PRIME MINISTERA
FOR MEDIA JANUARY 25 1985
I am concerned at false, misleading and damaging reports
about a letter I sent recently to the Rt. Hon. David
Lange, Prime Minister of New Zealand.
I will not depart from the principles and practice of
this Government by releasing copies of private
communications with foreign Governments.
The facts of the matter are, however, that on
January, after consultation with my colleagues the
Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Defence, I wrote to Mr
Lange to inform him that I would be visiting the United

FOR MEDIA 21 January 1985
The Prime Minister said today that at the time the assets
test was announced by the Government it was made clear that
it would be regularly monitored to ensure that any anomalies that
became apparent in its implementation were speedily addressed and
remedied. The Government's objective had always been to avoid
any confusion and uncertainty on the part of pensioners.
The regular monitoring of the test will be carried out by the
Department of Social Security, and the Office of Aged Care in

PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA20 January 1985
The New South Wales Premier's decisive action to get the
state rail system working again has the full backing of the
Federal Government.
The damage done to our export markets and to Australia' s
reputation as a reliable supplier as a result of the prolonged
industrial action in New South Wales could not have been
allowed to continue
The Federal Government supports Mr Wran's moves to ensure
that our standing as a reliable supplier is not ' further
jeopardised.

FOR MEDIA17 January 1985
I remain confident that the Portland/ Alcoa project will
proceed. I look forward to the important contribution the Portland
project will make, not just to the economy of Victoria but tO
Australia as a whole.

~ r I. I,
EMBARGOED UNTIL
MIDNIGHT, 16 January 1985
FOR MEDIA16 January 1985
To mark the Sesquicentenary Year celebrations of Victoria
a visit will be made by the Prince and Princess of Wales to
that State in late October and early November 1985. The royal
couple will then visit Canberra before leaving Australia.
Their Royal Highnesses will arrive in Melbourne on
and visit areas in Victoria until 5 November. They will then
visit Canberra on 6/ 7 November.
EMBARGOED UNTIL MIDNIGHT, 16 January 1985

EMBARGOED AGAINSTI k CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
DELIVv9RY SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER AT DINNER IN HONOUR OF
PRIME MINISTER NAKASONE OF JAPAN, CANBERRA, 15 JANUARY 1985
Prime Minister Nakasone
Your visit to Australia and the South Pacific is of
, great importance to-us an'-I would like to extend a very
warm welcome to you, your family and to the members of your
party on behalf of all Australians.
Over the past three decades, the relationship between
Australia and Japan has become vital to both of us.

ACTING PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA 18 DECEMBER 1984
The Acting Prime Minister, Mr Lionel Bowen, announced today
new arrangements to provide a single source of funding for
the Commonwealth's Aboriginal Health Programs.
In the past, both the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and
the Department of Health had provided funds for communitybased
Aboriginal Medical Services ( AMSs). This dual
funding arrangement was introduced in 1979 by the previous
Government and had created inequities between AMSs. It had

ACTING PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA 18 DECEMBER 1984
As one of its first priorities, the Government has been
considering the final report of the Costigan Royal
Commission along with advice from officials on every
recommendation made in that report.
Report Passed to National Crime Authority and other
Agencies The majority of the report's recommendations called for
further investigations. There had been swift action by the
Government to ensure that copies of the full report were
passed, as soon as they were received, to the relevant

FOR MEDIA 14 DECEMBER 1984
NEW CALEDONIA
The Prime Minister, Mr Hawke today welcomed the apparent
easing of tensions in New Caledonia and the recent
initiative by the new French High Commissioner, M. Pisani,
to enter into formal discussi-ons with the principal
political groups in the territory. These discussions are to
commience tomorrow, 15 December. Mr Hawke expressed the hope
that these talks will prove constructive in developing a
peaceful solution to the political future of New Caledonia.

The following will be the membership of the Cabinet committees:
CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEES
Parliamentary Business
Prime Minister*
Mr Bowen0
Senator Button
Senator Grimes
Mr Willis
Mr Keating
Mr Young
Senator Evans
FUNCTIONAL COMMITTEES
Economic Policy
Prime Minister*
Mr Bowen
Senator Button
Senator Grimes
Mr Willis
Mr Keating0
Senator Walsh
Mr Hayden
Mr Dawkins
Mr Kerin
Mr Hurford
Social Policy
Prime Minister*
Senator Grimes0
Senator Walsh
Senator Ryan
Mr Dawkins