Lawyers say that establishing immunity laws earlier could have prevented cases that successfully challenged companies over funding fossil fuel projects.Lawyers say that establishing immunity laws earlier could have prevented cases that successfully challenged companies over funding fossil fuel projects.The climate plans of Australian companies would be immune to private litigation for three years under an Albanese government proposal before parliament.
Law firm Equity Generation said the laws would have almost certainly prevented cases that successfully challenged the Commonwealth Bank and NAB over funding fossil fuel projects. The bill could also have stopped a “world-first” challenge to Rest Super over its duty to consider the climate crisis when making investments.
The Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility, a shareholder advocacy organisation, said “an extended enforcement holiday” from existing accountability would reduce motivation for companies to take mandatory climate disclosure requirements seriously.
“Companies that have had the foresight to see what’s coming down the track should be – and are – prepared for disclosures,” House said.Our Australian afternoon update breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it mattersThe Greens have proposed an amendment to reduce the three-year immunity period to one year.