ARTICLE · 18 JULY 2011

Increased Penalties For Environmental Offences In Queensland

Thynne & Macartney

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Discusses the increase in penalties for environmental offences after recent disasters.

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Following highly publicised recent incidents involving oil discharges and reef groundings, the Queensland government has drastically increased maximum penalties for marine pollution, and the Queensland courts are imposing greater fines than previously seen for navigational offences in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

The maximum penalties for discharge of oil or noxious liquid substances or harmful substances in Queensland waters have risen from $1.75 million to $10 million for corporations and from $350,000 to $500,000 for individuals. The offences are of strict liability (ie fault or negligence is not required) although there are limited defences available in some circumstances.

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