Overview
- Australia’s environment minister said Queensland can use an existing state–federal assessment deal to speed any Taroom Trough approval but has not lodged a plan.
- He said the Commonwealth has received no basic project details, including the number and depth of wells, likely environmental risks, or proposed pipelines.
- In a letter to the premier, he said there is no separate National Interest fast-track under the EPBC Act and that the current deal already avoids duplicate approvals.
- Queensland has ordered a 12-month Queensland Productivity Commission inquiry into that deal, which the minister warned would slow any attempt to move faster.
- Premier David Crisafulli has framed the push as a fuel-security move, while reports note Shell’s small output in the area and say the field, if developed, could be the first new Australian oilfield in about 50 years.