Oil companies wanting to explore the potential of drilling in the Great Australian Bight have been sent a strong message, Tasmanian Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson says.
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On Saturday morning hundreds of Tasmanians took part in a surf out event. About 50 paddle outs were held around the country.
The event was held in protest of an seismic testing or oil drilling off Tasmania's coastline and the Great Australian Bight.
Equinor's environment plan is currently being assessed by an offshore oil and gas industry regulator.
The project's environmental plan was rejected for a second time on November 8, and Equinor were given a further 21 days to resubmit further information.
The proposed well site is 372km off the coast of Ceduna at a depth of 2279m.
Tasmanian Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson said with hundreds turning out to the state's five paddle outs a clear message was sent.
"Equinor could be given approval any day now to explore the Great Australian Bight. If they're given the go-ahead, today's protests are just a taste of things to come," he said.
"Tasmanian oceans and beaches are facing so many risks and threats right now. The last thing we need is greedy oil companies putting us at further risk."
When Equinor originally released its environment plan earlier this year, about 31,000 public submissions were received against the proposal.
Paddle outs were held in Hobart, at Clifton Beach, Park Beach, Scamander, and Devonport.
"As surfers, we formed a ring in the ocean, which in surfing culture is symbolic of mourning the loss of something special or precious," Mr Whish-Wilson said.
"At the moment we stand to lose just that if this government gives approval to Equinor."
He said Tasmania knows "only too well" what the effect of another oil spill would have on the coast.
"It's almost 25 years ago now that the Iron Baron tanker spilled oil into Tasmania's north-east and into the Tamar River," he said.
"The effects were devastating. I can remember my mum turning up with the local community, buckets in hand, to try and clean up what they could."
The Greens have established an inquiry into the risks of seismic testing that is used in oil exploration projects and will be working with fishers and communities around the country to hear the concerns.
The Fight For The Bight National Day of Action was coordinated by the Great Australian Bight Alliance, a coalition of environmental, community and business groups.
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Journalist at The Examiner Newspaper
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