Civil Law Report: Australian Legal Framework for Environmental Issues

This civil law report provides a detailed examination of the Australian legal framework concerning environmental and administrative law. The report begins by analyzing the Distillation Act 1901 and subsequent regulations, highlighting the licensing requirements for alcohol production, excise duties, and penalties for non-compliance. It then transitions to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), discussing the governing legislation, specifically the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, and the process of public involvement and merit appeals. The report further explores judicial review, outlining the grounds for review (illegality, irrationality, and procedural impropriety) and contrasting it with merit appeals. Finally, it addresses mediation as an alternative dispute resolution system for environmental disputes, differentiating between site-specific and public policy disputes. The report includes relevant case laws, journal articles, and websites in its bibliography, providing a comprehensive overview of the subject matter.