IMPROVEMENTS TO ADF REPATRIATION PROCEDURES

The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, today announced further improvements will be made to the ADF’s repatriation procedures following the completion of the Cosson report. 

Brigadier Liz Cosson, assisted by an independent medical specialist Professor Donald Sheldon, was appointed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the mishandling of the repatriation of Private Jake Kovco’s body from the Middle East.

Air Chief Marshal Houston said Brigadier Cosson found that the failure to repatriate the body of Private Kovco was a direct result of two fundamental errors in the repatriation process:

• the wrong body was produced by civilian mortuary staff for identification; and
• the body produced was incorrectly identified as being Private Kovco.

“The inquiry also found weaknesses in ADF policy and procedures for mortuary affairs which created conditions conducive to failure,” Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

 “As a result of her findings, I have accepted all of the report’s 28 recommendations which will further enhance the ADF’s procedures for handling the remains of ADF personnel who die whilst on duty overseas.

“As Chief of the Defence Force my focus is on ensuring this error doesn’t occur again and I’m firmly committed to implementing the recommendations of this report.”

“A copy of the final Cosson report has been provided to the Kovco family and once again I apologise to them for the distress this error has caused them.” he said.

While awaiting the Cosson report, Air Chief Marshal Houston directed immediate changes to the ADF’s repatriation process, some of which have also been recommended by Brigadier Cosson.  These included: wherever practicable, bodies of ADF personnel will be carried on military aircraft, at least two ADF personnel accompany a body being returned to Australia, and, where possible Defence will also avoid using non-military mortuaries in the Middle East. 

A full copy of the Cosson report has been provided to the Board of Inquiry investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Private Kovco and subsequent repatriation.  The Board will now consider the evidence and may make recommendations as part of their deliberations.  

A copy of the executive summary and the findings and recommendations of the Cosson report can be obtained from http://www.defence.gov.au/publications/kovco.pdf

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