Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee (part 1 of 2) — hearing of 19 June 2026: transcript & video · Polyfact

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Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee (part 1 of 2)

18 June 2026

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Contents updated on 21 Oct 2026

The chair formally opens the MRH‑90 Taipan accident inquiry, sets procedural rules and protections, and hears Major Lamb’s opening statement outlining his Plan Palisade role, Dassar airworthiness framework, and early concerns about Army Aviation Command’s interference with the designated flight‑test organisation and DFSB’s choice of adviser.

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Opening of inquiry and Army flight‑test mandate

16:26

Chair: opening, condolence and procedural directions

16:26

Lamb: Plan Palisade, Dassar framework and Army drift

19:40

Technical evidence on HMSD/TopOwl and spatial disorientation risk

25:16

Shoebridge Q&A: Plan Palisade and HMSD/TopOwl system

25:16

Spatial disorientation risk and accident conditions

31:52

Roberts and others: test pilot culture, stopping tests and motive

39:25

Systemic failures, DFSB integrity and accountable WHS leadership

48:34

DFSB investigation integrity, corruption allegations and WHS

48:34

Cadell: bypassing FTOs, chain of command and MRH‑90 limits

58:15

Pilot awareness, risk registers and erosion of trust

01:05:36

Ignored flight conditions, accountable manager and misuse of op eval

01:17:03

Accident foretold, “cabal” and endorsement of Wilson

01:27:17

CDPP and Comcare — WHS investigation, briefs and limitation periods

03:10:17

CDPP: opening, limitation periods and role

03:10:17

Comcare: investigation scope, briefs to CDPP and ongoing options

03:35:25

Defence/DFSB safety framework, investigation method and SME independence

04:41:36

Defence/DFSB: safety framework and DFSB report overview

04:41:36

DFSBA process, SME Norton and conflict of interest challenge

04:48:13

Causation of Bushman 83 accident and HMSD training adequacy

05:18:47

Accident sequence, spatial disorientation and HMSD role disputed

05:18:47

Lynch, airworthiness compliance, pilot training and disclosure of faults

05:32:38

Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee (part 1 of 2)

18 June 2026

Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee Fri, 19 Jun 2026 Australian Parliament

16:19 - 16:25

Speaker 19

Morning, both. Nice to see you. Thank you for coming. Good morning. Thank you.

Good see you. Thanks for having see you. I

16:26 - 17:23

Speaker 33

declare open this public hearing of the senate legal and constitutional affairs references committee inquiry into the MRH 90 Taipan helicopter incident. I would like to commence today's proceedings by acknowledging the courage, dedication, and the ultimate sacrifice made by captain Daniel Leon, lieutenant Maxwell Nguyen. Nguyen. Is that right? Nguyen.

Warrant officer class two Joseph Laycock and corporal Alexander Nags. On behalf of the committee, I extend my sincere condolences to the families, friends, and fellow servicemen and women of these young men for their tragic loss. The committee's proceedings today will follow the program as circulated. There are public proceedings being broadcast live in Parliament House and via the web. I remind senators of their obligations under the behavior code for Australian parliamentarians to treat witnesses with dignity, courtesy, fairness, and respect.

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