Great Australian Bight: Wilderness Society launches legal challenge to Equinor's oil drilling approval

Conservation group say the Norwegian energy giant refused to formally consult with affected groups

The Wilderness Society has launched legal action challenging the environmental approval granted to Norwegian energy giant Equinor to explore for oil in the Great Australian Bight.

The conservation group had flagged a possible court case after the proposal to deepwater drill in the Great Australian Bight Marine Park was approved by the federal offshore petroleum regulator in December. It was the second, and most significant, of four regulatory hurdles Equinor needs to clear before it can drill.