2022-03-08
The Victorian Greens will today introduce a Bill that would ban offshore drilling for fossil fuels like oil and gas in Victoria.
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment (No New Oil or Gas Activities) Bill 2022 would place an immediate ban on any future offshore drilling to protect our precious coastlines and marine life.
The move follows a ban on all offshore drilling or mining announced by the NSW Government two weeks ago.
Deputy Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell MP, said the Victorian Labor Government’s aggressive push for more offshore oil and gas drilling in our oceans was a climate disaster and must be stopped.
She added that at a time when the world’s scientists were saying the window to save ourselves from climate change was rapidly closing, Labor’s approval of drilling for more fossil fuels was climate vandalism.
The Greens have been working on this Bill since it emerged last year that the Victorian Labor Government was on the brink of approving new gas drilling right next to Victoria’s iconic 12 Apostles marine park.
To coincide with the introduction of their Bill today, the Greens have also launched a petition calling on the Victorian Labor Government to support the Bill and to follow NSW's lead in banning offshore drilling for oil and gas.
Quotes attributable to Deputy Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell MP:
“The Victorian community loves our oceans and coastlines, but they’re at risk because the Victorian Labor Government has opened them up for oil and gas drilling, including right near the 12 Apostles.
“We’re already seeing the horrific impacts of climate change - like unprecedented flooding in NSW and Queensland. In this context, Victorian Labor’s support for new oil and gas drilling is climate vandalism.
“The Greens are urging all MPs to support our bill for a ban on offshore drilling, so that we can protect our climate, our coastlines, and our precious marine life.