Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Hansard source

The government opposes these amendments. These amendments, in singling out the Great Australian Bight, would exclude a significant area of potential for Australia's oil and gas sector from possibly being realised in the future. The government remains committed to encouraging the safe and sustainable development of Australia's offshore petroleum resources, overseen by the world-class regulator—and through regulatory standards—the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority, or NOPSEMA.

As senators are well aware, to provide additional assurances around NOPSEMA's processes and their robustness and foundation upon science and evidence, last year the government commissioned an independent audit of NOPSEMA's assessment of exploration activities in the Great Australian Bight. This was conducted by the Chief Scientist, Dr Alan Finkel, together with experts in community engagement, geoscience, marine science and offshore exploratory drilling and regulation. The audit found that NOPSEMA is a highly skilled, professional and competent regulator and has appropriate processes and practices to ensure environment plans are assessed against relevant, sufficient and complete scientific and technical information and against the requirements of relevant legislation.

Communities around the bight should be assured that oil and gas exploration, where undertaken, is undertaken safely.

Senator Hanson-Young interjecting—

I note the interjection from Senator Hanson-Young there. I would equally note that, in other parts of Australia, where we have seen oil or gas drilling undertaken for decades, there is successful coexistence of industries like tourism, fisheries and other agricultural industries within those same regions. This amendment is not proposed on the basis of science or rigorous assessment processes but is simply opposition to resource development. Indeed, I think everybody in this chamber, if they were being honest, would acknowledge that, if the Greens thought they could propose an amendment that banned all drilling exploration in any Australian waters, they would cheerily put that forward as well. The bight has strong and appropriate protections, with 14 marine parks covering some 508,371 square kilometres, stretching from Kangaroo Island to the Abrolhos islands in Western Australia, all part of the South-west Marine Parks Network. The bight basin remains one of Australia's frontier basins and any proposals for new oil and gas fields in this area will be assessed fairly and independently by NOPSEMA, whose powers and authorities are expanded as a result of the bill that we are putting forward, in terms of protections provided. For those reasons, the government opposes the amendment.

The CHAIR: The question is that the amendments, as moved by Senator Hanson-Young, on sheet 8886, (1) and (2), together, by leave, be agreed to.

Question negatived.

The CHAIR: Senator Hanson-Young.