Australian State Bans Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration

An undated handout photo shows Australian resources giant Woodside's Cossack Pioneer oil production facility in the North West Shelf gas project, which produces a third of Australia's oil and half of its natural gas, off the northwest coast of Australia. AFP via Getty Images

The New South Wales (NSW) government announced that it will stop support for all offshore exploration and mining around the state’s coastal waters for commercial purposes.

Any offshore exploration or mining will be limited to tackling coastal erosion through beach renourishment, the Deputy Premier and Resources Minister Paul Toole said.