Australia: Regulatory, Human Rights and Economic Challenges and Opportunities of Large-Scale Mining Projects: A Case Study of the Carmichael Coal Mine

Article type: Other

Authors: Cassotta, Sandra^{a; *} | Cueva, Vladimir Pacheco^b | Raftopoulos, Malayna^c

Affiliations: [a] Associate Professor, International, Environmental and Energy Law, Department of Law, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark | [b] Associate Professor, School of Culture and Society, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark | [c] Associate Professor, Development Studies and International Relations/Latin American Studies, Department of Politics and Society, Aalborg University

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author. E-mail: sac@law.aau.dk.

Abstract: Using the Carmichael coal mine as a case study, this paper explores and analyses the current challenges and potentials of the Australian regulatory framework in designing policies that balance the direct local economic benefits with global environmental concerns and a global common vision about how to manage mining development and energy security challenges). In this effort, it evaluates the current Australian regulatory framework for mining projects, based on two hypotheses: 1) the development of large-scale mining energy projects linked to fossil-fuel resources creates legal challenges; 2) these legal challenges should be analysed in an interdisciplinary approach from both local and global perspectives on law, economics and socio-politics.

Keywords: Mining regulation, Australia, energy, indigenous peoples, tax

DOI: 10.3233/EPL-200238

Journal: Environmental Policy and Law, vol. 50, no. 4-5, pp. 357-372, 2020