He added, in a report by news.com.au, that a “comprehensive report” on all aspects of the search for the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200 would be released after the search ends by Christmas Day.
“This is in addition to the search area definition and debris analysis reports,” said Chester. “These have been released periodically throughout the search.”
The plan, at this stage according to Chester, was to suspend the search “pending any further credible evidence leading to the specific location of MH370”.
Chester was ruling out the need for an Inquiry on how A$180 million was spent in the hunt for MH370. He was referring to international criticism of Fugro, contracted to carry out the search. It has been alleged the company does not have the necessary equipment and expertise for the task.
The Minister hastened to add he shared the desire of the families of the victims on the “baffling” disappearance on 8 March 2014 of MH370 with 239 people on board. He expressed confidence the search for MH370 had been carried out with “the highest standards of Australian Public Service governance and probity”.
“There has been full transparency throughout the search process,” assured Chester.
He pointed out there have been regular audits by independent auditors throughout the search. “This is in addition to the evidence provided by senior ATSB staff, responsible for the search, at regular Senate Committee hearings.”
ATSB Chief Commissioner Greg Hood has meanwhile stressed that he was prepared to face a Senate Inquiry, should one be held, on the search for MH370.
“We have nothing to hide,” said Hood. “We have kept the families completely informed about every development, every step of the way.”
The ATSB disclosed last week that it was planning on using replica flaperons, a wing part, for a revised drift modelling analysis of the southern Indian Ocean. The analysis, it’s expected, may provide the necessary evidence to carry out the search for MH370 beyond the current search zone.
Former French Naval Officer Paul-Henry Nargeolet, who helped locate Air France Flight 447 in the mid-Atlantic, is among the latest to criticise the search for MH370 by Fugro.
He said that Australian taxpayers should be “mad” to see their money “spent like that” in the search for MH370. Fugro, he alleged, did not have the necessary equipment or expertise for the search.
US-based Williamson and Associates, a firm that unsuccessfully bid for the MH370 search contract, was another Fugro critic. The firm claims that 100 per cent sea floor coverage was not being achieved by Fugro’s sonar equipment.