The Australian Greens yesterday were the only party to vote in favour of recognising the ecological, economic and social importance of the Kangaroo Island Canyons and Pool to the Kangaroo Island community and South Australian community as a whole.

Earlier this month, Bight Petroleum applied for approval under national environmental laws to begin exploring for oil and gas in Commonwealth waters to the west of Kangaroo Island between January and May next year. The company intends to start drilling in 2014.

I move that the Senate:

1) notes Bight Petroleum's referral of a proposed action under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Reference Number: 2012/9583) dated 15 October 2012 which sets out the company's intention to undertake seismic testing over a 3000 sq km area to the west of Kangaroo Island between January and May 2013;

2) recognises the ecological, economic and social importance of the Kangaroo Island Canyons & Pool, first and foremost for the Kangaroo Island community, but also for South Australia as a whole; and

Tuesday, October 30 2012

 Tarkine Listing Clarification Confirms no Impact on Existing Mines.

   The Australian Greens have welcomed the Tarkine National Coalition (TNC), fulfilling a commitment given to Australian Workers’ Union National Secretary, Paul Howes, at a meeting in   Sydney last week.

As you may be aware, I recently organised a meeting between Scott Jordan from the Tarkine National Coalition (TNC), and Paul Howes, National Secretary of the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU).

Scott, along with other members of the TNC, has been working tirelessly for years to implement a plan to protect this fragile area on Tasmania’s west coast.

The TNC has also tried – unsuccessfully – to meet with many supporters of the proposed new mines for the Tarkine region, in order to discuss their differences.

Check out Peter’s Questions Without Notice to Senator Stephen Conroy representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Tony Burke, on the Tarkine. Senator Conroy’s responses show the Government aren’t concerned the region is subject to 58 exploration licences, three granted mining leases, two planned mining leases and an unknown number of the remaining 58 licences being progressed toward the granting of mining leases, covering 80% of the Tarkine.

Today’s modelling released by the Murray Darling Basin Authority has shown that the earlier figure of 2750GL/y was unacceptable, highlighting the fact that more needs to be done before a Plan can be agreed to, according to the Australian Greens.

 “The MDBA’s analysis of a 3200GL/y environmental return shows that the much touted earlier figure of 2750GL/y was inadequate and that further scientific study must be carried out,” Greens spokesperson for the Murray Darling Basin, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.