Greens lose bid to stop KI seismic testing
The Greens say there is no safe time for seismic testing to be carried out off Kangaroo Island.
Bight Petroleum is hoping to begin activities in the area early next year but is awaiting Federal Government approval.
Greens' Senators Penny Wright and Rachel Siewert put forward a motion yesterday to block the company from testing in the area but it was voted down 39 to nine.
Senator Wright says there are three listed or endangered species that are active in those waters all year round.
"They are blue whales, southern right whales and southern blue fin tuna and the blue whales feed in the are between November and April," she said.
"The southern right whales breed there between May and October and the southern blue fin tuna migrate through the area between December and April."
The Government recently delayed a decision on the proposal while it waits on more information from the company on the environmental impacts.
"What the Australian Greens are saying is that at every time of the year the environmental risks are unacceptably high and Minister Burke must reject Bight Petroleum's application," Senator Wright said.