Australia Committed to Solving ‘Mystery’ of MH370: PM

Canberra — Australia’s Prime Minister Tony Abbott has moved a parliamentary motion commemorating the one-year anniversary of the disappearance of Malaysian Airlines flight MH370.

Addressing the families of the missing passengers, who were present at the House of Representatives chamber, Abbott said he extended his deep condolences to them, and assured them that Australia would continue searching for the missing plane.

“Every family has a story of loss … you remain in our thoughts and prayers … we are taking every reasonable step to bring your painful search to an end,” he said on Thursday.

“We remain hopeful that we will solve this baffling mystery and bring the peace of knowing to the family and friends of all aboard MH370.

“This is not the first major aircraft to go missing and, tragically, it may not be the last. In this day and age it seems inexplicable that the technology and systems were not in place to provide us with the exact position of this plane at all times.

“I have to admit to the House that so far we have not found any trace of MH370 but I do reassure the families of our hope and expectation that the ongoing search will succeed.

“I can’t promise that the search will go on at this intensity forever but we will continue our very best efforts to resolve this mystery and provide some answers.

“For the world the loss of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is one of the great mysteries of our time.

“For the families and loved ones of those on that flight it is a harrowing nightmare. Seven who called Australia home were on board flight MH370.”

“Every family has a story of loss and we are honored to be joined by the Burrows, Lauton and Weeks families and thank you for joining us.”

Federal Opposition leader Bill Shorten also spoke on the motion, saying, “The search has united so many countries. Today it unites us all. We stand united with the loved ones you lost.”

In his address on Thursday, Shorten also quoted the English poet Shelley, who wrote in Adonais: An Elegy on the Death of John Keats’:

Winter is come and gone but grief returns with the revolving year.

Shorten also echoed the words of Abbott to those family members present, saying: “Our hearts go out to you, the people they loved. None of us will know your sorrow.”

There was a minute’s silence at the end of the motion when all MPs at the chamber stood up and bowed their heads.

The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200ER jet was carrying 239 passengers and crew on its flight from Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, to China’s capital, Beijing, but was pronounced missing in the early hours of March 8 last year.

It is still yet to be found, with search efforts still underway in the southern Indian Ocean, off the coast of Western Australia, trying to locate the airplane.

In January this year, the Malaysian government declared the disappearance of MH370 was officially an accident, with all passengers and crew presumed dead. This allowed families to receive compensation payments from the airline. (PNA/Xinhua) FFC/EBP