FOR PRESS P. M. No 20/ 1970
COMMONWEALTH CYCLONE ASSISTANCE
There has been an exchange of telegrams between Queensland arnd
the Commonwealth today in relation to Federal Government assistance the
wake of Cyclone Ada.
The following telegram was received from the Queensland Premier,
Mr Bjelke-Petersen " FOLLOWING MY PERSONAL INSPECTION OF CYCLONE ADA
DEVASTATION AND OFFICIAL REPORTS rIT IS APPARENT THE EFFECTS OF
THIS CATASTROPHE ARE OF MAJOR PROPORTIONS AND THE RESULTANT
AMOUNT OF PERSONAL DISTRESS AND HARDSHIP OF A MUCH LARGER
SCALE THAN IN RECENT SIMILAR DISASTERS. I AM SURE THIS WILL BE
CONFIRMED BY YOUR NAVY MINISTER AND OTHER COMMONWEALTH
SOURCES. MY GOVERNMENT GREATLY APPRECIATES AND ACCEPTS
YOUR OFFER OF DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR ASSISTANCE CONVEYED YOU
TELEGRAM OF 19TH JANUARY AND I WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL TF YOU
WOULD URGENTLY CONFIRM THAT THE SCOPE OF THIS ASSISTANCE WILL
INCLUDE IN ADDITION TO PERSONAL DISTRESS RELIEF, ESSENTIAL
REPAIRS TO HOUSES AND THE REPAIRING OR REPLACING OF ESSENTIAL
ITEMS OF FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT TO THE EXTENT NECESSARY
TO PROVIDE REASONABLE LIVING CONDITIONS FOR THOSE WHO DUE
TO LACK OF ADEQUATE FINANCIAL RESOURCES WOULD OTHERWISE
SUFFER PERSONAL HARDSHIP. I WOULD ADD THAT THE DAMAGE
SUSTAINED BY GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL AUTHORITY BUILDINGS AND
INSTALLATIONS APPEARS TO BE COMPARABLE TO THAT OF THE .967
NORTH QUEENSLAND FLOODS AND THE 1958 BOWEN CYCLONE AND
CONSIDER AMPLE JUSTIFICATION EXISTS FOR YOUR GOVERNMENT TO
EXTEND SIMILAR FINANCIAL AID IN THIS REGARD ON THIS OCCASION.
I WOULD STRESS HOWEVER THAT URGENT CCNFIRMATION OF HOUSE
REPAIR ASSISTANCE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. RE MY SECOND
REQUEST IF ANY DETAILS OR INFORMATION ARE REQUIRED TO ASSIST
YOUR CONSIDERATION I SHALL BE HAPPY TO FURNISH THEM PROMPTLY." / 2
This is the reply sent-by the Prime Minister, Mr. Gorton, late this
afternoon " THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT WHICH CONFORMS WITIH
REPORT GIVEN TO ME BY MINISTER FOR NAVY.
I CONFIRM THAT COMMONWEALTH ASSISTANCE OFFERED IN
MY TELEGRAM OF 19 JANUARY FOR THE RELIEF OF DISTRESS INCLUDES
MAKING ESSENTIAL REPAIRS TO HOUSES AND REPAIRING OR REPLACING
ESSENTIAL ITEMS OF FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT TO THE EXTENT
NECESSARY TO PROVIDE REASONABLE LIVING CONDITIONS FOR THOSE
WHO, DUE TO LACK OF ADEQUATE FINANCIAL RESOURCES, WOULD
OTHERWISE SUFFER HARDSHIP.
TO ASSIST CONSIDERATION OF YOUR REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE
IN THE RESTORATION OF PUBLIC ASSETS, PLEASE ADVISE AS SOON AS
P OSSIBLE ESTIMATED COST OF THE DAMAGE."
CANBERRA 22 January 1970