Commonwealth Heads of Government
Regional Meeting
SAustralia 1978 16 February, 1978.
CHOGRM CO. IKNIOUE PRESS CONFERENCE
Introductory remarks by the Australian Prime Minister,
Mr. Fraser, at a joint press conference with the
Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kr. Rampha, at the
Hilton Hotel on 16 February, 1978,

>>% ASrHALIA&
FOR PRESS 15 February 1978
INQUIRY CONCERNING PUBLIC DUTY AND PRIVATE INTEREST
The Prime Minister announced today that Sir Nigel Bowen had
agreed to chair an inquiry into matters relating to Public
Duty and Private Interest. The inquiry had been foreshadowed
in Mr Fraser's press release of 16 December 1977.
Sir Nigel, who is Chief Judge of the Federal Court of Australia,
will be assisted in the inquiry by Sir Cecil Looker and
Sir Edward Cain. Their considerable experience in the worlds

Communiqu6 IF] DO
Commonwealth Heads of Government
Regional Meeting
Sydney
13-16 February 1978

-' MAG UNTIL
-DELIVREPD -Commonwealth Heads of Government
Ron Meeing
Address by the Prime Minister of Australia,
the Rt*. Hon.* Malcolm Fraser, C. H., f M. P
Atth6& Hilton notel S dey, ? londa 13 February,
on the Occasion of the Opening of the
CommnwelthHeads of Government Regional Meeting
In opening this Conference,, I am very-plreased to join -the
* Gover'nor-General;!= welcoming you and wishing you anL enjoyable
and rewarding visit to Autralia.
This mseetin~ g of Comonwealth H{ eads of Government from -the

Jj, AUAiTHAW. A it
PRIME MINISTER
F'OR PRES13 FEBRUARY 1978
I would like to express my deepest sympathy to the families of
the people who died and were injured in the tragic explosion
outside the Bilton Hotel early this morning.
At this stage, it must appear that the dead and injured are
utterly innocent victims of a senseless act of violence,
t * stzelyx press my dismay-an orro-that sucb.
an evil act could have occurred in Australia.
No effort will be spared in the investigation of this crime.
I

Cornmonwealth Heads of Government
Regional Meeting
Ausral; a 9-78 12 February 1978
PREIIMINARY TRANSCRIPT
PRESS CONFERENCE
by the Australian Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser,
and the Secretary-General,
in the . Jli. Jna Room, Hilton Hotel, on 12 February
Secretary-General, ladies and gentlemen, I would lik-to
elcome you all here and especially the Secretary-General, who
has worked for quite some time and so enthusiastically and constructively
for the particular purposes of the Commonwealth and

CABINET
-, AUSTRALIA
PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 12 February 1978
NATIONAL WATER RESOURCES PROGRAMME
The Prime Minister has written to State Premiers inviting
them to nominate projects for consideration under the five
year national water resources programme.
The Commonwealth government is to contribute $ 200 million
during this period and is seeking the Premiers' agreement to
contribute equally with the Commonwealth in the programme in
their States.
The Government's intention to introduce this programme was

A US rxI
PRIME MINISTER
MJR PRESS 9 FEBRUARY 1978
ABORIGINAL LAND RIGHTS IN
THE ALLIGATOR RIVERS REGION
The Government wishes to assure the Aboriginal people in the
Alligator Rivers Region that until their claims over land
in Stage II of the Region have been determined it will not
permit granting of mining interests over that land without their
prior consultation and agreement.
This assurance is, however, on the understanding that Aboriginal
claims in Stage II will be lodged as soon as practicable and

CABINET
A1j> S1UT ALIA
PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 9 FEBRUARY 1978
AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADOR TO. UNESCO
The Prime Minister announced the appointment of Sir John Kerr
as Australian Ambassador to UNESCO.
Sir John, former Governor-General of Australia, retired in
December and is at present on a private tour overseas.
The position of Ambassador to UNESCO was created during the
administration of the former Government. The Ambassador was
withdrawn in September 1976 and his functions reverted to the

PRIME MINISTER
FOR PIRESSi 8th February, 1978
OPENING OF NEW MERCEDES-BENZ TRUCK PLANT, MULGRAVE
I am very pleased to have been invited here to Mwalgrave today
to open. this new truck assembly plant for Mercedes-Benz.
I understand that a little later 1 shall have the opportunity
to be driven in a new Mercedes-Benz truck, the first off the
new production line.
I am further told that this truck has been especially modified
to suit Australian conditions. I was moost interested to hear
what these necessary modifications are they sound like a