PM Transcripts

MR ' ll
11U TA L I(
PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 19 JANUARY 1978
VICTORIAN BUSHFIRES
JOINT STATEM4ENT BY THE PRIM MINISTER, AND THE ACTING PREMIER OF VICTORIA
mhe Prim Minister and the Acti-ng Premi-er, DMr Thompson, indicated that
their Governments had agreed on a number of measures designed
to assist those harmed in the Victorian bushfires.
The Prime Minister and Acting Premier indicated that in additio~ n
to the core measures the Commonwealth and State Government would assisl
towards the cost of replacing damaged fencing, abutting, roads,
railways, and water frontages and game reserves on the
same basis as was provided in the 1977 bushfires in western
Victoria. Assistance will also be provided towards the cost of replacing
residential housing on the same basis as was done in 1977.
The Commonwealth has agreed to tL-he 50 percent subsidy being paid
towards the cost of transporting saleable stock to local meatworks.
The two Governments have also agreed concessional loans could be
available rfor-the reestablishment of camp installations.
These measures are in addition to the normal core measures which
are a standard part of the national disaster arrangements agreed to
between the States and the Commonwealth. They have been developed
as a result of experience with the fires in Western Victoria of
1977.
The Prime Minister and Acting Premier indicated that the disaster
organisation had been working well and with great credit to everyone
involved.
They paid a special tribute to the outstanding work of the voluntary
firefighters of the Country Fire Authority, without whose+
efforts the damage, disaster and hardship would have been so much+
greater,