […]
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The Draft Petroleum Legislation Amendment Bill (B) 2023 (PLA Bill) was released for consultation in January 2023. The PLA Bill proposes amendments to the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources Act 1967 (WA) (PGER Act), Petroleum Pipelines Act 1969 (WA) (PP Act) and Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1982 (WA) (PSL Act) (collectively “Petroleum Acts”), to develop […]
The Environmental Defenders Office is seeking applications from young people in regional or remote Australia to commence their career in environmental law with a training placement supported by the Sarah Flynne Memorial Scholarship. What is the Sarah Flynne Memorial Scholarship? The Sarah Flynne Memorial Scholarship is a joint scholarship between EDO and the Flynne family […]
HESTA, one of Australia’s biggest superannuation funds, claims to be a leader on climate change. Yet it continues to invest members’ savings into companies actively pushing new fossil fuels, undermining the Paris climate goals. Australians are using their power to shift funding away from dangerous fossil fuels towards investments for a safe climate future. Our […]
Read More… from HESTA’s fossil fuel investments may amount to a breach of the law
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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.
