Australia’s oil and gas industry is entering a period of sustained decommissioning activity, shifting from historically small, isolated projects to a growing and complex pipeline of work. As this transition accelerates, stakeholders across government, regulators, titleholders, the supply chain, and the broader community are continuing to build capability and adapt existing systems to support this emerging phase of the asset lifecycle. This shift has placed increasing pressure on regulatory frameworks, many of which were originally designed to support exploration and production rather than large-scale decommissioning.
In response, CODA commissioned Kent PLC to undertake a detailed review of the regulatory environment governing onshore and offshore decommissioning. This report examines Australia’s decommissioning regulatory landscape, shaped by multiple jurisdictions, overlapping legislation, and evolving expectations. It draws on regulatory mapping and industry consultation to better understand how the current system is applied in practice, and to identify opportunities to improve clarity, consistency, and efficiency.
In summary, the study:
- Maps Australia’s decommissioning regulatory landscape across international, Commonwealth, and state and territory frameworks.
- Examines how regulations apply across the full lifecycle, from planning and approvals through to dismantling, transport, and disposal.
- Captures industry and regulator perspectives through targeted stakeholder consultation.
- Identifies key pressure points, including overlap, inconsistency, and complexity across jurisdictions.
- Groups findings into core themes such as coordination, approvals, guidance, and logistics.
- Outlines practical recommendations to improve clarity, consistency, and efficiency.
- Highlights opportunities to strengthen collaboration and regulatory understanding across the sector.
The full version of this study, as well as other studies, is available to CODA partners via the CODA Partner Portal.
Access the full report via the Partner Portal
