Gas producers appeal for reforms after Scarborough ruling

afr.com:

Offshore gas operators are calling for urgent reforms to petroleum approvals regulations after the Federal Court overturned approval for seismic testing on Woodside Energy’s $16.5 billion Scarborough LNG project.

The ruling on Thursday has stoked industry concerns that the regulatory approvals system has become unworkable and includes loopholes that are being used by activists in a bid to stymie gas development.

Cooper Energy, a Victorian producer, was among other offshore operators that have voiced worries about the impact of the court decision, which tore up a regulatory clearance given for the work by the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority.

Cooper Energy CEO Jane Norman said the legal framework for approvals needs to provide certainty. 

“Industry, investors and the community need and expect a legal framework which provides certainty for the regulator to deliver timely approvals based on their expert assessment of the science and management of environmental risk,” Cooper chief executive Jane Norman said.

“The [regulations] urgently need amending to ensure multimillion-dollar critical energy projects, which the regulator has approved, can progress on schedule to alleviate gas supply shortages to address the escalating cost-of-living burden on households.”

Samantha McCulloch, the chief executive of the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association, an industry group, said regulations that provide clarity and certainty for industry while maintaining consultation obligations were “desperately needed”. “Governments must make clear regulations for consultation that maintain high standards of consultation with stakeholders, including traditional owners, but also provide