Australia’s offshore resources decommissioning roadmap outlines the Albanese Government’s plan to position Australia as a leading jurisdiction for the decommissioning of our offshore energy infrastructure. A competitive offshore decommissioning industry that invests in sustainable jobs, and is backed by strong environmental, social and governance protections, will help support a Future Made in Australia.
The resources and energy industry will spend an estimated $60 billion to decommission offshore oil and gas infrastructure over the next 5 decades. This figure will grow as Australia builds our offshore wind industry.
This roadmap sets out a path for Australia to:
- maximise the amount of decommissioning activity that happens domestically
- improve the efficiency and transparency of planned decommissioning activities
- grow Australia’s industrial capability in decommissioning and materials management
- create safe, high-quality jobs to service a growing decommissioning industry, and
- ensure that industry undertakes its decommissioning obligations in a timely, safe, and environmentally responsible way.
This roadmap provides a pathway for Australian governments, industry, unions, workers, and the community to scale up a local decommissioning industry together—one that maximises benefits for the Australian economy and our environment.
An Australian decommissioning industry can be part of our economic transformation as we move to net zero. It can support new jobs for our skilled offshore workforce and attract new investment for Australian businesses. It can also grow domestic industrial capabilities while supporting the circular economy. This industry will play a key role in the continued protection of our marine environment by ensuring Australia continues to meet the robust environmental standards under Australian and international law.
The foundations of an Australian decommissioning industry have been laid. We have the skills and expertise to underpin a world-class decommissioning industry, backed by strong regulatory settings.
Part of the Australian Government’s approach to decommissioning is to establish an Offshore Decommissioning Directorate. The directorate will work with industry, research institutions, the workforce, First Nations groups, unions, and local communities to:
- encourage collaboration between all levels of government, international jurisdictions, and organisations involved in decommissioning
- improve transparency across the decommissioning pipeline to help businesses plan their investment decisions
- be a trusted partner and advisor on decommissioning policy matters that cut across governments, the industry, and the broader supply chain
- further strengthen our regulatory frameworks to give the community confidence that decommissioning will always remain the responsibility of the offshore industry, and
- ensure that decommissioning industry activities complement the Australian Government’s Future Made in Australia agenda.
The roadmap has been informed by extensive consultation. I would like to recognise the significant contribution by all that helped to develop this roadmap. I look forward to continuing to work closely with the community to realise Australia’s offshore decommissioning potential.