26 September, 2024
Oil and gas exploration companies TGS and SLB-Schlumberger have voluntarily withdrawn their massive exploration proposal in the Otway Basin. This is a huge win for ocean protection and for all of those who want to see an end to oil and gas exploration in our waters!
TGS had originally proposed the world's largest gas exploration project on record for waters west of Bass Strait, located in the middle of important biological areas, known to be used by endangered blue whales and countless other marine life. After months of campaigning and community opposition from coastal communities and environmental orgs TGS has finally withdrawn their proposal.
The proposal prompted widespread community protests along the Victorian coastline, and coastal communities and Victorian MPS have been calling on the Federal Government and the offshore oil and gas regulator NOPSEMA to stop the project. It’s clear that coastal communities want an end to offshore oil and gas in our waters - it also shows that when people join the party wave of climate action, people power wins!
Surfers for Climate CEO - Josh Kirkman:
“It’s time for oil and gas exploration to be wiped out of our oceans for good, especially when we have an abundance of natural and renewable resources such as wind and solar that can power us into a clean future.
“It’s clear that communities along the Otway coast, as well as surfing communities around Australia, don’t want to see any more damaging fossil fuel exploration in their waters - the days of social licence for sucking up fossil fuels from our ocean are done.
“Surfing and coastal communities put their hands up, joined the party wave of action, and added their voices to challenge the TGS proposal - and it paid off. A huge shout to environmental orgs like AMCS, Friends of the Earth, OCEAN and the Surfrider Foundation for the tremendous work all of them have done.
“We now need the Albanese Government to commit to an end date on all new oil and gas exploration in our ocean. It is one of our most precious resources and it needs to be protected from carbon polluting oil and gas extraction forever.”
ENDS
Media Contacts:
Josh Kirkman, CEO, Surfers for Climate: 0421 594 487
About Surfers for Climate
Surfers for Climate is an Australian charity dedicated to turning the tide on climate change. Our Line in the Sand campaign has been on the front line of gaining bipartisan support to see an end to oil and gas exploration in Australia’s oceans. Surfers for Climate engages and collaborates with coastal communities on protecting Australia's oceans and shifting to renewable energy.