Sue Higginson, Environmental activist and lawyer in Armidale

A conversation with Sue Higginson

Meeting Room, Legacy House, 89 Faulkner Street, 

Armidale 2350

2-3pm

Sunday 17 February, 2019

Sue Higginson is a former CEO and Principal Solicitor of the Environmental Defenders Office NSW.  As a litigator, she was responsible for many high profile public interest environmental legal cases; including acting against Rio Tinto, which resulted in their massive open cut coal mine expansion in the Hunter Valley being refused by the court. She was integral to the setting aside of the Federal Government’s approval of the Adani open cut coal mine.

Sue has worked for communities all over NSW, including assisting many Aboriginal communities, to protect their land, water, cultural heritage, and local environment, in and outside of courts. With a background in criminal law, Sue has represented hundreds of environmental protesters and activists. Most recently, she represented the Wollar 3, the first people to be charged under the NSW Government’s new anti-protester laws.

Sue was an environmental activist working on the front lines to protect the last of our old growth forests on public land in northeast NSW before becoming a lawyer.

Sue is also a farmer, growing dry-land rice on the Richmond Flood Plain in the Northern Rivers. She is passionate about sustainable agriculture and food security and knows first-hand that healthy landscapes are essential to high-quality food production.

Sue says, ‘I have fought many big fights for communities seeking environmental justice. We have played by the rules and against all odds and deep pockets we have won. All too often, I have watched governments step in and use the Parliamentary process to change the rules to enable environmental harm.’ She is keen to use her advocacy and legal skills in Parliament for a better future for us all and is standing in the State election for the seat of Lismore as a candidate for The Greens.

All those interested in protecting our environment are invited to attend this talk. Refreshments will be provided.

More information:   Elizabeth O’Hara 0408670684