PRIME MINISTOR Press Statement No. 517
19 June 1975
VIETNAM4ESE REFUGEES
The Prime Minister, Mr Whitlam, announced today that
a total of 201 Vietnamese refugees will arrive in Sydney
from Hong Kong tomorrow. Mr Whitlam said this would be the
largest single group of Vietnamese refugees to leave Hong Kong
for any country to'date. The Prime Minister said that.
almost all those coming to Australia were unlikely to have
been offered resettlement in other countries and for this
reason their cases had received special consideration.

I 43"
Press Statement No. 516
18 June 1975
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
The Prime Minister, Mr Whitlam, tonight released the
S ext of a telegram he had sent to the Chief Minister of Papua
New Guinea, Mr Michael Somare:
" PLEASE ACCEPT MY HEARTIEST CONGRATULATIONS ON THE
HISTORIC DECISION TAKEN BY THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
TODAY. I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING CLOSE
CO-OPERATION BETWEEN OUR TWO GOVERNMENTS AND OUR
TWO NATIONS. MAY I EXPRESS MY PROFOUND ADMIRATION
FOR YOUR SUCCESS IN STEERING PAPUA NEW GUINEA TO
FULL NATIONHOOD.
WARMEST WISHES.

Press Statement No: 515
18 June 1975
REGIONAL POLICY
The Prime Minister, Mr Whitlam, released today a
statement on the Australian Government's policy on regionalism.
The Prime Minister said:
" On 5 February I announced the establishment of a small
committee of Ministers concerned primarily with the Australian
Government's relations with the States. I said the committee
would also examine programs of direct assistance to regional,
local government and local communities; that the Australian

Ld\
PRaME MINSTEA Press Statement
] 8 June ] 975
TASMANIA MEDIBANK AGREEMENT
The Prime Minister, Mr Whitlam and the Premier of
Tasmania, Mr Neilson today signed the Medibank Agreement between
the Australian and Tasmanian Governments. The ceremonial
signing took place at the Launceston General Hospital before
Mr Whitlam met patients and staff there.
Mrs Nellie Ellis, a patient at Launceston General Hospital
witnessed the Prime Minister's signature on the two copies of
the Agreement. Legislation on Medibank has passed both Houses of

IffSL AFFAIRS
MENAT NQ DATE
M37 17 June 1975
WOTDC014FERL-CE FOR INTE RN TIONAJ1 WQOMEN'S YEAR
Prime Minister and Acting faLr:' iitrfrFoog
Kr . G. Ltlmannouncedto day that Australia wnuJld l. e represenied
at 1, cI' Conference for lntern-ttionai Women's~ Year to be held
. Cio fr Y-19 une to 2 July 1971).
[ K'r W/ hitlam said that the Conference was the ma ' jor United
ations ! 2 M-etinp * for International Women's Year and would ' have ts it
thr-s: Er--ality, Development an6 Peace, the themos choootn by tli-:
L. ied r~ in fcr the Year.

JAUSTRALIA L
PRIME PRESS STATEMENT NO. 514
17 June 1975
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S YEAR GRANTS
The Prime Minister, Mr Whitlam, today announced
further funds and assistance for special projects during
International Women's Year. This is the fourth in a
series of grants announced over the last six months and
represents a total commitment so far of $ 1,139,302.
The grants were approved on the advice of the
Australian National Advisory Committee for International
Women's-Year. They are in line with the general responsibility

PRIME MRAINISTE PRESS STATMENT NO. 513
16 June 1975
APPOINTMENTS
Mr J. H. M. Oswin, Secretary of the Department of the
Media, has been appointed Australian Ambassador to UNESCO.
Mr Oswin, who is 52, has been head of the Department
of the Media since its creation in 1973. He was educated in Sydney
and, following service in the RAAF, held a number of senior
appointments in broadcasting and television. Prior to
his appointment as Secretary of the Department of the Media,
Mr Oswin was Managing Director of Seven Network Pty Ltd.

SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER,
THE HON. E, G. lIWHITLAM, P, P,,
TO THE 1975 ANNUAL STATE CONVENTION,
OF THE A, L. P, SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BRANCH,
ADELAIDE, SUNDAY 15 JUNE 1975
FOR MANY YEARS I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF ADDRESSING
YOUR ANNUAL STATE CONVENTION, IT IS NOT A PLEASURE
I WOULD READILY FORGO, SOUTH AUSTRALIA IS THE STATE:.
THAT BEST EXEMPLIFIES THE SUCCESS OF LABOR'S POLICIES.
IT'S HERE IN THIS PROGRESSIVE AND ENLIGHTENED STATE....
THAT WE SEE THE REAL FRUITS OF A GREAT LABOR PARTNERSHIP.

I?
NOTES ORY
CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY NEW SOUTH 14ALES BRANCH
* STATE CONFERECE
ADDRESS BY THE PRIME MINISTER,
flR E, G. W! IHITLAM, C PA.. 1 41-4, JUP1 E 1975 SYD[ IEY-N; S'; 1J',
i r . II'
r r i

FOARA IG
V NO DATE
M 35 12 June 1975
APPOINTMENT OF AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL
The Prime Minister and Acting Foreign Minister,
Mr Whitlam, today announced the appointment of Mr Richard
9 J. Smith, a senior officer of the Department of Foreign
Affairs, as Australian Ambassador to Israel.
Mr Smith, aged 40, will take up his duties in
Tel Aviv in August, succeeding Mr F. R. Dalrymple who has
been Ambassador since September 1972.
Mr Whitlam said that a continuing Australian
diplomatic presence in Tel Aviv at a suitably senior level