[Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE: Woodside's activities referred to Australian Federal Police

[Willis, Katrina (Sen C. Milne)]

MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday, 17 May 2006

Woodside's activities referred to Australian Federal Police

Australian Greens Senator Christine Milne today confirmed that she had
asked the Australian Federal Police (AFP) to investigate Woodside's
activities in Mauritania.

"I have asked the AFP, through the Minister for Justice, Senator Chris
Ellison, to investigate whether certain activities by Woodside in
Mauritania breach Australian law," Senator Milne said in Hobart.

"The activities relate to amendments to oil Production Sharing Contracts
negotiated between Woodside and the former energy minister of
Mauritania, and the settlement of a subsequent dispute about those
amendments between Woodside and the new government of Mauritania. This
includes a US$100 million payment."

The relevant facts which led Senator Milne to seek the investigation
appear below.

Woodside negotiated four amendments to its Production Sharing Contracts
with the former Minister for energy and petroleum, Zaydane Ould Hmaidah.


Following a military coup in August last year, the former minister was
arrested and charged with "crimes against the country's vital economic
interests".

The new Head of State pronounced in a speech to the nation that the
amendments were illegal and unacceptable. He said that the amendments
were signed "outside the legal framework of normal practice, to the
great detriment of our country". The Mauritanian government argued that
the amendments reduced Mauritania's income from the partnership by up to
US$200 million per year, and that they posed serious threats to the
country's marine biodiversity.

Woodside argued that the amendments were legal and binding.

The new government threatened to take the dispute to the Paris-based
International Tribunal of Chamber of Commerce. Before that process was
undertaken, Woodside and the Mauritanian government reached a settlement
which included the payment of US$100 million by Woodside to the
government, and the cancellation of the four amendments. 

The former energy minister was released from custody and granted
amnesty.

Contact: Katrina Willis: 03 6234 4566 or 0437 587 562


Katrina Willis
Adviser
Senator Christine Milne
Phone 03 6234 4566
Fax 03 6234 2144
Mobile 0437 587 562
www.christinemilne.org.au