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

Madam Speaker, if I may on indulgence, I will just give the House a brief update on the Australian involvement in the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. I wish to inform House that so far the Royal Australian Air Force has conducted two sweeps over the southern search corridor. Another sweep is scheduled to take place later today. Shortly, there will be four Royal Australian Air Force Orion maritime surveillance aircraft active in this search area. A New Zealand Orion and a United States Poseidon aircraft are repositioning to the search and should be available shortly. We owe it to the people on this ill-fated flight, and their families, to do what we can to solve this tragic mystery. They remain in our thoughts and in our prayers at this very difficult time.