Turnbull Government has no right to risk the Bight

2018-05-16

The Australian Greens strongly condemn the Turnbull Government for further opening up the Great Australian Bight for oil and gas drilling.

“Despite the broad community opposition to big oil and gas companies risking the Bight, Resources Minister Matt Canavan continues to roll out the red carpet,” Greens Senator for South Australia Sarah Hanson-Young said.

“The impacts of an oil spill in the Bight would be devastating. Within a matter of days, oil would be washing up on the shores of Kangaroo Island and Adelaide beaches.

“The community opposition to this is huge, yet the Government is not listening to the people. There is no social license to drill in the Bight.

“Statoil is hearing that message loud and clear, and the fossil fuels big wigs in Adelaide this week for the APPEA conference have seen the protests against oil and gas drilling in the Bight. South Australia says no way.

“The Great Australian Bight is a unique marine wonderland and it deserves World Heritage protection, not oil and gas companies of the world risking it for the sake of their mega profits.”