So 10 weeks later the operators of the Montara oil rig off the coast of north west WA finally managed to plug the leak but not before it managed to leak 28,000 barrels of oil into the surrounding seas. But never fear because the minister for digging up shit is on the case and he has announced an inquiry into the debacle and given the smelly job of clearing anybody important of any wrong-doing to an economist who used to be a secretary in the department of the environment. The interesting thing about Mr David Borthwick, other than the fact that he is the son of a former Liberal Deputy Premier of Victoria is his stint as Australian Ambassador to the OECD from 1991 to 1993.
But that was then and now, if the Canberra Times can be believed, Mr Borthwick seems more interested in catching trout. Besides time in the environment department, he served in treasury for nineteen years immediately after a stint in the Industries Assistance Commission under Alf Rattigan, considered by the Times to be the father of economic rationalism in Australia. How then does Mr Borthwick view environmental activism, well here’s an interesting quote where he justifies an economic approach to environmental policy – he says
“It’s no use feeling fantastic if no-one’s listening to you. You’ve got to be in the game. If you talk the same language, do the rigorous analysis, engage with the industry departments, engage with the community and get the balance right, you’ll achieve your objectives.”
I think Mr Ferguson has definitely got the right man for the job and I also bet Peter Garrett will call this a win-win for departmental cooperation.
Montara Oil Spill - August 25, 2009 - Photo by Chris Twomey / Australian Greens, courtesy of WA Today.
Bloomberg story
Canberra Times article on Borthwick
