Oil spill report to remain under wraps

[depakid]

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

Legal advice is preventing the public release of a report into Australia's worst offshore oil spill, the federal government says, rejecting claims it is not taking the issue seriously. On Friday, Resources Minister Martin Ferguson was handed the report into the Montara oil spill in the Timor Sea on August 21, 2009.

Despite calls from the Australian Greens to make the report's findings public immediately, Mr Ferguson said solicitors had advised the government to hold off. He said he was told that releasing the report could "prejudice the conduct of further investigations, including criminal offences ... or undermine any natural justice considerations".

"The inquiry was not about attributing blame. It was and continues to be about understanding and learning the lessons from Montara," Mr Ferguson said in a statement. The Greens have urged the government to release the report, saying there is no reason not to and that Mr Ferguson has already been briefed on it.

But a spokeswoman for the minister said he had not been briefed on the report. Mr Ferguson said the government had not been complacent since the spill and he had ordered relevant regulatory authorities to undertake a range of reviews and safety checks.

Read more: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/oil-spill-report-to-remain-under-wraps-20100618-ylse.html

[Hubert Flottz]

1. Cheaper to own and operate a few of the right politicians than to

clean up the disasters they create. Big oil writes the big checks that grease the wheels of greed.

[wordpix]

2. BP's spew is just an accident! End the moratorium! sarcasm...

:sarcasm:

These spews are happening around the world and BigOil doesn't like it when you tell them to hold on, there will be an investigation to "learn lessons."

[depakid]

3. Note the date

[pscot]

4. It's not about attributing blame...

Is there an official phrase book?