Perched on the edge of the continental shelf, 300km from the Australian mainland, lies Scott Reef. It is an ancient coral atoll formed more than 15 million years ago, and has since developed its own sub populations and is home to more than 1200 marine species. This includes endangered sea snakes, green turtles and technicolour corals. Threatened pygmy whales and other rare cetaceans stop at Scott Reef on their annual migration to feed on krill.

Scott Reef is under threat. Global corporation Woodside and its partners want to drill for gas and oil under the reef ecosystem and sink 50 wells around the reef.

We need your help to Save Scott Reef.

Corals' Last Stand follows the voyage of a team of prominent Australians including author Tim Winton and musician John Butler as they travel to the reef to bring worldwide attention to the impact that drilling will have on this special place. It is a film by Jane Hammond, an independent filmmaker and freelance journalist.

This half hour documentary asks whether Australia can really afford to exploit this gas reserve in a time of growing community concern at rising global temperatures. And if it does, will Scott Reef and the life it supports be the collateral damage of that decision?

The documentary

This article was written using resources supplied by Corals’ Last Stand.