Tuesday, 3 February 2026

 Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) (20:27): On the weekend I joined over a thousand other people in a paddle out in Torquay organised by Surfrider Foundation to fight against the recent approval of new oil and gas exploration in southern sea country by state and federal Labor governments. While I would love to think Labor might do the right thing and listen to the community, history suggests otherwise. Just two years ago the community came together to paddle out, once again in Torquay and also in Warrnambool, to stop the largest ever seismic blasting project in the world, and we succeeded – not because Labor did the right thing but because the community pressure forced the company to give up. As we swam amongst the ash from the still-raging Otway bushfires, it was difficult to ignore the feeling of total betrayal by Labor on climate, with the latest approvals in both state and Commonwealth waters. Off the coastline of communities that have just experienced devastating fires and flash floods, the Allan and Albanese Labor governments gifted fossil fuel companies access to more oil and gas for Christmas, companies that will make mind-boggling profits from their climate destruction and pay virtually no tax while communities that have lost everything and taxpayers are forced to foot the bill. It is completely unjust, and on the weekend the Surf Coast community made it clear they are going to change this script.