Media release from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
D2
Christopher Kremmer's claims in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age today
that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has obstructed compensation
efforts by the Australian families of September 11 victims and provided misleading
information are unfounded in view of the facts.� His claims are also an unwarranted
attack on the staff who have worked round the clock to alleviate the distress
of those traumatised by the crisis.
The Department has worked hard since September 11 to provide support to the
families of the victims of the terrorist attacks in the United States.� Our
Consul-General in New York Ken Allen opened his home to the families of Australian
victims.
The Department's policy has always been to facilitate contact between the
families if that is their wish.� In response to a request by one family, we
wrote to all of them on 31 October 2001 asking if they would like their details
to be passed on to the other families.� We sent a further letter on 27 November
listing those who had responded positively.� We also provided updates as others
responded.
We needed to take this consultative approach because of privacy considerations.
We did not receive a response from the Adelaide family identified in the
article in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age today.
The article also refers to a memorial service in New York. This service was
arranged at short notice by the Australian and New Zealand communities in
New York with support from the Australian Consulate General.� Those family
members who were known to be in New York at the time attended.� When he became
aware of the arrangements, Mr Downer, who was on his way to the United States
at the time, reorganised his program to attend.
Eight families took up the Government's offer to pay for family members to
fly to New York, and our Missions in the United States provided a range of
on-ground support.
The Department has also assisted the families in their dealings with New
York authorities in the very sad but necessary process of collecting personal
data, including DNA samples, for the identification of remains.
Media inquiries:� Julie McDonald 6261 1555/0417 219 785