Oz Labor will increase oil spill fine 90-fold to US$9 million

AUSTRALIA's Labor Party, when in power, said it planned to raise fines for ships' oil spills from today's A$275,000 (US$249,656) up to A$10 million for a company and from A$55,000 to A$2 million for an individual.

The Labor government bill from Transport Minister Anthony Albanese would protect tourist dollar generating assets such as the Great Barrier Reef by increasing the fine 9,000 per cent.

A new fine would cover a negligent navigation offence of A$5.5 million for a corporation, A$2.2 million for an individual and up to 10 years imprisonment for ships putting the environment at risk.

Additionally, a failure to report a vessel's location when passing through the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait will apply a penalty from A$5,500 to A$132,000 for a corporation and A$26,400 for an individual.

Australia has faced the grounding of Shen Neng 1 on Douglas Shoal, Queensland earlier 2010 and the Pacific Adventurer oil spill off the coast of south east Queensland in 2009.
(Source:www.schednet.com)