Statement: Albanese mindlessly sacrifices new ocean acreage for fossil fuel pillaging

The Federal government has today announced five new areas for offshore gas exploration in the Otway Basin. 

The release is said to have followed a review of offshore acreage processes and consultation with industry. Local communities, environmental groups, tourism businesses and fishers are only now being given the chance to comment, with a consultation period over the summer holiday period. 

This announcement has been condemned by the Wilderness Society.

The new areas sit in Commonwealth waters near Lutruwita / Tasmania’s globally significant World Heritage west coast and out to sea adjacent to Victoria’s iconic Great Ocean Road. They vastly expand the frontier of the gas industry into an ocean region that is home to 42 threatened species including southern right and blue whales. 

The Wilderness Society is particularly concerned to see this announcement expand the oil and gas frontier towards the World Heritage listed coastline of western Lutruwita / Tasmania. This region is a global biodiversity hotspot for whales, seals, dolphins, seabirds, seaweeds, sponges, crustaceans and many other globally unique species. Western Lutruwita / Tasmania contains the most extensive intact and undisturbed coastline and small islands in southeastern Australia and is of profound ecological significance.

Gas exploration is an environmentally destructive practice that includes seismic blasting and drilling, with impacts on marine life, fishing grounds and coastal communities. Gas drilling also carries risk of gas leaks and oil spills. 

Fern Cadman, Fossil Fuel Industry Campaigner for the Wilderness Society, said, “It’s deeply disturbing that while parts of our country are on fire, fuelled by climate heating and burning of fossil fuels, the Albanese government is mindlessly paving the way for new gas drilling. Australia is meant to be on a path transitioning away from fossil fuels, not opening the door to brand new gas.

"Any suggestion this is about short term domestic gas supply is nonsense. The timeline for any new gas is at best a decade, and only if gas is discovered and commercially viable to produce.

“The five areas identified are in deep, wild ocean, wholly unsuitable for gas exploration. They include geologically unstable deep-water submarine canyon systems, where gas drilling is high risk and a spill would be catastrophic. 

“This region is home to 42 threatened species, it's critical habitat for the magnificent southern right and blue whales, and the most southern area brings new fossil fuels to the doorstep of Lutruwita / Tasmania's globally recognised World Heritage western coastline. 

“This announcement brings new fossil fuels to the doorstep of Lutruwita / Tasmania’s western World Heritage recognised coast, a global biodiversity hotspot for whales, seals, dolphins, seabirds, seaweeds, sponges, crustaceans and many other globally unique species. The last thing Australia should be doing is opening up new gas exploration. It's a climate change disaster. And to do it right next to a World Heritage recognised coast is a double disaster.

“This announcement flies in the face of deep and sustained opposition from communities along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road and King Island Lutruwita / Tasmania to seismic blasting and new drilling.”