Media Release

THE PARENTS of missing Mount Isa vet Lukas Orda, KAP Leader Robbie Katter and Kennedy MP Bob Katter say the Federal Government’s response to pleas for a search resumption for the 40 missing crew of the Gulf Livestock 1 ship that capsized off the coast of Japan, has been simply not good enough.

The Japanese Coast Guard announced on Wednesday that they had scaled back a search for the missing crew to regular patrols, and the Orda family said they had not received any detail that a search had been escalated again.

Lukas’ father, Ulrich Orda, said it was with utter disappointment that – despite widespread media reports yesterday, a pledge of the two Australian families involved, many politicians, organisations and already more than 30,000 signatories on a petition - we have not received a note that a large scale search with dedicated search assets has been commenced.

“We beg and urge you, please recommence the search,” Mr Orda said.
“If the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Japanese Coast Guard or other organisations believe that this request is unreasonable, please let us know why. We are desperate to understand.

“In the early stages of the search the Japanese Coast Guard were stating what assets were involved in the search for the missing crew, but now they are not stating anything.

“You would think that the two storms would have displaced the life rafts and life boat by a large extent. The area that was previously searched is likely to have been the wrong one and too small. A larger search with international assets is what is needed.”

KAP Leader, Robbie Katter said a good part of the Australian public was now watching the Federal Government and looking to them for answers, and trying to cover up the fact that there is no active search does not cut it.

“Again we plead with the Australian Prime Minister to get on the phone to the relevant authorities in Japan, as well as other international leaders, and recommence an extended search for these people,” he said.

“Four life rafts and a life boat are still unaccounted for and we must not give up hope. A large-scale, international search must be commenced immediately and carried out for at least another 10 days.”

KENNEDY MP, Bob Katter said the Federal Government’s response had fallen well short of the community’s expectations.

“Australians do not give up in these circumstances. We must make every effort to bring these men home.”
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