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Deployment of Personnel between Agencies
The National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and Other Noxious and Hazardous Substances
1. Purpose
The National Plan establishes a cooperative arrangement between all States, Northern Territory (NT), and the Commonwealth for responding to marine pollution incidents.
The statutory or combat agency may require access to personnel from other agencies to effectively deal with a marine pollution incident.
These guidelines are to be followed in such circumstances where access to interstate personnel is required. They reflect the collaborative nature of the National Plan through the Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA).
2. Scope
This guideline advises agencies the procedure for requesting interstate personnel, including the National Response Team, and for the cost recovery of expenses incurred when providing personnel in response to a National Plan marine pollution incident.
3. Definitions
AMSA: Australian Maritime Safety Authority
IGA: Inter-Governmental Agreement on the National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and Other Noxious and Hazardous Substances
NRT: National Response Team
NRST: National Response Support Team
NT: Northern Territory
4. Associated Documents
Inter-Governmental Agreement
National Plan
National Marine Oil Spill Contingency Plan
National Response Team Policy
Pollution Cost Recovery Procedures
5. Policy
The National Response Team Policy outlines the management of the National Response Team (NRT) and the National Response Support Team (NRST).
The IGA provides administrative and funding protocols in paragraphs 23-28 of schedule 1 (Administrative Arrangements). This guideline implements these arrangements.
6. Activation Procedure
During a National Plan incident the Incident Controller or the Marine Pollution Controller appointed by the combat agency may submit a request to AMSA for personnel from other States/NT to become part of the Incident Management Team or the incident response team. A request should be made initially through the Environment Protection Duty Officer via the Emergency Response Centre on 1800 641 792 or 02 6230 6811. This request must be followed by written confirmation within three (3) hours of the verbal request. During extended responses AMSA may appoint an officer to coordinate inter-state deployments and will advise the Incident Controller and the Marine Pollution Controller accordingly.
The following information is to be provided when making such a request:
- Roles or skills required (e.g. Planning Officer, Aerial Observer)
- Number of personnel required to fill each role
- Contact name, address, and time of where personnel are to initially report
- Brief overview of the work to be undertaken.
Suitable personnel will then be selected by AMSA from the National Response Team or the National Response Support Team, unless special circumstances exist.
This procedure does not apply to the activation of NRT and NRST personnel from within the State/NT where the incident has occurred. In such circumstances, the relevant combat or statutory agency is responsible for activation in accordance with applicable contingency plans or State/NT arrangements.
The maximum release period is ten (10) days (including travel time) as per the National Response Team Policy, unless both AMSA and the NRT/NRST member’s organisation reach a separate agreement. Where an extension on deployment is being sought, the requesting agency is to provide details how the health and safety of the individuals are to be managed.
Personnel will remain in the employ of their own agency, and all entitlements in relation to their contract of employment remain unchanged.
The individual’s employer will initially meet all costs. Costs include salary, travel, accommodation, incidental expenditure, and where appropriate overtime expenses.
The loaning agency can recover such costs by forwarding deployment cost details, including supporting documentation, to the borrowing agency or AMSA for cost recovery purposes. The National Plan Pollution Cost Recovery Procedures will be applied when assessing claims for costs.