The Greens will today introduce a Bill to stop drilling in the Great Australian Bight and move for World Heritage Listing following a groundswell of community support around the country.
"It is high time the Great Australian Bight was protected from drilling. It is the role of the Parliament to listen to the will of the people, and the people have made their view crystal clear," Greens environment spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
"Polls consistently show a vast majority of South Australians oppose drilling in the Bight, with thousands turning out to protest at paddle outs across the state and around the country.
"The government cannot be let off the hook on drilling in the Bight. The power to stop Big Oil is in the hands of politicians in Canberra.
"It is time we in the Parliament protect the Bight, the endangered species that call it home and the vibrant fishing and tourism industries that employ thousands of South Australians.
"This Bill will not only ban drilling in the Bight, it will set it on the path to World Heritage listing. The Bight is iconically Australian, it provides critical habitat for many threatened species, and it is part of our national identity. It deserves to be protected."
