On behalf of Dive Queensland, I would like to extend our deepest and sincerest sympathies to the families and friends of Eileen and Thomas Lonergan
I have not received a copy of the e-mail that John Hains, Jr (brother to Eileen Lonergan), claims to have sent to me, but it would appear that he has taken comments that I made as spokesperson for Dive Queensland and, by the use of selective editing, twisted those words to suit his own purposes!
My original remarks (see attached copy), were in response to the blanket claims made by Mr Rob Davis, (Queensland President of the Australian Plaintiff Lawyers Association and legal representative to the Lonergan family), that, 'dive training organisations, dive masters and Instructors fail to adopt the most conservative dive practices'.
Nowhere in my statements did I try to defend or excuse the actions of the operator involved in the Lonergan's disappearance. In fact I pointed up the duty of care that all dive operators have over divers in their charge and concluded with, "Controls and regulations are both desirable and necessary, but they still depend on the human factor for their proper implementation.
The proposals put forward by Mr Davis do nothing to address this central issue!" That one operator is at fault does not, however, negate the good work done by the rest of the industry. Neither is it appropriate to introduce draconian and unworkable legislation whose only purpose will be to deter divers. (The Lonergan's, for example - following a day dive in Cairns - sent a postcard to their diving instructor in Fiji that apparently said, "This city is NOT for serious divers. We had to sit through a 15 minute lecture on how to put on our mask and fins!!!").
I am unfamiliar with those safety practices employed by, "the Dive Industry in the Congo.", to which John Haines, Jr. refers, I am, however, aware that the diving deaths that occurred in Florida earlier this year may not have happened had the victims been subject to the same rules and regulations that apply to the Queensland Diving industry!
To reiterate: The press release that John Haines, Jr., has so selectively commented on was sent out in response to ill informed media comment made by the Lonergan family's legal representative in Australia. It was issued on behalf of Dive Queensland - not SSI - and rightly points out that the diving industry does enjoy a good track record for safety and professionalism.
(Not, perhaps, the sort of thing that a plaintiff lawyer might want to hear!)
On behalf of Dive Queensland, I would like to extend our deepest and sincerest sympathies to the families and friends of Eileen and Thomas Lonergan. I do not, however, believe that continuing to hold the entire diving industry accountable for their loss is altogether appropriate.
Col McKenzie
Spokesperson for Dive Queensland
