The Latest Breaking News from Beetaloo

Conservationists say memorandum should prompt the government to be cautious as it drafts water allocation plans for Beetaloo Basin

What a difference six months makes. Before the federal election, the Beetaloo Basin in the Northern Territory was to have spearheaded Australia’s “gas-led recovery”. But Origin Energy this week announced it would sell its share of the basin project ahead of a wider exit from new gas ventures.

Origin Energy will divest its stake in gas exploration in the Beetaloo Basin entirely in a major shift, as it focuses on a "refreshed strategy" to "grow cleaner energy and customer solutions".

Origin Energy has offloaded its stake in the gas-rich Beetaloo Basin for a loss of up to $90 million, but it doesn't spell the end of controversial development.