Gas regulation in Victoria is set for major reform after the Government introduced two new bills aimed at enhancing the security of gas supply for the State. ...

Recent proceedings before the Warden's Court of Western Australia have reinforced a long line of decisions and the nature of a tenement holder's obligations in tenement reporting; affirming the requirements for detailed and accurate reporting on expenditure, and emphasising the importance of ensuring tenement holders are truthful when reporting expenditure. The decisions are a timely reminder of the importance of adequately resourcing the compiling, calculating and reporting expenditure functions (and the need to keep detailed records to substantiate that expenditure), as failure to do so can ultimately lead to forfeiture of tenements. ...

In the recent decision of Pilbara Iron Ore Pty Ltd v Ammon [2020] WASCA 92, the WA Court of Appeal considered a farm-in agreement where one party had to pay for a 'feasibility study' in order to acquire an interest in a mining tenement. The primary question for the Court of Appeal was whether the feasibility study had to be 'bankable' or if it could be of a lower standard. ...

The Interim Report of the once-in-a-decade review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC Act) has recommended major reforms, finding the EPBC Act to be archaic, ineffective and inefficient. ...

Since 20 March 2020, the ACCC has granted a number of urgent interim authorisations across a range of industries allowing businesses to collaborate in response to COVID-19. ...

On 24 March 2020, the Productivity Commission released its draft report on resources sector regulation. ...

On 28 April 2020, a number of amendments to the OPGGSA and the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Regulatory Levies) Act 2003 (Cth) (Levies Act) came into force. ...

The most significant impact of the Act is to extend the term of the State Agreement by a further 25 years from 31 December 2034 to 31 December 2059. ...

In November 2019, the COAG Energy Council released Australia's National Hydrogen Strategy. The Strategy provides a framework for leveraging Australia's significant natural resources and experience with resource development to develop a strong domestic hydrogen sector. ...

Mining has long been a cornerstone of the Australian economy. In the wake of COVID-19, the industry has remained largely resilient, particularly in Western Australia where mining operations have remai ...