MH17 Family Support Package Grant Guidelines

Overview

On 5 July 2017 the Australian Government announced Australia’s support for the Dutch National Prosecution of four individuals for their alleged roles in the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17. To support the participation of the Australian MH17 victims’ Next of Kin in this prosecution, the Australian Government allocated $1.2 million (over four years) in the 2018-19 Federal Budget for financial assistance for Next of Kin to travel to The Hague to observe the trial.  The MH17 Family Support Package was intended to run over four years from 2018-19 to 2020-2021. The 2021-22 Budget allocated an additional $1.1 million to extend the program to the 2022-23 financial year, increasing the number of Next of Kin who can access the funding to four per victim, and includes a contribution towards quarantine costs. The objective of the Family Support Package is:  To provide assistance with travel expenses for the following to observe or participate in the Dutch National Prosecution relating to the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17: a) Next of Kin of Australians on that flight; and b) Where applicable (see Section 6.1), nominated support persons of Next of Kin of Australians on that flight where only one Next of Kin of an Australian victim submits a claim.