A Northern Territory EPA inquiry into spills at Darwin's East Arm Wharf has identified major loopholes in environmental assessment and approvals processes, lax port practices and poor enforcement, triggering a defensive response from Darwin Port Corporation.
Operations at the Montara oilfield did not come within a 'bull's roar' of sensible oilfield practice, scrutiny by the NT Department of Resources was 'totally inadequate' and the EPBC Act is 'deficient', says the long-awaited report of the commission of inquiry into the spill.
Polluters can be fined up to $2.5 million under amending legislation passed by the NT Parliament, while Territory Environment Minister Karl Hampton has extended consultation on Environmental Assessment Act changes and has specified the containers to be covered by a new deposit refund scheme.
The Northern Territory government will overhaul its Environmental Assessment Act and end inconsistent arrangements for regulating on-site and off-site effects of mining, Environment Minister Karl Hampton has announced.