License to spill

It would have remained almost untouched if not for the discovery of oil and natural gas. With such heavy industry comes the threat of environmental degradation.

Australians need to know that the distant marine environment off the coast of Northwest Australia is a unique, environmental jewel that has been preserved in part simply because it is so remote. Sadly, that distance could also spell its demise.

The companies and authorities concerned with this spill seem to want it to remain out of sight and out of mind.

There is no doubt that had this spill occurred on the east coast of Australia, it would be front page news and the fury of the Australian public would be unabated. Undoubtedly, those fundamental questions still awaiting a response would have been answered long ago and a rescue rig and teams of scientists and wildlife carers would have been on the scene in hours.

However, because so few people can even see the results of this spill, the devastating effects on the environment struggle to make the news.

Now that the heavy footprint of oil and gas exploration is obvious for all to see, and with new acreage for exploration being released, we need measures in place to protect our rare and remarkable marine habitats.

Our government must create a network of marine protected areas and enforce their preservation through legislation. Areas of outstanding natural value need to be off limits in terms of where companies can drill.

A full inquiry needs to tighten operational and regulatory legislation, to ensure a Montara type disaster never occurs again. This includes improving the standards for contingency plans so that Australians will not have to wait four weeks to even begin plugging a leak of this scale.

The fossil fuel reserves in this region are set to bring the companies that invest here billions of dollars in profits. It would be a crime well beyond that found in any Bond novel if this generation lost one of its great environmental assets through unbridled industrialisation.

It's time our government and the wealthy companies exploiting our mineral resources acknowledged the natural wildlife assets of this region and started to preserve the environment for all Australians.