FFOS blames govt negligence for maritime safety failures

Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) has accused successive governments of neglecting maritime safety following Sunday’s boating collision which left five people missing.

The organisation is calling for an urgent search and rescue effort, an independent investigation into the collision and immediate action on long-awaited fisheries management legislation.

FFOS corporate secretary Gary Aboud said the organisation had spent 30 years pushing for stronger maritime safety laws, including vessel registration, captain licensing and speed restrictions.

It said finding the five missing persons must remain the immediate priority.