Restricting environmental groups from litigation against resource developments excludes voices of average Australians: Cousins

The Turnbull Government is renewing its bid to stop what the Prime Minister calls \u27vexatious\u27 litigation by conservation groups against major resource projects in this country, including the massive $16 billion Adani coal mine proposed for Carmichael in northern Queensland. Last year, the then Prime Minister Tony Abbott sought to amend the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act to prevent environmental groups from launching court challenges unless directly affected. That attempt failed, but Malcolm Turnbull says he will now seek Senate support to go ahead with changes to the current legislation. Geoff Cousins is a former Howard Government advisor and President of the Australian Conservation Foundation. He says all Australians should be able to have their day in court over the country\u27s natural resources, citing Kakadu as an example