Victoria’s new environmental laws

On July 1, amendments to the Environment Protection Act 2017 (Vic) came into effect that impact most businesses operating in Victoria.

Courts bring a new level of accountability to business and government

Recent court cases in Australia and overseas have highlighted a willingness by courts to bring a higher level of accountability to both business and government, particularly when it comes to climate change.

Trends in the Australian renewables market

In its Australian Renewables Report 2021, MinterEllison looks at trends in the renewable energy market and identifies opportunities for the future.

Final Report of the Independent Review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act

The Final Report of the Independent Review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act) has now been released to the public. The report, delivered by Professor Samuel, contains 38 individual recommendations to be implemented over two years.

In a recent media release, the Minister for the Environment, Sussan Ley, said that 'the Government was committed to working through the full detail of the recommendations with stakeholders.’

ARELJ Case Note - Implications of New Provisions in the Human Rights Act Following Waratah Coal Decision

Climate change action is being driven by business and industry

While everyone’s focus in recent months has been on the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change was top of everyone’s mind when the year began with bushfires ravaging Australia. The pandemic has seen individuals and organisations assess their ideologies and perspectives on a range of topics, climate change being one of them. It now seems that climate change is back on everyone’s agenda and none more so than business and industry.

ARELJ - Recent Development - Principles for Exploration and Extraction Rights

What is concerning mining and metals industry executives today?

Recent surveys conducted in the mining and metals industry sector indicate that climate change, price volatility and the risk of a global depression are the top concerns for executives.

The KMPG Mining Risk Forecast 2020/21 Report nominates climate change and price risks as top-of-mind for executives while a mid-year survey by White & Case found that the fear of a global recession was the most common concern amongst those surveyed. It’s worth noting that the KMPG survey was conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the concerns raised have ongoing relevance both now and into the future.

Implications of the Interim report on Commonwealth environmental protection laws

Professor Graeme Samuel recently released his Interim Report of the Independent Review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act). The report is highly critical of the EPBC Act, reporting that it neither ensures effective environmental and biodiversity protections nor efficiently regulates business.

In the report, Professor Samuel makes several recommendations, some of which have already become priority areas for the government. These have significant implications for the energy and resources industry. 

The push for decarbonisation

Climate change continues to be one of the critical issues facing industry and Government. The push for change is now accelerating with new and revised policies to reduce carbon emissions set to be introduced.