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Mission Statement and Objectives

The National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and other Noxious and Hazardous Substances

Mission Statement

The purpose of the National Plan is to maintain a national integrated Government/industry organisational framework capable of effective response to oil or chemical pollution incidents in the marine environment and to manage associated funding, equipment and training programs to support National Plan activities.

Objectives

Endorsed by Ministers as part of the National Plan Review

The objectives of the National Plan recognise Australia's responsibility to protect the natural and man-made environment from the adverse effects of oil pollution and to determine and minimise those effects where protection is not, or has not, been possible. The objectives of the Plan are therefore to provide a national integrated system for responding promptly and effectively to marine oil or chemical pollution incidents by designating competent national and local authorities and establishing:

a national contingency plan for preparedness and response which includes the organisational relationship of the various organisations involved, whether public or private;
an adequate level of pre-positioned spill combating equipment, commensurate with the risk involved, and programs for its use;
a comprehensive national training program to familiarise personnel at all levels with the requirements of planning and responding to the needs arising from an oil or chemical spill. This program includes conducting frequent exercises;
detailed national, state, local and industry plans and communications arrangements for mobilising resources and responding to an oil or chemical pollution incident;
an awareness by Governments, media and the community of the limitations inherent in a response to a major oil or chemical spill, with particular emphasis on the understanding that:
- other than in exceptionally favourable conditions, current technology does not exist to prevent weather-driven oil washing ashore. In many cases, the most environmentally-friendly solution may be leave it alone and let nature take its course;
- in many situations chemical spills cannot be contained or recovered, and the primary response activities will be reducing the risk to the public and wildlife and minimising the damage to the environment.

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last updated: 26 May 2005