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 Australian Greens are calling for BP to release publicly all environmental plans and oil spill modelling submitted to NOPSEMA for community review.

"If BP is confident it can contain an oil spill and mitigate against harm to our tourism and fishing industries, and the precious Great Australian Bight environment, then there is no reason why this information shouldn't be made publicly available," Greens Senator for South Australia Robert 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".

Greens Senator for South Australia Robert Simms says BP should cease its preparations to drill for oil and gas in waters off SA.

It was reported today that BP Australia is currently building a supply base in Port Adelaide to serve its desired exploration campaign for oil and gas.

"It's inappropriate and arrogant for BP to be proceeding with the construction of a supply base when they have not been given permission to conduct the drilling," said Senator Simms.

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.

Australian Greens Senator for South Australia, Robert Simms, said BP must be held to account for their shocking environmental record and poor community consultation in hearings occurring around the state this week.

BP's initial submission to drill for oil off the Great Australian Bight was turned down by the regulator, NOPSEMA. These hearings are a necessary step for them to re-submit an application to drill for oil.

The Australian Greens have welcomed NOPSEMA's decision to reject BP's plan to drill in the Bight, but have called for greater oversight from the Environment Minister.

"NOPSEMA's decision to reject BP's risky proposal to drill for oil off the Great Australian Bight is great news for South Australians. To have a company with BP's shocking environmental record drilling in such an important region would have put both our tourism and fishing industries at risk," Australian Greens Senator for South Australia, Robert Simms said.