DPR 131/97 Monday September 29, 1997
DEFENCE CHIEF ANNOUNCES NEW EXAMINER
The Chief of the Defence Force, General John Baker, today announced the name of the replacement for Rear Admiral Alwynne Rowlands who will take over the examination of the Board of Inquiry report and the evidence presented to the Black Hawk Board of Inquiry.
Melbourne Queens Counsel, Commander Paul Willee, a Royal Australian Navy Reservist, took over the examination of evidence last Friday and is expected to report back to General Baker by November 1, 1997.
Commander Willee is tasked with considering the Board of Inquiry Report and the evidentiary material available to the Board and advising CDF is there is any more that can be drawn from all the evidence presented to the Board of Inquiry which might in any way assist the process of taking every possible action to reduce the risk of further accidents.
General Baker said, "This was never intended to be a formal inquiry, but rather an examination by an ADF officer who has no direct involvement in any of the matters relating to the original Black Hawk Board of Inquiry, a clear understanding of the legal processes involved and the analytical ability to sift through mountains of data."
Commander Willee is to advise the Chief of the Defence Force if further action appears to be necessary concerning matters of Army Aviation safety, particularly in relation to higher level direction and policy decisions, which were relevant to the accident.
Further information
Colonel Andrew Reynolds (06) 265 2929 (b/h)