The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) has urged the government to strengthen offshore oil and gas regulations following a recent gas pipeline rupture at one of ExxonMobil's aging platforms in the Gippsland Basin. 

Referring to the latest incident MUA emphasized the need for policy changes and strict enforcement of regulations to ensure a safe and clean offshore environment. The incident, which occurred on April 6, 2024, at the West Kingfish (WKF) platform, resulted in a condensate spill and a sizable sheen on the water surface. 

According to MUA, this incident highlights the need for stricter regulations, enforcement, and penalties to prevent future disasters.

"While an investigation into this latest incident is welcome, how many times will the notices and warnings be ignored before the next disaster takes lives?" said Robert Lumsden, Secretary of the MUA's Victoria Branch. 

"The time is long overdue for NOPSEMA to serve out compliance measures for those operators who rely on taking shortcuts to expand their profitability," he added.

The MUA pointed out that Esso, the platform's operator, has been subject to multiple enforcement directions from the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) in recent years. They also noted concerns raised by workers about safety issues at the platform.

"Members of the workforce felt unable to convey their concerns about the work and were worried that their job would be at risk if they spoke up," the MUA said, citing a 2021 NOPSEMA investigation.

The union's concerns extend beyond the recent incident. They oppose Esso's application to abandon and dump eight decommissioned steel platforms in the Gippsland Basin, including the West Kingfish. They are wary of the potential environmental and safety risks associated with the proposed South East carbon capture and storage (CCS) project.

Additionally, the MUA alleges that oil and gas companies have lobbied the government to weaken safety regulations and qualifications in the name of productivity and profitability.

"Australians deserve their workplaces to be as safe as possible and a coastline free of debris and pollution," Lumsden concluded. 

"Despite much of this vast infrastructure being out of sight under the ocean, the consequences are too big to hide."