‘Nothing off limits’: offshore gas and oil exploration area 5km from Twelve Apostles

Conservationists call for urgent rethink' after Australian government announces 21 offshore exploration areas

One of Australia's most-photographed tourist destinations - the limestone stacks known as the Twelve Apostles off the coast of Victoria - is less than five kilometres from new areas announced on Tuesday for offshore oil and and gas exploration.

Conservationists said the release of the areas showed nothing is off limits to the oil and gas industry" and the opening up of new offshore blocks for fossil fuels needed an urgent rethink.