For anyone unfamiliar with the reference, here is Senator Bob Collins of Australia explaining what happens when a tanker ship is towed beyond the environment:
You mean the same John Clarke whose name is in the URL at the bottom of the video? Who would have guessed!
Let me share a comedy tip with you. This video is funny even if you already know the joke - I crack up every time I see it - but it's even more fun to watch it for the first time not knowing that it is satire.
Don't worry, everyone will figure it out halfway through...