PM Transcripts

FCR PRESS: P. M. No. 94/ I968
NEW SOUTH WALES BUSHFHIES
Statement _ by the Prime Minister, Mr John Gortoin
This afternoon the Premier of New South Wales
advised me that his Government had contributed a further $ 50, 000 to the
joint Commonwealth/ State scheme for the relief of personal harc~ hp and
distress in the New Scuth Wales bushfiresi In accordance with what I said
in the House yesterday, the Commonwealth readily agreed it would itself
match this contribution with an additional $ 50, 000 to the relief scheme.
As is usual in disasters of this nature, the armed
services have assisted with all means at their disposal to alleviate the
effects of the fires. For more than the last week troops, at the request
of the Bushf ire Control Organisation, have maintained a permanent roundthe
clock watch in the threatened areas. When the crisis struck yesterday,
the Air Force made 350 men available to the bushfire control and police
in the Glenbrook area. These ground parties were backed up with water
tankers, fire beaters and knapsack spray equipment. The Air Force
received no requests for aircraft to assist but it has had a C130 aircraft
patrolling the Newcastle and Sydney districts on fire spotting duties. This
aircraft fed back to ground control the intelligence about the fires gained
from the air. Mr Willis, the Chief Secretary of New South Wales,
was in touch with me today after an inspection of the disaster area. He
asked whether the Atmy could provide six fire tankers and crews to be
held at standby alert, two bulldozers with crews, a mobile canteen, a
generating set arnd two arc lights for night work. I readily agreed with
this request and the equipment and personnel are now on their way to the
area. CA NBERRA
29 November 1968