Fair play to NOPSEMA's efforts to get ahead of the game.

Published yesterday on their newly re-designed website is a 1700-word article on "How NOPSEMA investigates – and why it matters."

Call me a cynical, old journalist (note: I am a self-confessed cynical, old journalist) but I find the timing of this missive rather too coincidental.

In the well-penned article, NOPSEMA starts with: "When there is a serious accident or dangerous occurrence at an offshore energy facility, the public response is understandable: something went wrong and the regulator should act. At NOPSEMA, we do act – and we take that responsibility seriously."

And then the next 1600+ words are devoted to a justification of what constitutes a "formal regulatory investigation" and "why it takes the time it does." The article's author also takes time to highlight the recent "notable improvements to NOPSEMA's investigative capacity."

However well-intentioned this article is, it will be of scant consolation to the family and friends of Michael Jurman, who next week will be sadly noting the third anniversary of his death.

And yet three years on there is no official report into the tragedy has been published, no prosecutions on the horizon, no lessons learned and certainly no resolution for his devastated family.

Yes – as NOPSEMA correctly notes – "a formal regulatory investigation in the offshore energy sector is a complex undertaking."

Yes, "incident sites are often remote and difficult to access."

Yes, "key witnesses may also be based or reside across Australia or even in different countries, often working fly‑in fly‑out rosters that complicate the scheduling of interviews."

Yes, "physical evidence…often requires specialist analysis undertaken by external subject‑matter experts"

Yes, "documentary evidence may also be extensive."

And yes, "over the past two years NOPSEMA has [undoubtedly] invested heavily in strengthening its investigative capability and that investment is already delivering results."

But I'm sure little of this will make any difference to Michael's family.

On 2 June 2023, Michael Jurman - a rope access technician employed by Vertech to work on Woodside Energy's North Rankin Complex offshore gas platform – was killed in an accident.

While details are few and far between it is understood the incident happened during a "working over the side" activity, or a task on the outside of the platform.

The specific circumstances of the incident have not been publicly detailed and NOPSEMA has previously stressed it could not comment on "specific matters" while its investigation remains active.

In February – one thousand days after Michael's death - through these pages I called on NOPSEMA to expedite the investigation into Michael's death.

Not for one second did I think my lone voice might make any difference, but the silence has been deafening.

So, as we approach yet another sad milestone for the industry, I am again calling on all concerned – NOPSEMA, the WA police, Woodside, the coroner's office – to relentlessly work together, to do better, and bring about some sort of closure for Michael's family.