Fed: Labor says changes need to be made to repatriation

AAP General News (Australia)
04-28-2006
Fed: Labor says changes need to be made to repatriation

CANBERRA, April 28 AAP - Incompetence from all involved in the repatriation of Private
Jake Kovco resulted in the wrong body being returned to Australia, Labor says.

Opposition defence spokesman Robert McClelland condemned the use of a private contractor
to transport the body of the dead soldier, describing it as "quite improper".

The family of Pte Jake Kovco - who died from an accidental gunshot wound in Baghdad
last Friday - has condemned the federal government and military officials after his body
was left in Kuwait and a casket containing the body of a foreign soldier was sent to Melbourne.

The family also is angry over Defence Minister Brendan Nelson changing the government's
original story that Pte Kovco's pistol discharged while he was cleaning it.

Mr McClelland said the case showed there was a need for major changes to the repatriation
process.

"It just seems incompetent from all around but certainly quite improper, we believe,
for a deceased soldier to have his remains handled by a private contractor," he told ABC
Radio.

Mr McClelland said Australian soldiers should be repatriated by the Australian government.

"They should be bought home by their own," he said.

"They're entitled to that. I think any serving soldier would expect that would be the case now.

"Any soldier would expect that to be the case now."

He said people should not speculate on the cause of Pte Kovco's death and should instead
await the outcome of the inquiry.

"I think for a number of reasons people shouldn't be making prejudicial statements
to what occurred," Mr McClelland said.

"I understand the family's angst but I think there are a number of factors here where
people will be able to put their own cases and test evidence.

"In terms of the cause of the death that will be the subject of an inquiry. I actually
think it's important for people to await the outcome of the inquiry," he said.

AAP klw/rj/bwl

KEYWORD: KOVCO MCCLELLAND

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