Crown Minerals Act Amendment Bill introduced to Parliament

Legislation reinstating petroleum exploration has been introduced by the Coalition Government.

The Crown Minerals Amendment Bill reverses the ban on new oil and gas exploration beyond onshore Taranaki.

The legislation also seeks to better balance the regulatory burden and risk of decommissioning, gives the regulator more flexibility in how exploration permits are issued, and introduces a new tier of mineral permitting that should make it easier for people to undertake small-scale non-commercial gold mining activity.