HMAS Sydney II Commission of Inquiry
COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE LOSS OF HMAS SYDNEY II
The President of the Commission, The Honourable Terence Cole AO, RFD, QC, has completed public hearings of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the loss of HMAS Sydney II.
The Inquiry has held a total of 22 public hearing days in Sydney, Perth and Brisbane with a further 14 additional hearing days conducted in other locations such as Germany and in the homes of people unable to travel.
During this process, the COI heard testimony from 60 witnesses, received more than 250 submissions, produced 230 exhibits, collected 200 000 archival documents and generated over 2 500 pages of transcript.
The President will now consider this information and prepare his report which will be presented to Chief of Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston AC, AFC as soon as possible.
A decision to publicly release the report will be made in accordance with the ‘Defence (Inquiry) Regulations 1985’.
Through the COI report, we will have a better understanding of the circumstances which resulted in Australia’s greatest maritime tragedy; the loss of HMAS Sydney II and all 645 crew members.
Media contact:
Defence Media Liaison: 02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664