Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

All members of this House, in common with people all around the world, are pondering the fate of flight MH370, the Malaysia Airlines aircraft which has vanished. I spoke shortly before question time to Prime Minister Najib Razak of Malaysia. He asked that Australia take responsibility for the search in the southern vector, which the Malaysian authorities now think was one possible flight path for this ill-fated aircraft. I agreed that we would do so. I offered the Malaysian Prime Minister additional maritime surveillance resources, which he gratefully accepted. Our Chief of the Defence Force has, as I understand it, just been in contact with the Malaysian chief to discuss how these additional resource would be best deployed.

I wish to assure the House and, through this House, the Australian people that Australia will do its duty in this matter. We will do our duty to ensure that our search and rescue responsibilities are maintained and upheld, and we will do our duty to the families of the 230 people on that aircraft, who are still absolutely devastated by their absence and who are still profoundly saddened by this as yet unfathomed mystery.

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek to associate the opposition with the remarks of the government. It is a terrible tragedy. To all of the families and friends of passengers on the missing flight go our thoughts and prayers. To the families in particular of Queensland couples Rodney and Mary Burrows and Bob and Cathy Lawton, of Yuan Li and Naijun Gu, and of Paul Weeks go our deepest sympathies.