Government decision-making – climate change and Australian children
Federal Court finds Australian children are owed a duty of care in relation to climate change In the recent decision of Sharma v Minister for the Environment [2021] FCA 560, the Federal Court held that Minister Ley, the Federal Minister for the Environment, owes Australian children a duty of care when considering whether to approve […]
Protection under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 (Cth) extends beyond Mount Panorama – what you need to know
In May 2021, the Commonwealth Minister for Environment (Minister) declared the Wahlua-Mount Panorama Site in Bathurst to be a significant Aboriginal area under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 (Cth) (Act). This declaration prohibited Bathurst Regional Council’s proposed development of a go-kart track just days before construction works were set to […]
Conflict of interest: fail to declare and manage at your peril!
In this update, we analyse two New South Wales decisions about the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW) (LG Act) and compliance with obligations to declare and manage personal interests. While these decisions concern NSW Local Councillors and a former General Manager, there are lessons for all individuals dealing with the LG Act. Eldridge v Wagga […]