Queensland’s environment department has hired a private investigator to find the source of an alleged leak of government information to the ABC.
The investigator, Bryan Cook of Ashdale Workplace Solutions, contacted the broadcaster this week seeking to interview Mark Willacy of the ABC’s National Reporting Team.
Mr Cook told the ABC he had been hired by the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, following a complaint to the department by Linc Energy chief executive Craig Ricato.
The investigator said the complaint related to the alleged leaking of information regarding “evidence gathered by the department” about the activities of Linc Energy.
He said he wanted to give Willacy “the opportunity to participate in an interview”, adding: “I’m pretty sure I know what the answer is going to be”.
A spokesman for Linc confirmed the company had complained to the department, but said an investigation was already under way when the complaint was made.
“Linc Energy did complain to the department that we were learning of new allegations via the media rather than through appropriate channels, but the department said it had already launched an investigation into the leaking of confidential information,” the spokesman said.
The environment department said it had engaged an independent contractor “to investigate possible misconduct”.
“The investigation relates to suspected unauthorised release of internal information,” a spokesperson said.
“It is not the result of a complaint made to EHP by Linc Energy.”
The spokesperson declined to say how much the exercise would cost.
“As this is an operational matter it is not appropriate to make further comment.”
Investigations revealed biggest probe in department’s history
In March, the ABC revealed details of an environment department investigation into Linc Energy.
The probe, the biggest in the department’s history, is examining claims that workers at Linc’s controversial underground coal gasification plant at Chinchilla, west of Brisbane, were exposed to cancer-causing chemicals.
The probe involved an expert review of medical records of former workers finding their symptoms were consistent with exposure to the constituents of syngas, or synthetic gas, the main product of Linc Energy’s plant.
Documents filed in the Supreme Court in Brisbane, including search warrants used to carry out raids on Linc Energy’s offices in 2013, allege the company failed to report incidents at the plant, tried to cover them up, and gagged staff.
The incidents include a fire that caused Linc to evacuate the site in 2007, persistent leaks of toxic gas into the air and groundwater between 2008 and 2011, and an alleged attempt to hide problems at the site from government officials in 2012.
The department last year filed four criminal charges against the company for serious environmental harm at the property.
The charges return to the Dalby Magistrates Court on June 15.
The company has denied wrongdoing.
Underground coal gasification involves the partial combustion of coal seams below the surface to produce a gas from which fuel can be extracted.
Linc Energy ceased production at Chinchilla in 2013 after almost 20 years of activities there.
The plant has been in a “decommissioning” phase since then.
Department officials earlier this year spent weeks testing soil, air and water samples from nearby properties after elevated levels of gases were found that are associated with underground combustion.
The department has since ruled out an underground fire as the source.
According to Ashdale Workplace Solutions’ website, the company specialises in “workplace investigation and conflict resolution”.
Bryan Cook is the company’s managing director and co-owner.