ENVIRO GROUPS CALL FOR STRICTER REGULATION OF OIL AND GAS COMPANIES

Sophie McNeill (foreground) with other protesters outside the Woodside building in Perth. Credit: Greenpeace Australia Pacific.

A group of environmental organisations has released an open letter calling on the government to better protect Australia’s oceans from the oil and gas industry.

It comes after Woodside began seismic blasting off the Pilbara coast for its Scarborough gas development last week.

Greenpeace Australia Pacific was one of more than 30 signatories to the letter.

Greenpeace Senior Campaigner Sophie McNeill says oil and gas companies are lobbying to weaken environmental protections.

“We’re firmly calling on the Labor government to stand up to these companies, because our experience is that the industry’s approach to consultation is pretty much in bad faith, and reinforced by a regulatory regime that is already far too lenient on the oil and gas industry.”

Listen to the full conversation between Ms McNeill and Ngaarda Media’s Marion Cheedy: