Environmental Defenders Office facing calls for funding to be scrapped

The Environmental Defenders Office is facing further calls for its funding to be scrapped after the Federal Court found it distorted and manipulated the views of Indigenous people. Northern Territory Labor MP Luke Gosling says he will raise the issue with Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek when parliament sits next week. “The criticism of the conduct of the Environmental Defenders Office is something that requires investigation,” Northern Territory Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said. “This is a publicly funded body that’s been acting to the detriment of the Northern Territory, and we don’t need activism for activist’s sake.” The Environmental Defenders Office Chief Executive David Morris has issued a statement responding to calls for its funding to be cut: “Our clients are grandparents concerned for younger generations, environmental charities acting for nature, community groups defending their local patch and First Nations people.”