Robert Ray (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I give notice that, on the next day of sitting—

Nice of you to come down for it.

And unusual to see you here too, Senator Ray.

Senator Faulkner, don’t worry about interjections. Address your comments to the chair.

I should not have responded to that aggravation, Mr Deputy President, and in future I will not. I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, I shall move:

(1)

That the following matter be referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee for inquiry and report by 31 August 2007:

Whether the inquiries conducted by the Board of Inquiry and the Coroner of Western Australia into the fire on HMAS Westralia in May 1998 resulting in the death of four crew members, were fully informed of all the circumstances leading up to the tragedy, including alleged prior warnings of poor engine maintenance standards in Navy ships, and HMAS Westralia in particular, and of any other matters relevant to maintenance procedures affecting the safety, reliability and capability of ships at sea.

(2)

That the committee, in the course of its inquiry, examine relevant evidence provided in the estimates hearings of the committee and the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee in February and May 2007.