Skip to content

NAB avoids court showdown in climate dispute by handing over documents

NAB narrowly avoided a court hearing this week in shareholder Diana Beere’s case, but could still face further action.

Laurel Henning
Make us a preferred source
NAB has handed over internal documents in its shareholder court dispute. AAP/Mick Tsikas.

NAB narrowly avoided a court appearance earlier this week in its legal dispute with shareholder Diana Beere over access to internal documents related to the financing of coal projects.

The case, first brought in June with law firm Equity Generation Lawyers (EGL) representing Beere, was set for a final hearing on 25 November. However, the court date was scrapped following eleventh-hour orders from Federal Court of Australia Judge Geoffrey Kennett.

This development comes amid increasing scrutiny of corporate climate-related disclosures.

While Kennett’s orders grant NAB some breathing space, they don’t rule out the potential for Beere to pursue further legal action against NAB down the track if she believes the bank acted against its public statements.

Before taking legal action, Beere began seeking access to internal NAB documents in 2022, focusing on the bank’s reported corporate loan financing to New Hope Group and Whitehaven Coal for thermal coal projects.