PRETS UOFEICS DTRANSYCI, P 16-OCTOBER ' 19-79
PRIME MINISTER: DONATIONS TO KAMPUCHEA TO BE TAX DEDUCTIBLE
DOORSTOP, CANBERRA
Question Prime Minister, what prompted the decision:. to make donations
for Kampuchea tax deductible?
Prime Minister
The matter was raised by the Treasurer and the Foreign. Miniister.
You know the long-standing policy of all Australian governments
that aid from Government sources should be official aid
controlled by the Government, directed where the Government's
own bureau believes is most desirable.
We have not in any sense inhibited people from giving privately,
but it has not been tax deductible so they have borne the
tctal cost of what they have provided in terms of foreign aid.
We decided that that, in a sense traditional approach, ought
to be altered in this case because of the severity of the
problems in Kampuchea, because of the degree of harm and hurt
to tens upon tens of thousands, probably to millions, of people
in that particular country. Also of course having in mind
the history of Kampuchea over the last several years. It is
not only the Vietnamese invasion that is causing very, tragic
hardship, the activities of the Pol Pot regime before that
involved anything up to two million people losing their lives.
It is one of the greatest human tragedies. We felt this would
encourage some additional aid to go to Kamnpuchea and also felt
that the Australian people would welcome this opportunity
to participate in a very real tragedy in a very direct way,
so that people themselves could feel involved and do what
they could to help.
Question Do you have a proposal for supervision to ensure the aid
gets through.
Prime Minister
There is the Kampuchean aid fund, and we are quite sure that
the people involved in that will want to do what they can to
make sure that aid gets through to those who really need it.
So far as Kampuchea is concerned for everyone, for Governments,
for the United Nations it is a very real question and it
is a difficult-question because it is not going to suit our
purpose and it will. not suit the purpose of the Australian
people who provide funds if the aid ends up by providing
additional support to the Vietnamese invading armies. We will
need the closest possible supervision. That means the closest
that we can provide in the circumstances of Kampuchea. When the
next aircraft goes to Kampuchea, Andrew Peacock has already
made a decision that officers of his own Department and the aid
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PRESS OFFICE TRANSCRIPT
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Prime minister ( continued)
bureau should travel to Kampuchea so that we can have a
direct-input from Australian sources of the way in which
the aid is being handled. It is all a very very difficult
question. That only means we have to work harder at it.
to try and make sure that aid goes where it is most needed.
Question Prime Minister, on that tax relief question, you described
it as a breakthrough in the Parliament. Do you see it as the
forerunner of breaking through to allow people who make donations
to all overseas aid
Prime Minister
We made the decision in a limited way. It is for this
financial year. It is for the Kamnpuchea relief fund. It is
obviously going to throw into debate the whole question of
Australia's foreign aid, but we felt that we ought to make
an exception in relation to Kampuchea for the reasons that
I have outlined.
Question But nothing on Freedom From Hunger or anything at this stage?
Prime Minister
No. At this stage the decision is strictly for Kampuchea,
for Kampuchean relief and it is restricted at this time
for aid provided through this financial year. If people think
that that is too limited, that it should have been wider, that
at least is a very considerable break with the practice of
some decades. I believe it will have very widespread and
wholehearted Australian support.