Conservation group challenges approval of Carmichael coalmine as ‘illegal’

Australian Conservation Foundation takes battle against Queensland mine to federal court, arguing Greg Hunt failed to consider the impact of climate pollution on the Great Barrier Reef

The Australian Conservation Foundation has launched what it described as a historic bid to have the federal government's approval of Adani's Carmichael coalmine declared illegal - but the action has prompted one Coalition senator to renew calls for a crackdown on so-called "green lawfare".

The ACF on Monday lodged the challenge in the federal court in Brisbane, arguing the environment minister, Greg Hunt, failed to consider the impact of climate pollution from Australia's largest proposed mine on the Great Barrier Reef.