Hon Robin Chapple asks the Minister for Mines and Petroleum to provide and table the Varanus Island final investigation report. Hon Norman Moore declines, citing legal advice to minimise risk to ongoing prosecutions.

AnsweredQoN 537Legislative Council
Asked
9 August 2011
Portfolio
Mines and Petroleum

QuestionView source ↗

“OFFSHORE PETROLEUM SAFETY REGULATION — VARANUS ISLAND INCIDENT INVESTIGATION REPORT”
I refer to Apache Northwest Pty Ltd v Agostini (2009) WASC 225 pertaining to the Varanus Island final investigation report, specifically the reference by Justice Beech to the minister’s right to table reports at pages 18 to 20 contained in paragraph 60, clause 5, and further discussions on page 37, paragraph 132. (1) Will the minister provide a copy of the Varanus Island final investigation report? (2) Will the minister table a copy of the Varanus Island final investigation report to the house? (3) If no to (1) or (2), why not? Hon NORMAN MOORE

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)–(2) No. (3) I have taken legal advice and made the decision not to release the “Offshore Petroleum Safety Regulation — Varanus Island Incident Investigation Report” so as to minimise the risk to the prosecution currently before the courts.
(1) Will the minister provide a copy of the Varanus Island final investigation report? (2) Will the minister table a copy of the Varanus Island final investigation report to the house? (3) If no to (1) or (2), why not? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)–(2) No. (3) I have taken legal advice and made the decision not to release the “Offshore Petroleum Safety Regulation — Varanus Island Incident Investigation Report” so as to minimise the risk to the prosecution currently before the courts.
(2) Will the minister table a copy of the Varanus Island final investigation report to the house? (3) If no to (1) or (2), why not? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)–(2) No. (3) I have taken legal advice and made the decision not to release the “Offshore Petroleum Safety Regulation — Varanus Island Incident Investigation Report” so as to minimise the risk to the prosecution currently before the courts.
(3) If no to (1) or (2), why not? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)–(2) No. (3) I have taken legal advice and made the decision not to release the “Offshore Petroleum Safety Regulation — Varanus Island Incident Investigation Report” so as to minimise the risk to the prosecution currently before the courts.
Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)–(2) No. (3) I have taken legal advice and made the decision not to release the “Offshore Petroleum Safety Regulation — Varanus Island Incident Investigation Report” so as to minimise the risk to the prosecution currently before the courts.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)–(2) No. (3) I have taken legal advice and made the decision not to release the “Offshore Petroleum Safety Regulation — Varanus Island Incident Investigation Report” so as to minimise the risk to the prosecution currently before the courts.
(1)–(2) No. (3) I have taken legal advice and made the decision not to release the “Offshore Petroleum Safety Regulation — Varanus Island Incident Investigation Report” so as to minimise the risk to the prosecution currently before the courts.
(3) I have taken legal advice and made the decision not to release the “Offshore Petroleum Safety Regulation — Varanus Island Incident Investigation Report” so as to minimise the risk to the prosecution currently before the courts.

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