2016-04-14
Greens Senator for South Australia Robert Simms says shareholders should raise concerns with BP over its environmentally risky plan to drill for oil in the Great Australian Bight.
BP is holding its Annual General Meeting today in London. A Climate Analytics report also released today stated an oil spill would be "devastating for South Australia's $442 million fishing industry and its tourism industries in coastal regions, worth more than $1 billion and decimate the rich and many endangered creatures of this ocean".
"BP shareholders should be concerned that their company is willing to risk an environmental catastrophe in the Great Australian Bight," said Senator Simms.
"BP has been responsible for the Deepwater Horizon tragedy, the worst oil disaster in history, and now they are taking aim at our pristine Great Australian Bight where drilling would be even more precarious.
"BP has already seen its application rejected once by NOPSEMA, and concerns have been raised about the company's continued refusal to publicly release its oil spill modelling.
"The Greens call on BP shareholders to pressure the company at their AGM in London later today to ditch this inconsiderate plan which puts South Australia's tourism and fishing industries at grave risk."
In February Senator Simms and fellow South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon successfully initiated an inquiry into BP's plans for the Great Australian Bight, which is expected to report back later this year.