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PRIME MINISTER

18 July 2014

TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER

THE HON. TONY ABBOTT MP

STATEMENT TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA

E&OE.

Madam Speaker, I claim the indulgence of the Parliament to make a statement about some very significant

events that have happened overnight.

Madam Speaker, this is a grim day for our country and its a grim day for ourworld.

Malaysia Airlines MH17 has been shot down over the Eastern Ukraine it seems by Russian backed rebels.

298 people have been killed. At least 27 Australians have been killed.

Our hearts go out to the families of all the dead. Our thoughts and prayers especially are with the families of

the Australian dead.

We cant restore them to life but we can and will do everything to support them in this sad and bitter time

because that is the Australian waywe help in times of trouble.

Madam Speaker, a Department of Foreign Affairs team is preparing to leave for Kiev. Next of kin and

families will be notified as soon as possible. Theyll be offered counselling and assistance and bodies will be

repatriated to Australia as quickly as possible.

Madam Speaker, we owe it as well to the families of the dead to find out exactly what has happened andexactly who is responsible.

As things stand, Madam Speaker, this looks less like an accident than a crime. I want to repeat this: as things

stand, this looks less like an accident than a crime. If so, the perpetrators must be brought to justice.

So I can inform the House that as quickly as possible Australia will be working at the United Nations

Security Council for a binding resolution calling for a full and impartial investigation with full access to the

site, with full access to the debris, with full access to the black box and with full access to all individuals

who might be in a position to shed light on this terrible event.

I can also inform the House that the Minister for Foreign Affairs will shortly summons the Russian

Ambassador to seek a categoric assurance from the Ambassador that the Russian government will fully

cooperate in this investigation.

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Madam Speaker, we owe it to the dead and their families, we owe it to the peace and stability of the wider

world to establish the facts and we will do all we humanly can to bring that about.

Let me conclude with this: the bullying of small countries by big ones, the trampling of justice and decency

in the pursuit of national aggrandisement and reckless indifference to human life should have no place in our

world.

[ends]