[Greens-Media] Government secrecy harming the Navy’s reputation, Greens move for inquiry

[Schultz-Byard, Noah (Sen S. Hanson-Young)]

MEDIA RELEASE

Tuesday, 11 February 2014

Government secrecy harming the Navy’s reputation, Greens move for inquiry

The Australian Greens will announce today the terms of reference for a Senate inquiry into the OSB incursions into Indonesian waters.
“Our defence personnel are being forced to carry out dangerous operations on the high seas,” the Greens’ immigration spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“In a cowardly move Tony Abbott has blamed Australian Navy personnel for the incursions and then hidden the role that his government’s policies have played in those incidents.
“It is the government’s obsession with secrecy that is tarnishing the Navy’s reputation.
“This inquiry is needed to defend the integrity of the brave men and women who serve in the Australian Navy.
“These incursions are very serious and Tony Abbott’s explanations to this point have been woefully inadequate. If anyone has dropped the ball, it’s the Abbott Government and their refusal to be upfront with the Australian people.
“There are many questions that need to be answered; How did these incursions happen? What was the Navy being forced to do when they happened? How many times, when and where exactly did these breaches take place?
“If the government has nothing to hide, why is it being so secretive about what is happening on the high seas?”

Media Contact: Noah Schultz-Byard 0427 604 760


NOAH SCHULTZ-BYARD  STRATEGY AND COMMUNICATIONS ADVISER

OFFICE OF SENATOR SARAH HANSON-YOUNG
AUSTRALIAN GREENS SENATOR FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA
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