ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION IN AUSTRALIA: LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND POLICY CHALLENGES IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Keywords:
Australia, Environmental Governance, Environmental Law, Human Rights ProtectionAbstract
Australia has developed a comprehensive environmental legal framework aimed at balancing economic development with environmental protection and human rights considerations. This study examines the structure, implementation, and challenges of environmental law in Australia within the context of sustainable development. Using a normative juridical approach combined with a comparative legal perspective, the research analyzes major legislative instruments, including federal and state environmental regulations, and evaluates their effectiveness in safeguarding environmental rights. The findings indicate that although Australia possesses relatively advanced environmental legislation, several challenges remain, including regulatory fragmentation between federal and state jurisdictions, enforcement limitations, and tensions between economic interests and ecological sustainability. Furthermore, the recognition of environmental protection as part of broader human rights discourse continues to evolve within Australian legal practice. Strengthening institutional coordination, improving regulatory enforcement, and integrating sustainability principles into policymaking are essential to enhance environmental governance in Australia. This study contributes to the broader discourse on environmental law and human rights protection in developed legal systems and offers insights for comparative legal studies in environmental governance.
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