What Bligh said after the Swire meeting

Bligh: The meeting with representatives of the Swire Shipping corporation this morning I would describe as constructive. They did make an offer to the government, but frankly it's an offer that is just not good enough. So the meeting was a good start, but we have a long way to go before the Queensland taxpayer can be adequately reimbursed for the costs of the bill.

Ah the nature of this offer is in my view not appropriate to put into the public arena at this stage. Look, what I want to do is get a good outcome for the Queensland taxpayer and it is important that some of the these discussions can happen confidentially.

But I do say at this stage the offer is not good enough and I'm notgoing to accept second best. The beaches of the Sunshine Coast, the beaches of Moreton Island are not only loved by people here in the south-east, they are much loved by people around Australia. If this company is not able to increase its offer and come to the party properly then frankly I believe the people of Australia will never let them forget it. (inaudible) ultimately got a weigh up their corporate reputation and their corporate responsibility. I was encouraged that they were prepared to make some movement in that direction today, but it is simply a long way from anywhere near the full costs of this clean up and we shouldn't settle for second best. 

Journalist: (inaudible)

Bligh:  No obviously the Queensland Government will be, is, pursuing the costs in relation to firstly state government agencies, to relevant local governments who incurred costs and we also have an interest in ensuring that private companies, whether they're fishing trawlers or tourism operators, have some way of recovering their costs as well. So, this is potentially a very complicated claim, but there's nothing complicated about assuming your responsibility and that's what this company's got to do before we can get anywhere close to some settlement.

Journalist: (inaudible) said outside here that he would meet the all claims (inaudible) all claims from private businesses. (inaudible)

Bligh: Obviously there are many claimants here – the state government, local governments, and private businesses – and each of those claimants will be seeking to make sure that they protect their interests, whether they're the interests of the tax payer or the interests of their business. I believe the outcome here for Swires has to be one that looks after businesses, looks after tax payers, looks after Queenslanders, and so far we're still a long way from it. 

Journalist: (inaudible)

Bligh: My view is that they need to pay the entire cost of this clean-up, which is about $31m. So, the current liability cap, ah the current limit on their liability is $14.5m. So, they're more than halfway away from anything that would be satisfactory. It is encouraging that they met with the Queensland Government. It is very constructive that they made an offer, but frankly it is not an offer that I'm prepared to accept. I won't accept second best. I won't compromise on the requirement in my view on this company to meet the clean up costs.

That's what Queenslanders and that's what Australians expect. You cannot just turn up on a beach anywhere in this country, dump a whole lot of oil and expect that the tax payer will clean up after you. It's not on.

Journalist: (inaudible)

Bligh:  I've made it clear to Swire that this was a very serious incident, that the people of Queensland are angry about it, and if they do not meet their responsibilities we will never let them forget it. They are not only a shipping company. They have many other products that they have a business interest in and I will personally lead the charge internationally against their reputation if they do not satisfy the demands, the legitimate demands of Queenslanders that they clean up this mess. 

Journalist: (inaudible)

Bligh: This company is seeking to hide behind the legal limitations on their liability. There is nothing in the law that would stop this company from going above the beyond their legal duty and doing the right thing. I think Queenslanders understand that and their attempts to hide behind the law do them no credit.

Journalist: (inaudible)

Bligh: Clearly I want to get a good outcome for tax payers so I entered these discussions in a constructive way, so did the company, but frankly they're a long, long way from anything that's satisfactory.

Journalist: (inaudible)

Bligh: The company will be meeting with the federal government early next week. I indicated that we would continue to have discussions with their lawyers, but if they are not prepared to meet this requirement then we will not hesitate to exercise a levy on every shipping company. Now this company had to...

Journalist: Can you exercise that (inaudible)

Bligh: There is a possibility of a state levy, but we'd be looking for a federal levy because I think it's important that it's an Australia-wide levy. If the federal government...

Journalist: (inaudible)

Bligh: Yes. I've made them to the appropriate minister, Anthony Albanese, who has indicated a willingness for the federal government to do this. But that would be an undesirable outcome. Other shipping companies should not be penalised for Swire's refusal to meet their corporate-social responsibility. If Swires does not come to the party and we have to encourage a levy to recover these costs on all ships, frankly I will make sure it's known in the industry as the Swire levy and that every other shipping company understands who's responsible for it. 

Journalist: (inaudible)

Bligh: Some of them are. Some of them, for example, include very significant financial interest in Cathay Pacific, which would be used from time to time by government agencies for international travel. But it's also used by a lot of Australians and I think Swires needs to remember that. 

Journalist: (inaudible)

Bligh: No it's a levy that's paid by all shipping companies. I think it's called a conservation of the sea levy, or protection of the sea levy, and it would have to – in my understanding and I would have to confirm that with the Commonwealth – it would be, the cost of the levy would then be spread across all shipping companies coming into the country. But we are talking to the Commonwealth. What I hope happens here is that this company's willingness to move a little bit this morning is an indication that they are prepared ultimately to accept their responsibility. If we can not get them over the line, then we will find other ways through shipping levies to make sure Queensland taxpayers are not out of pocket.

Journalist: How long (inaudible)

Bligh: Well there are discussions happening with the federal government early next week and ah I indicated that Queensland Government lawyers would meet with their lawyers after that meeting, so early next week. I don't want this to drag on forever. If we can't reach a settlement in the next couple of weeks then I think we need to pursue a levy and get this over with so that private businesses, councils and state government agencies can be reimbursed as quickly as possible.