Queensland’s Liberal National party government is planning to cut all state funding for the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO), similar to a decision made by the government of Campbell Newman. This move breaks a previous promise made by the LNP to continue funding the EDO, which provides free legal advice to residents and community groups on development or environmental approvals, and receives about $500,000 annually from the state government. The funding will be cut to zero in the state budget in June.
Many conservationists and environmental groups have expressed shock at the decision, comparing it to a similar decision made under premier Campbell Newman. The current environment minister, Andrew Powell, was also environment minister under Newman and has previously expressed skepticism about human-induced climate change.
This decision is one of several broken election promises by David Crisafulli’s government in its first six months in office, including not building a new stadium for the Olympics and not setting clear key performance indicators for ministers. The promise to continue EDO funding was made publicly by the LNP’s then shadow environment minister, Sam O’Connor, who stated that the organization was important for providing access to legal advice to communities affected by potential threats to the environment.
The EDO’s chief executive officer, David Morris, stated that the organization would be able to stay open with charitable donations but would have to turn away many people. Without EDO legal advice, many Queenslanders would be denied the opportunity to exercise their legal rights to challenge mining companies, big irrigators, and property developers.
The state government has stated that it has honored Labor’s funding agreement in its entirety, which expired at the end of June 2025. In order to qualify for future funding, the EDO would have to prove that proper processes were in place. The decision also comes after a federal court ordered the EDO to pay $9m in costs after criticizing EDO lawyers for coaching a witness in a case challenging a gas pipeline project.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/15/lnp-cuts-funding-queensland-environmental-defenders-office-breaking-election-promise-ntwnfb
