The bill would amend current rules banning international export and import of marine pollution,formed under an international treaty called the London Protocol,and create an exemption for carbon.
This would enable companies that operate offshore gas fields to take shipments of greenhouse gases captured in overseas factories and pump them into the underground reservoirs where gas was extracted. Gas producers could also store their own emissions generated during gas production and processing.
Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson said carbon capture and storage technology was a “naked attempt to facilitate more oil and gas development in our oceans”.
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“The Greens are incredibly concerned that this legislation appears to be motivated to primarily facilitate theSantos Barossa project,its related Bayu-Undan CCS projects and other fossil fuel projects off Australia’s northern coastlines,” Whish-Wilson said.
However,Plibersek said carbon pollution can already be imported under the current regime,regardless of Australia’s participation in the international treaty,and argued her reform provided a framework to regulate imports,which is “at risk of happening in an unregulated manner”.
“The amendments in this bill are necessary to ensure we have a comprehensive regulatory framework that protects our oceans,” Plibersek said.