CIVICUS speaks with Julia Grix, founder and executive director of Climate Defenders Australia (CDA), about the growing repression of climate activism and rise of anti-protest laws in Australia, and how her organisation is providing essential legal support to climate activists. CDA is Australia’s first independent not-for-profit legal service dedicated to protecting frontline climate and environmental defenders facing criminalisation, police abuse and strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs).
Australia has become a hostile environment for climate protesters, with anti-protest laws, police overreach and SLAPPs targeting activists. In response, in July this year Julia, a criminal lawyer, founded CDA. CDA offers legal support to counter criminalisation and repression. Civil society fears further restrictions on protest and civic space as Australia seeks to co-host COP31 with Pacific partners. CDA, already handling over 80 cases nationwide, warns that solidarity and funding support will be essential to defend climate and environmental activism.
