2023 National Plan for Maritime Environmental Emergencies review

We regularly review the National Plan for maritime environmental emergencies to ensure it remains relevant and fit for purpose.

 Since April 2023, we have been engaging with a broad range of stakeholders to review the National Plan.

They include:

• State and the Northern Territory government stakeholders: marine pollution
• Industry representatives
• Commonwealth government representatives, and
• Others as required.

AMSA engaged Alchemy Partners to facilitate a series of development and stakeholder workshops through 2023. These workshops assist the review of the National Plan.

The National Plan Strategic Coordination Committee (NPSCC) and the National Plan Review Steering Committee (the Steering Committee) oversee the review. We expect the final report to be published in early 2024.

Learn more about the terms of reference for the National Plan review and steering committee.

Terms of reference for the National Plan review

The Review will consider and make recommendations on:

1. The types and nature of the maritime environmental risks that Australia may face over the next 10 years.
2. The operational effect(s) of the National Plan being sought by the parties to the National Plan.
3. The scope of the National Plan, including:
4. whether the scope should be expanded to a broader range of complex maritime risks – for example, shipboard fires, mass casualty events, container losses, emerging marine based industry (for example, wind farms).
5. re-defining (as per 3a) the maritime risks that are within scope of the National Plan.
6. how the National Plan formally interfaces with Commonwealth and State/Northern Territory disaster management arrangements).
7. the expectations of governments and the community and industry for the mitigation of risks of maritime incidents; and
8. broad stakeholder identification and communication across the Australian government sector, industry, tourism and local communities, indigenous communities and environmental representatives.
9. The effectiveness of existing funding and governance arrangements for pollution preparedness and response activities, noting the recent development of Whole-of Government crisis management frameworks and other emergency and disaster response strategies.

Terms of reference for the National Plan Steering Committee

Membership

1. Representatives from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.
2. Representatives from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
3. Jurisdiction representatives as agreed by NPSCC.
4. Up to two industry representatives, selected by the National Plan Strategic Industry Advisory Forum.

Responsibilities

Policy:

Policy oversight of the National Plan Review remains with the NPSCC and the project team.

Project Oversight:

The Steering Committee will:

1. Provide guidance and oversee the delivery of the National Plan review.
2. Engage with the project lead and provide advice to the NPSCC on performance against terms of reference and timelines.
3. Review and validate project work plans and milestones.
4. Monitor project delivery against agreed timeframes and project milestones.
5. Oversee engagement and facilitate stakeholder connections, where needed.
6. Facilitate the provision of access and information to the review team needed to complete the review in a timely manner.
7. Evaluate risks associated with the project and identify plans/actions to mitigate these risks.
8. Ensure various work streams are integrated in a coordinated manner.
9. Resolve any conflicts of interest that may arise in the course of the project.
10. Hold regular meetings in accordance with a schedule agreed with the project lead and project sponsor.

Support:

The steering committee will support the project team to have access to individuals, resources and information needed to complete the review in a timely manner. This may include providing letters of introduction, facilitating meetings and sourcing information, data and other inputs needed to support the review.

Meetings of the Committee

1. Steering Committee members must meet regularly and contribute to progressing the prt.
2. Meetings of the Steering Committee will be held online wherever possible.
   Meetings are anticipated to routinely occur once per month for no more than 2 hours, or by arrangement for particular needs.
3. Each meeting of the Committee will produce:
4. A brief report on progress against the project plan
5. A report that will be provided to the Consultative Forum for information and input at the request of the Chair.