Protesters call for ban on oil drilling in Great Australian Bight

Thousands of surfers, swimmers and kayakers took to the sea around the nation in protest at plans to explore for oil and gas in the Great Australian Bight by Norwegian company Equinor. SEE THE PHOTOS

Fight for The Bight protest at Victor Harbor on Sunday. Picture: Nathan Godwin

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More than a thousand protesters at Victor Harbor joined activists around the nation calling for a ban on exploring for oil and gas in the Great Australian Bight.

Coinciding with events in Warrnambool, Wollongong, Manly, Byron Bay, Perth, Manly, Torquay and the Sunshine Coast, the protesters at Victor Harbor took to the sea to make their case.

Wilderness Society South Australian director Peter Owen said the plans by Norwegian company Equinor to conduct a deepwater drilling campaign should be rejected.

The protest was one of many across the country. Picture: Nathan Godwin

Protesters before the Victor Harbor paddle. Picture: Bill Doyle

“Thousands of people turned up at events around the country today calling on Equinor to drop its plans for ultra-deepwater oil-drilling in the Great Australian Bight, backing 15 councils across southern Australia’s coast representing more than half a million people that have voted serious concerns and opposition to Bight oil drilling,” he said.

“Ultra-deepwater drilling is a relatively new, high-risk operation carried out mostly off the coast of Brazil and in the Gulf of Mexico, where it caused the world’s biggest oil spill accident, BP’s Deepwater Horizon tragedy in 2010, when 800 million litres of oil spewed into the gulf for 87 days.”

Paddle out demonstration against drilling for petroleum in the Great Australian Bight. Photo: Nick Clayton

Speaking at Victor Harbor, Mirning elder Bunna Lawrie said he had inherited responsibility to protect the sea and whales.

“I cannot allow oil and gas companies to drill in the Great Australian Bight,” he said.

The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association SA and NT director Matthew Doman said the industry recognised there are questions and concerns in the community about the project.

“We call for sensible and balanced debate,” Mr Doman said.

“Publicity stunts do little to inform public discussion.”

Equinor published a draft environmental plan on February 19 and is inviting comments during a 30-day period.

Once it has assessed comments, it is expected to formally lodge a plan with regulatory body the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority.