PM Transcripts

PRIME MINISTER
TRANSCRIPT OF SPEECH AT DEPARTURE OF RAN CONTRIBUTION TO
GULF MULTINATIONAL FORCE, HMAS DARWIN, FLEET BASE/ GARDEN
ISLAND, SYDNEY, 13 AUGUST 1990
E O E PROOF ONLY
Gentlemen of this ship, ladies and gentlemen. This
is not an occasion for a long speech or high flying
rhetoric. I'm here to perform a very simple job and that
is to say to the men of HMAS Darwin who are leaving
Australia to undertake an extremely important mission
Australia has important interests in the Gulf. Also
it's important for Australia that the world understands
big countries cannot invade small neighbours and get away
with it.
Your mission is also important for the world and not just
for Australia because if the end of the Cold War is in
fact to usher in an era of peace then the world at large
must be able to show that it is capable of giving effect
to the principles of the United Nations Charter.
Australia is entrusting this important mission to very
few people, to some 600 men on these three ships that are
sailing. You are the inheritors as you know of a great
tradition of the Royal Australian Navy and of the
Australian armed forces who time after time have shown
their commitment, their bravery and toughness.
I am proud and I know that all Australians are proud that
we are able to entrust this mission to such a well
qualified force.
I hope and trust that your families will share with us
this sense of pride and that will help the balance of
what I know must be the pangs of parting.
This is a situation where you are going to do an
important job and important jobs are very rarely easy.
But we know that you will do it well and you leave with
the best wishes of all Australians.
Bon voyage. 06-