Media release – Ben & Jerry’s and Surfrider Foundation Australia, 28 April 2022
Ben & Jerry’s and Surfrider Foundation Australia in the fight to protect iconic King Island from oil and gas drilling
Ben & Jerry’s and Surfrider Foundation Australia have just wrapped up a series of community conversations in Tasmania, speaking to local communities all along the northern Tasmanian coastline to spread awareness about the devastating impacts of seismic blasting due to potential oil & gas projects across the state and Australia.
Together with the group No Gas Across the Bass, the events series brought together the community to hear from local fisherman, marine scientists and economists about the huge risks that drilling for offshore oil & gas would bring to northern Tasmanian coastal communities and economies if the proposed permits were to go ahead. Marine scientist Annie Ford shared studies that found fisheries crucial to local Tasmanian economies could be deeply impacted from seismic blasting – the process of exploring for oil & gas under the seafloor by the continuous blasting of loud noise for months on end. Seismic blasting decimated a scallop bed in northern Tasmanian waters, leading to a loss of $70M in scallops fisheries that year with no sign of the scallop beds returning.
In addition, the Institute for Energy Economics & Financial Analysis shared insights into Australia’s current gas consumption and high prices, highlighting how new gas is not an economically viable future and the urgency to shift to renewable energy.
The week-long series finished with a ‘paddle-out’ in Stanley, where the local community came together to make a stand for local communities today and for future generations to come.
The community series also kicks off a wider national campaign between partners Ben & Jerry’s and Surfrider Foundation Australia to raise awareness of proposed drilling for oil & gas off some of Australia’s most iconic coastlines, including current plans to allow offshore drilling close to the 12 Apostles, Ningaloo Reef and King Island in Tasmania. If given the green light by elected leaders, the result could be catastrophic for nearby oceans & marine life, as well as the local communities that rely on healthy oceans for their economies.
As shared by Drew McPherson, National Campaign Manager at Surfrider Foundation Australia: “Our oceans are our playgrounds, our livelihoods and our future and we don’t want to see them destroyed by fossil fuels. We need to urgently transition away from fossil fuels. NSW has taken the lead by banning all offshore oil & gas drilling, now we need our Federal leaders to take action and protect our oceans’ future by banning all new offshore oil & gas across Australia”.
Surfrider Foundation Australia, alongside partners Ben & Jerry’s is calling for Australians to take action this federal election by calling on their local MP to say no to offshore drilling for new oil & gas. Ben & Jerry’s has long been fighting for a fossil-free future and has partnered with Surfrider Foundation Australia in support of the fight for climate justice.
Australians can take action today by sending a message out about offshore drilling to their local MP this election. Head to www.benandjerry.com.au/