FOR PRESS P. M. No 16/ 1970
PREMIERS' CONFERENCE
Statement by the Prime Minister, Mr John Gorton
Arrangements have now been completed with the State Premiers
to convene a meeting of the Premiers' Conference in Canberra on Thursday
26 February. The meeting may continue on Friday 27 February.
CANBERRA 21 January 1970

FOR PRESS P. M. No 15/ 1970
MEETING TO DISCUSS BARRIER REEF ENQULIRY
The Prime Minister has received the following telegram from
the Premier of Queensland, Mr Bjelke-Petersen
" REFERENCE YOUR TELEGRAM YESTERDAY.
CABINET HAS AGREED THAT MY MINISTER FOR MINES,
MY ATITORNEY-GENERAL AND MYSELF MEET YOU AT
YOUR CONVENIENCE TO DISCUSS WITH YOU THE TERMS OF
REFERENCE OF THE COMMITTEE WHICH YOU PROPOSES'"
Following is the tex of the Prime Minister's reply
" GLAD YOU AGREE TO MY SUGGESTION. THAT
DRILLING ON OR NEAR THE REEF IS SUSPENDED PENDING

FOR PRESS PM. 14/ 1970
ROYAL VISIT
PRESENTATION OF VICTORIA CROSS AWARDS
Statement by the P; ime Minister, Mr John Gorton
Warrant Officer Class 2 R. S. Simpson, VC, DCM
and Warrant Officer Class 2 Keith Payne, VC, who were awarded
the Victoria Cross for acts of bravery whilst serving as members of
the Australian Army Training Team in Vietnam last year, will both
receive their awards at Investitures which Her Majesty The Queen
will hold during her visit to Australia.
Warrant Officer Simpson, who is still serving with

FOR PRESS P. M. No 13/ 1970
QUEENSLAND CYCLONE
The Prime Minister has sent the following telegram to the Premier
of Queensland, Mr Bjelke-Petersen:-
" ON BEHALF OF THE COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT I EXPRESS
SYMPATHY TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE SEVERE
CYCLONE IN THE PROSERPINE AREA AND THE ADJACENT ISLANDS OF THE
GREAT BARRIER REEF. TIHE COMMONWEALTH STANDS READY TO JOIN
WITH THE QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT ON A DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR
BASIS IN FINANCING THE RELIEF OF PERSONAL HARDSHIP AND DISTRESS
IN THE AFFECTED AREAS.

FOR PRESS P. M. V No 12/ 1970
CONVERSION TO METRIC SYSTEM
Statement by the Prime Minister, Mr John Gorton
Following detailed consideration of the recommendations made by
the Senate Select Committee on the adoption of the Metric System of Weights
and Measures, the Government has decided that Australia should convert to
the Metric System as soon as possible.
The Commonwealth has notified the States of this decision and has
suggested that arrangements be made for a conference with them to discuss

FOR PRESS_ P. M. No 11 / 1970
COMMONWEALTH/ STATE JOINT ENQUIRY ON REEF
The Prime Minister, Mr Gorton today replied to a telegram which
he received late on Friday from the Premier of Queensland, Mr Bjelke -Petersen, on
the subject of a Commonwealth/ State joint Enquiry into the danger of drilling
on the Barrier Reef. Following is the text of Mr Gorton's reply, which was sent by
telegram this morning: III HAVE YOUR TELEGRAM OF 16 JANUARY CONCERNING THE
SUGGESTED COMMONWEALTH/ STATE JOINT ENQUIRY INTO POSSIBLE DANGERS

EMBARGO: 6 p. m. Sunday 18 January 1970
FOR PRESS: P. M. No. 7/ 1970
PROGRAMME FOR ROYAL VISIT
Statement by the Prime Minister, Mr. John Gorton
The Queen has been pleased to approve a detailed
programme for the Royal Visit to Australia later this year.
The Visit, Her Majesty's third to this country, will begin
in Sydney on Monday 30 March and end in Sydney on Sunday 3 May. The
Duke of Edinburgh and The Princess Anne will be accompanying The Queen
throughout the Visit, while The Prince of Wales will be here for the first

FOR PRESS P. M. L No 9/ 1970
BARRIER REEF
Sttmn yte rm iitr Mr John Gorton
I have been asked about a communication received from the Queensland
Government In June 1968 regarding the Barrier Reef.
In June 1968 we received a letter from the Queensland Government
informing us that they intended to set up a committee, to advise the Queensland
Government on the general question of the control and exploitation of all the
resources of the Great Barrier Reef which were described as " fishing, tourism,

FOR PRESS P. M. No 8/ 1970
DRILLING ON THE BARRIER REEF
This evening the Prime Minister, Mr John Gorton, sent the
following reply to a telegram received from Ampol Exploration Ltd
" THANK YOU FOR YOUR TELEGRAM OF 13 JANUARY RE DRILLING FOR
OIL ON BARRIER REEF. I HOPE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PERSUADE JAPEX
TO AGREE WITH YOUR DECISION AND CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR
INITIATIVE. IT IS MY HOPE THAT OTHER COMPANIES WHICH HOLD
PROSPECTING LEASES WILL FOLLOW YOUR LEAD PENDING A COMPLETE
INVESTIGATION AND REPORT. IN MY VIEW THE SLIGHTEST DANGER Is

FOR PRESS P. M. No. 6/ 1970
DRILLING ON THE BARRIER REEF
Statement by the Prime Minister, Mr. John Gorton
The Pri me Minister, Mr. John Gorton, said that
he was very pleased indeed to receive the information from Ampol
Exploration that they were not proceeding with their intention of
drilling on the Barrier Reef pending a thorough examination of the
question of whether any damage might occur.
He stated his belief that the Barrier Reef was of
such importance to Australia and to world science that it was