The former husband of cruise ship victim Dianne Brimble says a federal government inquiry into her death 15 years ago was a waste of taxpayers’ money.
Mark Brimble says it is disheartening that none of the recommendations from the inquiry into the death of his ex-wife, who was drugged by a group of men, had been enacted.
‘Nothing has changed – it’s probably the most disheartening fact about it,’ Mr Brimble told Adelaide Advertiser.
The former husband of cruise ship victim Dianne Brimble (pictured) says a federal government inquiry into her death 15 years ago was a waste of taxpayers’ money
The ex-husband of Dianne Brimble, Mark Brimble (pictured), says an inquiry to her death was pointless
‘Not one of the main recommendations of the inquiry has ever been implemented. We spent thousands of taxpayers’ money on a federal inquiry that came to nothing.’
Out of 11 recommendations put forward in June 2013 by the Troubled Waters report of the House of Representatives Standing Committee to help prevent a repeat of the tragedy in the future, on Social Policy and Legal Affairs, not one has been upheld.
The included suggesting the government increase efforts to achieve greater passenger safety by introducing CCTV cameras and monitoring, an alcohol responsibility code and alarm systems to alert guests to a ‘man-overboard’ as well as a number of protocol reviews.
By June 2015 just two minor recommendations had been agreed on – one which was not ‘binding’.
Dianne Brimble pictured waving on the Pacific Sky before her tragic death
Another three remained by for debate in 2016 before two of them were rejected and one was agreed on in principal.
That recommendation is currently being finalised and due to be implemented in the next few months, where a voluntary initiative will see cruise ship operators departing Australia to give safety information to passengers outlining specific procedures.
In February a cruise ship was forced to turn back to Sydney after a brawl erupted after a girl allegedly ‘hit a guy over the head with a bottle of wine’.
A 30 minute brawl on the P&O Explorer kicked off about 1am involving at least 15 passengers, according to witnesses.
Those involved were detained in on-board cells, while the boat turned around and headed back to Sydney.
Mark Wilhem, Matthew Slade, Dragan Losic, Petar Pantic, Ryan Kuchel, Letterio Silvestri, Luigi Vitale and Charlie Kambouris (pictured) were named as ‘the persons of interest’ at the inquest at Glebe Coroners Court into the death of Brisbane mother Dianne Brimble
Out of 11 recommendations made in June 2013, not one has been upheld although cruise lines say the advice had been considered and implemented outside of the inquiry
Mr Brimble said from allocating taxpayer funds for the investigation into her death had been pointless.
He feels insulted and devastated by the lack of action after campaigning to make cruises safer following his former wife’s death in 2002.
‘From an advocacy point of view I am fearful that this industry is going to become so large and the Government is going to be so dependent on it will be very difficult to make an objective decision.’
In February a cruise ship was forced to turn back to Sydney after a brawl erupted after a girl allegedly ‘hit a guy over the head with a bottle of wine’
Crusie lines such as Carnival and Royal Caribbean who operate in Australia said the advice had been considered and implemented outside of the inquiry.
But Mr Brimble says that’s not enough and Diane’s death was in vain.
‘I wanted to make sure there was a legacy after what we went through. At the moment it is an unfortunate legacy … a woman died on board a cruise ship in appalling circumstances and the family was treated so badly yet nothing has changed. Why is that?’
‘I think there are solutions but I think the Australian Government and the cruise line industry have fallen very, very short, far short. In fact I don’t think they have even started to implement anything.’
The coroner found Ms Brimble had been ‘was unknowingly drugged (with GHB or Fantasy) by unscrupulous individuals who were intent on denigrating her for their own gratification’.
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Carnival Australia for further comment.