NQ DATE
M/ 72 15 April 1973
PRIE MhINISTOTO ATTETN-D SOUTH PACIFIC FORUM
The Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Mr E. G. Whitlam, said today that he was greatly looking forward
to attending the Fourth meeting of the South Pacific Forum, to
be held in Apia, Western Samoa from 17 to 19 April, 1973.
He and Mrs Whitlam will fly from Sydney on Tuesday
( 17 Anril) and arrive in Apia the same day.
Mr Whitlam said that meetings of the Forum provided
an invaluable opportunity for the Heads of Government of the

J) AUTHALIA
PRIME MINISTER Press Statement No. 77
13 April 1973
APPOINTMENT AS AUDITOR-GENERAL
The Prime Minister, Mr. Whitlam, today announced
the retirement of the Auditor-General, Mr. V. J. W. Skermer,
as from 7 May 1973, and the appointment of Mr. D. R. S. Craik,
as Mr. Skermer's successor.
The Prime Minister paid tribute to Mr. Skermer's
long and distinguished career in the Public Service, particularly
since his appointment as Auditor-General in 1961.
Mr. Craik is at present a Deputy Secretary in the

NQ DATE
Iv/ 7 1 12 A'DrilI 1973
k~ llA2 ~ DSP" 0 TES* Cf
The rNinister for Foreign Affairs, Tqr V. Jhiitlam, announced
Loday the appointment of Mr Roy Cameron as Auostr' 1]. ian Ambasador
to the Organisation for Economic Co-oneratirn anrd Development
to scceed S0ir Ronald W1, alker, C. T3. E. who w,, ill retire at th e end
of July. Tir Cameron, who is 50, is Fir-t Assistant Secretery in
the Treasury in charge of tin. e Transportation and Industry Division.
lie 1) a7, rer. ve. d in this nosition sinice 1966. THr Cameron w! s

NQ DATE
12 April 1973
ADDRESS BY SPECIAL MINISTER OF STATE
The attached is the text of an address by the
Special Minister of State, Senator Don Willesee, to ' he
0 29th Session of E. C. A. F. E. ( 12 Aoril 1973) which is
currently meeting in Tokyo.
Senator Willesee was elected one of six Vice
Chairmen of the meeting ( others were Indonesia, China,
Iran, Neral and the Philippines). Ambassador Tsuruoka of
Japan was elected Chairman.

Press Stanteen-t No*.* v
12 April 1973
AUSTRALIAN. NATIONAL. 2\ NTl11 CUEST
On 26 January the Prime Minister announced that the public
would be invited to submit entries for thoj xYorels and itisic for a ne-w
national anthem hnd that the Anuslralian peopl~ e woul( l ba consultedee in
t-he -Fina-. l choice.
As the first stage of this contest, entries a-ro now invited for
the word., 2 of: an anthem0These( ntr-ies will cloc-o on 31 May. DAtries
may be i~ ritten without any tune iin mindl or to the tune of one ofj tChe

THE PRIME MINISTER'S PRESS CONFERENCE
AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA
TUESDAY, 10 APRIL, 1973
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks ladies and gentlemen. There were
a few procedural matters. There were about a score of decisions
which I can tell you from this morning's Cabinet meeting.
It will save your time here if I tell you the names of the
Ministers from whom you can get the details. They are expecting
your questions. There are a couple that I can give you myself.
Yesterday Mr Hamer, the Premier of Victoria, telegraphed

to
PRIME MINISTER PRESS STATEMENT NO.
9 April 1973
CORAL SEA WEEK GUEST OF HONOUR 1973
The US astronaut, Dr. Harrison Schmittx will come
to Australia for the Coral Sea Week celebrations this year,
Dr. Schmitt's official itinerary will begin in Sydney
on Monday 30 April and from there he will visit Newcastle,
Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Adelaide in that order.
He is scheduled to leave Australia on Monday 7 May.
Dr. Schmitt, a geologist employed by National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, was the first scientist

EMBARGO:-6uL,,
AU ST RALIAL PRESS STATEMENT No. 72.
8 April 1973
HEART WEEK 1973
The Prime Minister, Mr Whitlam, today ( Sunday)
launched Heart Week 1973.
Heart Week is the focus of the education effort
of the National Heart Foundation of Australia.
This year the foundation is concentrating on
encouraging early recognition and treatment of high blood
pressure which it has found to be a major causal factor
in about 52,000 deaths every year.
Mr Whitlam said today: " In opening Heart Week

PRESS STATEMENT NO. 73
8 April 1973
APPOINTMENT TO PRIME MINISTERtS STAFF
The Prime Minister announced today the appointment to his
personal staff of Ms Elizabeth Reid, 30, a senior tutor in philosophy
at the Australian National University. Ms Reid will conduct research
and advise the Prime Minister on a range of' domestic issues, especially
those bearing on the welfare of women.
Ms Reid was born in Taree, New South Wales. She has worked
for the Bureau of Census and Statistics and for Control Datat

PRIME MINISTER 7 April 1973
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER,
THE HON. E. G. WHITLAM, M. P.,
AT THE OPENING OF
WESTERN MINING CORPORATION' S NICKEL SMELTER,
KALGOORLIE, 7 APRIL 1973
The opening of this smelter is more than a great new
milestone in the remarkable history of the Kalgoorlie
area; it is a mark of confidence of the Western Mining
Corporation in the area's futdre. And I come here today to
express and demonstrate my Government's complete confidence
in the future, not just of this area, but of the future of