Great Australian Bight: parties soften stance as voters protest over drilling

With sitting Liberal MPs along coast under pressure from angry electorate, Coalition promises audit of regulator's decision

A last-ditch effort to win votes in key seats in South Australia and Victoria has prompted both major parties to make changes to their policies on oil drilling in the Great Australian Bight.

The resources minister Matt Canavan - who has previously said offshore oil exploration should be a national priority - said on Thursday a re-elected Coalition government would commission an independent audit of the oil regulator's consideration of exploration in the Bight.