Booth v Bosworth [2001] FCA 1453

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA Booth v Bosworth [2001] FCA 1453

ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION – application for a prohibitory injunction under Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) – electric grid erected on respondents' lychee orchard for the purpose of electrocuting flying foxes – respondents' orchard near property included in the World Heritage List – whether the operation of the grid likely to have a significant impact on the world heritage values of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area – whether the Spectacled Flying Fox a part of the natural heritage of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area – whether the loss of a single species could constitute a significant impact on the world heritage values of a World Heritage Area EVIDENCE – burden of proof and sufficiency of evidence – rule in Jones v Dunkel – significance of a party to the proceeding not giving evidence WORDS AND PHRASES – "biodiversity" – "significant impact", "world heritage values", "natural heritage", "likely"

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) ss 3, 12, 13, 171(3), 475, 523 Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) s 140 Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and National Heritage 1972 Art 2

Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298, applied Australian Securities Commission v AS Nominees Ltd (1995) 133 ALR 1, referred to Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336, considered Employment Advocate v Williamson [2001] FCA 1164, referred to Tilmanns Butcheries Pty Ltd v Australasian Meat Industry Employees' Union (1979) 42 FLR 331, considered McVeigh v Willarra Pty Ltd (1984) 6 FCR 587, cited Tasmanian Conservation Trust Inc v Minister for Resources (1995) 55 FCR 516, cited Drummoyne Municipal Council v Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales (1989) 67 LGRA 155, cited Applicant A v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (1997) 190 CLR 225, referred to CAROL JEANETTE BOOTH v ROHAN BRIEN BOSWORTH AND FRANCES BRIEN BOSWORTH Q 163 of 2000 BRANSON J SYDNEY (VIA VIDEO LINK) (heard in Brisbane) 17 OCTOBER 2001