Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence Materiel) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Siewert for her question. The foundering of the vessel, the Tycoon, is a matter of ongoing investigation and is, of course, a matter on which I cannot comment until that investigation is concluded. The salvage operations to remove the wreck have not yet commenced and are expected to take some time to resolve. I can say that the Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating the causes of the incident and has issued a preliminary report. Of course, there are separate investigations being undertaken by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, and the Australian Federal Police are undertaking investigations into whether or not offences have been committed. So in that context, it is difficult to actually report to the Senate on the outcomes of those investigations.

In terms of the government's approach to these questions, the minister has advised me that measures are being taken to protect and monitor the environment, restore the port to full operation and to deal with any other impacts that have arisen as a result of the founding of the vessel in terms of the effects on the community on Christmas Island.