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Policy and law reform make up an important part of the EDO’s work.
The EDO is a specialist legal centre which is reflected in its policy work. We do not have a mandate to undertake environmental campaigns but we frequently put forward policy proposals suggesting improvements to the law.
Proposals may be in the form of letters on behalf of clients, submissions to Government or advice to environment groups on proposed new laws.
In addition to working towards law reform in the ACT, the EDO contributes to policy and law reform work undertaken nationally by the Australian Network of Environmental Defender’s Office (ANEDO) (edo.org.au). ANEDO’s law reform submissions are available on the National EDO’s website (edo.org.au/policy/policy.html).
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This submission to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment includes recommendations for reform to the draft agreement between the ACT and the Commonwealth primarily designed to improve public consultation in determining environmental impacts of certain actions. The draft agreement allows the Commonwealth Environment Minister to rely on specified environmental impact assessment processes of the ACT in assessing actions under the EPBC Act.
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This submission supports proposed legislation to introduce a feed in tariff scheme that requires electricity companies to buy renewable electricity (from people who generate electricity from renewable sources such as roof top solar panels) at a premium rate. The submission makes a number of recommendations to improve the operation of the scheme.
download pdf [157 KB]
This submission to the Canberra International Airport outlined concerns about the draft Master Plan, including noise concerns and concerns relating to increased greenhouse gas emissions. The master plan proposed a number of significant changes to the operation of the Canberra Airport including establishing the airport as a 24 hour freight hub, establishing Canberra as Sydney’s second airport and significantly increasing the frequency of flights and the size of aircraft.
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This submission makes a number of suggestions for the operation of an ACT feed in tariff scheme that requires electricity companies to buy renewable electricity (from people who generate electricity from renewable sources such as roof top solar panels) at a premium rate.
download pdf [107 KB]
This submission makes a number of recommendations to amend the draft water quality environment protection policy to assist individuals and businesses in understanding their obligations under the Environment Protection Act 1997 and the associated regulations as they relate to water.
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This submission includes recommendations for planning for future residential development in the Molonglo area to ensure that it adopts best practice models of sustainable housing and development whilst ensuring that endangered biodiversity is protected and enhanced.
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This submission expresses concerns about the regulatory and policy approach proposed in the EPP relating to noise pollution from dragways.
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This submission to the Standing Committee on Legal Affairs (6th) of the Legislative Assembly of the ACT supports the enactment of legislation to discourage Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (SLAPP).
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This submission to ACT Planning and Land Authority discusses reform of the environmental impact assessment and development control process in the ACT.
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This submission to the Chief Minister’s Department includes a critical analysis of sustainable development legislation in other jurisdictions to inform drafting of ACT sustainability legislation.
download pdf [558 KB]
This submission argues that there is a need for specific recognition of environment-related human rights within the Human Rights Act 2004 (ACT) and provides background information and detailed discussion on how this issue can be progressed in the ACT to make it truly a leader in human rights protection in Australia. The report includes an Attachment containing Earthjustice USA’s submission to the UN Commission on Human Rights, 61st Session, Geneva, March–April 2005.
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This presentation looks at the environmental impact assessment process in the ACT.
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This submission recommends that human rights and responsibilities in relation to the environment and ecologically sustainable development be included in the ACT Bill of Rights.
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This submission examines whether the ACT Government and its statutory authorities and corporations can be held accountable for breaches of environmental laws. It recommends amendments to ACT environmental legislation to ensure that they can be adequately held accountable for breaches of environmental laws.
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This submission to the Australian National Audit Office comments on the quality, timeliness and cost of administrative practices applying to environmental referrals, assessments and approvals under the EPBC Act; and the monitoring by Environment Australia of compliance by proponents with the requirements of the EPBC Act.
ANEDO is a network of nine independently constituted and managed community environmental law centres located in each State and Territory of Australia, including the EDO (ACT) office. Each state and territory office prepares submissions on state or territory-specific reforms. ANEDO prepares law reform submissions on matters of national interest or Commonwealth law-reform issues.
ANEDO submissions are available at Network Policy Submissions (edo.org.au/policy/policy.html).