Scope
The committee was established to inquire into the 'children overboard' incident, which began on 6 October 2001 off the coast of Christmas Island. The committee examined the conduct of relevant Commonwealth agencies during the incident and the detention arrangements in Nauru and Papua New Guinea known as the 'Pacific Solution'. See also the Select Committee on the Scrafton Evidence.
Chairs
Sequence
![Select Committee on a Certain Maritime Incident hearing evidence from witness Commander Norman Banks at a public hearing, 26 March 2002. Seated at curved table, farthest to closest: Senators Alan Ferguson, Brett Mason and George Brandis [Deputy Chair], Brenton Holmes [Secretary], Senators Peter Cook [Chair], Andrew Bartlett, Jacinta Collins and John Faulkner. DPS Auspic.](/assets/committees/body-images/c195/c195-020182di-082-acmi-cmdr-norman-banks-26-march-02.jpg)
Select Committee on a Certain Maritime Incident hearing evidence from witness Commander Norman Banks at a public hearing, 26 March 2002. Seated at curved table, farthest to closest: Senators Alan Ferguson, Brett Mason and George Brandis [Deputy Chair], Brenton Holmes [Secretary], Senators Peter Cook [Chair], Andrew Bartlett, Jacinta Collins and John Faulkner. DPS Auspic.