Governments, the community and industry expect public policy to be implemented effectively and efficiently, particularly when that policy and regulation affects the economic well being and environmental values of the nation. The offshore petroleum exploration and production industry is a case where public policy and regulation are attracting national focus through discussions on the timing of world peak oil production and the future of national and global oil and gas production. An overseas history of famous environmental disasters associated with petroleum exploration and production and transportation also ensures a specific focus on the environmental regulation of the industry. This study elaborates the history and characteristics of the offshore petroleum E&Pindustries in Australia and the US, and the systems and processes used to provide technical advice that informs and advises the regulation of those industries. The study then analyses the management of technical advice for government regulation of the offshore petroleum exploration and production (E&P) industry in Australia using the US equivalent as benchmark. Further, the analysis develops a model that incorporates strategic and operational elements of such advice. Strategic elements include openness, transparency and accountability, and operational elements include use of expertise, timeliness and peer communication. The study illustrates the relative challenges to providing technical advice under Australia�s Westminister form of government which can be less open, transparent and accountable when compared to the US Congressional form of government. The study also shows the greater use of expertise and peer communication associated with the more extensive petroleum research effort in the US, reflecting the greater age and size of its petroleum industry.

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