New Zealand’s ban on new offshore oil and gas exploration and drilling permits offers a path Australia must follow, South Australian Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said today.

“The New Zealand Government have shown the leadership that Malcolm Turnbull’s been too afraid to show.

“New Zealand’s action demonstrates the environmental impact of offshore oil and gas to both the oceans and the climate can no longer be ignored.

“The real question is why New Zealand’s marine environment is worthy of protection from Big Oil, but the Great Australian Bight is not.

Chevron’s decision to withdraw plans to drill in the Great Australian Bight is a big win for the coastal communities, tourism and fishing industries, who have fought hard to protect this pristine environment, The Australian Greens say.

A Senate inquiry into the plans of companies like BP and Chevron to drill for oil in South Australia’s Great Australian Bight Marine Park has produced an extraordinary report, in which a South Australian Labor Senator has refused to endorse his own party’s comments and instead sided with the Liberals and the fossil fuel lobby.

A Senate inquiry into the plans of companies like BP and Chevron to drill for oil in South Australia’s Great Australian Bight Marine Park has produced an extraordinary report, in which a South Australian Labor Senator has refused to endorse his own party’s comments and instead sided with the Liberals and the fossil fuel lobby.

Chevron has proven it cannot be trusted with the pristine environment of the Great Australian Bight if they refuse to play by Australia’s tax rules, Australian Greens Senator for South Australia and finance spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young said today.

“Chevron has fought for almost 15 years against paying its fair share of tax to Australians, after being given a leg up by the Australian government. The loan to Chevron not only ripped off Australian taxpayers for years, but the money ended up offshore providing no benefit to Australia,” Senator Hanson-Young said.

The Federal Senate will vote on whether to ban drilling for oil in the Great Australian Bight tomorrow, following revelations oil giant Chevron has been donating tens of thousands of dollars to the Labor and Liberal parties.

“The public is rightly worried that this money has bought Chevron influence in both the Liberal and Labor parties. If Labor and the Liberals want the public to believe they can’t be bought, supporting this amendment is the first test,” Greens Senator for South Australia Sarah Hanson-Young said.

The Murray Darling Basin Authority’s attempt to increase irrigation limits in the northern basin will reduce the already insufficient amount of water heading downstream to South Australia, the Australian Greens have said.

“This is extremely concerning,” the Green’s water spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

“There is a critical lack of leadership in this discussion right now. First it was Barnaby Joyce and now it’s the MDBA selling South Australia short.

The Senate has supported a motion endorsing South Australia’s renewable energy target, despite efforts from the Turnbull government to talk it down.

“The Senate has endorsed South Australia’s renewable energy target and the growth of wind and solar in our state,” Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

“The fact that the government voted against this motion tells you all you need to know about their contempt for jobs and renewable energy in South Australia.