Environment

A group of Queensland youths and rural landowners are suing Clive Palmer's Waratah Coal for alleged human rights breaches over concerns the company's Galilee Coal project may fuel dangerous climate change that puts their futures at risk.

Australia's bushfire crisis has led to calls for a class action against a government perceived to be liable for its inaction on climate change. But representative proceedings may not have a high chance of success, a lawyer has told Lawyerly.

A group of Sydney commercial landlords whose properties were compulsorily acquired for the WestConnex project have lost an appeal seeking $56.5 million in compensation, after the Valuer-General offered them just over half that amount.

The Queensland Supreme Court has upheld the legality of litigation funding agreements in a landmark class action judgment that could have a ripple effect across other states in Australia.

A group of Indigenous Australians opposed to Adani's Carmichael coal mine in Queensland has lost an appeal of a ruling dismissing a native title case against the $16 billion development.

The judge overseeing several class actions over the alleged use of toxic foam at government military bases has appointed a special counsel to hear the Commonwealth's claims that it should be exempt for producing certain documents due to public interest immunity and legal professional privilege.

Landowners above the Sydney Metro underground tunnel will be allowed to claim compensation before construction is complete, with a court also preparing to consider potential compensation for any reduced development potential.

Oil company PTTEP has objected to Indonesian seaweed farmers using the word “oil” in their evidence in the Montarra oil spill class action, arguing they are not qualified to identify oil.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has approved an application by plastics manufacturer OxoPak for a certification trade mark for certain biodegradable plastics.

Irrigators in Australia's South East have launched a class action against the Murray-Darling Basin Authority claiming its mismanagement of the river system caused up to $830 million in losses.