The recent “Sharma Case”, Sharma v Minister for the Environment, where the Court rules the Minister owes a duty of care to protect young people from the human health impacts of climate change, has impacts on the approvals necessary to recommence work at the Russell Vale Colliery.

The Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) has written to the Federal Environment Minister, Sussan Ley, insisting she needs more information about the climate effects of the proposed Russell Vale expansion to make a decision following the Sharma Case. Minister Ley now has an extension until the 8th of July to decide whether to give the Russell Vale Mine approval under the Federal Environment Protection, Biodiversity and Conservation (EPBC) Act.