Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Yes. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority issued a broadcast alert for shipping in the area. The national plan for combating oil pollution was activated on Wednesday and its oil spill response resources were made available to the Queensland authorities. The plan is a cooperative arrangement between the states and the Commonwealth to work together to pool expertise and resources in times of oil pollution.

Under the terms of the national plan, prime responsibility for the foreshore clean-up rests with Maritime Safety Queensland with assistance from the other jurisdictions. AMSA is the relevant Commonwealth agency. Teams of trained response personnel and equipment from around Australia were sent to Queensland to assist. The Pacific Adventurer then proceeded to anchorage off the port of Brisbane where an assessment of the ship was conducted by an AMSA surveyor. The ship’s crew advised that 20 to 30 tonnes of heavy fuel were lost. AMSA arranged for aerial surveillance of the area where the loss of containers and oil spill occurred. No containers were observed. (Time expired)