Vietnam: Personnel Missing in Action

Mr Mossfield asked the Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 30 May 2002:

1. Are six Australian soldiers officially listed as missing in action during the Vietnam War.
2. Was the last investigation into this matter made in May 1984.
3. What action has the Minister's Department taken on this issue since 1984.
4. Given the technological advances since 1984, particularly in the area of DNA identification as well as a vastly improved diplomatic and political relationship with Vietnam, will the Minister revisit this issue and order a new investigation in an attempt to locate and recover the bodies of these six Australian soldiers; if not, why not.

Mrs Vale - The Minister for Defence has provided the following answer to the honourable member's question:

1. There are six Australian service personnel officially listed as missing in action during the Vietnam War, four from the Australian Army and two from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
2. Yes.
3. As a result of recent initiatives by the Government, a meeting was held in Melbourne on 5 June 2002 between representatives of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and Mr Jim Bourke, who is responsible for the 'Operation Aussies Home' website, to discuss the recovery of the remains of missing ADF personnel in Vietnam. Also discussed was ADF policy and supporting procedures and information concerning the six missing in action cases. Information gaps relating to these personnel were identified.
   
   A further meeting is to be held in Canberra in late June or early July 2002 between Mr Bourke and the Army History Unit and the RAAF research staff to try and determine the location of the personnel.
4. As part of the new investigation, the Department of Defence has agreed to re-examine the possibility of assisting with the collection of DNA samples from next of kin once policy, legal and privacy issues have been resolved. Mr Bourke has advised that DNA samples have been collected and passed to the United States Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii for registration. Department of Defence assistance with the collection of DNA samples is required in only two cases.

close