Lost in translation: threatened species law in Australia

Abstract

Australia is currently experiencing an unprecedented expansion of mining activities into previously unaffected rural regions, encroaching lands of high environmental and agricultural value. Coal seam gas and mining potentially threaten surface and groundwater resources. Australia's environmental laws are perceived to be ill-equipped to respond and sufficiently manage these new land-use conflicts giving rise to a greater risk of adverse environmental and social impacts. These new land-use conflicts involve very complex institutional issues in particular new players competing for scarce natural resources.