- Independent MP Monique Ryan’s private members bill to abolish controversial seismic blasting permits was tabled today, but will not be debated until next sitting of parliament, possibly after the federal election
- More than 21,400 Australians have called for an end to these seismic blasting permits due to marine threats including deafening whales and killing krill
- With the imminent decision a seismic blasting SPA project off the Victorian coast, AMCS calls for an immediate moratorium on seismic blasting in Australian waters until recommendations of the Making Waves Senate Inquiry are implemented
Independent federal parliament member Monique Ryan’s private members bill to abolish controversial seismic blasting permits was tabled in parliament today, but the debate on the bill will not take place until the next sitting of parliament, which may be after the federal election, sparking a call for an immediate nationwide moratorium on seismic blasting to protect endangered marine life. The bill, to abolish Special Prospecting Authority (SPA) permits for seismic blasting, was seconded by Liberal MP Bridget Archer.
AMCS has been campaigning to abolish SPA permits for a year with more than 21,000 Australians signing a petition calling on federal Resources Minister Madeleine King to abolish these permits due to threats to whales and marine ecosystems. Despite this widespread public opposition, the Australian government has failed to act, leaving the issue delayed till the next sitting of parliament, potentially after the federal election.
Seismic blasting involves repeated airgun blasts, that sound like bombs repeatedly exploding, to detect fossil fuels below the ocean floor. Studies have shown seismic blasting can deafen whales, wipe out krill and damage fragile marine ecosystems.
The offshore oil and gas regulator, NOPSEMA, is currently considering an application by geotechnical company CGG for an SPA for seismic blasting off the coast of Warrnambool, and near the Apollo marine park, but AMCS says this proposal poses a risk to endangered southern right whales in their migration routes.
AMCS Oil and Gas Campaign Manager Louise Morris said: “Seismic blasting threatens sensitive marine environments, displacing endangered whales from feeding grounds, migration routes and calving grounds, and causing mass mortalities in krill for up to 1.2 kilometres around the site of the blasts. The Special Prospecting Authority (SPA) permits are used to allow some of the worst seismic blasting in sensitive marine habitats, including off the coast of Victoria and Tasmania.
“Tens of thousands of Australians have called on the Albanese government to clean up these reckless cowboy permits. Over the past years we have seen communities taking action to stop seismic blasting proposals using SPA permits from taking place. Most notably in Tasmania and Victoria as communities paddled out, petitioned and protested against seismic blasting proposals with SPA permits off their coastlines.
“Parliament has kicked the can down the road to take urgent action to abolish these reckless permits, and our oceans cannot wait any longer. In a matter of weeks, we are expecting to see the offshore regulator make a decision on whether to approve one of these projects off the coast of Victoria. Had the Resources Minister acted within her remit to abolish SPA permits over the past year of this campaign by AMCS and the community, this critical issue could have been addressed without delay in Parliament.
“We’re calling on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to declare an urgent nationwide moratorium, or temporary ban, on seismic blasting in Commonwealth waters until the key recommendations from the Making Waves Senate Inquiry are enacted.
“The 2021 Making Waves Senate Inquiry report highlighted the risks seismic blasting poses to Australian marine life and coastal industries, with key recommendations for urgent reform to the industry – yet its recommendations remain unimplemented.
“We call for comprehensive scientific research confirming the marine impacts of seismic blasting on Australian marine life, and until seismic data access laws are reformed to stop the repeat blasting of the same areas of oceans as is currently permitted in areas like the Otway Basin, and north-west Australia.
“Seismic blasting has continued unchecked for decades, with areas such as the Otway Basin blasted mercilessly more than 600 times in the past few decades. This is made possible by commercial in confidence laws that allow fossil fuel companies to keep that information secret for up to 15 years. These broken rules enable unnecessary repeat blasting in areas of the ocean that have already been surveyed, just to re-sell the seismic data to the highest bidder.
“Reckless seismic blasting that then allows the fossil fuel industry to expand its offshore activities, is not a price Australians are willing to pay. Until the government acts on the Senate’s recommendations, seismic blasting of our ocean must stop.
“We urge Australians to join us in calling on Prime Minister Albanese to take a stand by declaring an immediate seismic blasting moratorium for our oceans, and protect Australia’s unique marine ecosystems from further harmful, reckless seismic blasting.”
