Global Peace - Australian Maritime Safety Authority

Global Peace - Incident Analysis Team Report9RELATIONSHIPS AMONGST PARTIES INVOLVED IN THE RESPONSE(a) Issue: Media and General Communicationsto StakeholdersBackgroundA number of issues arose regarding media andcommunication as a result of the requirement bythe Minister’s office to approve all material priorto its release to the media. This caused somefrustration at a local level due to the lack ofinformation on spill response clean-up measuresand what affect the spill may have on localfisheries, commercial fishing operators and therecreational boating community.It is a generally accepted practice that the earlyrelease of factual information to the media andstakeholders is a crucial component of anyresponse. However, MSQ are required to followdepartmental policy and guidelines on any mediareleases.In this instance, the vacuum created by the lack oftimely, factual and accurate information providedto the media caused them to develop their ownheadlines and stories greatly exacerbating theactual size, extent and impact of the spill. Allparties recognised that this was a major problemparticularly in Gladstone. In this instance, localmedia and stakeholders were aware there wasa problem but were not being provided factualinformation by either MSQ or the Minister’s office.Whilst the Incident Controller was in regularcontact with a Gladstone City Councilrepresentative, the Council commented on the lackof available information and the frustrating effectit had on both the local community and theirdesire to assist.AMSA also received many media inquiries and ittook several days before a specific media hotlinenumber was provided for inquiries. This shouldhave been done from the outset and been widelydisseminated. As well, agencies should havebeen provided with relevant factual and accurateinformation about the incident on a regular basis toensure there was a consistent response to the media.During the response MSQ were required todirect all media communications through theQueensland Department of Transport’s (QDOT)media communications unit. There also appearedto be no overall coordination of media acrossQueensland government agencies even thoughthere was an agreed arrangement in place betweenagencies on dealing with the media during anincident. This was particularly so in relation tothe issue of fisheries in which the QueenslandDepartment of Primary Industries (QDPI), amember of the Queensland State Committee, actedindependently, handling media matters throughQueensland Health rather than through the agreedarrangement.The IAT also noted that on ground responderswere put in the awkward position of dealing withquestions from the general public without anypublic relations support, appropriate briefing onwhat to do or what factual information to pass on.The IAT also noted that during the response,media staff were also required to participate ina public forum without the requisite technicalknowledge and practical understanding of a spillresponse.ConclusionThe IAT noted that there were a number of majorproblems with media and communications in thisincident. In particular, issues arose through:• the lack of timely, factual and accurateinformation provided to local stakeholders andthe media;• coordination problems between differentgovernment agencies; and,• lack of prior approval from the Minister’s officefor the release of timely, factual and accurateinformation.The IAT noted that while the media andcommunications problems did not materiallyaffect the response, they did contribute to makingthe response more difficult.The IAT believes that response agencies shouldinstitute a priori arrangements with theirMinister’s office to ensure the release of timely,factual and accurate information to both the mediaand local stakeholders during a spill response.RecommendationsThe IAT recommends response agencies utilisetheir own media liaison unit or other suitablearrangements to ensure a coordinated preparationand distribution of media information across allresponding agencies during a spill response.19