Labor Government opens Otway Basin to new gas exploration
The Federal Labor Government has announced plans to open 2.5 million hectares of the Otway Basin to new gas exploration. If approved, this would allow gas companies to seismic blast and drill across a large pristine area of ocean. Alarmingly, the footprint of this release closely mirrors the area proposed by TGS/Schlumberger for 3D seismic blasting — a proposal our community successfully fought off in 2024. The government knows how strongly coastal communities oppose gas exploration in the Otway Basin — but they are pushing ahead anyway.
We now have until 6 February to lodge submissions opposing this new release.
See below for how you can make a submission and stand up for our ocean.
Proposed titles release area in orange
HOW YOU CAN TAKE ACTION:
Option 1 (2 minutes): Use the letter generator created by Surfrider Foundation Australia to generate a submission in opposition to the new acreage release, which you can copy and paste into the submission portal.
Option 2 (5 minutes): Write your own submission via the submission portal.