Minister for the Environment & Heritage v Greentree (No 2) [2004] FCA 741

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Minister for the Environment & Heritage v Greentree (No 2) [2004] FCA 741

ENVIRONMENT – Convention on Wetlands of International Importance ('Ramsar Convention') – clearing of designated wetland – whether purported designation by the Commonwealth of a wetland pursuant to Art 2 of the Ramsar Convention was effective for the purposes of s 17(1) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) ('EPBC Act') – whether clearing of land was specifically authorised under State law – whether clearing of land had a 'significant impact on the ecological character of a declared Ramsar wetland' within s 16(1) of the EPBC Act Constitution s51(xxix) Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) ss 3, 16, 17, 17B, 43A, 52, 138, 326, 327, 333, 334, 335, 409, 475, 481, 482, 484, 519, 523, 524, 528 Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) s 4AA Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth) s 3 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) ss 4, 5, 14, 24, 26, 54, 55, 57, 62, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 76, 76A Noxious Weeds Act 1993 (NSW) ss 7, 8, 9, 12 Native Vegetation Conservation Act 1997 (NSW) ss 4, 6, 7, 14, 21, 22 Local Government Act 1993 (NSW) s 4 Soil Conservation Act 1938 (NSW) s21AB Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl, done at Ramsar, Iran on 2 February 1971 Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties Richardson v Forestry Commission (1988) 164 CLR 261 cited Queensland v Commonwealth (1989) 167 CLR 232 cited Australian Heritage Commission v Mount Isa Mines (1997) 187 CLR 297 cited Corporation of the City of Enfield v Development Assessment Commission (2000) 199 CLR 135 cited Energy Resources of Aust Ltd v Commission of Taxation [2003] ATC 4024 cited Evans v Friemann (1981) 35 ALR 428 cited Seventh Mingcourt Pty Ltd v Lawrence (1996) 64 FCR 367 cited Plaintiff S157/2002 v Commonwealth (2003) 211 CLR 476 cited Commissioner of Taxation v Sara Lee Household & Body Care (Australia) Pty Ltd (2000) 201 CLR 520 cited Applicant A v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1997) 190 CLR 225 cited Mercantile Mutual Life Insurance Co Ltd v Australian Securities Commission (1993) 40 FCR 409 followed Booth v Bosworth (2001) 114 FCR 39 followed National Parks and Conservation Association v Babbitt 241 F3d 722 (9th Cir. 2001) cited Tesco Supermarkets Ltd v Nattrass [1972] AC 153 cited Hamilton v Whitehead (1988) 166 CLR 121 cited Meridian Global Funds Management Asia Ltd v Securities Commission [1995] 2 AC 500 cited Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd (2003) 198 ALR 657 cited MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND HERITAGE v RONALD GREENTREE & ORS N 914 of 2003 SACKVILLE J SYDNEY 11 JUNE 2004