Foreign Minister Julie Bishop urges Malaysia Airlines to meet its obligations under the Montreal Convention in relation to compensation in a timely manner.
PETALING JAYA: Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has met her Malaysian counterpart to urge him to expedite compensation for victims of Malaysia Airlines flights MH17 and MH370.
The Australian said Bishop had a lengthy discussion with Foreign Affairs Minister Anifah Aman on Tuesday on the welfare of the affected families while in Kuwait, where world leaders met to discuss strategies to defeat Islamic State.
“The Australian government is aware that a number of families of Australian victims are seeking compensation from Malaysia Airlines,” Bishop said.
“We urge Malaysia Airlines to meet its obligations under the Montreal Convention in relation to compensation in a timely manner.”
It has been more than 3½ years since 298 people — including 38 Australian citizens and residents — died after MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine while travelling from Amsterdam in The Netherlands to Kuala Lumpur.
A coronial inquest in New South Wales, investigating the deaths of six victims who lived in the state, found all died “as a result of a high altitude aircraft disintegration caused by the detonation of a warhead”.
Many families who lost loved ones remain locked in legal battles for compensation, the newspaper reported.
Julia Robson, a close family friend of Tim Lauschet who lost his mother, Gabriele, on MH17, said prolonged legal action was taking its toll on the son.
She said Lauschet, 25, was forced to sell his parents’ home after being laden with a large mortgage after his mother’s death and he had been emotionally affected.
She said there had been promises of support from different bodies and calls from politicians for a speedy resolution to the legal disputes in the past.
At least six other families — the Oreshkins, Lees, Horders, O’Briens, Guards and Rizks — are also seeking compensation in Australian courts.
Bishop said yesterday Australia was “resolute” that groups responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 “be held to account and is supporting prosecution efforts in The Netherlands”.
Australia has agreed to prosecute those responsible for the murder of those on board MH17.
A spokeswoman for Clyde & Co, which is acting for Malaysia Airlines in their court proceedings, said it could not comment on confidential client matters.
MH370 disappeared with 239 people on board on March 8, 2014, on a scheduled flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
A number of the relatives of Australian victims have settled their cases while several are still battling for information and documents in their bid for compensation.
A new search has been mounted off the coast of Australia to look for the plane’s wreckage.
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