UPDATE 1-Australia says Swire backs from full oil spill payment

(Adds Swire statement)

SYDNEY, July 5 (Reuters) - Australia on Sunday accused shipping firm Swire Shipping Ltd of trying to renege on a promise to cover the cost of an oil spill around pristine tourist beaches earlier this year.

The spill from the ship Pacific Adventurer in March spread 270 tonnes of fuel oil onto beaches to the north of Brisbane, in Queensland state's picturesque Sunshine Coast. [ID:nSYD487754]

A massive cleanup was mounted involving 2,500 people, which enabled the beaches to reopen within nine weeks.

At the time, Swire Shipping said it would pay for the damage, but Queensland's state government, backed by the federal government in Canberra, has accused it of trying to use a legal loophole to avoid full payment.

Swire Shipping said in a statement it had asked to meet the state and federal governments to come a "mutually acceptable solution", and denied it had committed to paying the full cost.

According to a statement from Queensland state Premier Anna Bligh, international maritime conventions refer to a cap on cleanup payments of $17 million, but the state estimates the total cost of the clean up at around A$34 million ($27 million).

Bligh said in the statement that Swire Shipping last week wrote to her government suggesting it would not pay the full bill. The company said it would "have regard to the limitation of liability available to them at law", Bligh's statement said.

Swire said on Sunday its insurer had already provided financial security for up to A$20 million.