'A CERTAIN MARITIME INCIDENT'
by Geoffrey Evans

The terms of reference for the Senate Select Committee inquiring into a 'Certain Marine Incident' -the so-called 'children over board' affair involving HMAS ADELAIDE - are wide and have allowed some interesting statements and allegations to be made by participants. The inquiry is incomplete as this item goes to the publisher.
Former Chief of Naval Staff and Fleet Commander, Vice Admiral Sir Richard Peek, enlivened proceedings at one stage-while vigorously supporting the Captain of ADELAIDE and his ship's company. The Admiral also made the valid point that the services are not businesses -"the services are no more businesses than is the parliament, the police force or the teachers. They are services and services cannot be organised in the same way as businesses. I think that is part of the problem in the current organisation of the defence forces".
Adsmiral Peek's statement will undoubtedly be widely supported in the ADF but a further comment about the (present) 'stupid' chain of command may not be received so enthusiastically by Defence leaders. Howver it does appear that the current division of responsibilities has caused confusion - a "who is responsible to who for what" situation - in some parts of the defence force.
Not the least interesting matter to be discussed at the inquiry concerned the role of ministerial staff 'advisors' who come and go as porfolios change hands. It seems to be accepted that in recent years personal staff, who might be expected to share the political aspirations of their minister, have become a not-to-be-disregarded factor in the discharge of ministerial responsibilities, once the prerogative of non- political public servants. The armed forces and civil servants are unlikely to welcome any intrusion into their present relatively stable relationship.
The relationship between the defence force and the civil authority has been the subject of debate in Australia for over 100 years, leading in the first place to the creation of a Naval Board in 1905 to administer the force formed from colonial Navies following Federation. Debate on the subject has continued from time to time and it is curious to think an incident at sea in northern waters has caused the matter to be raised again.
The Senate Committee's final report should make interesting reading.
Images were leaked to the television industry - had they not been leaked it is highly likley they would never have been seen (a sinking refugee ship and persons in the water - see p25 of magazine).