Outline of Regulatory and Policy Reform Proposals: Traditional Owners and Australian Offshore Energy Projects (June 2024)

The proposal distinguishes between Traditional Owners directly affected by projects and those in the broader Environment that May be Affected (EMBA). For directly affected communities, reforms require Free, Prior and Informed Consent with project approvals contingent on agreements. For EMBA communities, it proposes consultation processes and a national Traditional Owner Climate Resilience Fund receiving proponent payments. Implementation requires immediate establishment of a Working Group comprising Traditional Owner organizations, industry bodies, and government representatives.

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