The Greens and environmental groups have condemned the federal government\u2019s move to encourage more offshore gas exploration, describing it as an \u201cenvironmental betrayal\u201d that undermines Labor\u2019s climate agenda.<\/p>\n
The minister for resources, Madeleine King, this week announced<\/a> five new areas in the Otway basin<\/a>, stretching from waters off the south-west coast of Victoria to the ocean west of Tasmania, would be opened up for gas exploration as part of the government\u2019s future gas strategy<\/a>.<\/p>\n As cabinet deliberates over a major intervention<\/a> into the east coast gas market, including a gas reservation, King said unlocking new supplies would help contain gas prices and avert potential shortfalls<\/a> forecast for the end of the decade.<\/p>\n Sign up: AU Breaking News email<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cExploration and new discoveries will play an important role in underpinning our energy needs and support Australian industry and households as we meet our net zero commitments,\u201d King said in a statement.<\/p>\n The announcement comes just days after the Victorian government opened tenders for gas exploration in the Otway and Gippsland basins<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Australian Greens<\/a> and the Wilderness Society have sharply criticised the federal government\u2019s move, warning the search for new gas supplies would worsen the climate crisis and endanger marine wildlife.<\/p>\n \u201cLabor\u2019s new ocean acreage handout is an environmental betrayal and an early Christmas gift to the fossil fuel companies driving the climate crisis,\u201d the Greens\u2019 resources spokesperson, Steph Hodgins-May, said.<\/p>\n The party\u2019s oceans spokesperson, Peter Whish-Wilson, questioned how opening new gas fields squared with the transition to clean energy.<\/p>\n \u201cLabor\u2019s two-faced climate act is wearing thin,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The Wilderness Society\u2019s fossil fuel industry campaigner, Fern Cadman, said the waters earmarked in the latest acreage release were \u201cwholly unsuitable\u201d for gas exploration.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s deeply disturbing that while parts of our country are on fire, fuelled by climate heating and burning of fossil fuels, the Albanese government is mindlessly paving the way for new gas drilling. Australia is meant to be on a path transitioning away from fossil fuels, not opening the door to brand new gas,\u201d Cadman said.<\/p>\n King said the five new areas \u2013 all in commonwealth waters \u2013 had buffer zones to protect marine park boundaries.<\/p>\n Public consultation on the five zones is open until 6 February, with applications for exploration permits closing on 30 June.<\/p>\n The announcement comes as the Albanese government prepares to release the findings of a six-month review of the east coast gas market, which is widely expected to recommend establishing a new scheme<\/a> to force producers to reserve supplies for domestic use.<\/p>\n