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Monday, 23 August 2021
Page: 17

Second Reading

Consideration resumed of the motion:

That these bills be now read a second time.

to which the following amendment was moved:

At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate notes that:

(a) the Government has known about the impending decommissioning of a range of offshore assets in Australian waters since it was first elected eight years ago;

(b) while this legislation compels the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority to regulate the financial assurance capabilities of offshore oil and gas producers, the Government has not provided any additional funding to the agency to undertake this critical task;

(c) the current legislation fails to include a comprehensive definition of what the permitted alternatives to complete removal requirements will be, making it possible for pipelines and concrete structures to be left in place without certainty over environmental, safety and well integrity outcomes; and

(d) the Government's lackadaisical approach to decommissioning reform has resulted in Australian taxpayers footing the bill for the Northern Endeavour fiasco, which has to date wasted $210 million of public money".