Environmental Defenders Office and Environmental Justice Australia Program

Overview

Funding to the Environmental Defenders Office and Environmental Justice Australia to support them in their representation of Australians who want to uphold our laws and protect Australia’s precious natural assets. Legal information and legal assistance services (including legal advice and legal representation) will be provided (including online through web and/or telephone-based means), in relation to matters that have broad environmental significance or involve significant environmental issues in law, and to maximise equity of access to individuals, communities and groups in regional areas. The objectives are: improve access to and delivery of quality justice and legal assistance services to members of the community to uphold the law and protect Australia’s natural assets and environmental outcomes effectively advocate for public interest environmental law  provide core legal services and encourage early intervention in legal issues relating to the environment. The intended outcomes are: equitable access to legal assistance services for members of the Australian community  the provision of legal information and legal assistance services (including legal advice and representation) the promotion of best practice, the efficient and effective allocation of resources and the minimisation of duplication in relation to delivering justice and legal services including through: the identification of priority issues, groups and individuals including farmers, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, communities and their representatives, and community and environmental groups, both within and across the States and Territories the allocation of funding and resources in accordance with identified priorities cooperation, collaboration and exchange of information both within and between the Environmental Defenders Office and Environmental Justice Australia.