So far the Labor leaders including the Northern Territory’s Clare Martin, Queensland’s Premier Peter Beattie and Federal Opposition resources spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon have voiced concern that companies are able to hold leases over discovered resources for decades without proceeding with development.

The Queensland Government famously withdrew the Arukun bauxite leases in the states far north last year after international company Pechiney failed to progress any development after 28 years in control. Premier Beattie claimed the state was losing out on royalties that could be spent on schools and hospitals.

Fitzgibbon has argued that retention leases are inhibiting the development of Australia’s gas export industry in a time of soaring petroleum prices.

Northern Territory Chief Minister Martin added that a number of delayed development proposals appeared to be driven by global priorities rather than Australia's interest.

"I think the heart of the matter is that we are operating in a global market, dealing with global players," she said.

The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) retaliated stating that petroleum exploration and appraisal cost millions of dollars of shareholder money, not taxpayers money, and that any meddling with the present lease system, covering offshore natural gas fields, could disadvantage Australia in an internationally competitive marketplace.