Are decision-makers too cautious with the precautionary principle?

Environmental and Planning Law Journal

Volumn 17, Issue 1, 2000, Pages 3-23

  Stein, Paul L ^a  

^a Supreme Court of New South Wales ^*  (Australia)

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[No Author keywords available]

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EID: 0002662030     PISSN: 0813300X     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: None     Document Type: Article

References (82)

1. This article is based on a paper delivered at the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales Annual Conference held in September 1999 at Peppers Hydro Majestic, Medlow Bath, Blue Mountains. The research and assistance of my tipstaff, Rosie Jenkins, is gratefully acknowledged.
2. W Gullet, "Environmental Protection and the 'Precautionary Principle': A Response to Scientific Uncertainty in Environmental Management", (1997) 14 EPLJ 52 at 55.
3. Second International Conference on the Protection of the North Sea, London, 24-25 November 1987, Ministerial Declaration, issued by the Department of the Environment of the United Kingdom, April 1988. Note also the 1985 Vienna Convention on Ozone Depleting Substances recognising "precautionary measures" taken at national and international levels.
4. Title XVI, Article 130R, Section 2 of the Treaty of Rome as amended by Title II of the Treaty on European Union signed in Maastricht on February 7, 1992.
5. Intergovernmental Agreement on the Environment, May 1992, para 3.5.
6. L Corbyn and J Niland, "The Precautionary Principle: A NSW Status Report", paper presented at the Precautionary Principle Conference, Institute of Environmental Studies, University ofNew South Wales, 20-21 September 1993 at 1.
7. D Farrier and L Fisher, "Reconstituting Decision Making Process and Structures in Light of the Precautionary Principle", paper presented at the Precautionary Principle Conference, Institute of Environmental Studies, University of New South Wales, 20-21 September 1993 at 1.
8. J Cameron and J Abouchar, "The Precautionary Principle: A Fundamental Principle of Law and Policy for the Protection of the Global Environment" 1991 (14) Boston College International and Comparative Law Review 1 at 1.
9. J Cameron and J Abouchar, "The Precautionary Principle: A Fundamental Principle of Law and Policy for the Protection of the Global Environment" 1991 (14) Boston College International and Comparative Law Review 1 at 1.
10. J Elix and J Lambert, More Than Just the Odd Tree: Report on Incentives and Barriers to Rural Woodland Conservation, Using Grassy White Box Woodlands as a Model, National Research and Development Program on Rehabilitation, Management and Conservation of Remnant Vegetation, Natural Heritage Trust, Research Report, January 1998 at 5
11. B Wayne and S Mayer, "How Science Fails the Environment", 138 New Scientist 33 at 34.
12. B Wayne and S Mayer, "How Science Fails the Environment", 138 New Scientist 33 at 34.
13. R Ramsay and GC Rowe, Environmental Law and Policy in Australia: Text and Materials, Sydney, Butterworths, 1995 at 55.
14. J Elix and J Lambert, More Than Just the Odd Tree: Report on Incentives and Barriers to Rural Woodland Conservation, Using Grassy White Box Woodlands as a Model, National Research and Development Program on Rehabilitation, Management and Conservation of Remnant Vegetation, Natural Heritage Trust, Research Report, January 1998 at 5
15. J Elix and J Lambert, More Than Just the Odd Tree: Report on Incentives and Barriers to Rural Woodland Conservation, Using Grassy White Box Woodlands as a Model, National Research and Development Program on Rehabilitation, Management and Conservation of Remnant Vegetation, Natural Heritage Trust, Research Report, January 1998 at 5
16. J Elix and J Lambert, More Than Just the Odd Tree: Report on Incentives and Barriers to Rural Woodland Conservation, Using Grassy White Box Woodlands as a Model, National Research and Development Program on Rehabilitation, Management and Conservation of Remnant Vegetation, Natural Heritage Trust, Research Report, January 1998 at 5
17. A Deville and R Harding, Applying the Precautionary Principle, Sydney, The Federation Press, 1997 at 16.
18. See also the Commonwealth Government of Australia, National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development, December 1992 at 9.
19. WCED Our Common Future: Brundtland Report, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1987.
20. Ecologically Sustainable Development: A Commonwealth Discussion Paper, Canberra, AGPS, June 1990.
21. The Commonwealth Government of Australia, National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development, Canberra, AGPS, December 1992 at 6.
22. National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development, December 1992 at 8.
23. National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development, December 1992 at 8.
24. Judge Weeramantry, "Sustainable Development: An Ancient Concept Recently Revisited", Report of the Regional Symposium on the role of the judiciary in promoting the rule of the law in the area of sustainable development, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 4-6 July 1997.
25. Ecologically Sustainable Development: A Commonwealth Discussion Paper, Canberra, AGPS, June 1990, p 10.
26. Greenpeace v Redbank Power Co (1995) 86 LGERA 143.
27. Bardwell Valley Golf Club v Rockdale Council, a decision on SEPP19 (Land and Environment Court, 13 April 1994, unreported).
28. (1993) 81 LGERA 270.
29. G Bates, "Implementing ESD" (1994) 11 EPLJ 251 at 253.
30. C Barton, "The Status of the Precautionary Principle in Australia: Its Emergence in Legislation and as a Common Law Doctrine", (1998) 22 Harvard Environmental Law Review 509 at 535.
31. P Stein and S Mahony, "Incorporating Sustainability Principles in Legislation" in P Leadbeter, N Gunningham and B Boer (eds), Environmental Outlook No 3: Law and Policy, Sydney, The Federation Press, 1999, 57 at 67.
32. (1993) 81 LGERA 270.
33. (1993) 81 LGERA 270.
34. (1995) 183 CLR 273.
35. L Pearson, "Incorporating ESD Principles in Land Use Decision Making: Some Issues after Teoh", (1996) 13 EPLJ 47 at 50.
36. Mason, Sir Anthony The Influence of International and Transnational Law on Australian Municipal Law (1996) 7 Public Law Review 20.
37. See Kartinyeri v Commonwealth (1998) 72 ALJR 722 at [97].
38. (1997) 142 ALR 622
39. (1997) 87 LGERA 10. The appeal to the Full Federal Court did not need to consider the application of the precautionary principle.
40. (1997) 87 LGERA 10. The appeal to the Full Federal Court did not need to consider the application of the precautionary principle.
41. (1997) 87 LGERA 10. The appeal to the Full Federal Court did not need to consider the application of the precautionary principle.
42. (1994) 84 LGERA 397.
43. (1994) 84 LGERA 397.
44. (1994) 84 LGERA 397.
45. (1994) 84 LGERA 397.
46. (1995) 86 LGERA 143.
47. (1995) 86 LGERA 143.
48. (1995) 86 LGERA 143.
49. (Land and Environment Court, 29 March 1996, unreported,).
50. (Land and Environment Court, 29 March 1996, unreported,).
51. P Stein "Turning Soft Law into Hard-An Australian Experience with ESD Principles in Practice", (1997) V3 The Judicial Review 91 at 95.
52. (1997) 94 LGERA 380.
53. (1998) 100 LGERA 1 at 14.
54. (Land and Environment Court, 26 August 1996, unreported).
55. (Land and Environment Court, 22 August 1996, unreported).
56. Judgment of 3.12.1998 in case 67/97, Bluhme, (nyr) at: http://curia. eu. int/juris/.
57. J Cameron, "The Precautionary Principle", unpublished draft chapter, 1999 at p 13.
58. (Queens Bench Division, 4 October 1994, unreported, Farquharson LJ and Smith J).
59. PLD 1994 Supreme Court 693.
60. J Elix and J Lambert, More Than Just the Odd Tree: Report on Incentives and Barriers to Rural Woodland Conservation, Using Grassy White Box Woodlands as a Model, National Research and Development Program on Rehabilitation, Management and Conservation of Remnant Vegetation, Natural Heritage Trust, Research Report, January 1998 at 5
61. 33 ILM 193 (1994). A useful summary may be found in the Compendium of Summaries of Judicial Decisions in Environment Related cases by SACEP/UNEP/NORAD, Colombo, Sri Lanka, July 1997 at 117.
62. J Elix and J Lambert, More Than Just the Odd Tree: Report on Incentives and Barriers to Rural Woodland Conservation, Using Grassy White Box Woodlands as a Model, National Research and Development Program on Rehabilitation, Management and Conservation of Remnant Vegetation, Natural Heritage Trust, Research Report, January 1998 at 5
63. (Supreme Court of India 1999 SOL Case No 53, 27 January 1999, unreported).
64. [1988] 1 NZLR 78 (CA).
65. (High Court of New Zealand, CP 492/93, 27 November 1995, unreported).
66. (High Court of New Zealand, CP 492/93, 27 November 1995, unreported).
67. (High Court of New Zealand, CP 492/93, 27 November 1995, unreported).
68. (High Court of New Zealand, CP 492/93, 27 November 1995, unreported).
69. (High Court of New Zealand, CP 492/93, 27 November 1995, unreported).
70. (High Court of New Zealand, CP 492/93, 27 November 1995, unreported).
71. S Mascher, "Taking a 'Precautionary Approach': Fisheries Management in New Zealand", (1997) 14 EPLJ 70 at 75.
72. Judgment of 21.8.1996, BverwG 11 C 9.95.
73. (1998) 37 ILM 162, 204 and 212 (the Danube Dam case), 25 September 1997.
74. A-Khavari and D Rothwell (1998) 22 Melbourne University Law Review 507 at 529.
75. WTO, Appellate Body, EC Measures Concerning Meat and Meat Products (Hormones), AB-1997-4, Report of the Appellate Body, 16 January 1998 at 44.
76. Cameron, draft chapter on The Precautionary Principle, September 1999.
77. Deimann Growth Hormones-Take Two, ELNI Newsletter No 1/98 at 43.
78. For example, The Commonwealth Commission of Inquiry into Shoalwater Bay, Queensland, Report No 2 (1994) AGPS and The Commonwealth Commission of Inquiry into The East Coast Armanents Complex at Point Wilson, Victoria (1996) AGPS.
79. Sydney Morning Herald, 8 April 1996.
80. Deville ed Harding, Applying the Precautionary Principle, The Federation Press (1997).
81. A Full Repairing Lease, Industry Commission Report No 60, 27 January 1998.
82. Freestone, Implementing Precaution Cautiously in Hey (ed) International Fisheries Law (The Hague 1999).