PROAT MIASTER PRESS STATEMENT NO. 478
2 April 1975
AUSTRALIAN AID TO REFUGEES IN INDO-CHINA
The Prime Minister, and Actirkg Minister for Foreign
Affairs, Mr Whitlam, announced today a further contribution
of $ A 1 million for relief work among refugees in Indo-China.
He said that this sum had been offered to the United
Nations HighCojmissioner. for Refugees It was additional
to the $ 200,000 announced on 28 March for the Indo-China operational
group of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The grants would assist U. N. H. C. R. relief rand
rehabilitation projects for refugees in all parts of Indo-China.
U. N. H. C. R. was one of the international humanitarian
organisations qualified to assist refugees on both sides of
lines of military control in Indo-China. The funds could be
used by U. N. H. C. R. to purchase food, medical supplies and other
commodities if necessary from Australia.
Australian aid for the activities of these organisations
in Indo-China during the current financial year now totalled
$ 2.35 million. He had earlier decided to make available seven Hercules ctransport
aircraft together with other aircraft currently based at
Butterworth for use in an humanitarian role in Vietnam.
The task of the aircraft was to ferry supplies and
materials intended to meet immediate and critical human needs.
He had also given approval for the use of R. A. A. F.
aircraft for the transport from Vietnam of orphans for whom
adoption formalities had been completed in Vietnam and
Australia, and for whom prospective Australian parents were
waiting. He had asked for the co-operation of the State
Premiers in speeding up the processes for admission of these
children to Australia. ( See Attachment) / 2
-2-
As he had indicated on 28 March, the Government was
keeping the situation under continuing review and he
believed that further generous Australian help could be
expected if such were necessary.
Over and beyond these immediate humanitarian
actions, the Australian Government reaffirmed its
commitment entered into within weeks of assuming office
over two years ago to contribute generously to the
reconstruction of post-war Indo-China.
ATTACHMENT Text of a message sent by the Prime Minister earlier
today to each State Premier:
" You will be aware of my Government's concern that
Australia should play its part in helping to alleviate
the hardship and suffering now being endured by the people
of South Vietnam.
The adoption by Australian parents of numbers of
Vietnamese children has been a note-worthy aspect of our
past contribution to the relief of this suffering in the
past and I should therefore be grateful if in the light
of the rapid escalation of the human problems in South
Vietnam in recent days you could now ask your regulatory
authorities to make special efforts to finalise as
expeditiously as possible decisions on applications by
residents of your State for permission to adopt
Vietnamese children.
The Australian Government for its part will endeavour
to facilitate the entry of such children for whom approved
parents are selected and who:, South Vietnamese authorities
have granted authority to leave.
E. G. WHITLAM"
CANBERRA, A. C. T.