Drilling in the Bight inquiry in Adelaide

The Environment and Communications Reference Committee will be holding a hearing in Adelaide TOMORROW as part of its inquiry, established by Greens Senator for South Australia Robert Simms, into oil or gas production in the Great Australian Bight.

"This inquiry, initiated by myself and fellow South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon, is needed so we can protect this beautiful Australian coastal environment and the marine life in these waters. The Great Australian Bight should not be put at risk for the sake of corporations with terrible environmental track records chasing a profit," Senator Simms said.

"It's is a necessary step in ensuring that we get broad community input into BP's proposed actions. Companies with shocking environmental records should not be given carte blanch access to drilling in the Bight.

"The seas off the Great Australian Bight are infinitely more remote and difficult to access. With this in mind it is imperative that we take all questions around BP drilling for oil in this region very seriously. After all, if this project goes ahead, BP is gambling with the future of the Bight."

WHEN
TOMORROW, Thursday, April 28, 8.30am-4.50pm CST

WHERE
Balcony rooms 1 and 2, Hilton Adelaide, 233 Victoria Square, Adelaide

Schedule:
8.30am: Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association Limited
9.15am: The Australia Institute
10am: Panel - EDOs of Australia and Conservation Council of South Australia
10.55am: International Fund for Animal Welfare
11.40am: Panel - The Wilderness Society (South Australia) and Dr Laurent Lebreton
1.10pm: BP
1.55pm: National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA)
2.40pm: Santos, Murphy Australia Oil Pty Ltd
3.35pm: City of Victor Harbor
4.05pm: South Australian Government

The hearing can be streamed here: http://www.aph.gov.au/live