Demand for answers on future of sea pilots

Jessica Benton
THE Opposition yesterday slammed State Government’s inquiry into Queenscliff’s sea pilot services, demanding a “please explain” from Ports Minister Tim Pallas.
Opposition ports spokesperson Denis Napthine demanded to know why the Government was taking so long to release its findings.
He said the Government announced the review amid a “fair degree of fanfare” more than a year ago.
“The inquiry was set up over 12 months ago after a particular incident involving a sea pilot and a number of near misses and should have been treated as a matter of urgency,” he said.
“I think it’s ludicrous the Government is still sitting on this and the pilots have been left in limbo.
“This is a classic case of an incident where the government calls an inquiry and tries to sweep it under the carpet.”
The Government, which regulates Victorian marine pilotage, launched the review of Port Philip Sea Pilots’ operations and safety management in August, 2007, after several close calls and a direct hit on a fishing boat in the previous 18 months.
Some of the close calls had been off the Bellarine Peninsula in sight of the pilots’ Queenscliff control station.
The Independent reported last year that the sea pilots hoped the review would lead to “changes in regulations”.
The Government told the Independent earlier this year that the review was complete.
Port Philip Sea Pilots then-chairman Captain Peter George told the paper last year that the organisation “welcomed” the review.
Mr Napthine said sea pilots had a “very important and stressful job”, which called for “ongoing scrutiny” and “constant assessment and appraisals”.
He said the review could end with the Government cancelling pilots’ licences.
Mr Napthine vowed to raise the issue in parliament next week, calling on Mr Pallas to table the report.
“I would just ask the Government to come clean and advise what actions are going to take place,” he said.
Mr Pallas had not responded to the Independent’s calls for comment before the paper went to press yesterday.