Judgment to be handed down in the Living Wonders climate cases

Environmental Justice Australia

Melbourne’s Full Federal Court is set to deliver its highly anticipated judgment in the landmark Living Wonders climate cases at 11:15 am (AEDT) tomorrow.

The Environment Council of Central Queensland (ECoCeQ) went to court to challenge the Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s refusal to scrutinise new coal and gas projects for their climate harm. 

Represented by lawyers from Environmental Justice Australia, ECoCeQ argued it was unlawful for the Environment Minister to refuse to protect our environment from the climate impacts of the huge Narrabri and Mount Pleasant coal mine expansions, which will fuel climate change for decades to come.

They argued the science is clear – and by law, it is the Environment Minister’s job to protect our environment from climate harm from fossil fuels.

The Court’s decision will likely impact dozens of new coal and gas projects in the pipeline, awaiting approval from Australia’s Environment Minister.  

 What: Judgment to be delivered by their Honours Chief Justice Debra Mortimer, Justices Craig Colvin and Christopher Horan. 

 When: The judgment will be handed down at Perth’s Federal Court at 11:15am tomorrow – Thursday 16 May. It will be livestreamed to Melbourne’s Federal Court at 11:15am(Australian Eastern Daylight Time) tomorrow. 

Where: A photo opportunity with Ashleigh Wyles from the Environment Council from Central Queensland will be available following the judgment outside Melbourne’s Federal Court at 305 William St, Melbourne.

Streaming: The case will be livestreamed – with a link available from the Environmental Justice Australia website later today.

/Public Release. View in full here.