Offshore oil regulator hires former oil firm boss as head of safety and integrity

Environmentalists criticise appointment of Derrick O'Keeffe, who spent past four years as Australia manager of Murphy Oil

Environmentalists have criticised the offshore oil regulator for appointing a recent head of the Australian arm of a major oil company to a senior position, saying the move is "like putting the fox in charge of the henhouse".

Derrick O'Keeffe spent the past four years as country manager in Australia for Murphy Oil, which under his watch entered into a joint-venture with Santos to explore for oil in the Great Australian Bight.