Since 2003 climate change and overuse of water resources have emerged as major challenges for the environmental legal system. The second edition of Australian Environmental Law addresses these issues. It remains a principles-based text on environmental law and policy which examines Australia's environmental system from a doctrinal and instrumental perspective. Relevant legislation and case law have been updated throughout and the book has been restructured to reflect ever-increasing levels of social, political and academic interest in sustainable development and environmental planning. The chapters on ecologically sustainable development and the instruments of environmental law have been rewritten, restructured and relocated, and a new chapter on the emerging challenges for environmental law has been added, including discussion of climate change and water resources management.

Dealing with critical issues of ownership, control and use of water as a resource, AUSTRALIAN WATER LAW offers practical and up-to-date guidance in an increasingly important area. Interconnected with property law and environmental law, water poses special regulatory challenges because of its character and potential; it also poses opportunities for disputes and litigation. A complex web of state and federal legislation seeks to manage and protect water and water rights, challenging practitioners who are advising on matters like access rights, statutory water entitlements, water planning and resource protection. Commercially, water law affects a widening range of infrastructure development and management projects, while the development of a national water market offers opportunities in trading of water rights, and risks and controls. Kate Stoeckel, Romany Webb and Luke Woodward bring to bear their considerable legal experience in matters involving water rights as well as regulation of the water and sewerage industry and Amy Hankinson offers her significant expertise in environmental law and water management.

Environmental Law in Australia provides a clear and authoritative discussion of the fundamental principles underpinning all environmental initiatives. The author explains how the involvement of the law adds value to the design and implementation of environmental policy, providing an impartial process for resolving conflicts about breaches of the law and environmental decision-making. The ninth edition has been fully revised and extensively updated to cover all relevant new developments in policy, case law and legislation, such as the introduction of national biosecurity legislation, updates on international case law relating to whales and climate litigation, new material on mining and coal seam gas, new case law on public interest litigation, criminal prosecutions and review of environmental decision-making. Significant developments also include: a new chapter on the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) a new chapter on waste and contaminated lands new material on practical approaches to implementing principles of sustainable development amendments to the chapter on climate and energy following the repeal of clean energy legislation The book is designed for undergraduate and postgraduate students of law, environmental science, environmental management and environmental economic disciplines, enabling readers to approach any environmental law with a clear understanding of how it is intended to work and how it will be interpreted. It is also a valuable resource for non-government organisations, public servants, corporate officers and other practitioners.