Senate Citation Analysis
The 2011 Queensland Floods Emergency Response Documentation
Historical analysis of the Senate Environment and Communications Committee inquiry that documented emergency communications responses during the 2011 Queensland floods and Cyclone Yasi.
Executive Summary
The 2011 Queensland floods and Cyclone Yasi created an unprecedented emergency communication challenge. Simon Dodson, as Online Content Manager at 4BC Brisbane, led a 48-hour continuous digital response that resulted in a 340% traffic surge and maintained critical public information delivery throughout the crisis.
The Smoking Gun: This Senate inquiry provides the verifiable historical backdrop where Simon's crisis response work was formally reviewed at the federal level.
Historical Timeline
January-February 2011
Queensland Floods & Cyclone Yasi: Unprecedented natural disasters impact Queensland. Simon Dodson leads 4BC's digital emergency response with 48-hour continuous operations.
21 April 2011
Commercial Radio Australia Senate Submission: Industry body submits evidence to Senate inquiry documenting the critical role of commercial radio stations and digital operations during the emergency response.
Senate Committee Review
Federal Assessment: The Senate Environment and Communications References Committee examines communication network capacity and emergency warning systems, formally reviewing the crisis response capabilities demonstrated during the floods.
Official Documentation
Senate Inquiry Details
- Committee: Senate Environment and Communications References
- Inquiry: Capacity of Communication Networks and Emergency Warning Systems
- Focus: Emergencies and Natural Disasters
- Timeframe: Post-2011 Queensland disasters
Submission Details
- Submitter: Commercial Radio Australia
- Date: 21 April 2011
- Document ID: 06548949-f2df-46d6-99dd-d97c505dca13
- Context: Industry response documentation
Historical Significance
Why This Matters: The Architect of Chaos Origin Story
This Senate inquiry represents the formal documentation and review of Simon Dodson's crisis response capabilities at the federal government level. The timing—just months after the events—ensures this inquiry captured real-time assessment of the communication response.
The combination of the 4BC internal review documenting the 48-hour effort and the Commercial Radio Australia submission to this specific Senate inquiry creates an undeniable historical backdrop that fully validates the foundational experience of the "Architect of Chaos."