Garrett defends response to WA oil spill

Environment Minister Peter Garrett has defended his response to a massive oil spill
in the Timor Sea, saying he and his department acted quickly and thoroughly to
monitor the disaster.
Resources Minister Martin Ferguson on Thursday announced an inquiry into the spill
at PTTEP Australasia's Montara oil field, which leaked oil from a for more than ten
weeks before it was finally plugged with heavy mud on Tuesday.
Former senior public servant David Borthwick will head up the inquiry, with powers
to summon witnesses, take evidence on oath and require individuals and corporations
to hand over relevant documents.
Mr Borthwick will be able to appoint experts to help him investigate what the
resources minister called "the uncontrolled release of oil and gas".
The Greens say the government needs to ensure the hearings are conducted in public
to ensure transparency.
Mr Garrett said that would be a matter for Mr Borthwick.
"As to whether the commissioner determines to have public hearings or not in
relation to the oil spill inquiry is a matter for him," Mr Garrett told reporters in
Perth.
"My expectation would be that he would give pretty open thought to the opportunity
for public inquiry participation, but it's a matter for the commissioner."
Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said the government's role should be scrutinised
during the inquiry.
Mr Garrett said he, his department and the federal government had responded swiftly
and effectively to the spill.
"I have always said this is a very serious matter and we have treated it seriously,"
Mr Garrett said.
"I would say that I responded immediately, quickly and thoroughly in relation to
this incident, as was the response of relevant authorities and the government...
"I went to the site, I instituted an environmental monitoring plan immediately, we
took expert advice on the best way to approach that task and as you know we set up
in cooperation with the West Australian government, a wildlife refuge centre in
Broome.
"We had experts in the field and we had observation surveillance under way, always
recognised that this accident was a critical one and it was important to have a good
and clear understanding as soon as we possibly could on what the environmental
impacts were."
The terms of reference of the inquiry include:
* the cause of the spill;
* whether the regulatory regime governing the oil-drilling operation was adequate;
* the performance of relevant people acting under that regime;
* the adequacy of the response; and
* the environmental impact of the spill.
Meanwhile, the federal opposition says there are major problems with the terms of
reference for the inquiry.
Opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt demanded the so-called East Puffin gas
leak also be included in the inquiry.
"The inquiry must examine the lack of urgency by the government throughout the oil
spill," he said in a statement.
The Thai-based company who operates the oil well, PTTEP Australasia , has welcomed
the inquiry.
"PTTEP Australasia will fully cooperate with the inquiry," PTTEP said.
"The company welcomes the opportunity for all the facts to be placed on the public
record and fully assessed."
PTTEP chief financial officer Jose Martins revealed on Tuesday the company believed
it knew the cause of the leak but said he did not want to speculate ahead of the
inquiry for legal reasons.
Conservation groups say the inquiry is unlikely to result in better environmental
protection for the waters in the Kimberly region.
Conservation Council of WA director Piers Verstegen on Thursday said he was
concerned the inquiry would not go far enough to provide ongoing protection for the
area.
"The community has a right to know what went wrong and why the response from both
industry and government was a debacle," Mr Verstegen said.
"But the simple fact is we don't need to wait for the results of the inquiry to know
that the oil and gas industry is highly risky and it is not appropriate to be
located in the pristine Kimberley marine environment."
Environs Kimberley director Martin Pritchard said it was time for the government to
create a protected marine park in the area.
"The only way to protect Kimberley's marine life is by establishing large marine
sanctuaries... a safe haven for marine life to feed and breed, free from industrial
development," Mr Pritchard said.
"It is quite possible that this inquiry will enable the government to appear as if
it is ticking all the boxes in the public eye while avoiding the real solution to
protect this special marine environment."