PM Transcripts

,, AUSTRALIA~
FOR MEDIA 2 MAY 1986
I received an urgent message last night, 1 May, from the Papua
New Guinea Prime minister, Mr Paias Wingti, seeking assistance
from the Australian Government in the provision of a Hercules
aircraft to transport urgently needed chemicals, protective
clothing and equipment for the treatment of coffee fungus rot
which has been identified in the Baiyer River area of the Western
Highlands of Papua New Guinea. The disease is threatening the
$ 300m a year coffee industry, a most important element in the PNG
economy.
The minister for Defence has approved the availability of a C130
Hercules for this purpose. The aircraft is on standby at RAAF
Richmond Air Base and will depart for Papua New Guinea as soon as
the chemicals and materials identified by PNG authorities have
been procured. It is hoped the aircraft will depart this
afternoon direct to Mount Hagen.
The Natural Disasters Organisation has responded quickly in
co-ordinating assistance required to meet this request from the
PNG Government.
I am pleased that the Government is able to assist the PNG
Government in their efforts to eradicate the coffee rust disease.
I have conveyed to Mr Wingti my personal wishes for the PNG
Government's early success in eradicating the disease.