Albanese government opens up 10 new ocean sites for toxic oil and gas exploration

The Albanese government is opening up nearly 47,000 sq km of Australian waters to oil and gas exploration through new petroleum exploration permits, including vast tracts stretching from the Ashmore and Cartier Islands in the Indian Ocean to Victoria’s Gippsland basin.

It comes as Woodside starts construction on a second LNG train at its Pluto gas processing facility on the Burrup Peninsula in WA, which can still come off the rails as the company faces two legal challenges and still lacks crucial environmental approvals. 

And new Australian homes may have to comply with tougher energy performance standards within a year, with ministers set to agree to boost the required rating from six to seven stars.

Australian government launches offshore petroleum exploration permits for 47,000 sq km of ocean

The Albanese government has launched its first offshore petroleum exploration permits, opening up nearly 47,000 sq km of Australian waters to oil and gas exploration.

Woodside Energy, Bechtel start construction of Pluto Train 2

Woodside has broken ground on a second LNG train at its Pluto gas processing facility on the Burrup Peninsula in Western Australia but the company’s plans are far from on track.

Tougher seven-star energy efficiency standards for new Australian homes set to be approved

Ministers are due to meet on Friday about boosting the required rating for new Australian homes’ energy performance standards from six to seven stars.

Green bank zeroes in on power grid build-out

The head of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, Australia’s green bank, has foreshadowed stepping up investments in the power grid, batteries and hydrogen, as well as a focus on the decarbonisation of the industrial sector.

Regulator did not consult Tiwi Islander traditional owners over Santos gas project, court hears

The offshore gas regulator failed to recognise Tiwi Islander traditional owners as interested parties who needed to be consulted on a massive gas project.

Report reveals the staggering scale of Australia’s net-zero path

A multi-year modelling project details the staggering scale of Australia’s decarbonisation pathway, including how the nation’s north could be transformed by five or six “Tasmania-sized” solar arrays and hydrogen hubs.