Ecolex Logo
Le portail au
droit de l'environnement
Résultats de la recherche » Jurisprudence

The Commonwealth of Australia v State of Tasmania

Pays/Territoire
Australie
Type de cour
Nationale - cour supérieure
Date
Jul 1, 1983
Source
UNEP, InforMEA
Nom du tribunal
High Court of Australia
Siège de la cour
Canberra
Juge
Gibbs; Mason; Murphy; Wilson; Brennan; Deane; Dawson
Numéro de référence
(1983) 158 CLR 1
Langue
Anglais
Mot clé
Barrage Eaux continentales Droit constitutionnel Patrimoine culturel Aire protégée Réforme du droit/harmonisation/dérégulation
Résumé

In this case, the plaintiff is the State of Tasmania. The State of Tasmania is challenging the World Heritage Properties Conservation Act 1983 federal law which is used by the federal government to prevent the government of Tasmania to build a dam on the Franklin River. Indeed, the law was passed in order to allow the federal government to prevent damages that could be done to World Heritage sites such as the Franklin River.

The State of Tasmania, who supported the construction of the dam, challenged the World Heritage Properties Conservation Act, 1983 in front of the High Court of Australia on the basis that the federal government was exceeding its power by passing a law which would extend its power to World Heritage sites.

The judges of the High Court considered that the law was in line with the constitution because it was authorised under the "external affairs" power of the federal government. Indeed, the Court considered that the federal government was just implementing a treaty through this law and therefore that it was not violating the constitutional balance between the federal government and the States.

Texte intégral
158clr1.html