Environmental lawyer Jess Feehely steps down after 13 years

THE outgoing head of the state’s Environmental Defenders Office reflects on more than a decade fighting for Tasmania’s wild places and weighs in on the critical cases currently on the table.

THE outgoing head of the state’s Environmental Defenders Office says the outcome of a Federal Court challenge to a proposed tourism development in World Heritage-listed wilderness could set the ground rules for future nature-based projects in Tasmania.

Reflecting on 13 years as principal lawyer for the community legal service, Jess Feehely, who will next work for the Tasmania Law Reform Institute, said it was critical proper processes were in place to assess the increasing number of developments in the state’s wild areas.

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The EDO is acting for the Wilderness Society in its challenge to the Federal Government’s decision to approve a standing camp on Halls Island in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park.

“There is recognition it’s a case that’s important in setting the ground rules of how development is assessed in national parks because obviously there’s a lot on the books in terms of what’s coming up,” Ms Feehely said.

“It’s, in our mind, critical that that case establish a rigorous framework for the assessment of those developments so it’s clear to developers and the community what the expectations are.”

EDO Tasmania principal lawyer Jess Feehely is leaving after 13 years. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Ms Feehely listed stopping the Ralphs Bay development and preventing the reopening of 4WD tracks in the Tarkine as among her most satisfying experiences at EDO Tasmania.

She called on governments to provide greater access to information to allow for nuanced public debate on environmental issues and developments.

“Something that hasn’t matured over a number of years … is government not releasing information and that then makes it difficult for there to be a nuanced, informed conversation about things, and so the Government and developers find it very easy to criticise what they would say is ill-informed public comment but they don’t then provide the information to inform that comment, they just hold it close to their chest,” Ms Feehely said.

“I love Tasmania and I genuinely believe it can be strong and successful and sustainable, and that if we actually have the nuanced conversation about how that can work then Tasmania can thrive.”

Nicole Sommer from Dobson Mitchell Allport will be EDO Tasmania chief executive and principal lawyer from March next year.

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