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PRIME MINISTER PRESS STATEMENT NO. 14
13 December 1972
SCHOOLS COM. IITTEE
The Interim Committee for the Australian Schools
Commission will hold its first meeting in Canberra next
Thursday, December 21.
The Prime Minister, Mr. Whitlam, decided to call the
meeting after talks with Mr. K. Beazley, today.
The interim committee will immediately begin
discussions on the preparation of recommendations for the
1973-74 Budget. The recommendations will cover Australian Goverinent
grants for 1974.

PRESS STATEMENT NO. 13
13 December 1972
ABORIGINAL GItITS
The Prime Minister, Mr. VWhitlai, has approved two
grants for voluntary organisations involved in aboriginal
affairs. A grant of $ 16,000 will be given to the Aboriginal
Publications Foundation for 1972-73o
This will enable the foundation to continue
operations, particularly including the publication of the
magazine " Identity", in the coming year.
The Craft Council of Australia will receive a
grant of $ 5,000 to prepare a comprehensive and accurate

Ij AUSTRALIA PRESS STATEMENIT NO. 12
13 December 1972
HIGH COMMISSIONER
The U. K. Prime Minister, Mr. Heath, has welcomed
the appointment of Mr. John Armstrong as the new Australian
High Commissioner in London.
In a message, sent through the British High
Commission, Mr. Heath said the Prime Minister, Mr. Whitlam,
could be assured that Mr. Armstrong's appointment is very
welcome. CANBERRA. A. C. T.

THE PRIME MINISTER'S PRESS CONFERENCE
AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA
TUESDAY, 12 DECEMBER 1972
PRIME MINISTER Ladies and gentlemen : the first announcement
I wish to make to you is concerning the Interim Australian Schools
Commission about which you will remember I spoke in the government's
policy speech. I will hand out the terms of reference of the Interim
Committee for the Australian Schools Commission, the terms of the
letter sent to each of the persons who have been asked t~ o serve on

ljA> AU ST A L I( A PRESS STATEMENT NO. 11
12 December 1972
DUKE OF EDINBURGH'S AUSTRALIAN TOUR
The Duke of Edinburgh will make a 15-day tour
of Australia in March next year.
The tour is being made in response to an
invitation issued earlier this year by the McMahon Government.
A statement issued jointly by Buckingham Palace
and the Prime Minister, Mr. Whitlam, last night said:
" The Duke of Edinburgh has accepted with very
much pleasure the Australian Government's invitation to
visit Australia in March next year as President of the

PRIME MINISTER PRESS STATEMENT NO. 10

The Prime Minister, Mr. Whitlam, and the Attorney-General designate, Senator Murphy, today held discussions with officials of the Attorney-General's Department following a bomb blast in Brisbane resulting in the death of a 43-year
old American, Thomas Patrick Enright, last Friday.

Senator Murphy said later the relevant officials had been instructed to investigate any Commonwealth aspect of the incident. A report would be made as soon as possible.

State authorities were co-operating.

PRESS STATEMENT NO. 9
11 December 1972
I\ 1AJOR GRANTS FOR THE ARTS
The Prime Minister, Mr. Whitlam, today announced major
grants by the Australian Government for the performing arts
for 1973. The grants, recommended by the Australian Council for
the Arts, include boosts for companies involved in major new
developments in Sydney, Perth and Adelaide.
These increases aim to enable opera, ballet and drama
companies to appear to advantage in the Sydney Opera House,
the Perth Concert Hall and the Adelaide Festival Centre.

PRE3S STATEMNT NO. 8
8 December 1972
AIRLINE CURPEW
The Prime Minister, Mr. Whitlam, today issued an
instruction that airline companies must observe the night
curfew on jet aircraft operations at Sydney Kingsford Smith
Airport. The instruction is aimed at minimising nuisance to
people living in the vicinity of flight paths to and from the
airport. IvMr. Whitlam issued the instruction in a minute to the
Director of Civil Aviation, 8. r Donald Anderson.
He told Sir Donald that, in accordance with stated

1 UST ALI,~ L PRESS STATEMENT NO. 7
8 December 1972
RACIALLY SELECTED SPORTING TEAMS
The Prime Minister, Mr Whitlam, announced today that
in future racially selected. sporting teams would be excluded
from Australia. The South African Government has been informed of the
decision. Mr Whitlam said that transit through Australia for
sporting teams selected on a racial basis would also be
prevented. " The Australian Government's position on such visits
is now quite clear".
-Shipping and airline companies operating international

PRESS STATEMENT NO. 6
8 December 1972
SALES TAX ON OPAL CONTRACEPTIVES
The Federal Government has lifted the sales tax on
oral contraceptives as from today.
The Prime Minister, Mr. Whitlam, made the decision
after consultations with senior officers of the Federal
Treasury and the Taxation Department.
A special meeting of the Pharmaceutical Benefits
Advisory Committee called for today agreed with Mr. Whitlam's
suggestion that oral contraceptives prescribed by a doctor
would become available as pharmaceutical benefits.