Greens welcome offshore oil and gas exploration ban in NSW
The NSW Government’s decision to ban offshore oil and gas exploration has been welcomed by the Greens, who have commended the coastal communities that have fought tirelessly for the win.
Quotes attributable to Greens spokesperson for healthy oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson:
“Today’s decision by the NSW Government is momentous - but this win belongs to all those ocean-goers who have rallied hard on this matter for years in a bid to protect their local marine ecosystems and avoid irreversible changes to the Earth’s climate.
“It is unforgivable that our government continues to invite big oil and gas corporations to explore our marine environment for the very product that is killing our oceans. People want their leaders to start taking bold and radical climate action, and today’s news is welcome proof that with enough sustained pressure people power and protest action works.
“I call on all other states to resist the toxic influence of big oil and gas companies and follow NSW’s momentous lead on banning oil and gas exploration in state waters. Especially the Victorian, West Australian and Tasmanian governments which all have dangerous offshore oil and gas projects in the works – these projects are already threatening their coastal communities and local fisheries with things like risky seismic testing.
“The Greens will continue our plan to ban all new oil and gas exploration in our Commonwealth waters. New Zealand, Greenland, Spain, Denmark, Costa Rica, France, Belize and Portugal have all implemented bans on new oil and gas exploration – there is no reason Australia shouldn’t do the same.”
Quotes attributable to NSW Greens MP and marine life spokesperson Cate Faehrmann:
"Coastal communities in NSW have fought long and hard for this outcome. Offshore oil and gas drilling is a disaster for our oceans and marine life and this announcement is a long overdue but welcome recognition of that.
"With time running out for action on climate change I'm calling on the NSW Government to take a similar approach to all fossil fuels as many other countries are starting to do and phase out coal and gas completely by 2030."