Can he confirm that Australian Defence Force personnel will not receive basic instruction on the preservation of the scene of a ‘notifiable incident’, as defined by the current Defence Instruction (General), until December 2008; if so, what is the reason for this delay.

No. Since August 2006, all Australian Defence Force (ADF) members deploying overseas on operations have received training on incident scene initial action and preservation. This training focuses on what actions any ADF member can take at an incident scene, where the operational circumstances allow, that will secure the scene and preserve any potential evidence at the scene, prior to the arrival of police or inquiry personnel.

As a result of the recommendations of the Board of Inquiry into the death of Private Jacob Kovco, the Chief of the Defence Force has directed the Service Chiefs to examine the introduction of similar training at their individual Service induction and/or initial employment courses.

The Services are to complete Training Needs Analysis on this requirement by the end of June 2007 and revised training packages are to be implemented at the appropriate training establishments no later than February 2008.