An inquest has opened into the death of Harold Holt, the Australian Prime Minister who disappeared while swimming 40 years ago.

Holt had stopped for the dip on his way to see Alec Rose, the British solo circumnavigator who was calling into Port Phillip Bay near Melbourne in his yacht Lively Lady.

Because no body was ever found an inquest could not be held in accordance with federal law. Now the law has been changed and an inquest can take place without a body.