The Australian Greens have welcomed the plugging this afternoon of a leak from the Montara wellhead in the Timor Sea, 10-and-a-half weeks since the spill began on Friday 21 August.

“This disaster has caused untold damage to the marine environment and has left a legacy that will need to be dealt with long into the future,” Greens Spokesperson on Marine Issues, Senator Rachel Siewert said.

“We expect the Federal Government to immediately announce the commencement of a full, independent, judicial inquiry into this incident, to be conducted at arm’s length from both the Government and the company.

“The Greens have been calling for such an inquiry since the start of this incident. It now needs to start immediately.”

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