Greens Healthy Oceans spokesperson, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, urges the Federal Government to end exemptions granted to state governments that allow them to conduct trials of lethal shark control measures after a humpback whale was entangled in a shark net off the Queensland coast earlier today. 
 
Senator Whish-Wilson said, "Lethal shark measures are indiscriminate killers and weapons of mass destruction to protected marine life. This morning’s whale entanglement is yet more sobering evidence of this.”
 

Today's Federal announcement of the Antarctic Science Strategic Plan continues the Government's blind approach to Antarctic science funding through infrastructure, but neglects the very programs and livelihoods that this infrastructure is supposed to support.

Tasmanian Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said, "Aerodromes and runways and boats are nothing if there aren't the scientists, researchers, skippers and pilots to occupy them.

"They are meaningless if there isn't long-term research funding certainty to underwrite our future presence in the Antarctic and Southern Ocean.

Tasmanian Senator Peter Whish-Wilson and Greens' spokesperson for science, research and innovation, Senator Janet Rice comment on today’s ARC announcement of $56m in funding for Antarctic science.  

Senator Whish-Wilson said, "Whilst any new funding for Antarctic, Southern Ocean and climate science is welcome, today’s ARC funding announcement has dudded Tasmania as Australia’s Antarctic gateway, and presents significant uncertainties for Tasmanian scientists, their communities and our economy going forward. 

Yesterday the senate supported a motion by Greens’ Healthy Oceans spokesperson, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, to establish an inquiry into the impact of seismic testing on fisheries and the marine environment.

“This is an emerging issue that has united environmentalists and fishers.

“Oil and gas cannot be allowed to take over our oceans.

“We are facing a climate emergency that threatens the entire marine ecosystem.

Tasmanian Greens Senator and Greens’ Healthy Oceans spokesperson, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, responded to the release today of the findings of a study by IMAS scientists on the impact of seismic testing on rock lobsters.

Senator Whish-Wilson said, “This new research provides solid evidence of the harm seismic testing is likely to be causing to an important Tasmanian industry.

“The study found that seismic air guns damage rock lobsters’ ‘inner ear’, and that this damage is most likely permanent.

Tasmanian Greens Senators Peter Whish-Wilson and Nick McKim have expressed dismay at NOPSEMA's approval of oil and gas exploration in the Otway Basin.

NOPSEMA this week approved 3D Oil’s application to undertake seismic testing 18km west of King Island (Tas) and 56km south of Cape Otway (Vic).

Senator Whish-Wilson said, "This decision means we are one step closer to seeing oil rigs off Tasmania's coast.

Greens Senators Richard Di Natale, Nick McKim and Peter Whish-Wilson will today join Tasmanian surfers in calling for a ban on oil and gas exploration in the Great Australian Bight.

Senator Di Natale said, "Today we’re standing with surfers and other oceangoers in saying no to oil and gas in the Great Australian Bight.

"It's just not worth the risk to our marine environment and to our climate.

"The fossil fuel era is coming to an end. This means companies are chasing the last oil and gas into deeper and more dangerous waters than ever."

Australians love their coastlines and oceans. From sightseeing to surfing, from fishing to sailing, the marine environment is a big part of our lives and our identity.

But our oceans are under serious threat. Global crises such as climate change and plastic pollution are compounding the local impact of overfishing and oil and gas exploration. We must act if we are to protect the two-thirds of the planet covered in water.

Greens Healthy Oceans spokesperson, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, has urged the Federal Government not to intervene in Queensland’s Shark Control Program after the Administrative Appeals Tribunal ordered an end to lethal shark culling in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Senator Whish-Wilson said, “I urge the Federal Environment Minister to put our oceans first and listen to the scientific evidence that killing sharks does not make oceangoers safe.

“Lethal methods of killing sharks only provide a false sense of security.”