Biggest seismic testing for oil and gas at odds with Australia’s net zero push, activists say

Fishers and community groups have expressed alarm over what has been described as the biggest seismic testing for oil and gas ever planned off the Victorian coast, saying it is at odds with the Albanese government's climate commitments.

The oilfield services companies TGS and Schlumberger have told local fishers they plan to conduct 3D testing in a large area in the Otway Basin off the coast of Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.

It comes as the federal government is due to announce on Wednesday its annual release of ocean acreage that will be available for companies to explore for oil and gas. Last year's acreage release drew criticism for including an area 5km from one of Victoria's most popular tourist destinations, the Twelve Apostles.

TGS and Schlumberger's plan is separate to acreage release. The companies have been consulting with fishers potentially affected by their proposal, which would provide geological information to companies that hold existing petroleum licences in the Otway Basin area, or may want to develop areas that have not yet been designated for exploration.

The companies last week lodged an application for a permit that would allow seismic testing over an area that includes the Bonney Upwelling, a nutrient hotspot that extends from Portland in Victoria to south-east of Kangaroo Island and attracts a range of species including the pygmy blue whale.

The testing area was also habitat for commercially fished species, including rock lobster and giant crab.

Seismic surveying is used to locate fossil fuels under the seabed, involving sending soundwaves through the water column into the ocean floor. Environmentalists say it can affect and in some cases kill marine life.

Markus Nolle, the chairman of the Apollo Bay Fishermen's Co-op and a retired rock lobster fisher, said the fishing industry was "honestly just weary" due to years of dealing with seismic testing plans.

"It's relentless. Every year there's more of it," he said. "If it goes ahead, it will be the biggest seismic project ever off the coast of Victoria."

Lisa Deppeler, from the Otways Climate Emergency Action Network, said it was "madness" for the government to consider opening new areas for oil and gas exploration when it was meant to be setting a path to net zero emissions.

She said a successful application could lead to oil and gas developments starting well into the future, with up to 15 years passing between initial surveys and production in some cases.

"If the Australian government accepts we're going to mine gas in these areas then we may as well accept a 2C or 3C temperature rise for the planet. It's outrageous," Deppeler said.

She said the network was concerned that public consultation for offshore oil and gas was limited, and gave little opportunity for community members to raise environmental and climate concerns.

Tim Beshara, of the Wilderness Society, said Australia's system of acreage release, permit application and environmental approval was a "check-a-box system".

"At no point do the oil and gas players think they'll be told no," he said. "There is something gravely wrong here when an area of seabed larger than Tasmania can be made available to an oil-services firm for speculative seismic blasting before the Australian government has even considered whether fossil fuel extraction would be appropriate."

The Greens want to amend offshore petroleum exploration laws to stop exploration in areas where there has been strong community opposition, including the Otway Basin.

The Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson said the existing laws were "broken". "We have a system primarily designed to serve the interest of fossil fuel companies, at the expense of our communities and marine life," he said.

A spokesperson for the federal industry department said new acreage for potential exploration was released annually, after a nomination process by industry.

"Feedback from all stakeholders, including government agencies, industry associations, fisheries, environmental organisations and the wider public will be considered prior to any release of areas," the spokesperson said.

TGS and Schlumberger did not respond to requests for comment before publication.