Mr Bevis asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 14 August 2003:

(1) Is the Minister (a) aware of, and (b) able to confirm, revelations that (i) United States Air Force (USAF) combat pilots are supplied with and/or required to take amphetamines when on lengthy missions, (ii) that USAF pilots regularly used such drugs in the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and (iii) that the USAF pilots who bombed Canadian troops, killing 4 Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan, had taken such drugs which were supplied to them by the USAF.

(2) What action has the Minister taken to ensure the USAF pilots operating in Australia are free from such drugs and what assurances can the Minister give that, in the future, USAF pilots operating in Australia will be free from such drugs.

(3) Can the Minister give an assurance that pilots in the Australian Defence Forces are free from all such drugs, particularly when on duty.

Mrs Vale (Minister for Veterans' Affairs) —The Minister for Defence has provided the following answer to the honourable member's question:

(1) (a) and (b) These questions should be directed to the United States Air Force (USAF).

(2) USAF pilots posted on exchange to Australian Defence Force (ADF) flying squadrons follow the operational policies of the ADF. As the ADF does not have a policy allowing the operational use of amphetamines by aircrew, USAF pilots operating ADF aircraft do not use such drugs.

(3) The ADF does not endorse the use of amphetamines. The ADF rather adopts a range of other counter fatigue measures.