John Faulkner (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Fielding for his question. I can inform Senator Fielding that the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Smith, called Mrs Lapthorne on Saturday, 11 October 2008 to offer his deepest condolences and sympathies to the Lapthorne family following the news that the Croatian police had identified the body found in Dubrovnik waters as that of Britt Lapthorne. I am sure all in this parliament would understand and sympathise that the Lapthorne family is going through an extremely difficult period at this time.

I can confirm that consular officers obtained a copy of the final pathology report from Croatian authorities, which was conveyed to the Lapthorne family. DFAT, consular and AFP officers assisted the family with understanding the contents of that report, which I can confirm was in Croatian. I can also say that consular officers will continue to provide consular assistance to the Lapthorne family in both Croatia and in Australia, including with arrangements to repatriate the remains back to Australia and, of course, assisting the Lapthorne family with arrangements for family members to return to Australia. The Australian Federal Police have offered to facilitate contact between a pathologist in Australia and the Lapthorne family to help them understand this autopsy report. The Croatian police have advised that the official investigation on this case continues to be responded to as a criminal investigation.

On receipt of information from an acquaintance of Ms Lapthorne that she was missing—that was on 19 September 2008—the Australian embassy in Zagreb immediately notified the Dubrovnik police. The Dubrovnik police advised that a search would be conducted but, because Ms Lapthorne was an adult and she had not been gone long, there was little it could do. The embassy sought updates from the Dubrovnik police on 22 September and 23 September 2008. The Dubrovnik police advised that Ms Lapthorne’s disappearance had been registered through Interpol in Croatia to ascertain whether she had come to the attention of other authorities. On 24 September—Australian eastern standard time—DFAT waived privacy considerations and contacted the family after Croatian authorities asked that we make enquiries about Ms Lapthorne on their behalf. In missing persons cases, we rely on local police investigations and advice on whether a person is in fact missing before we can advise the next of kin. As is the case with missing persons investigations in this country, privacy constraints prevent us from advising the next of kin immediately.

I am asked specifically about the Australian Federal Police. The AFP officer in Dubrovnik was a detective with a distinguished career—with, in fact, in excess of 25 years of policing experience. I am informed that he has done a professional job in assisting Croatian police with their investigations. (Time expired)