PM Transcripts

STATEMvENT BY THE ACTING PRIME MINISTER DR J. F. CAIRNS
The Acting Prime Minister Dr Cairns said today
he had been in communication with the Director-General of
the Natural Disasters Organisation, Major General Stretton.
General Stretton advised Dr Cairns that in his opinion the
emergency situation in Darwin was at an end and that it was
appropriate that the administration of the city be handed back
to the normal authorities.
General Stretton advised Dr Cairns that Darwin was
secure and was functioning in an orderly way. Dr Cairns said
he had authorised General Stretton to make the arrangements
necessary to hand over to the administrator of the Northern
Territory, Mr Jock Nelson, and to make the arrangements necessary
for General Stretton and his staff to leave Darwin.
" The work of General Stretton has been a great credit
to himself and to his staff," Dr Cairns said. " A tremendous
amount has been achieved in a shorter time than could be
expected. I express to General Stretton and to his staff
the gratitude of the Australian Government and of the Australian
people." Dr Cairns said he was satisfied with General Stretton ' s
advice to him that the job of the N. D. O. had been done and that
the normal authorities could resume responsibility in Darwin.
CANBERRA 31 December 1974.