John Faulkner (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Hansard source

Senators would be aware that the Tongan ferry MV Princess Ashika sank on 6 August and 93 people were lost in the disaster. Australia, with New Zealand, immediately responded to a request by the Tongan government for assistance to search for and recover human remains. Australia provided a Navy clearance diving team and support personnel. I now have further information on the recovery operation and the difficulties of the mission.

Initial reconnaissance searches to establish the exact location of the wreck were not successful. On 11 August, the Navy clearance diving team completed a dive to 50 metres at the suspected site of the sunken ferry. Despite good water visibility, they were unable to positively identify the MV Princess Ashika. This morning, the Royal New Zealand Navy deployed a remotely operated vehicle. I am advised that they are confident they have located the Tongan ferry MV Princess Ashika sitting upright in 110 metres of water. I am very sorry to have to inform the Senate the  Tongan ferry Princess Ashika has been found in such deep water that it is beyond the dive capability of the Navy clearance diving team. I can say, however, that our recovery team in Tonga are now evaluating the situation to determine what other recovery measures might be able to be taken.