Mr ADAMSON - 1996-11-21
My question relates to the incident a few days ago of the errant Russian Mars probe. What is the Chief Minister's response to the admission that Prime Minister Howard was not notified until 2 hours after the Australian Defence Forces were told that the probe carrying radioactive fuel was heading towards northern Australia?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, this matter has been attracting considerable coverage in the southern media. It relates to what appears ...
Mr Stirling: You should have told us rather earlier than this. Goodness me! For the sake of getting off ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STONE: How extraordinary, Mr Speaker! I was in the middle of talking about a Russian space probe, and the member for Nhulunbuy snapped and went off like a rocket! I shall start again because there is a great deal of public interest in what occurred.
Fortunately, the Russian space probe crashed subsequently somewhere between New Zealand and South America. It has come to light that there was an unacceptable delay by the appropriate authorities in advising the Prime Minister. On the one hand, I greatly appreciate the fact that the Prime Minister, through the Deputy Prime Minister, Tim Fischer, contacted me at home within 45 minutes of being told himself. I am appreciative of the Prime Minister's office for facilitating that information. It meant that I was able to swing the appropriate authorities in the Northern Territory into action. I should say also that the response of the defence authorities in northern Australia was exemplary. Under the leadership of Commodore Lord, they provided very extensive briefings to their Northern Territory counterparts at 10 am. Quite clearly, the matter was well in hand. There were clearly defined roles for the defence authorities in the north, as well as Northern Territory counter-disaster and
emergency services personnel, in containment and isolation.
However, I am concerned - and I have written to the Prime Minister to this effect - that there was such an inordinate delay in advising him. The simple reason is that, at one point, it appeared that the Territory would be the recipient of this space probe which was out of control. We had more than a passing interest in what was occurring. In the normal course of events, we would like to have known much earlier. My criticism is certainly not of the Prime Minister and his office or of the defence authorities in the north. However, I have urged the Prime Minister to provide us with a background briefing on what occurred. I know that he is on the public record, as is the Minister for Defence, Ian McLachlan, as saying that they found it unacceptable. I can say also that Territorians find it unacceptable, particularly given that the Territory was one of the destinations where this unwelcome space probe might have come to earth. At one point, it was believed that the impact would occur just north of Alice
Springs. I have written to the Prime Minister and I will apprise members of the response that I receive. I
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hope sincerely that those who are charged with this very important responsibility in the national capital have learnt from this experience and will not be tardy in advising the head of government if something like this should occur in the future.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, this matter has been attracting considerable coverage in the southern media. It relates to what appears ...
Mr Stirling: You should have told us rather earlier than this. Goodness me! For the sake of getting off ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STONE: How extraordinary, Mr Speaker! I was in the middle of talking about a Russian space probe, and the member for Nhulunbuy snapped and went off like a rocket! I shall start again because there is a great deal of public interest in what occurred.
Fortunately, the Russian space probe crashed subsequently somewhere between New Zealand and South America. It has come to light that there was an unacceptable delay by the appropriate authorities in advising the Prime Minister. On the one hand, I greatly appreciate the fact that the Prime Minister, through the Deputy Prime Minister, Tim Fischer, contacted me at home within 45 minutes of being told himself. I am appreciative of the Prime Minister's office for facilitating that information. It meant that I was able to swing the appropriate authorities in the Northern Territory into action. I should say also that the response of the defence authorities in northern Australia was exemplary. Under the leadership of Commodore Lord, they provided very extensive briefings to their Northern Territory counterparts at 10 am. Quite clearly, the matter was well in hand. There were clearly defined roles for the defence authorities in the north, as well as Northern Territory counter-disaster and
emergency services personnel, in containment and isolation.
However, I am concerned - and I have written to the Prime Minister to this effect - that there was such an inordinate delay in advising him. The simple reason is that, at one point, it appeared that the Territory would be the recipient of this space probe which was out of control. We had more than a passing interest in what was occurring. In the normal course of events, we would like to have known much earlier. My criticism is certainly not of the Prime Minister and his office or of the defence authorities in the north. However, I have urged the Prime Minister to provide us with a background briefing on what occurred. I know that he is on the public record, as is the Minister for Defence, Ian McLachlan, as saying that they found it unacceptable. I can say also that Territorians find it unacceptable, particularly given that the Territory was one of the destinations where this unwelcome space probe might have come to earth. At one point, it was believed that the impact would occur just north of Alice
Springs. I have written to the Prime Minister and I will apprise members of the response that I receive. I
Page 1803
hope sincerely that those who are charged with this very important responsibility in the national capital have learnt from this experience and will not be tardy in advising the head of government if something like this should occur in the future.
Page 1804
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016