TRANSCRIPT OF NEWS CONFERENCE, RAAF BASE FAIRBAIRN, 27
APRIL 1990
E 0 E PROOF ONLY
JOURNALIST: Are you going to inspect the flood damage?
PM: Well I don't know about that but I'll certainly be
talking as soon as I can to Mr Keating who has been up
there. JOURNALIST: Are you concerned though? Have you been
receiving briefings on the trip?
PM: Yes I have been receiving constant briefings, that's
right, yes. As I said before, I express my deepest
sympathy to all those who have been adversely affected by
them and I've been kept constantly briefed and now that
I'm back I'll continue to be informed and will make the
appropriate decisions.
JOURNALIST: Are you worried that a lot of people aren't
covered by insurance policies?
PM: Well I want to get fully briefed on just what
exactly the position is.
JOURNALIST: Just on Gallipoli Mr Hawke, were you
surprised by the number of young people that made the
effort to go to the celebrations?
PM: I don't know if surprised is the right word because
we'd had indications there would be a lot there but it
was indeed very gratifying to see so many young people
there and the link between the generations was
magnificent. The old veterans, an average age I suppose
of about 95, and the rapport between them and the young
6eople was magnificent.
JOURNALIST: What was the highlight of the trip?
PM: The Dawn Service and the service at Lone Pine and
then there was a very touching moment of course at the
luncheon when the two old veterans, 102 year old Turkish
veteran and old Jack, one of our characters, swapped
uniforms and boots and shook hands and then kissed one
another on the cheeks that was very moving.
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JOURNALIST: How are the veterans standing up to the
trip? PM: Remarkably well. We had a lot to do with them on
the day and we were watching them closely right through
from the service and breakfast and lunch. One just
wonders how they'll be coming back, whether it will be
some sort of let down. But they are truly remarkable men
and may I also pay an unqualified tribute to the minders
who were just superb in the way they looked after them.
JOURNALIST: Mr Hawke, have you heard much about the
large turnouts on ANZAC Day in Australia
PM: I read the reports, yes, and said they were very,
very large turnouts and I was very pleased to see this
and if in any small way the visit of the veterans that we
facilitated and this whole pilgrimage, if that's helped
in any way to rekindle an understanding of Gallipoli in
1915 and what it meant for Australia then we'll all be
very pleased to have been associated with that.
JOURNALIST: Mr Hawke, do you think some of the ANZAC
spirit has been shown up though, there are a number of
appeals going for flood victims, there are sporting club
launching appeals. Do you think that shows some of the
ANZAC spirit?
PM: Well I hope so because if there was one message that
came out of Gallipoli in 1915 and the spirit of ANZAC was
as I said at Lone Pine, it was the understanding and the
dependence of one another, the men there knew that they
depended on each other for their very survival and I hope
that in Australia today we have some of that sort of
understanding. JOURNALIST: Mr Hawke, what's your response to India's
anger over the Mirage sale?
PM: I'm not surprised that there is some feeling. But
of course the facts are that the availability of the
Mirages was known to everyone. India themselves could've
bid for them if they were interested. They won't be
available to Pakistan until towards the end of the year
and if, and heaven forbid that that were the case, that
there were to be conflict in the near future the
a7ircraft, the availability of the aircraft, would be
reviewed. ends
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