Jordon Steele-John (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Scott Reef is a vibrant ocean sanctuary off the coast of my home state of WA. This reef is home to dolphins, green turtles and rays, some species found nowhere else in the world. Devastatingly, this majestic reef is under threat from Woodside. Our ocean is facing so many threats: climate change, deep sea mining and fossil fuel drilling. Without protection, the ocean and the vibrant life it supports face catastrophic collapse. We need urgent action to protect our oceans. We need this government to stop Woodside pillaging Scott Reef. Woodside intends to drill up to 57 gas wells around the reef. The science is known. Woodside's project is an unacceptable threat to our marine ecosystem. If the government allows Woodside to proceed, the devastation will be irreversible. Woodside's plan must not go ahead.

I know the WA government is beholden to the gas industry. Look at their donations records; look at their policy settings. The North West Shelf is Australia's largest gas export facility, yet Western Australians are getting next to nothing. This project will see huge amounts of gas given away royalty free—an estimated $215 billion of gas. They're not paying us for the gas they're exporting, and they're driving up the cost of domestic gas. It is a stitch-up. It is a rip-off. It is not too late. The government has the opportunity to save Scott Reef. We must ratify the Global Oceans Treaty and establish a network of high seas ocean sanctuaries. Save Scott Reef.