Australian sea dumping law changes condemned amid warnings of gas industry expansion

Greens and environmentalists say legislation introduced to parliament by Tanya Plibersek could facilitate new fossil fuel projects

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Proposed changes to Australia's sea dumping laws that would allow carbon dioxide to be pumped into international waters could be used to justify the expansion of the gas industry, the Greens and environment groups say.

The legislation, which was introduced to parliament by the environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, last week, would allow the minister to grant permits so CO₂ captured during industrial processes could be exported and stored under the seabed - a process known as carbon, capture and storage (CCS) - in another country's waters.

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