Joint Media Release

The Hon Warren Snowdon MP
Minister for Defence Science and Personnel

The Hon Robert McClelland MP
Attorney-General

5 December 2008

SETTLEMENT OF HMAS MELBOURNE CLAIMS

The Attorney-General Robert McClelland and the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel Warren Snowdon today announced the results of the review into the unresolved claims from the HMAS Melbourne/HMAS Voyager tragedy.

“The collision between HMAS Voyager and HMAS Melbourne off the southeast coast of Australia in 1964 cost 82 lives.  It also resulted in pain and suffering for many of the survivors and their families that has involved court action for the past 44 years,” Mr Snowdon said.

To end this stalemate, the Rudd Government appointed Mr Jeremy Gormly SC in July 2008 to review the mediation of the outstanding damages claims and assist in the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process.

“I am now pleased to say that through Mr Gormly’s energy and expertise, 24 of the remaining 25 cases have been resolved,” Mr Snowdon said.

Mr McClelland said this success reinforces the Government’s commitment to a resolving matters without the expense and trauma of litigation.

“The negotiated outcomes achieved in these long-standing matters prove that ADR, as part of an overall dispute resolution strategy, is the right way to go,” Mr McClelland said.

“The Government greatly appreciates Mr Gormly’s assistance in bringing these claims to resolution.”

As part of his review, Mr Gormly has also provided important recommendations about how ADR can be better used by the Government in the future, particularly in relation to multi-plaintiff matters.

His recommendations include a range of procedural suggestions for the management of large-scale matters, which would focus the parties on the possibility of ADR throughout the process.

The Government will consider the outcomes of Mr Gormly’s work as part of the ongoing reforms to Commonwealth legal service procurement.

Media contacts:
Kate Sieper (Warren Snowdon): 02 6277 7620 or 0488 484 689
Adam Sims (Robert McClelland): 02 6277 7300 or 0419 480 224
Defence Media Liaison: 02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664