McCUE:
Mr Howard, you've spoken to Shane Stone. You've obviously
seen the television images. How gravely do you regard the situation
in Katherine?
PRIME MINISTER:
Very, very much so. I've been in regular touch with the Chief
Minister. It's a flood the like of which Australia has not
seen in my living memory. And the damage and the loss of property
is massive.
I'm on my way to Katherine now because I want to see first-hand
some of the devastation. I also want, by visiting the people of
Katherine, to convey directly to them the concern of the rest of
the Australian public so that they know that their fellow Australians
are concerned about them, thinking about them and anxious that all
that can be done will be done to help.
McCUE:
As I understand it, you arrive in Katherine around about 11.00am
Territory time this morning. What are the plans after that?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, I'll be inspecting the area to get a glimpse of the
extent of the flooding, for myself, and the devastation. I'll
then be going to a number of the relief centres to talk to people
whose homes have been destroyed and who've had to be evacuated.
I'll then take a helicopter journey over the Katherine area
to get yet another view. And I'll get a detailed briefing from
all of the relief organisations, the defence personnel, the police
and so forth. And I want to take this opportunity, as I will in
Katherine, to thank the defence forces of Australia, to thank the
Northern Territory Police and all the other emergency services,
the health workers. It's been a magnificent community effort
and the Chief Minister has kept me fully informed of all the on-the-ground
activity. And it's on occasions like this that the Australian
spirit of mateship and working together to confront adversity really
comes to the fore.
McCUE:
Given what's happened to Katherine and the people of Katherine
and surrounds, I guess the one thing that they really need at the
moment is something to hang on to, some kind of hope. Now, what
can the Commonwealth promise the people of Katherine?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, the hope that I give them is that the resources of the Commonwealth
be available to help. I mean, there are automatic provisions that
have already been triggered concerning the disaster relief arrangements.
There'll be a couple of other things that I'll be mentioning
when I get to Katherine that will be of tangible benefit. And the
Chief Minister and I are talking about what is needed. I just want
them to understand that all the help that should be made available
will be made available.
McCUE:
I don't want to be too crude about this, Prime Minister, but
obviously the one thing that a lot of people, particularly people
in small business, are going to need in the wake of this crisis
is some kind of financial assistance to get their businesses back
up and running. Can you promise anything in that area?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well look, I'll be talking to the Chief Minister and I'll
be saying certain things when I get to Katherine. I think that's
the right time for me to be dealing generally or dealing in more
detail with the sort of things that we can do.
McCUE:
Obviously you'll be able to provide some kind of short-term
assistance, but will there be longer term assistance for the town?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, as I say, I will be dealing with these things when I get
to the Territory. I'm on my way to the airport in Adelaide
and I think the right time for me to talk about those sorts of things
is when I'm actually in the Territory and when I'm in
Katherine.
McCUE:
Okay. I won't press the point too much but you've mentioned,
of course, the defence forces and acknowledged what a fantastic
job they've done. Is it possible, though, that the Commonwealth
might be able to provide some kind of personnel, some people to
actually come to Katherine?
PRIME MINISTER:
We will do whatever is necessary. I mean, please, let's not
argue over something...
McCUE:
I don't want to argue about it, Mr Howard.
PRIME MINISTER:
Well no, let's not disagree when we don't disagree. I've
already made it clear that the Commonwealth is prepared to provide
all the help that should be provided in a situation like this and
we'll do that. Now, I can't be any more explicit than
that. As to some of the detail, there are certain things that I
want to mention when I get to Katherine and there'll be other
things that I'll be discussing with the Chief Minister and
as a result of that I'll have further things to say. And that
is the way it should be handled. And I just want your listeners
to understand that we are absolutely determined to provide all the
sort of help that ought to be provided in a disaster such as this.
at ought to be provided in a disaster such as this.
[Ends]