Letter to the Editor - The Australian - Search for MH 370
29th January, 2016
Dear Sir,Recent reports by Ean Higgins regarding the search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH 370 contain many inaccuracies.
The precise cost of the search will not be known until the plane is found or the 120,000 square kilometre search area is completed around the middle of this year. However, the Malaysian, Chinese and Australian Governments have agreed on cost sharing arrangements.
Australia has committed $60 million, the People’s Republic of China has promised $20 million in assets and funding (the cash component has already been paid) and Malaysia has agreed to fund the balance.
Malaysia has already paid $80 million, as well as providing a vessel and equipment. The aircraft insurer may also have a responsibility to meet search and rescue costs.
Mr Higgins’ assertion that a vessel promised by Malaysia “never showed up”, is clearly wrong. Malaysia provided the search vessel GO Phoenix, which was productively engaged in underwater search operations between 6 October 2014 and 20 June 2015.
Mr Higgins continues to show a fundamental misunderstanding of Australia’s role, which is to lead the search for the missing aircraft in our search and rescue area. In accordance with international agreement, it is the responsibility of Malaysia to determine the cause of the disappearance as MH 370 was a Malaysian flight.
The search area has been defined using evidence from satellite communications which have been rigorously analysed and agreed by international experts. For the purposes of establishing the search area it is not necessary to determine what caused the disappearance or engage in endless conspiracy theories.
The Australian Government has not adopted a position on the cause of the crash, but if Mr Higgins chose to read transcripts of my many media conferences on the issue he would observe that I have always acknowledged that it is difficult to conceive any scenario that does not include some element of human intervention.
The search for MH 370 has been characterised by a high level of cooperation at both a local and international level across more than 20 governments.
Inaccurate reporting, including the dissemination of theories, adds unnecessary distress to the loved ones of those on board.
Yours sincerely,
Warren Truss MP
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development
[ENDS]
