Now that Victoria has revealed its new draft environmental regulations, companies should check for compliance gaps and ensure their contracts appropriately assign responsibilities, according to MinterEllison partner Joshua Dellios.
The Queensland government will establish a new position of Rehabilitation Commissioner as it moves to strengthen remediation standards and reduce the risks of mining companies defaulting on closure obligations.
A rewrite of Victoria's main environment law has immediate ramifications for businesses and people that have ever controlled or managed contaminated sites, according to White & Case partner Tim Power.
Companies that no longer hold mining licences could still be ordered to take rehabilitation action or provide a new bond, under a bill before the Victorian Parliament.
Victorian businesses will have to completely review their compliance strategies, after the state's Legislative Council yesterday passed a bill that introduces a new duty to minimise health and environmental risks.