This was reported in The Australian in May but has recently hit TV news.
The first map shows current Petroleum Exploration Licences.

The next shows applications not yet approved as licences and by far the largest area are Petroleum Special Prospecting Authority Applications by the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) – approx three-eighths of the State.

The main area of applications that is not NSWALC is the block in the NW corner of the State, north of Broken Hill which is by Northern Territory Oil Limited. Some areas with darker colours might be overlapping applications by competing parties. The NSWALC has very recently become noticed in the world of mineral exploration too, making “expressions of interest” EoI for two uranium exploration areas in the State, exactly which areas I do not know.
Continue reading New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council applies for vast areas of NSW under Petroleum Special Prospecting Authority Applications →