Surfers for Climate and the local community are calling on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to honour his pre-election commitment and rule out Pep-11 licence once and for all, giving the local community certainty.
Serious concerns have been raised about the potential impacts of offshore gas exploration and drilling on marine environments, marine life including whales, seafood and the local community. Renewable energy should also be the preferred source of new energy given the need for urgent climate action to reduce emissions and global warming.
Belinda Baggs, Newcastle surfer and co-founder of Surfers For Climate said, “I grew up surfing in these pristine waters off Newcastle, the saltwater binds my family together. I have cousins and friends who rely on a healthy ocean for their livelihoods.
“The community has made its opposition to Pep 11 clear over the past few years, we simply don’t want to risk marine life, our own well-being and livelihoods for gas drilling.
“Newcastle has already experiencing climate impacts from fires to floods and now many of the beaches I grew up surfing on including Bar Beach are suffering from extreme erosion.
“We must keep all new fossil fuels in the ground, including gas, and instead invest in a renewable future.
“It’s right to investigate Morrison’s methods when in government but that doesn’t change the fact that drilling for gas between Newcastle and Sydney, Australia’s most populated coastline, is a terrible idea.
“We are calling on Prime Minister Albanese to honour his commitments opposing PEP 11. He stood on the beach at Avoca and stated “A Labor government that I lead will rule out PEP 11 full stop”.
“Now the community needs certainty that the Prime Minister will rule out Pep-11 once and for all,” she said.
Surfers for Climate is a sea-roots movement dedicated to positive climate action.