‘Use it or lose it’: exploration and retention licences
What to expect
We’re strengthening our approach to licensing and compliance. Industry can expect:
- clear guidance on expenditure and work program requirements
- regular reminders and communication to support compliance
- better reporting guidance, including combined and expenditure reporting
- more checks on the quality of technical reports, with requests for corrections where needed
- public release of data once a licence expires
- stronger action on non-compliance, including part cancellations, refusals and reduced licence areas where work isn’t being delivered
- opportunities to rationalise portfolios by surrendering or transferring licences that are no longer a priority
- faster renewals for high-performing licensees
- procedural fairness, with the chance to justify performance before cancelations or refusals.
Notice of part cancellation
We will only cancel part of a licence under section 38A if the licensee has not met their obligations and cannot show they are carrying out their approved exploration work program.
When we carry out assessments, we will consider:
- For licensees that are not competing applications and are at their 2nd anniversary, the assessment checks that:
- all reports have been submitted
- all rent invoices have been paid.
- For licensees given highest priority, or at their 4th, 7th or 10th anniversary, the assessment includes the above checks plus:
- whether reported expenditure is satisfactory
- whether a bond has been lodged
- whether the work plan has been approved or Low Impact Exploration been advised
- whether the reported expenditure categories match the proposed program of work.
If requirements aren’t being met, we will issue a notice of part cancellation. Licensees will have the chance to either:
- nominate an area for cancellation and/or
- provide justification for why the licence should not be reduced/cancelled.
Page last updated: 25 Aug 2025