The Australian Greens are the only party fighting to protect the Great Australian Bight by standing up to mining companies seeking to drill in the pristine marine environment. Greens Senators for South Australia Sarah Hanson-Young and Robert Simms on Thursday announce their plan to protect the Bight.

Under the plan the Greens will:

Greens Senator for South Australia Robert Simms is calling on BP to abandon its plans to drill in the Great Australian Bight after its secret environmental plan was knocked back by NOPSEMA a second time.

"It's clear BP aren't respecting of the precious Great Australian Bight environment as once again NOPSEMA determine that BP's shoddy environmental plan requires modifications," Senator Simms said.

The Environment and Communications Reference Committee will be holding a hearing in Adelaide TOMORROW as part of its inquiry, established by Greens Senator for South Australia Robert Simms, into oil or gas production in the Great Australian Bight.

Greens Senator for South Australia Robert Simms says shareholders should raise concerns with BP over its environmentally risky plan to drill for oil in the Great Australian Bight.

BP is holding its Annual General Meeting today in London. A Climate Analytics report also released today stated an oil spill would be "devastating for South Australia's $442 million fishing industry and its tourism industries in coastal regions, worth more than $1 billion and decimate the rich and many endangered creatures of this ocean".

The Australian Greens welcome Senate support for their inquiry into proposed drilling off the Great Australian Bight.

"BP must be held to account for its shocking environmental record and poor community consultation. BP's initial submission to drill for oil off the Great Australian Bight was turned down by the regulator, NOPSEMA and it is high time this issue was put under the microscope," Greens Senator for South Australia Robert Simms said.

BP Exploration Leases

I give notice that on the next day of sitting I shall move that the Senate:

a) Notes the intention of British Petroleum (BP) to perform high risk exploratory drilling in the Great Australian Bight

b) Notes that the current environmental and safety evaluation being performed by NOPSEMA for exploration lease approval requires BP to release sufficient information so stakeholders can make informed assessment of the project and its possible consequences