Extended Standing — Enhanced Accountability? Judicial Review of Commonwealth Environmental Decisions
Federal Law Review, Vol. 39, No. 3, pp. 435-462, 2011
29 Pages Posted: 27 Mar 2012
Date Written: March 25, 2012
Abstract
Environmental groups have difficulties being granted standing according to common law tests. However, environmental legislation in Australia often includes extended standing provisions that facilitate access to the courts for environmental groups. This article examines judicial review cases involving challenges by environmental groups to Commonwealth environmental decisions. The conclusion that is drawn from the cases is that while environmental groups may have gained access to the courts their challenges often fail on the grounds of judicial review. The cases indicate that the Federal Court has applied the grounds of review in an orthodox, restrained, manner which tends to inhibit the effectiveness of judicial review as an accountability mechanism for environmental groups.
Keywords: administrative law, standing, judicial review, environmental groups
JEL Classification: K10, K30, K32
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation