Gas exploration permits off the Western Australian coast have been granted to Chevron, Inpex, Melbana Energy and Woodside Energy, as part of long-awaited acreage release.
Parts of the Browse, Perth, Bonaparte and Northern Carnarvon basins will be opened to offshore greenhouse gas carbon capture exploration, as part of an acreage release.
Environmentalists are angry and commercial fishermen fearful after the federal government revealed plans for expanding oil and gas exploration in Australian waters.