Australia’s Biodiversity Council has questioned a proposed environmental law carve out for the offshore oil and gas industry. 

Proposed amendments, hidden within the government’s Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Legislation Amendment (Safety and Other Measures) Bill 2024, would exempt the offshore oil and gas industry from needing to comply with national environmental law, according to an assessment by environmental law experts.
“It is concerning to see these industry carve outs rushed through parliament in a bill primarily about workplace safety while the government’s promised reforms to environmental laws have suffered significant delays,” says Biodiversity Council Director James Trezise. 

“This move will effectively enable offshore petroleum legislation to override environmental law and undermines any credibility about the maintenance of environmental standards through accreditation arrangements.

“It’s shaping up to be one set of rules for the offshore gas industry, and another set for everyone else,” he said. 

The Biodiversity Council is an independent expert group founded by 11 Australian Universities to promote evidence-based solutions to Australia’s biodiversity crisis.

The group - which includes environmental law specialists at The Australian National University and The University of Melbourne - has raised serious concerns in relation to the Australian Government’s proposed amendments.

The amendments would automatically accredit any changes to offshore petroleum and gas regulation, even if such changes were to lower environmental standards.

The move comes despite a government promise to lift environmental standards through its Nature Positive Plan and following a recent survey that found that the Australian community wants governments to increase protections for nature.

The independent expert group has made a submission to a Senate Inquiry into the Bill.