F 78/ 4
AUSTRALIA
PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS17 JANUARY 1978
OPENING OF THE THIRTY-FIRST PARLIAMENT
The Prime Minister today announced that the Thirty-first
Parliament would be opened by the Governor-General's. Deputy
at 11.00 a. m. on Tuesday 21 February 1978 and that His
Excellency the Governor-General would deliver the Opening
Speech at 3.00 p. m. on the same day.
A Proclamation fixing the time and date of the opening has
been signed by the Governor-General and was published in the
Commonwealth Gazette today. r

Jj AUSTRALIA~.
PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS17 JANUARY 1978
STANDING COMMITTEES OF CABINET
The Prime Minister today announced changes to the structure of the
Standing Committees of Cabinet. In addition to the Social Welfare
Policy Committee, the establishment of which was announced in the
Prime Minister's statement of 19 December 1977, Committees on
Monetary Policy and Wages Policy have been established as
Standing Committees.
The full list of Committees is:-
Planning and Co-ordination Committee: to facilitate the co-ordination

CABINET
F 78/ 3
PRIME MINISTER~
FOR PRESS 17 JANUARY 1978
AGREEMENT ON VICTORIAN PUBLIC HOSPITAL COSTS
Commonwealth and State Government officials have agreed that
Victorian Public Hospitals are disadvantaged as a result of
the tentative budget previously proposed to meet the operating
costs of the hospitals.
In order to bring Victoria broadly into line with other States,
the Commonwealth Government has adopted a recommendation that:
the approved nett operating costs budget for Victorian public

F 78/ 1
PRIME MRAINISTE
FOR PRESS 16 JANUARY 1978
EMERGENCY ACCOMMODATION FOR VICTIMS OF BLUE MOUNTAINS FIRES
The Prime Minister, Mr. Malcolm Fraser, announced today that
caravans which had been used as emergency housing in Darwin
after Cyclone Tracy are to be made available to residents of
the Blue Mountains.
Many residents wish to re-establish themselves on their land
while their houses are rebuilt. The vans will provide emergency
housing during this period.
Agreement to provide the vans follows a request from the State

FOR PRESS 21 DECEMBER 1977
The Prime Minister today announced that he had notified the
Governor General that he did not intend to proceed with the
appointment of Senator Glenister Sheil to the Ministry.
He had taken this action after consultation with the Deputy Prime
Minister, Mr Anthony.
It had been intended that, upon passage of necessary legislation
allowing an increase in the size of the Ministry from
twenty-seven to twenty-eight, Senator Sheil would be appointed
the Minister for Veterans' Affairs.-.

f
FOR PRESS 20 DECEMBER 1977
SENIOR PUBLIC SERVICE APPOINTMENTS
The Prime Minister this afternoon announced that the
Governor-General in Council had approved a number of senior
appointments in the Australian Public Service, following the
swearing-in this morning of the new Ministry.
Mr D. H. McKay, who was Secretary to the Department of
Overseas Trade prior to its abolition, will become Secretary
Designate-. in the-Department-of Primary Industry.. Mr W. Ives, C. B. E.,
will remain as Permament Head of that Department for a period to

~ g2
PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 19 DECEMBER 1977
THE NEW MINISTRY
The new Ministry will be sworn at Government House
tomorrow morning. His Excellency the Governor-General has
authorised me to announce details of the new Cabinet and
Ministry. The Ministers of State Act limits the total
number of Ministers to 27. Two Ministers in the present
Ministry, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Treasurer,
each have responsibility for two major Departments. I
propose to put to Parliament when it meets an amendment of

EMBARGO: 6.00 p. m.
A , A
,, AUSTRA LIA
FOR PRESS19 DECEMBER 1977
VISIT OF THE CROWN PRINCE OF IRAN, HIS IMPERIAL HIGHNESS REZA PAHLAVI
His Imperial Highness Reza Pahlavi, Crown Prince of Iran, has
accepted with pleasure the Australian Government's invitation to
make a private visit to Australia in January 1978.
His-Imperial-Highness has also accepted the invitation of
Their Excellencies the Governor-General and Lady Cowen to be
their guest at Government House, Canberra, from 9 to 11 January.

JAUSTRAI
PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 19 DECEMER 1977
BUNDABERG IRRIGATION PROJECT GRANT TO QUEENSLAND
The Prime Minister announced today that the Commonwealth Government
is to make an additional grant of $ 1.5 million available this
financial year to the Queensland Government towards the Bundaberg
Irrigation Project. The grant is to enable completion of the
Gin Gin Channel from the Monduran Dam to the Burnett River near
Maryborough. The Prime Minister had announced the Government's intention to
provide this grant prior to last Saturday's election.

EMIBARGO~: 3.00 p. m.
PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS17 DECEMBER 1977
NEW SOUTH WALES BUSH FIRES
The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, has asked the Premier of New
South Wales to convey his deepest sympathy to those affected
by the fires.
Mr Fraser also extended his best wishes to the fire fighters
still inthe field and expressed the hope that the situation would
soon be under control.
The Commonwealth will immediately join with New South Wales'
on a dollar for dollar basis in meeting expenditure for the relief