PRIM AMTAINISTE
TRANSCRIPT OF' SPEECH AT DEPARTURE OF HMAS SYDNEY, GARDEN
ISLAND, SYDNEY, 12 NOVEMBER 1990
E OE PROOF ONLY
Commander Cordner, members of the company of HMAS Sydney
and ladies and gentlemen.
I'm here on behalf of the Government and the people
of Australia to give you, members of the ship's company,
a very simplE-message. That is this, to wish you bon
voyage and a safe return.
I want you to know that, overwhelmingly, the people of
Australia, and indeed of the world at large, are united
in their conviction that the invasion and annexation of
Kuwait by Iraq is an unacceptable action in terms of the
maintenance of a reasonable world. It's something that
cannot be all. owed to stand. I, and the Government, and
the people of this country, and indeed the people of the
world, overwhelmingly, have the hope that this action of
Saddam Hussei~ n will be brought to an end by peaceful
means. Indeed, I want you to know, members of this ship's
company, thait this mission on which you're embarking now
is the most important part of trying to give effect to
that hope of a peaceful resolution of this dispute. For
indeed the enforcement of the sanctions that have been
imposed, under the United Nations, remain the strongest
hope for bringing about a peaceful resolution to this
situation. And indeed, you would know and you would,
like I am, be proud of the way in which your predecessors
the Darwin arid Adelaide have been over there doing a
magnificent -job in playing their part with others in
imposing this embargo successfully. They have, as I've
said, done their ships, -done.. this great Navy and they've
done this great nation considerable credit in their
service. And I know, my friends, that when you arrive
there you will do the same thing.
I repeat, that it is a matter of pride for all of us in
this country that we have such fine ships, that we have
such great crews and great leadership. That we're able
to call upon as a nation, at this time, when we as
Australia seek to play our part in ensuring that we're
going to have a world which can be a peaceful world where
4 2.
small nations: are going to be able to live in peace and
sure that they are not going to be taken over by
aggressive neighbours. Those are fundamentally important
principles and they are principles that we have to be
prepared to make commitments to achieve.
So that, my friends, is the message, as I say, that I
bring to you on behalf of the Government, across the
whole political spectrum. Dr Hewson's here, Mr Greiner,
this is the whole of Australia governments, opposition,
all of the people.
I want you to know that you leave Australia and go on
your mission with the wholehearted support of all of us
and you take our wishes for a safe voyage and a safe
return. ends