Bight Petroleum has been given permission to carry out seismic testing for oil and gas off the Kangaroo Island coast in South Australia.
The National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Management Authority (NOPSEMA) approval, given on Tuesday, has prompted renewed criticism from The Wilderness Society and Greens Senator Penny Wright.
"Seismic testing will threaten Kangaroo Island's fishing industry and put more SA jobs at risk by threatening eco-tourism to the island," she said in a statement.
Wilderness Society campaigner Kathryn Warhurst said NOPSEMA approved the testing without requiring Bight Petroleum to consult with the community.
"We have come to expect Bight Petroleum's complete disinterest in valid scientific and community concerns," she said in a statement on Wednesday.
"What is shocking is that apparently the regulator NOPSEMA are prepared to let these concerns be ignored."
Senator Wright said Kangaroo Island was famous around the world, yet "under Tony Abbott's tick-and-flick environment scheme, the community doesn't get to have a say".
When the summary of Bight Petroleum's environmental plan was released in coming days, the Greens would know if there were grounds to appeal, she added.
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