Prevent Offshore Drilling

Southern Sea at Stake: Communities Rally to Stop Offshore Drilling Now

Written by Surfrider Foundation Australia

Your voice can shift outcomes—stand with us to preserve and restore the Australia we love.

Stop offshore drilling.

Summary

Offshore oil exploration in the Great Australian Bight risks long-distance spills that could cripple tourism towns and fisheries worth hundreds of millions.
Seismic blasting harms whales and dolphins in critical nurseries, while oil development conflicts with Australia's emissions targets and 1.5°C pathways.
Clean energy is growing faster and employing more Australians than oil and gas; new drilling would lock in stranded assets instead of future-proofing jobs.
First Nations custodians have not given consent, and community polling shows strong support for a moratorium on new offshore fossil projects.

Seismic risks to marine life

Australia's southern coastline is once again in the crosshairs of offshore oil exploration, with seismic testing proposals inching closer to the beaches where families swim, fishers work, and whales migrate. Community leaders say the risk profile is stark: a single spill in the Great Australian Bight could travel thousands of kilometres, coating marine reserves and tourism towns alike. For coastal economies built on clean water and thriving wildlife, prevention is not just preferable—it is essential.

Whale nurseries under threat

Marine scientists warn that seismic airgun blasts used to map oil reserves can disorient whales, dolphins, and fish, disrupting breeding and feeding patterns for months. The southern right whale nursery off the Bight, already recovering from historical whaling, would be subjected to industrial noise at levels known to cause stress and strandings. Local tour operators, who rely on whale watching and intact reefs, fear a repeat of the economic collapses seen after major spills in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska.

New oil production would pump millions of tonnes of CO₂ into an atmosphere already driving marine heatwaves and coral bleaching.

Economics favour renewables

The oil industry often frames exploration as a jobs engine, yet the numbers tell another story. Clean energy already employs more Australians than oil and gas extraction, and the renewables sector is growing at nearly four times the rate of fossil fuels. The International Energy Agency has been explicit: no new oil fields are compatible with a 1.5°C pathway. Persisting with offshore drilling locks Australia into stranded assets while crowding out investment in wind, solar, and grid upgrades that create lasting regional employment.

Spill response gaps

Risk assessments commissioned by independent analysts show that a well blowout at proposed Bight depths could take weeks to cap due to rough seas and distance from response infrastructure. During that window, dispersants and burning would compound environmental harm, while tourism bookings and seafood exports would evaporate. South Australia's fisheries, worth more than $800 million annually, cannot afford a reputational shock tied to oil on the water or toxins in sediment.

Climate cost we can't afford

Climate impacts add another layer: new oil production would pump millions of tonnes of CO₂ into an atmosphere already driving marine heatwaves and coral bleaching. The Southern Ocean acts as a global carbon sink; damaging it with industrial activity undermines one of Earth's natural defences against runaway warming. Scientists argue that preserving intact ocean ecosystems is as critical as reducing emissions, because healthy seas store carbon in kelp forests, seagrass meadows, and deep-ocean sediments.

First Nations rights and consent

First Nations custodians have raised cultural and legal objections, pointing to sea Country rights and songlines that stretch across the Bight. Traditional owners have not given free, prior, and informed consent for drilling, and legal challenges could stall projects for years. Respecting these voices is both a moral imperative and a practical one—history shows that developments ignoring Indigenous rights face costly delays and reputational damage.

Help protect everyday Australians, hard-working locals, taxpayers, and councils from footing the bill for future disasters.

A better path forward

Communities across the coast are mobilising with a clear alternative vision: invest in offshore wind zones already mapped, scale port electrification, and accelerate battery projects that stabilise the grid. These choices reduce exposure to spills, create durable jobs, and align with Australia's stated emissions targets. Insurance giants, wary of climate risk, are increasingly pricing fossil projects out of viability; pivoting now protects ratepayers and councils from footing the bill for future disasters.

Communities are already saying no

Local councils from Victor Harbor to Port Lincoln have passed motions opposing offshore oil. Their message is consistent: the ocean is the region's identity, pantry, and playground. Polling mirrors that sentiment nationally, with a majority of Australians supporting a moratorium on new offshore fossil projects. When public risk outweighs private reward, the policy choice becomes straightforward—stop before the drill rigs arrive.

Protect the future now

Preventing offshore drilling is not an anti-development stance; it is a pro-future one. By choosing clean energy, safeguarding marine life, and honouring community consent, Australia can protect the Southern Sea and the livelihoods it sustains. The window to act is now, before seismic surveys begin and before contracts lock in decades of carbon-intensive extraction. Coastal families, fishers, and future generations are asking for the same thing: keep oil out of the ocean and invest in the resilient, renewable economy already within reach.

Bottom line

Stopping new offshore drilling safeguards marine life, coastal jobs, and climate goals—keep oil out of the Southern Sea.