Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action Incorporated v Environment Protection Authority [2021] NSWLEC 92

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action Incorporated v Environment Protection Authority [2021] NSWLEC 92 Hearing dates: 9, 10 and 11 August 2021 Date of orders: 26 August 2021 Decision date: 26 August 2021 Jurisdiction: Class 4 Before: Preston CJ Decision: The Court orders: (1) The Environment Protection Authority, in accordance with s 9(1)(a) of the Protection of the Environment Administration Act 1991 (NSW), is to develop environmental quality objectives, guidelines and policies to ensure environment protection from climate change. (2) The respondent is to pay the applicant's costs of the proceedings. Catchwords: JUDICIAL REVIEW – public duty – failure to perform – duty to develop environmental quality objectives, guidelines and policies to ensure environment protection – meaning and content of duty – discretion in performing duty – controls on the exercise of discretion – duty requires the development of objectives, guidelines and policies to ensure environment protection from climate change – breach of duty - mandamus to compel performance of duty Legislation Cited: Protection of the Environment Administration Act 1991 (NSW) ss 3, 8, 9 Cases Cited: ASIC v Cassimatis (No 8) (2016) 336 ALR 209 Associated Provincial Picture Houses Ltd v Wednesbury Corporation [1948] 1 KB 223 Buck v Bavone (1976) 135 CLR 110; [1976] HCA 24 Corporation of the City of Enfield v Development Assessment Commission (2000) 199 CLR 135; [2000] HCA 5 Cuming Campbell Investments Pty Ltd v Collector of Imposts (1938) 60 CLR 741 Cunliffe v The Commonwealth (1994) 182 CLR 272; [1994] HCA 44 Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v Clark (2003) 57 NSWLR 113; [2013] NSWCA 91 Gloucester Resources Ltd v Minister for Planning (2019) 234 LGERA 257; [2019] NSWLEC 7 Graham v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2017) 263 CLR 1; [2017] HCA 33 Manglicmot v Commonwealth Bank Officers Superannuation Corporation Pty Ltd (2011) 282 ALR 167 McCloy v State of New South Wales (2015) 257 CLR 178; [2015] HCA 34 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZMTA (2019) 264 CLR 421; [2019] HCA 3 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZVFW (2018) 264 CLR 541; [2018] HCA 30 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v Li (2013) 249 CLR 332; [2013] HCA 18 Minister for Immigration v Bhardwaj (2002) 209 CLR 597; [2002] HCA 11 Mount Isa Mines Ltd v Peachey [1998] QCA 400 Nationwide News Pty Ltd v Wills (1992) 177 CLR 1; [1992] HCA 46 Probuild Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd v Shade Systems Pty Ltd (2018) 264 CLR 1; [2018] HCA 4 R v G and another [2004] 1 AC 1034; [2003] UKHL 50 R v Gee (2003) 212 CLR 230; [2003] HCA 12 Re Australian Bank Employees Union; Ex parte Citicorp Australia Ltd (1989) 167 CLR 513 Re Refugee Review Tribunal; Ex parte Aala (2000) 204 CLR 82; [2000] HCA 57 SAS Trustee Corporation v Miles (2018) 265 CLR 137; [2018] HCA 55 Smith v Papamihail (1998) 88 FCR 80 SZTAL v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2017) 262 CLR 362; [2017] HCA 34 Thomas v Mowbray (2007) 233 CLR 307; [2007] HCA 33 Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission (NSW) v Browning (1947) 74 CLR 492 Texts Cited: Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis Contribution of Working Group 1 to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Paris Agreement, opened for signature 22 April 2016 [2016] ATS 24 (entered into force 4 November 2016) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action Incorporated (Applicant) Environment Protection Authority (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr R Beasley SC, with Mr D Hume (Applicant) Mr S Free SC, with Mr O Jones (Respondent)