Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility v Santos Ltd

COURT OR TRIBUNAL

Federal Court of Australia

DATE FILED (OR FIRST HEARING DATE)

25/08/2021

LITIGATION TYPE

Corporate Accountability

SUBJECT MATTER

Consumer protection

REVIEW TYPE

N/A

SUMMARY

(Excerpt from Environmental Defenders Office website) The Environmental Defenders Office, acting on behalf of the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR), has filed a Federal Court case against gas giant Santos over its claims natural gas is “clean fuel” and that it has a credible pathway to net zero emissions by 2040. ACCR will argue the claims – contained in the company’s 2020 Annual Report – constitute misleading or deceptive conduct under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and the Australian Consumer Law. On 25 August 2022, the ACCR announced that they were expanding their case against Santos.

The matter was reallocated to Justice Lee, following Justice Jagot’s appointment to the High Court. Justice Lee has fixed the matter for a conference before a Registrar on 1 and 18 September to produce a document of “Agreed Background Facts” and a document “Factual and Legal Issues for Determination”. At the case management hearing on 6 October, Justice Lee made orders relating to the filing of expert evidence, noting that he preferred experts with no connections to either side. Another case management hearing was set for 18 December 2023.

CASE DOCUMENTS

Environmental Defenders Office website
Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility expands case against Santos
Court file
News article