Mr LINDSAY —My question is addressed to the Minister for Defence Industry, Science and Personnel and Acting Minister for Defence. Can the minister inform the House of the compensation payable in respect of those killed in the recent Townsville Black Hawk helicopter accident and the measures being undertaken to counsel and advise those injured and the dependants of those killed?

Mrs BISHOP —I thank the member for Herbert for his question because many questions have been asked in the aftermath of the death and the loss of those 18 soldiers as to how their families are being compensated. We said at the time that we would look after those families and we will.

The compensation comes from three sources: firstly, from the military compensation scheme, with a lump sum payment of $158,000 with $52 per week payable in respect of each child, with 10 per cent for each child being held in trust until they are 18 years old; secondly, there are sums from the superannuation schemes, and there are two of those for dependants; and then there are repatriation benefits available under the VEA scheme, the veterans entitlement scheme, which is applicable to only a small number. All of those calculations are being done and, as we speak, we have a team of people going around and speaking with the dependants so they will know precisely what they are entitled to and when that money will be made available.

Other questions that have been raised include: what is the future of the tenure of the defence housing in which those families presently reside? The ordinary scheme of things provides that families, in the event of death, may remain in that housing for three months. We have doubled that period to six months and, if it is required to be longer, that period will also be made available. Where families are in urgent need of finances, money has already been made available from the army relief trust fund. There is also counselling advice which is going on and will continue to go on as any family is in need of that, together with the advice concerning compensation.

I would just like to also thank my colleague the Minister for Veterans' Affairs for his assistance in this matter. I think that the cooperation that has been had all round from people within the Defence Force is to be commended. Everybody has acted as speedily as they could to ensure that any hardship is minimised and the compassion is really there.