AUSTRALIA’s new Federal Transport Minister thinks it’s “tragic” the MH370 search is taking so long but he’s not offering to extend the operation if the plane’s not found by July.

Darren Chester, who has taken over responsibility for aviation from the retiring Warren Truss, said he had received a full briefing on the search since assuming the portfolio last week.

He said the extraordinarily difficult operation was being taken very seriously and it was his intention to complete the agreed search area and then reassess.

“In the absence of any further credible evidence that will be the end of the search process,” Minister Chester said.

“We are searching in some of the most inhospitable waters in the world.

“It’s tragic for the families involved that it’s taking so long and it’s a difficult process and I’ve got nothing but empathy and sympathy for the families who are waiting for an outcome.”

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He said the plane’s disappearance was a “mystery people want solved”.

“We’re doing our absolute best to try to solve that for them,” said Mr Chester.

“It is a difficult process, it’s been a long and arduous task. It hasn’t been easy at any stretch.”

Despite suggestions the Australian Transport Safety Bureau may redefine the parameters of the search zone to accommodate the possibility the Boeing 777 was “glided” into the ocean, the Minister said that was not the plan.

“The current search area is the only search area we are considering at the moment,” he said.

“I don’t think there’s any need for criticism (of the search) by any stretch. It is time for understanding for the families who are waiting for news and also an appreciation of the difficulty of the task.”

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As the second anniversary of the plane’s disappearance draws near, the spotlight on the search has intensified.

Four vessels are now at working in the “priority zone” in the southern Indian Ocean, trying to scour the remaining 30,000 square kilometres of seabed before the weather deteriorates.

To date, more than 85,000 square kilometres have been searched but no trace of the Boeing 777 has been found.

The only debris confirmed as coming from MH370 was a flaperon, that washed ashore on Reunion Island last July.

Since then, it has been in the hands of French investigators who are examining how it may have come apart from the aircraft, and what part of the ocean it might have come from.

It is unclear when they might report on their findings.

The Malaysian Government is due to deliver another report on the mystery on March 8.