THE HON TANYA PLIBERSEK MP

ACTING LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

SHADOW MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

MEMBER FOR SYDNEY

MEDIA RELEASE

PRE-DELPOYMENT OF AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE OFFICERS

THURSDAY, 24 JULY 2014

The Opposition welcomes the Government’s announcement that around 50 Australian Federal Police officers have been pre-deployed to assist with investigations into the flight MH17 crash.

The priority must continue to be the recovery of Australians, their identification, and their repatriation to grieving families.

This cannot occur without properly securing the crash site. We understand that, if deployed, the AFP officers will form part of an international team tasked with securing the site and properly examining it.

Labor pays tribute to the highly skilled work of the Australian Federal Police, and all other Australian personnel involved.

Labor will continue to seek briefings from the Government as the situation unfolds.