❓ Hon Wilson Tucker questions the Minister for Environment regarding Santos' alleged cover-up of an oil spill and DBCA's response, particularly concerning dolphin deaths. The response details DBCA's actions and lack of conclusive evidence linking the deaths to the spill.
AnsweredQoN 98Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SANTOS — OIL SPILL
98. Hon WILSON TUCKER to the parliamentary secretary representing the
Minister for Environment:
I refer to evidence tabled in
federal Parliament last week alleging a cover-up by Santos of the extent of an
oil spill off the Western Australian coast.
(1) It is
reported that the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
requested Santos to recover a dolphin carcass for examination. Is it standard
practice to rely on the perpetrator of an oil spill to provide relevant
evidence of the ecological impact of that oil spill?
(2) When Santos
was unable to recover the dolphin carcass, did DBCA conduct any monitoring or
assessment of its own?
(3) Is DBCA satisfied that Santos
accurately reported the impact of its oil spill?
(4) Since the
tabling of evidence of an alleged cover-up, has DBCA begun an independent
assessment of the ecological impact of the oil spill?
98. Hon WILSON TUCKER to the parliamentary secretary representing the
Minister for Environment:
I refer to evidence tabled in
federal Parliament last week alleging a cover-up by Santos of the extent of an
oil spill off the Western Australian coast.
(1) It is
reported that the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
requested Santos to recover a dolphin carcass for examination. Is it standard
practice to rely on the perpetrator of an oil spill to provide relevant
evidence of the ecological impact of that oil spill?
(2) When Santos
was unable to recover the dolphin carcass, did DBCA conduct any monitoring or
assessment of its own?
(3) Is DBCA satisfied that Santos
accurately reported the impact of its oil spill?
(4) Since the
tabling of evidence of an alleged cover-up, has DBCA begun an independent
assessment of the ecological impact of the oil spill?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. On behalf of the Minister for Environment, I provide
the following answer.
(1)–(4) Santos
notified the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions at about
2.00 pm on 20 March 2022 that three deceased dolphins had been observed within
200 metres of the tanker in the vicinity of the slick. About an hour after the
notification, DBCA officers requested Santos attempt to retrieve at least one
of the dolphin carcasses for the purpose of examination; however, the dolphins
were unable to be located when a vessel was mobilised later that day. A search
resumed the next morning, but the dolphin carcasses were not found.
On 21 March 2022, DBCA officers
surveyed the spill area in a DBCA vessel. An additional DBCA patrol was
conducted on 22 March 2022 around the group of islands between Varanus Island
and Barrow Island. No dead or distressed animals were observed during this
patrol.
DBCA continued to liaise with Santos
on post-spill wildlife monitoring plans and observations of potential impacts
to wildlife. DBCA does not have any current evidence to support that the
dolphin deaths were caused by the oil spill, and there has been no further
compliance action in relation to this matter.
The Department of Mines, Industry
Regulation and Safety is the lead agency regarding this incident, and DBCA
continues to work with DMIRS on this matter.
some notice of the question. On behalf of the Minister for Environment, I provide
the following answer.
(1)–(4) Santos
notified the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions at about
2.00 pm on 20 March 2022 that three deceased dolphins had been observed within
200 metres of the tanker in the vicinity of the slick. About an hour after the
notification, DBCA officers requested Santos attempt to retrieve at least one
of the dolphin carcasses for the purpose of examination; however, the dolphins
were unable to be located when a vessel was mobilised later that day. A search
resumed the next morning, but the dolphin carcasses were not found.
On 21 March 2022, DBCA officers
surveyed the spill area in a DBCA vessel. An additional DBCA patrol was
conducted on 22 March 2022 around the group of islands between Varanus Island
and Barrow Island. No dead or distressed animals were observed during this
patrol.
DBCA continued to liaise with Santos
on post-spill wildlife monitoring plans and observations of potential impacts
to wildlife. DBCA does not have any current evidence to support that the
dolphin deaths were caused by the oil spill, and there has been no further
compliance action in relation to this matter.
The Department of Mines, Industry
Regulation and Safety is the lead agency regarding this incident, and DBCA
continues to work with DMIRS on this matter.
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