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PRIME MINISTERI
FOR MEDIASATURDAY, 19 FEBRUARY 1983
The attached letter has been sent to the Premier of
South Australia, Mr Bannon, -today.
PRimE MINSTER C ANDE RRA
19FEB193
My dear Pr er,
I refer to our telephone conversation this evening
and attach the text of a press announcement I am
making about the initial financial assistance the
Commonwealth proposes to provide to South Australia
and Victoria.
The Commonwealth, of course, stands ready to give
urgent and sympathetic consideration to measures
your Government may wish to propose to restore
and rebuild communities, in addition to those already
provided for under the Natural Disasters Relief
Arrangements. As initial instalments of Commonwealth financial
assistance under those arrangements, I propose that
$ 6 million be provided to South Australia and I have
also offered to the Premier of Victoria an advance of
million against the Commonwealth's final
contributions under the NDRA.
The Commonwealth is also prepared to extend categories
of assistance beyond the core measures under the NORA.
Details of these extensions are set out in the attached
press release.
It will, no doubt, be some days before a full assessment
of the damage suffered in South Australia will be clear
and I have asked officers of my Department to keep in
close contact with their counterparts in South Australia
and Victoria so that decisions can be taken expeditiously
to aid in the restoration and rebuilding of communities.
Yours sincerely,
( MI~ aiClm Fraser)
The Ron. John Bannon, MRA,
Premier of South Australia,
Parliament House,
ADELAIDE S. A. 5000