Managing offshore Australia and its resources

The Australian Government manages over 10 million km2 of ocean, one of the largest marine jurisdictions in the world. Australia’s marine estate is a significant and growing source of wealth for all Australians. The area is used by a range of industries, government and persons for various purposes including shipping and navigation, tourism, conservation, culture and heritage, commercial and recreational fishing, oil and gas exploration and production, and defence activities. Looking ahead, activities such as carbon capture and storage (CCS) and offshore renewable energy will be active in the offshore. This paper explores the regulatory frameworks which govern interaction and co-existence of CCS projects, petroleum exploration and development and offshore wind proposals in Commonwealth waters.