Scrutiny for approval of oil, gas exploration in Great Australian Bight as industry launches advertising blitz

Drilling for oil in the Great Australian Bight will be scrutinised in Federal Parliament this week as the petroleum industry launches an advertising blitz of locals supporting the controversial proposal.

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Drilling for oil in the Great Australian Bight will be scrutinised in Federal Parliament this week as the petroleum industry launches an advertising blitz spruiking supporting views for the controversial proposal.

Centre Alliance Senator Rex Patrick will use the senate estimates hearing to question the independent regulator, NOPSEMA, about the recent approval of seismic testing in The Bight.

Norwegian-based company PGS last month won approval for seismic testing off Kangaroo Island.

Oil company Equinor is soon expected to publicly release its complete environmental plan to drill in The Bight after more than 18 months of consultation.

Its draft report, which was leaked late last year, contained modelling showing an oil spill could stretch as far as the New South Wales coast.

Drilling in The Bight has divided many parts of the community but has the in-principal support of the state and federal governments.

Southern right whales in the Great Australian Bight. Picture: Great Australian Bight Right Whale Study — Curtin University

Equinor has long maintained it will only conduct drilling operations with the assurance its operations are “safe for people, communities and the environment”.

Senator Patrick, a former submariner and has an acoustics background, said he recently visited Port Lincoln and heard concerns from the Australian Tuna Industry Association.

“What I have to do is make sure that every step along the way they have carried out their due diligence properly,” he said. “There is significant concern in the Port Lincoln community about future plans.”

He will on Thursday question NOPSEMA about the manner in which the acoustic modelling has been carried out.

The continued debate about oil and gas exploration in The Bight comes as the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association launched a campaign, including a series of television advertisements and social media, highlighting the views of supportive community leaders such as former Port Lincoln mayor Bruce Green and oyster grower Bruce Zippel.

“We believe increasing public advocacy in a measured, sensible, honest manner is essential to countering continued alarmist claims being made by opponents of development,” APPEA spokesman Matt Doman said.