Global Peace - Australian Maritime Safety Authority

Global Peace - Incident Analysis Team Report(b) Issue: Relationship Between StateGovernment AgenciesBackgroundThe IAT believes that there were somecommunications problems between the Gladstoneand Brisbane offices of a number of governmentagencies that operated independently of theOSRICS response structure.Similarly, the IAT is also concerned about the lackof coordination and the roles and responsibilitiesof a number of State agencies during the response.For example, in responding to fisheries issuesduring the incident, QDPI believed that the matterwas primarily a contaminated seafood issuerather than one relating to the understandingby, and operations of the local fishing industry.This disconnection caused significant unrestamongst the local fishing community that led to aperception, in some cases that the response was notwell managed. Early involvement of an agencycould be assisted by the use of a spill or issueshotline number similar to that used by QEPA.Coordination and exchange of information acrossGovernment agencies is a key action during aspill response. The IAT noted that there was noQueensland State Committee meeting during theincident response and this may have contributedto some of the cross-agency problems encounteredduring the response. Instead, all State Committeemembers were notified of the incident and advisedto be on standby for immediate input. Regularinput was sought from State Committee members.The IAT believes that it is important theQueensland State Committee members representtheir respective organisations and interests in aproactive manner. This will assist in improvingcooperation and coordination during a response.A number of comments were received by the IATthat highlighted the need for better awarenessof, and coordination of, responding agencies atthe local level during a response. In particular anumber of concerns were raised about agenciesacting independently of the Incident Controllerand without any proper technical assessment ofthe situation and its potential risks.ConclusionAs a result of the apparent disconnect betweensome government agencies and the need for abetter coordinated response the IAT believesthere is a need to review participation in theQueensland State Committee with respectto membership, roles and responsibilities ofmembers and the seniority level at which anagency is represented.RecommendationsThe IAT recommends MSQ reviews themembership of the Queensland State Committee,members’ roles and responsibilities and theseniority level at which an agency is representedso as to ensure an enhanced operational capabilityand that the Queensland State Committeeexamines ways to strengthen its managementand the relationship between members so as toimprove coordination and information exchange.(c) Issue: Relationship with the Fishing IndustryBackgroundAs a result of a lack of factual information on thepossible effect of oil on the marine environmentand local fish stocks, local fishermen interactedwith the media in an effort to highlight theirconcerns.In particular, commercial fishers raised theissue of damage to their industry and the effectof the incident on local seafood in terms ofcontamination, closure of the local fisheriesand subsequent loss of market access. Withoutevidence to the contrary this became a significantissue and was not resolved until an experiencedmember of the International Tanker OwnersPollution Federation (ITOPF) was brought in todefuse many `urban myths’ about oil and its effecton the marine environment.The IAT identified that whilst information waspassed onto peak body representatives this didnot necessarily mean that it was being passedonto local members and a broader range ofcommunications channels may have been morebeneficial.20