John Faulkner (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Hansard source

Senator, I do not think that is right, and I think any fair-minded person would acknowledge that the ADF knows that, as do ADF personnel. But there is an issue here that I think senators should take account of. That is of course that on 25 January this year the coroner for the Northern Territory, Mr Cavanagh, commenced a coronial inquest into the deaths of the five people that occurred near Ashmore Reef. That inquest was adjourned on 18 February this year. The facts of the matter are that the coroner is expected to bring down his findings tomorrow. I have been constrained in what I can say. I did not follow the advice of the opposition earlier, suggesting I should table a range of material, and if I had I would have been roundly criticised because not a matter of days later the coroner came out and requested that that not take place. I suggest to Senator Johnston in these circumstances that we all ought to contain ourselves. We all ought to do what is right in these circumstances, understanding that the coroner is expected to bring down his findings on this very serious incident and then there will be a capacity without those constraints that apply to all members of parliament, whether in government or in opposition— (Time expired)