Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Senator Wong, and concerns the Montara oil spill in the Timor Sea. Could the minister please inform the chamber as to the current size—

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I could not hear the start of that question because people immediately broke into disorderly conduct across the chamber. Senator Siewert is entitled to be heard in silence so that the minister can hear her.

Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Could the minister inform the chamber as to the current size of the oil slick? On 29 August it was around 3,000 square kilometres. On 30 August it was 6,000 square kilometres.

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on both sides! Senator Siewert is entitled to be heard and the minister is entitled to hear the question. It is just basic fairness and equity.

Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

According to the official Australian Maritime Safety Authority figures, on 30 August the size of the slick was 6,000 square kilometres. Could the minister please inform us as to the current size of the slick? Also, could the minister inform us as to where the minister for the environment got his figure for the amount of oil spilling into the environment of 300 to 400 barrels per day?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Siewert for her question. In relation to the first issue, which was the size of the slick, the brief with which I have been provided indicates that as of 2 September the oil slick is some 70 nautical miles by 20 nautical miles in size, with approximately 25 per cent of the area covered in patches of oil and sheen. Obviously this is a deeply concerning incident. The lead agency, as the senator is probably aware, is the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. However, obviously this has involved other government agencies, including the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. I am also advised that the department of the environment is working closely with AMSA and relevant Commonwealth and state agencies to ensure appropriate measures are in place to respond to any impact on wildlife from the spill.

The senator is probably aware that emergency response measures have been in place since the uncontrolled release began on 21 August. It is a matter clearly of great concern to many people and also of great concern to the minister for the environment. For this reason and others, obviously, the department has been fully engaged in responding to the unfolding environmental threat. I can also advise that Minister Garrett has personally flown over the site to consider the extent of the spill firsthand and spoken personally with officers working to monitor and respond to it. Clearly this is an issue of great concern.

The senator also asked about where the minister got information regarding the number of barrels, I think. I do not appear to have that information, so I will pass that on to the minister for the environment and see if I can provide an answer. (Time expired)

Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I thank the minister for her answer and thank her for taking the issue around how many barrels of oil are entering the environment per day on notice, seeing that the company has not said publicly how much is entering the environment. Could she also perhaps give us the government’s best estimate of the amount of oil that will be entering the environment during the period of this leak, which is up to eight weeks, according to the company?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think the question was a request to take on notice the amount entering the environment. I have indicated that I do not have—

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You don’t know the answer to that question?

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Brown!

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If Senator Brown could possibly allow me to finish my answer, I understood that Senator Siewert was asking me to take on notice a bit more detail from the first question. I will do so. I thought the first question—

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

But you don’t know now?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Have you finished, Senator Brown?

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Wong, just address your answer to the chair, as you are supposed to.

Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If I could clarify, I was making an assumption that, because the minister could not tell us where the figure of 300 to 400 barrels per day came from, she would not know the full amount entering the environment, so I was giving her the courtesy of putting the question on notice.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And I am doing the courtesy, if the Leader of the Greens would allow me to finish my answer, of indicating to the senator that I am happy to take that on notice.

Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. I am also concerned about the impact of this spill on the wildlife and the 12 endangered and vulnerable species that the company lists as present in the area. Could the government inform the Senate as to what processes have been put in place to protect these species and can they guarantee that none of these species will be impacted by this spill?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I can indicate that I have advice in relation to the reports of affected wildlife off the Kimberley coast. I am advised the matter is currently being pursued by the Western Australian Department of Fisheries, as the area in question falls within the state’s jurisdiction. I am further advised that the department—and I assume that that is the Western Australian department—has engaged an expert who coordinated the oiled wildlife response to the Moreton Bay spill earlier in 2009 to undertake a flight over the affected area and to prepare a preliminary wildlife response plan.

I also am advised that a wildlife response plan has been prepared by the department, based on expert advice. The plan details current actions being undertaken using resources provided by the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service command based at Ashmore and Cartier reserves, as well as actions to be undertaken in the event that any oiled wildlife is found. Two experts are travelling to these reserves to undertake on-ground assessment of wildlife, and trained Customs officers— (Time expired)