Michael Forshaw (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is directed to Senator Faulkner, the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, Science and Personnel. Can the minister update the Senate on the search for HMAS Sydney?

John Faulkner (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Forshaw for his question. I am pleased to inform the Senate that one of Australia’s most enduring maritime mysteries has been solved. Yesterday, Sunday, 16 March, the final resting place of the missing Royal Australian Navy cruiser HMAS Sydney was discovered. As I am sure all senators would know, in 1941, HMAS Sydney was the most famous of the Royal Australian Navy’s ships. She had created headlines with her exploits in the Mediterranean. But on 19 November that year, following a fierce action with the German raider Kormoran off the West Australian coast, HMAS Sydney was lost with all 645 crew. Over 80 German sailors also died. It was in fact the most grievous loss of life ever suffered by the Royal Australian Navy, and until yesterday the families of those crew members did not know the final resting place of their loved ones. Now they know. It is obvious to all of us that that knowledge will remind many Australians of their loss. More than 60 years may have passed, but I am sure that the loss is still felt. I am also sure that the condolences of all of us go to the families of the crew of HMAS Sydney.

Finding the location of the German raider, the HSK Kormoran, was the key to finding HMAS Sydney. The Kormoran was found approximately 112 nautical miles off Steep Point in Western Australia. It is lying in 2,500 metres of water. The Australian government has advised the German government of the find. HMAS Sydney was found around 12 nautical miles from the wreck of the Kormoran. It was also lying in some 2,500 metres of water. This position fits with the testimony about final sightings of HMAS Sydney.

The location of the wreck and its dimensions do give certainty that HMAS Sydney has been found. It is important now, I am sure all senators would agree, that we move to protect the site of the wreck of HMAS Sydney. The Minister for Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts has declared both sites to be historic shipwrecks under the Historic Shipwrecks Act, thereby preventing any removal or disturbance of the shipwrecks without formal approval.

I want to acknowledge all those involved in the search for HMAS Sydney, and thank them for their great efforts. The Finding Sydney Foundation has done research work over many years to identify the most likely location of the wreck: it organised the current search. The crew of the SV Geosounder, the ship that conducted the search, are also to be congratulated for their fine work, as are all those involved.