Ms MARTIN - 1996-02-21
The CLP government has: repeatedly refused to act on a spillage of up to 10 million litres of diesel oil at Gemco on Groote Eylandt; condoned unauthorised work and subsequent destruction of wetlands and a barramundi nursery at Dundee Beach, 2 hours west of Darwin; planned the continued destruction of mangroves in beautiful Darwin Harbour; and sat on its hands for 6 months after receiving a report detailing an environmental catastrophe on the Mary River floodplains. Therefore, how can the minister show Territorians he has any credibility left in respect of his ability to protect the environment of the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I am extremely pleased that the member for Fannie Bay has asked this question because it provides me with an opportunity to explain what has been done. I hope that the member for Fannie Bay and other members opposite will listen. With regard to the
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opening remarks made by the member for Fannie Bay about the oil spill at Groote Eylandt, I will give her some information on that very shortly.
First, however, let us put what the member for Fannie Bay knows into a real context. She issued a press release on 5 February. She alleged in that press release that the County Liberal Party Minister for the Environment - that is, me - described a 3 million litre diesel spill at Groote Eylandt as `a smallproblem'.
Ms Martin: Yes.
Mr REED: Yes? You agree with that statement? I am pleased that you have admitted it because you have now exposed yourself further and I have it on record
Let us look at the statement that she made by taking it in 2 parts.
Mr Ede: What?
Mr REED: What? Listen and I will tell you. I will take it in 2 parts. With regard to my describing it as `a small problem' - yes, I did say that. I think it was in May last year. It is recorded in the Parliamentary Record. What we were talking about at that stage was ...
Mr Bailey: Your incompetence in doing anything about ...
Mr Speaker: Order!
Mr REED: We were talking about the fuel spill at Groote Eylandt in the context of the information that we had to hand at that time. The fuel spill was estimated to be some 300 000 L. It was contained in a geological formation. It was not escaping from that formation into the sea or other areas. Indeed, processes had been put in place to recover it. That was when I made the remark about `a small problem'. It was in the context of the problem as we knew it in May last year.
Ms Martin: But when did you describe it as ...
Mr REED: No, you have made your commitment. I am happy to answer. As regards the remainder of the member for Fannie Bay's remark, that I had described a 3 million litre diesel spill at Groote Eylandt as `a small problem' - that is where she has a problem. The information from Gemco about the scope of the problem, and information provided following additional survey work that it had done, determined that the spill could involve 3 million litres. When was that? It was in December last year. Six months after I made the statement about `a small problem', she links a 3 million litre leak to it!
Mr Ede interjecting.
Mr REED: If she cannot get her own facts right, at least the Leader of the Opposition should be looking at his responsibilities.
Ms Martin: You have heard what we are saying. Do something.
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Mr REED: You cannot tie comments and facts provided in December to something I had said the previous May. You had this problem when you were an ABC journalist. You could not get the truth right then and your bias kept showing every day on your program. Do not bring those little foibles into the Assembly because we will keep picking you up on your untruths. If you go on telling lies and relating facts that were not available ...
Members interjecting.
Mr BAILEY: A point of order, Mr Speaker!
Mr SPEAKER: I ask the minister to withdraw the remark `if you go on telling lies'.
Mr REED: I am happy to withdraw the remark. I simply ask the member for Fannie Bay to get her facts right and not attribute remarks based on information that she obtains in December to something I had said 6 months earlier, in May.
In relation to the problems at Dundee Beach to which the member referred, I have indicated to her, through the media, that a great deal of work is being done at Dundee Beach, not only by the Department of Lands, Planning and Environment but also by the Power and Water Authority and the Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr REED: The departments concerned are working together and with the owner of the area, who is the developer. The member for Fannie Bay went there earlier this year. It is my understanding that, when she was there, Mr Kendray offered to brief her on what he was attempting to do but she refused the opportunity to take that briefing.
Ms Martin: I beg your pardon?
Mr REED: That is the information that I have available to me.
Ms Martin interjecting.
Mr REED: Did you speak to Mr Kendray?
Ms Martin: I spoke to ...
Mr Coulter: Did you or did you not speak to Mr Kendray?
Ms Martin: ... on behalf of Mr Kendray and I said I would be more than happy to have a briefing.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr REED: Mr Kendray offered to ...
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Ms Martin: No, he has not offered ...
Mr REED: ... provide some advice to the honourable member. Did she want the facts? She did not want the facts.
Ms Martin: I am waiting.
Mr Ede: The facts are there for all to see - 12 months of inaction.
Mr REED: These are the facts. The departments are continuing to work with the developer ...
Ms Martin interjecting.
Mr REED: If you wish, you may take a sledgehammer approach to these issues. Bear in mind previous comments made by members opposite. I think it is the belief of Territorians that we should be a low-regulation government. Where there is an opportunity to work through a problem with a developer on a particular issue, to find an amicable solution, I think we should pursue that course. From the point of view of overcoming those problems, I think the long-term solution would be much better than the outcome of the approach that members opposite would take.
The member for Fannie Bay can be assured that the relevant departments will continue to work with the developer and to work cooperatively with other government agencies that have an interest and concern in relation to some of the activities that have been undertaken at Dundee Beach. They will be discussing with the developer means by which the problems can be overcome and a program put in place.
Members interjecting.
Mr Ede: He is now saying ...
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr REED: I will pick up the interjection from the Leader of the Opposition. He says that I am saying now that I will do something. Much has been done already. The Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries made a specific request to have the wall breached. The wall has been breached. In fact, I have some photographs here that depict regeneration of the areas that were affected by environmental damage. Officers have been there pursuing the issue, and officers will continue to pursue the issue. However, they will try to do it in cooperative way with the developer to find long-term solutions. You can go in there with your own solutions and hit it with a sledgehammer, but we are trying to find a more amicable outcome.
I want to return to a most important issue raised by the member for Fannie Bay. I refer to her allegations that this government and, in particular, I as Minister for Lands, Planning and
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Environment - and also as Minister for Mines and Energy - do nothing about the issue to which she has been referring. I return to the matter of the Gemco oil spill. I remind members ...
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr REED: If you have the good manners to listen - obviously, the people listening to this broadcast are a little more interested in it than members opposite - I will provide you with the answer.
The oil spill at Groote Eylandt has been investigated very thoroughly, not only by the Department of Mines and Energy but also by the company, Gemco, over the last year since advice has come to hand ...
Mr Ede: The company said it was 10 million litres in April last year.
Mr REED: Do you want the information? Do you want the answer to your member's question or not?
Mr Ede: You are talking a load of garbage. You know that you have done nothing for years.
Mr Stone: You are a waste of time.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr REED: I am about to illustrate precisely what has been done - if I could have a little silence to enable me to do that and to let Territorians know precisely what the current position is, and if the Leader of the Opposition is interested enough to listen. The information pertaining to this particular problem has been something of a movable feast. About a year ago, the extent of the spill was thought to be not that great. In May last year, it was thought to be in the order of 300 000 L.
Unlike members opposite, I visited the site. I have had a look at the problem and I have discussed the cause. Members will recall that it was in about February last year that the leak in the oil pipe was found. Notwithstanding that there had been previous reports of fuel loss, pressure tests on the fuel storage system had failed to disclose a leak. Nevertheless, a leak was found subsequently, at about this time last year. I think Gemco has been very responsible in its response following that discovery. It has put in place a rather large exploration drilling program to determine the scope of the leak. As I said earlier, it has upgraded its view of the extent of the leak, which was about 300 000 L in May last year. In December, following further investigations, there was an indication that the leak was somewhere in the order of 1 million litres to 3 million litres. Gemco has employed an environmental consultant to investigate the matter fully, and to report and set down recommendations as to how the fuel can be recovered and the problems overcome. I am not at all critical of the current actions of Gemco with regard to the recovery of that fuel and the recovery programs that it is putting in place.
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As regards the allegation that nothing has been done, I totally refute that on behalf of officers in departments who have been working hard on this. Indeed, I can make the announcement that, on 19 February, a complaint was laid by the Director of Mines against the Groote Eylandt Mining Company, Gemco, in relation to the spillage of oil at Groote Eylandt. The complaint alleges that, on 22 February 1995, Gemco unlawfully permitted diesel fuel to come into contact with groundwater, contrary to section 16 of the Water Act. Section 16 of the Water Act makes it an offence for a person to allow waste to come in contact with groundwater. The act defines `waste' to include `substances which may cause pollution if allowed to come into contact with water'. In the case of a body corporate, the penalty on conviction for such an offence is $50 000.
I am happy also to advise that, as minister, I have approached Gemco for a joint arrangement with the government to review the overall issue of fuel management with a view to discovering what might be learned for the more effective future management of fuel on mine sites.
Members interjecting.
Mr REED: Honourable members opposite ask why has it taken so long. The reason it has taken so long is because it has been a complex matter. It has been one that ...
Mr Bailey: They continuously denied it - you drill a little hole, you find diesel.
Mr Coulter: You great geotechnologist!
Mr REED: Mr Speaker, what do you do? People are listening to this broadcast. I am providing information in response to a question asked by an opposition member, whose colleague does not even have the good grace or manners to listen. This is a very important matter, but all we hear are the dribblings from the member for Wanguri, who has no responsibility and no knowledge of the issue. He has not been to Groote Eylandt. Have any members opposite talked to Gemco or BHP about this problem?
Mr Ede: Yes.
Mr REED: No, they have not.
Mr Ede: Wrong!
Mr REED: When did they do it? They must have done it in the last month or so. When this matter was raised and came to the attention of some members opposite, they did not even have the good grace to talk to the company about the problem or the extent of it. They did not know what work was being done. It has been a developing circumstance, as regards the scope of the problem and what the particular issues are. Over the last year, we have had cooperation from Gemco in determining those issues. We have gone about the problem in a very studied and what has been a productive manner. Action has now been taken against Gemco in relation to this matter and we will await what happens in the courts.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I am extremely pleased that the member for Fannie Bay has asked this question because it provides me with an opportunity to explain what has been done. I hope that the member for Fannie Bay and other members opposite will listen. With regard to the
Page 1186
opening remarks made by the member for Fannie Bay about the oil spill at Groote Eylandt, I will give her some information on that very shortly.
First, however, let us put what the member for Fannie Bay knows into a real context. She issued a press release on 5 February. She alleged in that press release that the County Liberal Party Minister for the Environment - that is, me - described a 3 million litre diesel spill at Groote Eylandt as `a smallproblem'.
Ms Martin: Yes.
Mr REED: Yes? You agree with that statement? I am pleased that you have admitted it because you have now exposed yourself further and I have it on record
Let us look at the statement that she made by taking it in 2 parts.
Mr Ede: What?
Mr REED: What? Listen and I will tell you. I will take it in 2 parts. With regard to my describing it as `a small problem' - yes, I did say that. I think it was in May last year. It is recorded in the Parliamentary Record. What we were talking about at that stage was ...
Mr Bailey: Your incompetence in doing anything about ...
Mr Speaker: Order!
Mr REED: We were talking about the fuel spill at Groote Eylandt in the context of the information that we had to hand at that time. The fuel spill was estimated to be some 300 000 L. It was contained in a geological formation. It was not escaping from that formation into the sea or other areas. Indeed, processes had been put in place to recover it. That was when I made the remark about `a small problem'. It was in the context of the problem as we knew it in May last year.
Ms Martin: But when did you describe it as ...
Mr REED: No, you have made your commitment. I am happy to answer. As regards the remainder of the member for Fannie Bay's remark, that I had described a 3 million litre diesel spill at Groote Eylandt as `a small problem' - that is where she has a problem. The information from Gemco about the scope of the problem, and information provided following additional survey work that it had done, determined that the spill could involve 3 million litres. When was that? It was in December last year. Six months after I made the statement about `a small problem', she links a 3 million litre leak to it!
Mr Ede interjecting.
Mr REED: If she cannot get her own facts right, at least the Leader of the Opposition should be looking at his responsibilities.
Ms Martin: You have heard what we are saying. Do something.
Page 1187
Mr REED: You cannot tie comments and facts provided in December to something I had said the previous May. You had this problem when you were an ABC journalist. You could not get the truth right then and your bias kept showing every day on your program. Do not bring those little foibles into the Assembly because we will keep picking you up on your untruths. If you go on telling lies and relating facts that were not available ...
Members interjecting.
Mr BAILEY: A point of order, Mr Speaker!
Mr SPEAKER: I ask the minister to withdraw the remark `if you go on telling lies'.
Mr REED: I am happy to withdraw the remark. I simply ask the member for Fannie Bay to get her facts right and not attribute remarks based on information that she obtains in December to something I had said 6 months earlier, in May.
In relation to the problems at Dundee Beach to which the member referred, I have indicated to her, through the media, that a great deal of work is being done at Dundee Beach, not only by the Department of Lands, Planning and Environment but also by the Power and Water Authority and the Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr REED: The departments concerned are working together and with the owner of the area, who is the developer. The member for Fannie Bay went there earlier this year. It is my understanding that, when she was there, Mr Kendray offered to brief her on what he was attempting to do but she refused the opportunity to take that briefing.
Ms Martin: I beg your pardon?
Mr REED: That is the information that I have available to me.
Ms Martin interjecting.
Mr REED: Did you speak to Mr Kendray?
Ms Martin: I spoke to ...
Mr Coulter: Did you or did you not speak to Mr Kendray?
Ms Martin: ... on behalf of Mr Kendray and I said I would be more than happy to have a briefing.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr REED: Mr Kendray offered to ...
Page 1188
Ms Martin: No, he has not offered ...
Mr REED: ... provide some advice to the honourable member. Did she want the facts? She did not want the facts.
Ms Martin: I am waiting.
Mr Ede: The facts are there for all to see - 12 months of inaction.
Mr REED: These are the facts. The departments are continuing to work with the developer ...
Ms Martin interjecting.
Mr REED: If you wish, you may take a sledgehammer approach to these issues. Bear in mind previous comments made by members opposite. I think it is the belief of Territorians that we should be a low-regulation government. Where there is an opportunity to work through a problem with a developer on a particular issue, to find an amicable solution, I think we should pursue that course. From the point of view of overcoming those problems, I think the long-term solution would be much better than the outcome of the approach that members opposite would take.
The member for Fannie Bay can be assured that the relevant departments will continue to work with the developer and to work cooperatively with other government agencies that have an interest and concern in relation to some of the activities that have been undertaken at Dundee Beach. They will be discussing with the developer means by which the problems can be overcome and a program put in place.
Members interjecting.
Mr Ede: He is now saying ...
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr REED: I will pick up the interjection from the Leader of the Opposition. He says that I am saying now that I will do something. Much has been done already. The Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries made a specific request to have the wall breached. The wall has been breached. In fact, I have some photographs here that depict regeneration of the areas that were affected by environmental damage. Officers have been there pursuing the issue, and officers will continue to pursue the issue. However, they will try to do it in cooperative way with the developer to find long-term solutions. You can go in there with your own solutions and hit it with a sledgehammer, but we are trying to find a more amicable outcome.
I want to return to a most important issue raised by the member for Fannie Bay. I refer to her allegations that this government and, in particular, I as Minister for Lands, Planning and
Page 1189
Environment - and also as Minister for Mines and Energy - do nothing about the issue to which she has been referring. I return to the matter of the Gemco oil spill. I remind members ...
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr REED: If you have the good manners to listen - obviously, the people listening to this broadcast are a little more interested in it than members opposite - I will provide you with the answer.
The oil spill at Groote Eylandt has been investigated very thoroughly, not only by the Department of Mines and Energy but also by the company, Gemco, over the last year since advice has come to hand ...
Mr Ede: The company said it was 10 million litres in April last year.
Mr REED: Do you want the information? Do you want the answer to your member's question or not?
Mr Ede: You are talking a load of garbage. You know that you have done nothing for years.
Mr Stone: You are a waste of time.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr REED: I am about to illustrate precisely what has been done - if I could have a little silence to enable me to do that and to let Territorians know precisely what the current position is, and if the Leader of the Opposition is interested enough to listen. The information pertaining to this particular problem has been something of a movable feast. About a year ago, the extent of the spill was thought to be not that great. In May last year, it was thought to be in the order of 300 000 L.
Unlike members opposite, I visited the site. I have had a look at the problem and I have discussed the cause. Members will recall that it was in about February last year that the leak in the oil pipe was found. Notwithstanding that there had been previous reports of fuel loss, pressure tests on the fuel storage system had failed to disclose a leak. Nevertheless, a leak was found subsequently, at about this time last year. I think Gemco has been very responsible in its response following that discovery. It has put in place a rather large exploration drilling program to determine the scope of the leak. As I said earlier, it has upgraded its view of the extent of the leak, which was about 300 000 L in May last year. In December, following further investigations, there was an indication that the leak was somewhere in the order of 1 million litres to 3 million litres. Gemco has employed an environmental consultant to investigate the matter fully, and to report and set down recommendations as to how the fuel can be recovered and the problems overcome. I am not at all critical of the current actions of Gemco with regard to the recovery of that fuel and the recovery programs that it is putting in place.
Page 1190
As regards the allegation that nothing has been done, I totally refute that on behalf of officers in departments who have been working hard on this. Indeed, I can make the announcement that, on 19 February, a complaint was laid by the Director of Mines against the Groote Eylandt Mining Company, Gemco, in relation to the spillage of oil at Groote Eylandt. The complaint alleges that, on 22 February 1995, Gemco unlawfully permitted diesel fuel to come into contact with groundwater, contrary to section 16 of the Water Act. Section 16 of the Water Act makes it an offence for a person to allow waste to come in contact with groundwater. The act defines `waste' to include `substances which may cause pollution if allowed to come into contact with water'. In the case of a body corporate, the penalty on conviction for such an offence is $50 000.
I am happy also to advise that, as minister, I have approached Gemco for a joint arrangement with the government to review the overall issue of fuel management with a view to discovering what might be learned for the more effective future management of fuel on mine sites.
Members interjecting.
Mr REED: Honourable members opposite ask why has it taken so long. The reason it has taken so long is because it has been a complex matter. It has been one that ...
Mr Bailey: They continuously denied it - you drill a little hole, you find diesel.
Mr Coulter: You great geotechnologist!
Mr REED: Mr Speaker, what do you do? People are listening to this broadcast. I am providing information in response to a question asked by an opposition member, whose colleague does not even have the good grace or manners to listen. This is a very important matter, but all we hear are the dribblings from the member for Wanguri, who has no responsibility and no knowledge of the issue. He has not been to Groote Eylandt. Have any members opposite talked to Gemco or BHP about this problem?
Mr Ede: Yes.
Mr REED: No, they have not.
Mr Ede: Wrong!
Mr REED: When did they do it? They must have done it in the last month or so. When this matter was raised and came to the attention of some members opposite, they did not even have the good grace to talk to the company about the problem or the extent of it. They did not know what work was being done. It has been a developing circumstance, as regards the scope of the problem and what the particular issues are. Over the last year, we have had cooperation from Gemco in determining those issues. We have gone about the problem in a very studied and what has been a productive manner. Action has now been taken against Gemco in relation to this matter and we will await what happens in the courts.
Page 1191
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016