This session will explore access to justice in Australia from an environmental and human rights perspective. The Law Society of NSW President, Pauline Wright, will hold an in conversation discussion with Sue Higginson, Principal Solicitor and CEO of the Environmental Defenders Office and Associate Professor Anna Cody, Director of Kingsford Legal Centre, a community legal centre which is part of the University of NSW Law Faculty. Anna was last year’s Australian Human Rights Commission Law Award recipient. Over the last fifteen years in Australia and NSW there has been a steady erosion of rule of law principles and fundamental rights and freedoms. Australia is the only Western nation without a legislative or constitutionally enshrined bill of rights and it appears that human rights protection is going backwards for many vulnerable groups such as asylum seekers and Indigenous Australians. While there is a strong legislative framework for environmental protection in NSW, the environment is voiceless. Justice and rights in this area can only come to the fore when there are advocates who will stand up to protect it and enforce those laws. Pursuing access to environmental justice is hard work and defenders can often feel like they are blindfolded with their hands tied behind their backs and, in these circumstances, rule of law principle are also critical.