A month after the NSW Labor Government promised to ban new offshore oil and gas projects, the Victorian Greens will today re-introduce their bill for an identical ban in Victorian waters.
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 - as well as exploration, pipelines and infrastructure - to protect our precious coastlines and marine life.
Right now, there are more than a dozen gas projects in the works across Victoria, including right next to the 12 Apostles marine national park.
And this year, fossil fuel companies will start seismic blasting to explore for new oil and gas under the ocean floor between Victoria and Tasmania.
Loud blasts of air will be sent into the seabed every 10 - 15 seconds, for weeks or even months.
These blasts can be heard hundreds of kilometres away and are loud enough to deafen whales, ruin lobsters' balance, and severely injure or kill shellfish and zooplankton.
Deputy Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell, said it beggared belief that the Labor Government was still supporting new oil and gas drilling in a climate crisis.
She said the Greens would continue to stand with Traditional Owners and local communities in the fight to stop seismic blasting and all new gas drilling.
As stated by Deputy Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell MP:
"This summer we've seen the horrific impacts of climate change - storms, floods, and fires have ravaged Victoria and devastated communities. Yet Labor in Victoria continues to support new gas drilling, which makes fires, storms and floods more intense."
"Even the NSW Government has said they will ban offshore gas drilling - so how can Labor in Victoria justify supporting more oil and gas drilling, including next to the 12 Apostles marine national park?"
"Victorians love our oceans and coastlines, but they're at risk unless we ban offshore drilling for good."
As stated by Victorian Greens water spokesperson, Dr Sarah Mansfield:
"Seismic blasting and offshore drilling for oil and gas spells disaster for our oceans, and for our climate.
"The science is clear - we need to get off gas, not open up new areas for exploration.
"If these projects proceed, it will be years, even decades, until the gas comes online.
"We should be investing in renewable energy sources, not mining the fragile and biodiverse Southern Ocean for unnecessary fossil fuels."
