Report discusses the contribution that palynological examination by transmitted and reflected light microscopy can make, alone or in conjunction with geochemical methods, towards characterising the maturity, amount and type of organic matter in a rock. During the burial process organic material through heating undergoes colour changes indicative of the level of maturation for hydrocarbon generation, and these changes can be calibrated against other maturity measures, e.g. vitrinite reflectance. Likewise, measurement of the volume of organic matter remaining after demineralisation of palynological samples during preparation provides a guide as to whether the sediments contain sufficient organic matter to be considered as potential sources of significant hydrocarbons. Further, analysis of the proportions of the different types of organic matter recovered from processing of palynological samples allows broad determination of the type of hydrocarbon that the sediments might generate on reaching specific maturity levels. Palynological source rock data from Eromanga and Cooper basins rock units drilled within PELs 5 and 6 and ATP 259P are reviewed (especially as they can help identify the type of hydrocarbons that may be generated within those licences), and the results are plotted as various figures based on the units. The Permian samples appear mainly gas-prone, with relatively minor oil potential, while the Jurassic to early Cretaceous samples show considerable vertical and geographic variation of from very weak to strong oil-generative potential.