ADF News

TRANSCRIPT: INTERVIEW WITH LYNDAL CURTIS, ABC24

TRANSCRIPTION: PROOF COPY AND E & OE

DATE:  14 MARCH 2013

TOPICS: Defence Abuse Response Taskforce; Media reforms; 457 visas.

LYNDAL CURTIS:       Stephen Smith, welcome to ABC News 24. You tabled the interim report of the Taskforce, a report which says on top of the more than 1000 cases of alleged abuse they received from the DLA Piper review, they’re getting more than 15 new matters a week. Is that why you extended the timeframe?

STEPHEN SMITH:      I extended the timetable on the recommendation of Len Roberts-Smith, Chair of the Taskforce, for two reasons. Firstly, once the Taskforce leadership group had done an initial assessment, they came to the conclusion that they would need more time to do that body of work and in addition to that we’ve seen the steady flow of additional complaints.

There’s been over a thousand contacts with a hotline established and of those a thousand contacts there are more than 300 new matters and new complaints. So, we’ve done-

LYNDAL CURTIS:      Do you know yet what had been described as plausible complaints or is that still being assessed?

STEPHEN SMITH:      That’s still being assessed but they are being treated as new complaints. So what we’ve got is a careful assessment now of the initial body of work plus new matters coming in. On that basis, the Attorney-General and I agreed and we’ve announced today that we’ll extend the Taskforce time period for six months. That’ll take them until May 2014.

But there also has to be a cut off point for new allegations or new complaints and we’ve said that will be the end of May. So that gives people who might be contemplating or considering, it gives them a couple more months but it then gives the Taskforce a good 12 months to do its work and complete any new complaints within that timeframe. 

LYNDAL CURTIS:      The report also flagged problems with what it called the Defence Force’s hybrid military education model. Now, it’s just flagged it at this stage but at the end of this process are we likely to see a review of the way the military educates its young officers?

STEPHEN SMITH:      Well, as I’ve made clear from day one, there’ll be two streams which flow from the work the Taskforce is doing. The individual complaints that may lead to reparation, it may lead to criminal prosecution, it may lead to an apology, it may lead to conciliation or counselling and the like. But secondly, I’ve expressly asked the Taskforce for any systemic conclusions that the Taskforce come to which we can use to add to the body of work that I initiated at the same time.        

Now, the reference to the military education or confluence is in reference to ADFA, the Australian Defence Force Academy, where I’ve expressly asked the Taskforce to contemplate whether a Royal Commission might be required into a series of allegations, commonly known as the ADFA 24, but there may well be more allegations.

And in the interim report, the Taskforce makes it clear that they’ve frankly only just started that look but they have detected some potential disconnect between the military and the education but we need to await further work in that respect. 

LYNDAL CURTIS:      The report also says its resolve for the most part, Defence’s concerns about the privacy of those alleged to have perpetrated the abuse. But what about procedural fairness for those people if they – and we know there are a number, I think Defence Force Chief said about 10 – are not charged and do not face courts? Can in the interest of procedural fairness, can there be any effect on their careers?

STEPHEN SMITH:      Well, a number of things there. Firstly, in terms of handing over information from DLA Piper to the Taskforce, that has been subject to very careful assessment of privacy considerations and the consent of the people concerned. Secondly, the Taskforce will advisedly reassess all of those individual matters.         

And thirdly, the Taskforce Chair has made it clear both in the report and generally that he will, and the Taskforce will, respect people’s rights and their interests, which clearly entail the notion of not trampling over people’s rights where allegations have been made against them.

LYNDAL CURTIS:      Because it will be a difficult one for Defence to handle if there are allegations made against serving officers but those allegations are not tested in court. 

STEPHEN SMITH:      And that’s also covered in the report where the interim report says as they do their body of work that may well present the Chief of the Defence Force and the Secretary with administrative matters they need to deal with. So, for example, if an allegation made against a serving Commonwealth officer or a serving member of the ADF, it’s open to the Secretary or the Chief of the Defence Force, as the case may be, to make a judgement about whether it’s in everyone’s interests for some administrative action to be taken pending the resolution of that matter.

And that’s clearly referred to in the interim report by the Taskforce and it’s made in the context of the ADFA 24 where DLA Piper expressed a concern that these allegations may well relate to current serving officers. 

LYNDAL CURTIS:      If I could ask you a couple of quick questions about current political events. There are stories around that the Cabinet was ambushed, in the words of the newspaper reports, by the media reforms. Did cabinet have adequate time to consider them?

STEPHEN SMITH:      Well, no self respecting Cabinet is ambushed and this is a self respecting Cabinet. These issues have been around for a long period of time. I’m not going to go through our Cabinet processes but when we made our decisions it was not the first time that we have contemplated them. And so I wouldn’t worry too much about cabinet processes.         

What I would worry about would be here’s the decision the Government had made. There has been a response to that by members of the media and communications industry. Some of it spectacularly hysterical and others more sober. And what we’re now trying to do is to see whether there’s parliamentary support for the measures.

Now, some of the measures are entirely non-controversial. The license fee matters and the Australian content matters. Others [indistinct] to some controversy. I frankly think that they are a range of modest proposals which would assist. Whether there’s parliamentary support or not, time will tell, but the point that my colleague, the Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, has made is that we’re now coming to the end of a parliamentary term.         

Parliamentary time is becoming precious and so there’s no point having an extended period for parliamentary consideration simply because we’d like to know one way or the other whether there’s parliamentary support for these proposals.

LYNDAL CURTIS:      Just a final question. The Prime Minister has continued to criticise the 457 visa program but it was a program that your Government has supported, your Government has, in fact, allowed to grow. The Government’s only now, after it’s announced the changes, making the case for those changes. Doesn’t it leave the perception that it’s doing the bidding of the unions rather than tackling what is a widespread problem? Because the spread of the problem hasn’t yet been established, has it? 

STEPHEN SMITH:      I don’t see it that way. And if you listen to the analysis that Brendan O’Connor, the now Immigration Minister, puts out, his department and the previous Minister, Chris Bowen, were looking at these difficulties for some period of time. What we’ve always tried to do, whether it’s been with 457 visas or, for example, local content, is to make local content in contracts and the like, and both of these are issues in my own state in Western Australia in particular.

But what we’re trying to do is to make sure that we’ve exhausted very local state or national capacity for a skilled job that needs to be done before we resort to an overseas applicant for discharging that skill and the same applies to local content. So, I don’t interpret it in the way that you have. What we’re trying to do is to make sure as we have skill shortages and different peaks and troughs of employment and unemployment around the country that we exhaust every last effort to find the skill in Australia before we go offshore. 

LYNDAL CURTIS:      Minister, thank you very much for your time.

STEPHEN SMITH:      Thanks Lyndal. Thanks very much.

On Friday 17 and Saturday 18 May I visited New York.

I spoke at the United Nations Security Council Arria Formula Meeting on Implementing the UN Security Council’s Women, Peace and Security agenda. The Forum was co hosted by Australia.

I outlined the steps Australia had taken to help implement United Nations Security Council resolution 1325 to address the disproportionate adverse effect conflict has on women and girls.

This includes preventing and addressing sexual violence; mainstreaming a gender perspective across its missions; and working to ensure women’s full and effective participation in conflict prevention, resolution, and post-conflict peacebuilding.

I met with United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Mr Jan Eliasson, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Herve Ladsous, Military Adviser for Peacekeeping Operations Lieutenant General Babacar Gaye and Assistant Secretary General for Field Support Anthony Banbury. I was accompanied by Australia’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Gary Quinlan.

These meetings provided an opportunity to discuss issues on the United Nations Security Council’s agenda, in particular Syria and Mali. We also discussed Australia’s ongoing support to United Nations peacekeeping.

Australia has been an active contributor to United Nations peacekeeping for over 65 years and continues to support the United Nations through operation contributions, financial support, and doctrinal and training assistance.

I met with Executive Director of UNICEF, Tony Lake.

I also visited the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, and paid tribute to the nearly 3000 people, including 10 Australians, who died in the terror attacks of 11 September 2001.

I now travel to Washington for meetings with US officials commencing Sunday 19 May. On Tuesday 21 May I conduct formal bilateral discussions with US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel.

Media contacts:

Minister Smith’s office: Sacha Fenton 0467 784 528

Defence Media Operations: (02) 6127 1999

 

TRANSCRIPT: INTERVIEW WITH KATHRYN ROBINSON, MEET THE PRESS 

TRANSCRIPTION: PROOF COPY E & OE 

DATE:  24 MARCH 2013  

TOPICS: Labor leadership; Defence Budget; Afghanistan.

 

KATHRYN ROBINSON: Our guest today is Defence Minister Stephen Smith, and he joins us now from Perth. Good morning to you, Minister, thank you for your time.

STEPHEN SMITH:      Pleasure.

KATHRYN ROBINSON:          Wouldn’t you say that today’s polls show that you made the wrong decision in sticking with Julia Gillard?

STEPHEN SMITH:      I haven’t looked at the polls carefully, but you don’t need a poll to tell you that the community in the course of the week would have been surprised, disappointed, exasperated, frustrated at what had occurred. I got it yesterday in my community when I was out and about, I got it last night at the footy when I was supporting the Dockers. But what the true test will be now is how we conduct ourselves from now until September 14 when the election is on. This issue is now behind us. It is concluded. And what we now have to do is to make sure that we focus entirely on our relationship with the community, putting forward our record and our policies so far as the Australian community is concerned.

KATHRYN ROBINSON:          It is a very big task to say that the issue is behind you, particularly when respondents in that Galaxy Poll were saying 52% wanted Kevin Rudd as new leader, and also today the Opposition Leader has spoken to The Bolt Report and he is fuelling this fire as well.

TONY ABBOTT:         We are required, as an Opposition, to do what we can to give the people their say as soon as possible. It is not about us. It is about the Australian people, and about good Government as soon as we can humanly get it in this country.

PAUL BONGIORNO:    Well, Minister, there is no doubt that if a no-confidence motion was successful, we would all probably have to go to the polls. I’m sure Tony Abbott wouldn’t want to hang around for too long as a minority Prime Minister. Is that something now for the Government to fear, given what’s happening this week, and given the first – the reality check of this first poll?

STEPHEN SMITH:      Well Tony Abbott has been arguing there should be an early election since September/October of 2010. So that’s no surprise. The election date has been set – 14th September this year. That is when the electorate will get their chance to make a judgment. In the meantime, if Mr Abbott wants to move a motion of no-confidence, that is entirely open to him. But I remain confident that the Government will continue to have the support of the majority of the Independents and the minor party members – the Greens – and as a consequence, I am confident that the election will be held on the timetable the Prime Minister has outlined, which is the middle of September.

PAUL BONGIORNO:    But isn’t there the prospect that the debate over no-confidence could even take some of the lustre off the Budget, maybe?

STEPHEN SMITH:      Tony Abbott can move a vote of no-confidence in accordance with standing orders whenever he so chooses. He has done it before, he’s failed, he’s arguing since, as I say, September/October/November of 2010 that there should be an early election. That’s not been successful. The Government continues to have the support of the Parliament. And as a minority Government, we have got through between 450 and 500 pieces of legislation. Our task now is to take our message to the community, to put these internal issues behind us, and to outline not just the reform program that we have effected – 900,000 additional jobs created since we came to office, interest rates down – not just argue our record, but also what we are holding out for the future, whether that’s national disability reform, or education reform.

TORY MAGUIRE:        Minister, I think everyone agrees that one of the reasons the Government has had so much trouble getting those messages out that you are talking about, is because of at least the perception – and certainly the reality – of disunity.

Anthony Albanese has indicated that he has no intention of going anywhere. We haven’t had any hints from Bob Carr or Mark Butler that they’re going anywhere. How is Julia Gillard supposed to run a unified cabinet, over which she has authority, when such senior members of it don’t actually think she should be the Prime Minister?

STEPHEN SMITH: Well, there is no basis for any of those members to do anything other than to continue to serve. Anthony Albanese made it clear after the failed leadership challenge by Kevin Rudd, back in February of last year, that he, having voted for Kevin Rudd, offered his resignation to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister didn’t take it. He made it clear that he would be absolutely loyal to the Government and to her from that moment on. And he was. People who have to think about their position are those people who say and do things which are inconsistent with their executive position. Richard Marles urged publicly a vote for Kevin Rudd – that is inconsistent with being a member of the executive. Same with Joel Fitzgibbon. So, whilst we are disappointed that we’ve lost some colleagues – Chris Bowen, Martin Ferguson, very effective and very capable Ministers – but none of us are indispensable. There will be good, competent people to take their places. The key thing now is – and it won’t just be the Prime Minister or the Cabinet, it will be the party generally, and members of the community who will take zero tolerance now – zero tolerance for disunity, zero tolerance for internal criticism. I remember-

TORY MAGUIRE: Minister, isn’t it the case, though, that despite Kevin Rudd’s strong statement that he won’t challenge again, as long as he is sitting on the backbench everyone is going to be wondering why he is still sitting there, and wondering if the people who have supported him could support him again?

STEPHEN SMITH: Well, a couple of things. Firstly, I remember when Kevin became leader of the party in December of 2006. And he said, privately and publicly, that we had gone through a difficult period with visions of disunity and leadership challenges, and from the moment that he became leader, there had to then be, with 12 months to go before an election, zero tolerance – zero tolerance – for any disunity or adverse activity or commentary. And the same rules apply now with six months to go. But, Kevin has made absolutely crystal clear that he is not proposing to put his name forward for leader of the party under any circumstances. His supporters have essentially hoisted the white flag and laid down the project.

PAUL BONGIORNO: Well Minister, one of his supporters, Martin Ferguson, before he left, before he hoisted the flag, gave some advice – he said that the class warfare, which began with the mining tax, should end. He says it is harming Labor. Do you agree with him?

STEPHEN SMITH: Well, I don’t agree with all of Martin’s characterisation, but I certainly agree with the general point that a Government, a Labor Government, has to govern for all Australians. And I never make class warfare points. Some people have focused on, for example, the 457 visas. The point I make is what we are trying to do is to make sure that before we look overseas for the filling of skills that we desperately need in Australia, we exhaust every last opportunity for local, state, and national employees to fill those. That is not class warfare, that’s dealing with a skills shortage.

PAUL BONGIORNO: The Treasurer used the spreading the benefits of the boom as an excuse to get stuck into the big miners, and give the impression that very wealthy people are not necessarily to be encouraged in this country.

STEPHEN SMITH: Well we work very closely with the minerals and petroleum resources industry. It is a very important industry, an enormous investment boom, and that is continuing. From time to time there will be disagreements about policy, and from time to time, the industry – whether it is the minerals industry or other industries – are entitled to put robust views. But equally, they have to expect that a Government is also entitled to put a robust view, defending its position, and arguing its case. And that is what we do.

KATHRYN ROBINSON: So Minister, from now until September you want to draw a line in the sand. What are your biggest challenges and what are you going to do differently to win back the voters?

STEPHEN SMITH: What we have to do differently is to put these internal issues behind us, to give ourselves the opportunity of outlining to the community our economic record, our national security record, but also what we are holding out for the future. In very difficult economic circumstances, we have managed the economy well. People on an average mortgage of $300,000 are now paying about $5,000 less than what they did when we came to office. We have done everything we can to make sure that people who are facing tight financial circumstances can make ends meet – whether it is childcare rebate or education bonus. And on my front – national security front – we are continuing to make sure that our national security interests are protected. But we also have to pitch out for the future. And here, what we are doing on national disability, what we are doing on education – these are groundbreaking reforms, just as the vast bulk of the work we have done in our five and half years in office has also been groundbreaking reform in the finest traditions of reforming Labor governments.

KATHRYN ROBINSON:          Minister, we need to take a quick break right now. But when we return – the biggest challenges facing your portfolio, Defence. And we will also ask the Minister if he fears a stock take of his own performance.

KATHRYN ROBINSON:          You are watching Meet the Press. And remember, you can join the conversation any time via Facebook or Twitter. Returning now to our guest, Minister – Defence Minister – Stephen Smith. Minister, given the looming Cabinet reshuffle that’s set to take place sometime this week, are you confident that you’ll keep your portfolio?

STEPHEN SMITH:      Well, that is entirely a matter for the Prime Minister. I’ve always made that clear. I’m proposing to continue to focus on what I’m doing in Defence. But I expect very early next week we will know what the allocation of portfolios by the Prime Minister is.

KATHRYN ROBINSON:          Your time in the portfolio has been characterised by budget cuts, you have been criticised for your handling over the abuse allegations in the Defence Force. Wouldn’t it be a good time to get out?

STEPHEN SMITH:      Well, my own view is that I very much want to stay in the portfolio. We’ve got a White Paper coming up, which we need to deliver by May/June of this year. We have another Budget in difficult circumstances. And the work we’ve done in Defence abuse – we have done more work in the last two years in Defence abuse than has been done in preceding decades. I’m very proud of that reform project, which is ongoing, under the leadership of Len Roberts-Smith, chairing the Abuse Task Force.

KATHRYN ROBINSON:          So there’s no other portfolio you would like?

STEPHEN SMITH:      I’m not sitting here studying commodity prices – I’m still sitting here working on my White Paper.

PAUL BONGIORNO:    Well Minister, just going to how your portfolio has fared – we are now down at Defence spending, 1.49% of GDP. I think we were last there in 1937. Do you aspire to boost it back to 2% of GDP?

STEPHEN SMITH:      I’ve made it clear that I would rather be close to 2% than 1.5%. But GDP percentage is not the only measure. We continue to be in the top dozen Defence spenders, we’re far and away the largest Defence spender in our immediate region, and whilst there has been a reduction in Defence spending, we still are, in terms of the forward estimate years, over the $100 million mark.

PAUL BONGIORNO:    Well can you-

STEPHEN SMITH:      But we are not the only country going through these issues.

PAUL BONGIORNO:    No, will you be fighting in the run-up to the Budget to keep it where it’s at? I mean, will you be fighting to keep it at 1.49% of GDP, or do you fear that you may see further cuts?

STEPHEN SMITH:      Well in addition to being Defence Minister and Deputy Leader of the House to Anthony Albanese, I’m also on the ERC. So I never speculate about the Budget, but I always-

PAUL BONGIORNO:    Well you’re the Minister, will you be fighting to keep your share of the pie?

STEPHEN SMITH:      I always fight and argue for the national interest, the national security interest and Defence’s interest. But we will see how the Budget unfolds on Budget night.

PAUL BONGIORNO:    Will there be an excuse for the Defence budget to be further cut with the withdrawal from Afghanistan?

STEPHEN SMITH:      Well, no, because we deal with our overseas operations, whether it is Afghanistan, East Timor, from which we have now withdrawn, or the Solomon Islands, we deal with those on what’s described as a no-win, no-loss basis. But the transition from Afghanistan, the transition out of East Timor and the Solomon Islands, does cause us to have to think strategically about what the priorities for the Australian Defence Force will now be. And that’s why we have brought the White Paper forward to May or June this year. But in terms of general budget parameters, we are going through tight circumstances. We are not the only country that’s going through those tight circumstances. And I would just make a political point – the Opposition have said that they’re committed to no further reductions. Well what that means is they agree with our Forward Estimates.

PAUL BONGIORNO:    Well are you committed-

STEPHEN SMITH:      So there is bipartisanship on Defence spending.

PAUL BONGIORNO:    That’s my question. Are you committed to no further reductions?

STEPHEN SMITH:      Well, you need to wait until Budget night. I’m not proposing to indicate what is in the Budget. But, currently you have bipartisanship on Defence spending, and unless and until Tony Abbott commits the Opposition to increasing Defence spending, that is the position. Our Forward Estimates are their Forward Estimates.

TORY MAGUIRE:        Minister, on Afghanistan – the Afghan Foreign Minister was in the House of Reps on Thursday afternoon, watching high theatre Australian-style. He has described Afghanistan as 98% safe. But our own Federal Court has ruled that we cannot send Hazaras home, because they risk being killed by the Taliban. What state are we going to leave Afghanistan in when we withdraw?

STEPHEN SMITH:      Afghanistan is currently in a conflict circumstance. There’s no denying that. We believe the security position is a better security position than we’ve had it for some time. And we are confident, in Uruzgan we will complete transition to Afghanistan security responsibility by the end of this year, and in Afghanistan generally by the end of 2014. It will then be a matter for Afghan security forces to take that responsibility. But, they are separate questions from our responsibilities under the Refugee Convention, and we have a memorandum of understanding with Afghanistan, where we return people to Afghanistan. We don’t return people when it’s not safe in their particular individual circumstances, and returns can either be volunteer or compulsorily. We would always prefer voluntary returns, and that is the point that Foreign Minister Rassoul made when we met on Thursday of last week.

TORY MAGUIRE:        So, do you have any concerns about the situation, when we withdraw, rapidly deteriorating again?

STEPHEN SMITH:      No, because for a couple of reasons: firstly, we will then have an Afghan National Security Force of some 300,000-strong; but secondly, one of the points that we have made is that the international community needs to continue to give some assistance to Afghanistan. Now, that will be by way of training, and back of- house assistance. And we’ve also – Australia and other countries – entered into a long-term strategic partnership with Afghanistan to send the signal that transition, whether it is from Uruzgan in the end of 2013, or Afghanistan at the end of 2014, doesn’t mean that the international community is not there to render assistance. The same is true of the US, of NATO, of the United Kingdom, Italy, and other European countries.

KATHRYN ROBINSON:          Minister, we all know that war is an expensive exercise. Do you think that the Afghan National Security Forces will have the money behind them to do the job that is needed there?

STEPHEN SMITH:      Well, that is the other contribution that the international community is making – to commit to resourcing the Afghan National Security Forces. In our case, we have committed US$100 million for three years, every year, from 2015. And sustaining and resourcing the Afghan National Security Forces will be a very important feature of continuing to ensure there is security in Afghanistan. But I make the point that both Foreign Minister Rassoul and I made on Thursday of last week, which is, in the end, Afghanistan can’t just be a security solution – it also has to be a political solution, and that’s why we strongly support the efforts that are occurring, led by the Afghan government, for a reconciliation with the Taliban – for a peaceful reconciliation between differing views in Afghanistan. And those members of the Taliban who agree to lay down their arms and abide by the Afghan constitution can enter into a political agreement with the Government and other political institutions in Afghanistan.

KATHRYN ROBINSON:          Defence Minister, Stephen Smith, we are going to have to leave it there, thank you very much for joining us on Meet the Press this morning.

STEPHEN SMITH:      Thank you. Thanks very much.

 

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is supporting an Emergency Management Australia request on behalf of the Government of Tasmania to transport two 20-tonne mobile diesel powered generators and transformers to Tasmania in the wake of the bushfires.

Two Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster aircraft and their specialist personnel have departed RAAF Base Amberley and will arrive at Hobart International Airport later this morning.

Acting Minister for Defence, Warren Snowdon, said the generators would assist in restoring electricity to residents in the Tasman peninsular.

“The arrival of the Ergon Energy QLD equipment will hopefully provide some relief to those most affected by this week’s tragic events,” Mr Snowdon said.

“The ADF will continue working closely with Emergency Management Australia (EMA) to provide assistance to the civil community facing danger across Eastern Australia.

“Australia’s firefighters, including thousands of volunteers, are doing a great job and are facing enormous challenges to protect life and property in hundreds of areas currently facing fire emergencies. I would also like to thank all those ADF personnel who are working with EMA to provide assistance when and where it is needed,” Mr Snowdon said.

The Royal Australian Air Force operates six C-17A Globemaster heavy transport aircraft which are operated by No 36 Squadron from RAAF Base Amberley, near Brisbane.

The C-17A is a high-wing four-engine heavy transport that significantly enhances the ADF’s ability to support national and international operations, and major disaster relief efforts.

Media note:

Imagery of the arrival will be available at: http://images.defence.gov.au/12132383

The imagery will be linked in with the Bushfire Assist imagery which is available at: http://images.defence.gov.au/12132379

Media contacts:

Marcus Butler (Minister Snowdon) (02) 6277 7820 or 0417 917 796
Defence Media Operations (02) 6127 1999

A Seahawk helicopter from the Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Toowoomba has conducted an evacuation of an ill passenger from the cruise liner MV Sea Princess off the West Australian coast.

On Saturday morning, the MV Sea Princess contacted Toowoomba, which was conducting training in the Western Australia Exercise Area off Fremantle. HMAS Toowoomba’s Commanding Officer, Commander Brendon Zilko, said the cruise liner requested assistance to transfer an ill passenger with severe abdominal pain to a hospital ashore. 

“We launched the ship’s Seahawk helicopter at first light,” Commander Zilko said.

“The operation had a certain degree of difficulty as the Sea Princess doesn’t have a landing pad, so we had to winch the patient off the deck and into the helicopter.” 

Once on board the Seahawk, HMAS Toowoomba’s doctor took over his care, as the helicopter made the 71 nautical mile transit to the Emergency Department of the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth.

Commander Zilko said he was very proud of his crew.  

“We are out here training for our next mission to the Middle East later this year. I was very pleased with the way the crew handled a real life emergency,” he said.

The MV Sea Princess returned to her passage plan and is due to arrive in Adelaide in five days.  

Media note: Imagery is available on request.