Drilling ban vital as Bight oil spill risks grow

Leaked documents from Equinor's own oil spill data that show oil could reach Sydney beaches are a wake-up call to all Australians, the Greens say.

"This internal report shows oil and sludge would devastate Australia's southern coastline, all the way up to Sydney's beaches. It must be stopped," Greens environment spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

"This alarming new data must put to bed any consideration for allowing oil and gas drilling in the Great Australian Bight. It has serious dangers for almost all Australian states.



"Equinor has identified the risk but refuses to do the right thing and back out of the Bight. BP and Chevron got the message, it's time for Equinor to pack up their bags and go home. It's time the community prevailed over corporate profits.

"Our entire southern coastline, right up to Sydney beaches, is at risk of an oil spill in the Bight. South Australians have been passionately fighting this; the new report is a clarion call for other states to join the fight.

"We must not risk a devastating oil spill that could wipe species out, as well as jobs in tourism and fisheries around the country. On top of all of this, we know that the profits - and the oil - would be sent off-shore while we carry the risk.

"Not only is the risk of an oil spill too great, but drilling in the Bight locks us into burning fossil fuels at a time when we need to phase out dirty energy to help arrest climate change.

"This will be a key issue leading up to the next federal election. The Greens stand with the passionate community who want drilling in the Bight banned.

"South Australians overwhelmingly support World Heritage protection for the Great Australian Bight. We should be proud of this beautiful marine wilderness, not turning it into an oil field."

Wednesday, November 14, 2018