An Indonesian campaigner said he will continue to push the Australian government for an independent study of the impact of the Montara oil spill.

The 2009 Montara disaster spilled millions of litres of oil into the sea and it took more than two months to stop the leak.

Ferdi Tanoni from the West Timor Care Foundation claims the spill damaged fish stocks.

The Australian Lawyers Alliance gave Mr Tanoni the National Civil Justice Award in Canberra yesterday, in recognition of his efforts promoting justice and individual rights.

Mr Tanoni said Australia should support independent research in West Timor and nearby waters.

“I’m calling on the Australian government to at least look into this or the Australian government can at least ask the oil company together with the Indonesian government to look into this,” he said.

“If they found nothing in this water then they pay nothing but if they found something please, we we we settle this case.”

The Federal Environment Department said monitoring is ongoing.

The company, PTTEP, has accepted responsibility for the incident.