Greens’ senator Sarah Hanson-Young says there is ‘widespread concern’ in communities near the proposed site and pledges to revive lapsed inquiry
BP’s plans to drill for oil in the pristine marine reserve of the Great Australian Bight will come under fresh scrutiny, as senators seek to reinstate a lapsed inquiry examining the company’s proposal.
But it could be a race against time, since the regulator assessing BP’s environmental plans is set to make a decision on whether to approve two of the wells, inside the marine park, by 19 September. In response, activists have called on the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (Nopsema) to reject BP’s application.
Related: BP reveals Great Australian Bight oil drilling sites are within marine reserve