Summary
This brochure provides a brief overview of how the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) will work with the media when investigating a major aviation, marine or rail transport accident.
Because the Commonwealth shares jurisdiction with the states and territories for the investigation of marine and rail accidents, arrangements may have to be made in consultation with state or territory governments and authorities, Coroners have a role in all fatalities.
The ATSB is responsible for investigating and determining the contributing factors to serious civil aviation accidents and incidents in Australia (other than sports aviation). It also investigates a number of marine accidents (where the Australian Government has jurisdiction) and rail accidents (where the Australian Government has jurisdiction).
The brochure also outlines what sort of information the ATSB is able to provide to the media about an accident.
The ATSB’s investigatory role
The ATSB is an operationally independent body within the AAustralian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government and is Australia’s prime agency for transport safety investigations. The ATSB investigates accidents and incidents in the aviation, marine and rail transport modes under the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003 (TSI Act). The ATSB undertakes investigations and analyses safety data without fear or favour. In doing so, it helps to improve safety and maintain public confidence that the safety of the transport system is not being compromised. It is not the purpose of ATSB investigations to lay blame or provide a means for determining liability.
The ATSB is responsible for investigating and determining the contributing factors to serious civil aviation accidents and incidents in Australia (other than sports aviation). It also investigates a number of marine accidents (where the Commonwealth has jurisdiction) and rail accidents (where the Commonwealth has jurisdiction or on request by state authorities).
Responding to a major accident
If a major transport accident occurs in Australia involving tens if not hundreds of fatalities and serious injuries, state and territory agencies will activate well developed emergency response plans. If necessary, they will also draw on federal government resources coordinated through Emergency Management Australia (EMA).
Where there are fatalities involved in a major transport accident, the state or territory coroner will have a significant role. In most cases, state or territory police will take initial control of the site after the immediate fire and rescue services and until the ATSB arrives.
ATSB media operations
In the event of a major accident, the ATSB and DOTARS will establish a media centre in Canberra. The centre will set up a central call number for the media and will coordinate media conferences, interviews and media releases. Contact details will be sent to all newsrooms by Faxstream as quickly as possible.
All ATSB media releases, factual reports and contact information will be posted on the ATSB website at www.atsb.gov.au
ATSB media operations at a major accident scene
Once the nature of the accident has been established, an initial team of investigators and safety personnel led by a senior transport safety investigator (the ‘Investigator in Charge’) will travel to the accident site to begin the investigation.
At least one communications officer will accompany the ATSB investigation team and liaise with the media at the site to coordinate media conferences and other requests. When and if conditions permit, communications officers will organise tours of the accident scene for the news media, either in total or in a pool arrangement. Please keep in mind that there may be limitations posed by physical and biomedical hazards and the preservation of evidence.
The ATSB will maintain a communications presence at a major accident scene for as long as circumstances warrant.
The ATSB will keep the media informed and will hold media conferences as appropriate. Sometimes the accident site’s location and other operational requirements such as the preservation of evidence will determine when and where the conference takes place.
Information about the major accident and the ATSB investigation
The ATSB will be just one of a number of agencies responding to a major transport accident. Police and emergency services will also have a role to play as may agencies such as EMA and AusSAR.
Only the ATSB may authorise the release of factual information about the ATSB’s investigation.
The ATSB will not release the identities of victims or survivors of accidents. Such information may be released by the transport company involved or the police after permission has been given by the coroner.
While on scene, the ATSB will normally not announce the contributing factors that led to the accident. Indeed, many of these factors may not be finally determined until many months after the accident.
The ATSB's spokesperson will only discuss factual, verified, documented information. They will not analyse that information or speculate as to the significance of any particular piece of information.
Background information
The ATSB website has a large library of accident and statistical information and other useful data.
Other agencies’ websites may also help when gathering background information. For example, CASA is the source for aircraft major defect reports and Australian aviation regulations, while Airservices Australia has prime carriage for air traffic control services. For marine accidents, relevant background information may be obtained from AMSA and for rail, from state and territory transport authorities. Links to most of these agencies can be found on the ‘Related Sites’ page of the ATSB website www.atsb.gov.au
Information on aircraft, ship or rail rolling stock models or engine types can be obtained directly from the manufacturers.
Families/next of kin of accident victims
The ATSB is not responsible for coordinating the resources of the Australian government to support the efforts of local and state authorities and the transport operators in meeting the needs of transport accident victims and their families in the event of a major loss of life. In the case of aviation, for example, this function is managed by industry under protocols coordinated through DOTARS.
In the event of a major aviation accident, the air carrier will be chiefly responsible for assisting victims and their families. The code for preparing airline family ssistance plans (the ‘Family Assistance Code’), is available online at the department’s website www.infrastructure.gov.au. State and territory governments also have a significant role in disaster response.
After the on-scene investigation
Even after the ATSB team has left the accident scene, the fact-gathering phase of the investigation continues. Factual reports, which become the basis for the analysis, may be issued before the Bureau releases its final report.
A preliminary report will normally be issued within 30 days and interim factual reports will normally be issued every six months thereafter.
The final report, containing the Bureau's assessment of significant factors and the reasons for the Bureau's conclusions, will be released to the public as soon as it becomes available. Safety recommendations may be issued at any time during an investigation, or may accompany the final report.
Download Complete Document: Guide_for_media [ PDF: 589Kb]
Type: Corporate Brochure
Publication Date: 06/06/08
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