Our most recent Energy & Resources articles are listed below:
15 August 2008
One-stop shop a no-go: landowner rights not overridden by Part 3A approval
Eagerly awaited by the New South Wales coal sector, a key judgment was delivered last week by the New South Wales Court of Appeal asserting the primacy of the rights of landowners.
20 June 2008
New regime to facilitate offshore carbon capture and storage
The Australian Federal Government has introduced a regulatory regime to facilitate offshore carbon capture and storage with the release of the exposure draft of the Offshore Petroleum Amendment (Greenhouse Gas Storage) Bill 2008.
08 March 2007
The Electricity Supply Amendment (Miscellaneous) Regulation 2007
The Electricity Supply Act 1995 (NSW) establishes a scheme by which the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal determines regulated retail tariffs for the supply of electricity to small retail customers in New South Wales who have not elected to enter into a negotiated supply contract.
28 February 2007
Businesses using large amounts of energy — The new Energy Efficiency Opportunities Act 2006 may affect you!
Did you and your related corporate entities collectively use more than 0.5 petajoules of energy during the 2005–06 financial year? If you are one of them, you must register with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources before 31 March 2007 or risk a fine of up to $110,000.
13 February 2007
The changing climate on climate change — The challenge for business
Climate change has emerged as a mainstream political issue in Australia. There has been a recent change of attitude to the issue on the part of the federal government and in many business circles. Yet there are continuing disparities in the responses of the federal, state and territory governments.
12 February 2007
An overview of recent Australian climate change litigation
Litigation focusing on climate change has now firmly emerged in Australia. This article summarises three recent proceedings of particular importance.
06 February 2007
Electricity Supply (General) Amendment (Renewable Energy Sources) Regulation 2006
The Electricity Supply (General) Amendment (Renewable Energy Sources) Regulation 2006 (NSW) is effective from 15 January 2007, and amends the the Electricity Supply (General) Regulation 2001 (NSW).
06 February 2007
Wongatha native title decision creates further uncertainty
On 5 February 2007, Justice Lindgren handed down his long awaited decision in the Wongatha native title case, Australia’s largest native title case to date.
27 September 2006
Native Title Update: Single Noongar judgment — A landmark decision?
On 19 September 2006, Justice Wilcox handed down judgment for the ‘separate proceeding’ which is the portion of the combined Single Noongar Claim located in the Perth metropolitan area. We provide a brief summary and analysis of the implications of this decision.
26 July 2005
Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Infrastructure and Other Planning Reform) Act 2005
The Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) (EPA Act) is undergoing extensive renovation. The Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Infrastructure and Other Planning Reform) Act 2005 (NSW) (Infrastructure Act) will insert a new Part 3A into the EPA Act. The new Part 3A makes a number of significant changes to the way in which certain projects will be assessed and approved.
10 June 2005
Argyle Diamond Mine Indigenous Land Use Agreement registered
On 8 June 2005, Argyle Diamonds and traditional owners of the Argyle Diamond Mine in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, celebrated the registration of an Indigenous Land Use Agreement at a ceremony attended by Premier Geoff Gallop.
31 December 2004
Planning/EES Panels Under The Spotlight at VCAT
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal has recently handed down two decisions of great significance to projects that are assessed by Panels under the Planning and Environment Act 1987, regardless of whether or not those Panels are also appointed to consider the environmental impacts of a project under the Environment Effects Act 1978.
02 December 2004
Changes to the Western Australian Mining Act
The Mining Act Amendment Act 2004 (WA) was assented to by the Western Australian Parliament on 3 November 2004. When proclaimed, the Act will introduce some of the most significant changes to the administration of tenements in Western Australia.
28 July 2004
St Aubin Power Project
Financial close was recently achieved on the St Aubin Power Project on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius. Freehills' Brendan Quinn, Partner, Kate Hart-Smith, Senior Associate, Joanne Crew, Senior Associate and David Quinn, Solicitor, advisers to the sponsors on this deal, review some of the key aspects of this project.
08 April 2004
Constitutional validity of FTAAs and Philippine mining law
The decision of the Supreme Court of the Republic of the Philippines (Court) in La Bugal – B'laan Tribal Association, et al. v Secretary Ramos, et al promulgated by the Court on 27 January 2004 has significant implications for companies considering investing in mining and oil and gas projects in the Philippines.
08 April 2004
Indonesian Government amends forestry law
Previous AMPLA updates have highlighted the fact that Law 41 of 1999 regarding Forestry (Law 41/1999) banned open pit mining in 'protected forests' in Indonesia. The law had retrospective application to many contracts of work that have been granted by the Indonesian Government. The definition of 'protected forest' used in Law 41/1999 resulted in large areas of Indonesia, in many cases on which no significant forests existed, being closed to open pit mining.
09 December 2003
Landmark native title case settled
The Full Court of the Federal Court today ratified a Consent Determination reached by the parties in State of Western Australia v Ward. The Consent Determination brought to an end court proceedings that had been on foot for nine years.
