Also that night about 70 people had to be left at Brett's Wharf – after council buses had finished – because the CityCat only had two staff and the half-empty vessel could only take 100 passengers with two crew. The sexual abuse was referred to Queensland Police in March 2015, but the investigation was halted at the young woman's request. The deckhand also details in her account of the attack how security hired by the CityCat's operator, Transdev, departed the CityCat at Mowbray Park ferry stop, leaving her to sell tickets, crew the vessel and deal with the drunk passengers by herself. Transdev was awarded the CityCat tender on September 4, 2010, despite council doubts over the "potential industrial disputes" because of tender price reduction was linked to "reducing labour costs". Under Transdev's staffing policy it can only take 100 passengers when it operates CityCats with one master and one deckhand, described as "minimum staffing."

Unions doubt Transdev runs all CityCat services with three crew, for which they are paid about $23 million per year by Brisbane City Council. In April 2015, Transdev wrote to all employees telling them that it would run all shifts with three staff - a master and two crew - from April 13. "I am pleased to say that effective Monday 13 April 2015, all CityCat services will operate with a 3-crew team as standard operating procedure," the staff email shows. "The only exception to this will be where a CSO calls in sick on the day of operation and a replacement cannot be found; Dual Duties will then be applied." About 40 people wearing "I Support Ferry Drivers" T-shirts crowded the public gallery at Tuesday's Brisbane City Council meeting.

Labor councillor Shayne Sutton, who was sporting one of the T-shirts, said the CityCat staffing issue was an untold, long-running sore in Brisbane. "Why won't you intervene to ensure that dual duties (where one deckhand performs all functions) is stopped immediately?" she asked Lord Mayor Graham Quirk. She said she reported the incident on May 25 to Brisbane City Council's chief executive, Colin Jensen. "I did report it and you fobbed me off," Cr Sutton said. "And it's not the only one." A clearly frustrated Cr Quirk said he was "disturbed by the nature of that report" and repeated what he said on Tuesday, that he had been advised that CityCats were operated by a master and two deckhands.

"That's just not true," Cr Sutton said, as CityCat and ferry crew in the public galley above the council chamber shook their heads, mouthing the words "Not true" to reporters in the council chamber. Cr Quirk said he needed proof of any allegations to take back to Transdev. "I'm hearing this," Cr Quirk said. "But all I am saying is, if this is not the only one, you need to be coming forward with the information," he said. Cr Quirk said Translink's published passenger safety data showed between 86 per cent and 90 per cent of customers said they felt safe on a CityCat between March 2015 and September 2015.

"All I am saying is, that if there is evidence of these instances, we need to know about it." After further questioning from Labor councillors, Cr Quirk tersely raised his voice – a very rare occasion in council meetings – to suggest the union that had raised the issue was ignoring a request to meet. "I've had an offer on the table for a week, for a whole week," he said. "I mean, I'm prepared to make the time available. Why won't the union come and meet with me if there are these issues." The issue is complicated by an enterprise bargaining dispute between Transdev and the two unions representing the CityCat skippers and CityCat crew, negotiating a four per cent wage increase.

Labor's mayoral candidate Rod Harding said the staffing issue warranted an urgent audit of Transdev's contract. "Really, the lord mayor needs to ask someone some hard questions about this contract," Mr Harding said. Transdev had not replied to Fairfax Media's questions by 7.30pm however on Monday, spokeswoman Michaela Mohr said she was not aware of any security issues that had been raised by staff. Ms Mohr said Transdev provided security on Friday and Saturday nights and was allowed to run CityCats with two staff. Don't miss important news stories. Like us on Facebook.