This morning, the Australian Federal Court delivered a landmark judgement on climate change, marking an important moment in our history.
The class action case was brought on behalf of all Australian children and teenagers, against Environment Minister Sussan Ley.
Their aim was to prevent Ley from possibly approving the Whitehaven coal mine extension project, near Gunnedah in New South Wales. They argued that approving this project would endanger their future because of climate hazards, including causing them injury, ill health, death or economic losses.
The court dismissed the application to stop the minister from approving the extension. But that’s just the beginning.
Australian teens sue over mine extension2021|01:36
Students leading a class action against a coal mine extension in Australia had their first day of hearing on Tuesday. The landmark claim by a group of eight teenagers all under the age of 18, argues that the expansion of Whitehaven s Vickery coal mine will contribute to climate change and that Australia’s Environment Minister has a duty of care to them as young people. Anjali Sharma said that the mine expansion will endanger their future: “We face an increasing amount of natural disasters, and the climate is becoming unlivable for us. This is a crisis that disproportionately affects people of colour, young people and marginalised people around the world. So yes I m terrified. Their case is being heard in Melbourne’s Federal Court and is expected to last five days, but a judgement may not be made for several months. David Barnden from Equity Generation Lawyers is representing the students: This is a unique action in Australia,
“Merits appeal rights for those who oppose these projects are unavailable so, without an independent umpire, people and industries that are affected by mining have effectively got no say and no protection.”
Under NSW laws, communities lose their right to a merits appeal of decisions if the IPC holds public hearings on a project.
Stokes as the planning minister is responsible for making the decision as to whether a hearing is held.
Woods said Stokes had “stripped the IPC of its independence”. “It is now little more than an extension of the NSW Government and Planning Department, that rubber stamps anything that comes its way,” she said.