This election WA needs sanctuaries, not oil spills

With less than 1% of Western Australia's oceans protected, our marine waters are at risk from large scale oil spills and other threats. The federal election on August 21 gives Australians an opportunity to demand national leadership on protecting our marine life.

CLICK TO ENLARGE. Share this ad around and tell your local candidate that WA needs sanctuaries, not oil spills!

In the face of one of the world’s worst environmental disasters, the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the United States has clamped down on the oil and gas industry with a range of measures including a moratorium on new oil approvals in sensitive areas.

Late last year, Australia suffered the major 10 week Montara oil spill off the Kimberley coast.

In stark contrast to the United States, Australia’s Resources Minister subsequently gave new approvals to the proponent of the Montara oil spill and released 31 new oil and gas leases over environmentally sensitive areas of Australia’s oceans, which had been identified for protection.

During this election campaign, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott announced he will stop the government program to create marine sanctuaries around Australia if elected Prime Minister.

The government has been supporting this program to create some marine sanctuaries but Labor has not guaranteed a network of large marine sanctuaries to ensure the protection of our unique marine life. Australian marine areas remain under serious threat.

This is why 32 environment groups including the Wilderness Society, Australian Conservation Foundation, WWF Australia and Pew Environment Group are calling on all political parties to support a network of large marine sanctuaries to safeguard Australia's unique marine life. 

TAKE ACTION

Download the ad, share it around, and tell your local candidate that WA needs marine sanctuaries.

Further information

For more information visit Save Our Marine Life

Check out the Wilderness Society's top 7 priorities for the upcoming Federal election.

Check out the Wilderness Society's Federal Environment Policy Priorities, 2010