Despite a spate of fatal accidents on Sydney Harbour, there is debate over whether there has been any increase in the number of safety officers patrolling the waters.
Following the most recent tragedy where six people were killed, Waterways Minister Joe Tripodi insisted night patrols have been substantially boosted - a recommendation of a recent safety report.
Neil Patchett, spokesman for NSW Maritime, agreed that day and night patrols had increased on the harbour since last year’s tragic accidents.
“It’s not possible to have boating officers everywhere at every time but it most certainly accurate to say that Maritime has increased patrols and we have increased patrols on Sydney Harbour at night-time as well,” he said.
But Unions argue there's been no change and Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell says it's time that the Minister came clean.
“The State Government's failed to act with no increase in the number of NSW Maritime enforcement officers or patrols in the past two years,” Mr O’Farrell said.
"Joe Tripodi has to explain in the wake of last year's two ferry accidents why this safety report has been ignored and why harbour safety has been jeopardised because there aren't enough maritime staff to enforce maritime rules.”
