PRIME MINISTER PRESS STATEMENT NO. 429
7 January, 1975
OFFER OF INDONESIAN ASSISTANCE TO DARWIN
The Prime Minister's office today released the
text of the Prime Minister's response to President Soeharto' s
offer of Indonesian assistance t-o Darwin.
" Thank you very much indeed for your kind message of
sympathy about the Darwin disaster. It was the worst natural
disaster we have suffered in our history. The prompt expression
of the sympathy of the people and government of Indonesia will
be long remembered by those in Australia most affected by the
disaster. I have been informed by our Charge d'Affaires in
Jakarta * of Indonesia's generous offer of two C-130 aircraft to
assist with the emergency operation. I personally very much
appreciate this gesture coming from our closest and largest
neighbour. As I understand has been explained to your
foreign ministry the immediate evacuation crisis in Darwin is
now over, and with it, the immediate need for additional
airlift capacity. It is possible that the demand for aircraft could
0 increase again as the reconstruction phase gets underway, and,
if so, I hope that we will be able to avail ourselves of your
most helpful offer which I deeply appreciate. E. G. Whitlam."
CANBERRA, A. C. T.
Whitlam, Gough
Period of Service: 05/12/1972 - 11/11/1975
Find more information on Whitlam, Gough on the:
Release Date:
07/01/1975
Release Type:
Media Release
Transcript ID:
3582
Document:
00003582.pdf
1 Page(s)
Released by:
- Whitlam, Edward Gough
OFFER OF INDONESIAN ASSISTANCE TO DARWIN
3582