PM Transcripts

FOR MEDIA Monday, 28 March 1983
The Prime Minister has written today to the Premier of
Western Australia, Mr Burke, indicating the Government's
concern at the damage and loss of life caused by widespread
flooding in the Shires of Kimberley West and Halls Creek
in the North-West of the State.
The Commonwealth has agreed to the Premier's proposal to
implement flood relief measures under the Natural
Disaster Relief Arrangements providing grants for relief
of personal hardship and distress, grants for the
restoration of public assets and, if necessary, concessional
loans to pastoralists.
The Natural Disaster Relief Arrangements incorporate a
range of standard relief measures which State Governments
may invoke in response to major natural disasters in the
knowledge that Commonwealth assistance will be forthcoming
on a $ 3 Commonwealth to $ 1 State basis, once the State has
met its base expenditure under the Arrangements.
Mr Hawke also advised the Premier that the Commonwealth is
prepared to give prompt and sympathetic consideration to any
request for additional relief measures, should this prove
necessary following an inspection of the affected areas
by the State Minister for Emergency Services.