Queensland quietly grants fracking leases to Origin in fragile channel country

Environment groups believe the energy giant is targeting shale oil, but the company says project in early stages'

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The Queensland government has quietly approved applications from energy company Origin that could lead to the extraction of fossil fuels across 225,000 hectares of Queensland's channel country - part of one of the world's last major free-flowing desert river systems.

Environmentalists and traditional owners said drilling in the fragile environment would threaten rivers, unique wildlife and could compromise the region's organic beef industry. There are fears that the controversial technique known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, could also be used.

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