Bill aims to stop reef oil drilling
A private member's bill has been tabled in the Senate seeking to block oil and gas exploration near the Great Barrier Reef.
The bill, co-sponsored by Labor's Jan McLucas and Democrat Andrew Bartlett, seeks to extend the exploration ban to waters inside Australia's economic zone.
Senator McLucas says areas identified for future exploration, including the Queensland and Marion Plateaus, the Townsville and Cato Troughs and the Capricorn Basin, are all east of the marine park.
She says it is unacceptable the park could be threatened by future oil spills.
"The reef is in a fragile state presently because of the effects of climate change and to contemplate drilling for oil near the boundary of the marine park is just astonishing to most people," she said.
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The bill, co-sponsored by Labor's Jan McLucas and Democrat Andrew Bartlett, seeks to extend the exploration ban to waters inside Australia's economic zone.
Senator McLucas says areas identified for future exploration, including the Queensland and Marion Plateaus, the Townsville and Cato Troughs and the Capricorn Basin, are all east of the marine park.
She says it is unacceptable the park could be threatened by future oil spills.
"The reef is in a fragile state presently because of the effects of climate change and to contemplate drilling for oil near the boundary of the marine park is just astonishing to most people," she said.
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