Oil spill report expected by Christma
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CANBERRA, Oct 19 AAP
October 20 2010, 05:20AM
A report into Australia's worst offshore oil spill contains 105 recommendations with wide-ranging implications, Energy Minister Martin Ferguson says.
Mr Ferguson was winding up parliamentary debate on Tuesday on legislation that strengthens the enforcement and compliance powers of the National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority, the national offshore safety body, in the wake of the Montara oil spill.
The spill in the Timor Sea started on August 21 last year and lasted for two months before being plugged.
The federal opposition has said it supports the measures.
Mr Ferguson said he'd received the report into the Montara spill in June and would release it by Christmas after the government had fully considered it.
"The report contains 105 recommendations and 100 findings with wide-ranging implications for government and the regulators of the offshore petroleum industry," Mr Ferguson said.
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2010 passed the House of Representatives and now goes to the Senate.
