EMBARGOED UNTIL 4: 00 P. M.
_ AUSTRALIA L.
FOR PRESS 23 MARCH 1978
STATE VISIT BY THE HEAD OF STATE, WESTERN SAMOA
His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II, the Head of
State, Western Samoa, will make a State Visit to Australia
from 11 to 21 April 1978.
It will be the first official visit to Australia by a
Head of State of Western Samoa and it is being made at the
invitation of His Excellency the Governor-General of Australia,
Sir Zelman Cowen.
Detailed arrangements for the State Visit are being planned

JAUSTRALIA L
PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 22 March 1978
NEW SOUTH WALES FLOODS
The Prime Minister Mr Fraser said today that it was a matter
of particular concern that lives had been lost in the current
floods in N. S. W.
Mr Fraser extended his sincere sympathy to the relatives of
those who have been lost and to all those people of New South
Wales affected by the floods.
The Prime Minister has assured the Premier that the Commonwealth,
as agreed under the natural disaster assistance arrangements,

PRESS OFFICE TRANSCRIPT 21 M~ ARCH 1978 -76-/-2b+ 1
INTERVIEW WITH JOHN ANDERSON, ABC'S COUNTRY HOUR
QUESTION: Prime Minister, what is your assessment of the current
drought situation?
PRIME MINISTER: I am not too sure to what extent rain over the
last 24 hours has altered the situation, but before that in some
parts of Australia its certainly very very serious indeed. When
I was in Riverina a few days ago it was very plain that the drought
there was worse than anything that had happened since the 1944-45

CABINET
FOR PRESS 21 March 1978
LOCAL PROCESSING OF NATURAL RESOURCES
The Prime minister has written to all State Premiers seeking
their cooperation in the Commonwealth's policy objective of
encouraging further industrial development in Australia through
the local processing of natural resources.
The Government believes that the domestic processing of
resources will occupy a prominent place in Australia's industrial
future and manufacturing industry development with immediate
interest being centred around the processing of minerals and

JOINT STATEMENT
The Prime Minister of Australia,
The Rt. Hon. Malcolm Fraser, and the Deputy Prime Minister
of New Zealand, The Rt. Hon. Brian Talboys, issued the
following Statement following discussions in Canberra, and
over the week-end at " Nareen", during which they were
accompanied by the Australian Foreign Minister,
The Hon. Andrew Peacock.
Mr Talboys has come to Australia on this occasion as
a guest of the Australian Government. He is visiting all
the Australian States, as well as Canberra and the

CABINET
ii4
PC. R PiS 20 M-arch 1978
DROUGHT AID
The Coir~ onwealth Government has agreed to prcvide financial
support for new relief measures to aid four states in the
battle aga st drought.
The new measuzes are:
extension of freight subsidies to the carriage
of water for drought affected-primary producers
in YSW and Qieensland;
assistance in meeting the C03t of installing new
bor-vb wehre required by drought conditionW in
Victoria; * the-provision otf rehabilitation graats for local
government to assist in Ihe clearing of roads

FOR PRESS 20 MARCH 1978
ADDRESS AT AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL ANIMAL HEALTH LABORATORY
GEELONG
I am delighted to be with you today. Senator Webster has
given you an excellent outline of the purpose of the Australian
National Animal Health Laboratory. For my part, I feel very
strongly that today marks a significant.-milestone in the history
of Australia's livestock industries indeed of Australia itself.
Since our nation was founded, livestock industries have played
a major role in the development and maintenance of

RK-/ 17 MNNSTR~
FOR PRESS 19 MARCH 1978
ELECTORATE TALK
The Government's desire to conserve Australia's environment continues
as a high priority.
Our decisions in relation to Kakadu National Park in the othr
Terriroty and sand mining on the fragile Fraser Island are evidence
of this concern to-protect Australia's unique environment.
We have also shown an understanding of other sensitive conservation
issues.
Nan'-thousands of Australians and men, women and children
throughout the world have long felt db-ep concern about thec

-AUSTRAAL
PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 19 MARCH 1978
PORTLAND NURSING HOME OPENING
I am particularly pleased to be here today to open these further
extensions to the Portland Hospital.
This is a great country hospital which has served this district
for 130 years.
Mr. Maling and his Committee, Mr. Stanway, Matron Farrands, and all
the staff, are to be commended on the very high standard of service
which this hospital provides for the Portland community.
The Commonwealth has been able in the last couple of years to

FOR P~ RESS 19 IMARC!! 1978
INQUIRY INTO WHALES AND WHALING
The Government's concern to preserve and conserve the many
species of whales is w-ell known. Australia has played a major
part in instituting procedures in the International haling
Commission designed to achieve this aim, and in fact a moratorium
has been declared on the taking of certain species.
In accordance with an earlier commitment, the Government is
proceeding to establish an Inquiry to examine and report upon
Australia's policies on whales and whali ' ng. The Inquiry will