Multimillion Dollar Companies Backing Environmental Activists for Profit: Report

Published on July 8, 2024

Many of the high-profile challenges by environmental activist groups against major projects are being backed by litigation funders—large, mostly foreign-owned companies that fund legal fees and other expenses in return for a significant share of any damages and costs awarded to the plaintiffs. A report by the Menzies Research Centre, Open Lawfare, claims the cost of delays caused by actions filed against various developments was $1.2 billion (US$809 million) in 2016. However, between August 2022 and June 2024, this had rocketed to $17.48 billion and placed almost 30,000 jobs at risk. Projects affected by environmental activism, August 2022 to June 2024 Project State Industrial output value ($m) Employment Angus Place Coal Mine NSW 354.9 613 Baralaba South Coal Mine QLD 600.0 613 China Stone Coal Mine QLD 11,323.0 19,564 Glendell Coal Mine NSW 354.9 613 Hunter Valley Operations North NSW 845.0 1,460 Hunter Valley Operations South NSW 845.0 1,460 Mount Pleasant Coal Mine NSW 1,605.5 2,744 Narrabri Underground Mine NSW 709.8 1,226 Winchester South Coal Mine QLD 845.0 1,460 Total 17,483.1 29,784 Source: Menzies Research Centre, “Open Lawfare.”...

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