Transcript
30 September 2009
Interview with ABC 720 Perth - Mornings with Geoff Hutchison
Subjects: Tsunami in Samoa
GEOFF HUTCHISON: I am joined by the Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, currently in transit and on his way back to Australia. Mr Smith, a very good morning to you.
STEPHEN SMITH: Good morning, Geoff.
GEOFF HUTCHISON: Have you been able to get a briefing from your Department on this situation?
STEPHEN SMITH: Yes, this morning. I am actually at Singapore Airport. I've been here for an hour or so. And when I arrived I was given the news. I've spoken both to officials and also to our High Commissioner in Apia in Samoa. And one of our problems, of course, is that in these circumstances given some of the outlying nature of the places that have been hit, it's very difficult to get precise information so we are going to have to be patient.
The two nations we're most concerned about are Samoa first and Tonga second. And the advice I have - I've just got off the phone from our High Commissioner in Samoa - is that, as far as we know, at this stage seven Australians have been injured.
We're expecting that three of those will be hospitalised overnight and we're giving all of the Australians that we've discovered, who have been injured, as much assistance as we can. But of course, what we're worried about is that in Samoa, it's really been the south-east of the island that's been hit, and that's unfortunately where a lot of both luxury resorts and budget resorts are, and we're of course concerned that there may be Australians holidaying there.
We've got one report, which we're very concerned about - one Australian woman - and we are very worried about her safety and wellbeing. But our overriding concern is that, as the day goes on, in Samoa, we'll get more information from the south-east corner and we hope, very much, that we don't discover that any more Australians have been adversely affected. At this stage it's very difficult to be precise given both communications and difficulties of contact in Samoa.
GEOFF HUTCHISON: That's very understandable, Mr Smith. What gives you particular concern about an individual Australian woman?
STEPHEN SMITH: One of the Australians who was injured reported that an Australian woman may have been in difficulties and so we're working very hard to try and track that down. I can't be any more precise than that at this stage.
This is in addition, of course, to other Australians who may be holidaying there.
We've, of course, got our own officials who are there. We have been able to verify the safety of all of our officials and their families but other than the seven Australians who've been adversely affected, as I say, three who we expect to be hospitalised overnight we're now working very hard, together with the Samoan authorities, to seek to ascertain the whereabouts of any Australians who may be on the island.
We have also decided to send additional Australian personnel to Samoa. We'll be sending a taskforce of officials, that's being organised now, to give assistance to our High Commissioner and our staff in Apia, in the Samoan capital. Planning for that is underway and we hope that the taskforce will leave in the next 24 hours.
As well, we've also indicated to the Samoan Government that because of the terrible tragedy that struck Samoa, Australia stands ready, willing and able to render whatever assistance we can. Samoa has not yet responded and that's understandable because it's difficult, in these early stages of the aftermath of natural disasters, to make a judgement about what...
GEOFF HUTCHISON: Yes.
STEPHEN SMITH: ...additional resources may be required but we've certainly made that offer and we're certainly going to send reinforcements to our own post in Samoa.
GEOFF HUTCHISON: Okay, thank you very much for your time, Minister.
STEPHEN SMITH: Thanks, Geoff.
GEOFF HUTCHISON: Stephen Smith is the Foreign Minister, currently in Singapore on his way back to Australia. An emergency hotline has been set up, 1300 555 135. I you've got family and friends holidaying in that part of the Pacific 1300 555 135, perhaps let us know if you've been able to get in touch with anyone there.
Media inquiries
Foreign Minister's office (02) 6277 7500