PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS9 JUNE 1976
U. S. BICENTENNIAL GIFT OF KOALA BEARS
Australia will present six Koala Bears to the people
of America as part of our programme for the celebrationof
the U. S. Bicentennial.
The bears which have been bred in captivity at the Lone
Pine Sanctuary in Brisbane, will be housed at the
renowned San Diego Zoo in California, where they will
be seen by 3,500,000 people who visit the Zoo each year.
An initial gift of Koalas was made to the zoo in the
early 1950' s but with the passage of time the colony

CURRENT AFFAIR JUNE 8, 1976
QN. Prime Minister are you worried about union threats over
your medibank plans?
P. M. I don't believe that union threats are going to be put
into effect. The medibank plans are clear and they provide
the widest possible area of choice. I indicated about two
weeks ago that we were also looking at the prospect of allowing
medibank under exactly the same terms and conditions to offer
intermediate and private ward cover and in this area compete
with * the private funds. That decision was made today by the

Io
F76/ 11S5t
PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 8 JUNE 1976
JOINT STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE
MINISTER FOR HEALTH--MEDIBANK ( PRIVATE INSURANCE)
The Prime Minister and the Minister for Health today
, announced the Cabinet decision that Medibank will now
be permitted to offer intermediate and private ward cover
for those people who wish to take out total cover with
Medibank. This means that in the intermediate and private ward area
Medibank will be able to compete on equal terms with
private funds.

PRIM MIIX
PMEME MINIT~ a IO
It gi-vas s'pC. ia1 œ p. Xasure to be zab', t-;
WaS Is; ec % teir opiioy) of the openiang si4: VLt1Cthc,
Melbow-nt. Theatre Company -andj saiad " 11 -Wy T Izzst eel
The pyediir. ion was us;: zd by 4eoffreq 1 at -a th t t2.= f 1, -A
book on thi! 1elloiarm; 71rcatre Conmpany. 71he
Company i. ali-vo and th-riving, 1 CF; B Only 111& it
the sam-): Thjd or" te-st-1i ial will irl-tttr ] z a. q~~ c
of a centu. ry's time t-hout tbis theatroc whei) au5e jA
be ico3hing lbark on a long line of sucz.-ssful cruuct-ons-u.

3HA Sunday r, June
3YB Thursday ] O June.
J',.) AUSTRALIA& k
FOR PRESS JUNE 6, ] 976
ELECTORAL TALK
As the first session of Federal Parliament is now completed
for this year, the time is appropriate to broadly review
progress. The record majority in the House of Representatives for the
Coalition at the last federal election was largely a cry
for help.
The people of this country had simply asked us to get Australia
back on its feet aga-in and in tune with the major economies
of the world.

? RAUiTRAL3ATL
FOR PRESS JUNE 6, 1976 1
INQUIRY INTO CARE OF THE AGED AND THE INFIRM
The Government has set up a committee to inquire into
Federal programs for the care of the aged and the infirm.
The Committee comprises:
Mr Austin Holmes ( Chairman), Department
of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Dr Sidney Sax, ( Hospitals and Health
Services Commission) Department of Health
SMr Keith Medbury, Department of Social
Security
Mr Neil Hyden, Department of the Treasury.
The Government is concerned to meet pressing needs both

PRIME~ jMD, 3STER 4 JUNE 1976
FOR PRESS F76/ 109
VISITS OF NUCLEAR POWERED WARSHIPS
I wish to inform the House that my Government has decided to allow
the resumption of visits to Australian ports by nuclear powered
warships. This decision has been made after a long and careful
examination of the many aspects associated with this subject.
In furtherance of the objective of ensuring that matters affecting
the environment are fully examined and taken into account, the
Government has given very careful consideration to a classified draft

F76/ 111
PRESS PLEASE ADDRESS TO NATIONAL PRIVATE ENTERPRISE CONVENTION 4 JUNE 1976
This national private enterprise convention has set itself an important
task to consider ways of improving understanding between business and
government. But cooperation between business and government is only part of. the
total approach. Equally important is understanding, cooperation and
communication between business and unions, between business and
employers. These other areas of communication and understanding are perhaps

PRIME MI~ NSTER
FOR PRE S S J U N EE 3, 1976
FEDERAL GOVERMENT MEMBERS PARLIAMENTARY REFORM COMMITTEE
The Federal Government Members Parliamentary Reform Committee
is examining how Federal Parliament should be improved.
The Committee, chaired by the Government Whip, Senator Fred
Chaney, is seeking the views of all Government Mern'be--s as
well as those of the community.
The Committee will consider the recently tabled joint
Parliamentary Committee Report on Committees, and will
examine all aspects of the Parliamentary process, and the

STATEMENT ON THE ARTS J
THE PRIME MINISTER
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE J. M. FRASER, M. P.
3 JUNE 1976
I should like to inform the House on measures the
Government is taking in the area of the arts.
The Government will be providing next year, $ 33.8
million exclusive of Australia Council administrative costs, for
support for the arts.
This continued high level of support emphasises the
Government's firm commitment to support and encourage the development
of the arts throughout the Australian community.