Hon Wilson Tucker questions the Minister for Mines and Petroleum regarding the progress of the investigation into the March 2022 oil spill at the Varanus Island gas plant and alleged cover-up by Santos, seeking a timeline for completion and details of any enforcement action taken.

AnsweredQoN 1322Legislative Council
Asked
19 October 2023
Portfolio
Mines and Petroleum

QuestionView source ↗

VARANUS ISLAND GAS PLANT
— ALLEGED INCIDENT
1322. Hon WILSON TUCKER to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum:
I refer to the March 2022 oil spill
near the Varanus Island gas-processing facility when about 25 000 litres of oil
leaked into the ocean. It has been more than 18 months since that leak occurred
and eight months since a whistleblower made
allegations of a cover-up by Santos. When will the Department of Mines,
Industry Regulation and Safety complete its investigation of this
incident; and what, if any, enforcement action has been taken to date?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice
of the question. The following answer has been provided to me by the Minister
for Mines and Petroleum.
I am advised by the Department of
Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety that it responded at the time with
compliance action to ensure that the operator had appropriate measures to
mitigate the risk of any further spills. The investigation into the incident
and other matters raised is ongoing.

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