Skip to playerSkip to main content
  • 2 years ago
Several soldiers tasked with preparing parachutes for military exercises are facing possible removal from the army after testing positive for prohibited substances. The ABC has reported that six positive drug tests were discovered just days before a training jump that resulted in the death of Special Forces member, Lance Corporal Jack Fitzgibbon. However, the Defence Department maintains that those who prepared Lance Corporal Fitzgibbon's equipment tested negative for any substances. Defence correspondent Andrew Greene has more on this developing story.

Category

📺
TV
Transcript
00:00 When soldiers leap, they're putting faith in specialist colleagues on the ground.
00:11 What we do here is everything to do with personnel parachutes specifically.
00:15 The Australian Army's parachute riggers are a small but highly trained cohort.
00:20 Pack and maintain the parachutes for the trainees.
00:24 Two months ago Lance Corporal Jack Fitzgibbon was killed in a training jump at the Richmond
00:29 RAAF base.
00:31 Now the ABC's revealed just days before the fatal jump, six members of the Sydney-based
00:38 Army unit responsible for preparing parachutes there tested positive to drugs.
00:45 This is of concern.
00:47 I can't comment on the detail because clearly the ADF's investigations are ongoing.
00:55 A total of four investigations, including one led by the NSW Coroner, are examining
01:01 the circumstances of the tragedy.
01:03 But Defence has confirmed that the parachute riggers who packed and checked Jack Fitzgibbon's
01:09 equipment did not test positive.
01:12 Army's also continuing to provide comprehensive support to Jack Fitzgibbon's family, including
01:18 Joel Fitzgibbon, its former minister during the Rudd government.
01:23 My heart goes out to them at this time.
01:25 This will be a difficult day for them on top of the difficult days and weeks that they've
01:33 gone through.
01:34 The Fitzgibbon family has not responded to the revelations of positive drug tests at
01:39 Army's 176 Air Dispatch Squadron.
01:43 But those close to Joel Fitzgibbon insist the former Defence Minister will work tirelessly
01:49 to ensure his old department properly investigates his son's death.
01:53 [BLANK_AUDIO]
Be the first to comment
Add your comment

Recommended