Environment

Climate justice groups have launched a challenge to federal environment minister Tanya Plibersek’s decision to expand two proposed mega coal mines in NSW, arguing her refusal to accept the scientific evidence of climate risk was irrational and unlawful. 

A company backed by private equity giant TPG which was allegedly fooled into paying part of a $1 billion deal to the wrong company wants default judgment in a case against the accused scammer, but a judge has raised doubts about attempts to serve the lawsuit.

The last remaining class action against the Department of Defence over the use of alleged toxic firefighting foam at a military base in Jervis Bay has settled for $22 million, from which $5 million will be deducted for legal costs. 

Spain has foreshadowed a fresh High Court challenge claiming it is immune from proceedings brought by a renewable energy company and a Deutsche Bank subsidiary to enforce arbitration awards totalling $166.7 million related to changes to its renewable energy policies.

Class action firms and funders will set their sights on claims related to environmental, social and governance investing, says Clayton Utz’s new litigation partner Matthew Spain, but whether the game is worth the candle remains to be seen.

TPG-owned Anew Climate has sued an Australian company that allegedly impersonated a US carbon offset developer by using "bogus" emails to unlawfully receive payments under a $968 million (US$640 million) investment deal, a court has heard.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has gone after a superannuation fund over a Facebook post that allegedly overstated the fund's positive environmental impact.

The legal industry has praised the historic appointment of Debra Mortimer as the first female Chief Justice of the Federal Court, noting her modern approach to managing cases and compassionate nature. 

A complaint has been lodged with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission against Etihad Airways for allegedly making false or misleading statements about its greenhouse gas emissions and plans for achieving net zero emissions.

The law firm that ran a class action over the 2009 Montara oil spill must compete to administer a $192.5 million settlement, with a judge saying a tendering process is consistent with the court's "protective and supervisory role" in managing costs deducted from class action settlements.