PM Transcripts

FOR PRESS 19 JANUARY 1979
EXTENSION OF APPOINTMENT MR JUSTICE FOX
The Prime Minister announced today that the term of appointment
of Mr Justice Fox as Australia's Ambassador-at-Large on
nuclear proliferation and safeguards matters had been extended.
The Prime Minister said that, since M1r Justice Fox's
appointment as Ambassador-at-Large in November 1977, he had
conveyed the Australian Government's concern for a stronger
world non-proliferation regime to many countries and he had
made an important contribution to international understanding
in this area.
Mr Justice Fox was to have returned to his judicial duties
in the next few weeks but the Government had prevailed upon
him to agree to defer his return to the Bench to enable
him to further progress the cause of international nuclear
non-proliferation. The Prime Minister paid tribute to
Mr Justice Fox for being prepared to sacrifice his own
personal preferences in the national interest.
The Prime Minister stated that Mr Justice Fox will be
returning to Australia shortly for consultations with the
Minister for Foreign Affairs and himself.