Transcript
1 October 2009
Interview - ABC Radio PM
Subjects: Sumatra; Samoa.
MARK COLVIN: I'm joined now by the Foreign Minister Stephen Smith.
Stephen Smith what can you tell us about Australia's effort to help Indonesia; what have we been asked for, what are we going to send?
STEPHEN SMITH: Well we haven't yet received an official request but we're certainly expecting it.
Earlier in the day Indonesian officials had spoken to Australian officials indicating that when President Yudhoyono returned from the General Assembly in New York there would be a cabinet meeting and out of the cabinet meeting we could well expect a request.
On his return to Indonesia President Yudhoyono made it clear that he believed, because of the size of the two earthquakes that international assistance would be required. So we've been working through the day looking at what we would be able to provide if requested, concentrating on search and rescue, including search and rescue teams and then the emergency assistance required — particularly medical assistance and emergency equipment, tents, tarpaulins and the like.
MARK COLVIN: Last time, the Yogyakarta quake, the Indonesians didn't want a lot from us straight away but I understand that this time, and Gavin Fang was saying this too, that this time they may be asking for more.
STEPHEN SMITH: Well with the Yogyakarta earthquake the scale was not as large firstly, secondly, in our discussions with Indonesian officials at the time, they made it clear to us that they believed that they could handle the immediate search and rescue effort and the aftermath. On this occasion, the scale of the two earthquakes seems to be larger and so we may well be required and we're expecting such a request, to help in the immediate disaster relief.
On the earlier earthquake, what we are doing of course is making a contribution to the longer term reconstruction, particularly the prospect of building or repairing schools in the adversely affected area. But the scale of this one as the day has gone on, has made it clear that we're dealing with a much more significant disaster, the scale of which no one country by itself can realistically be expected to deal with.
So, Indonesia of course a country of 250 million people it does have a significant capacity in its own right but we're expecting a request and we will provide whatever is required. And the previous disaster relief coordination arrangements that we've put in place with Indonesia and other countries in that region include the use of defence assets should that be required.
MARK COLVIN: ABC reporters actually have been out at Richmond Air base today watching the planes being loaded up for Samoa. I take it there's no question that we've got enough people and stores and so forth to send to both disasters?
STEPHEN SMITH: Well certainly in Samoa's case we've sent a C17 air force plane and chartered a civilian plane and we're repeating that effort. Literally as we speak that'll occur. We already have some disaster relief assets in Indonesia, the emergency relief equipment so we're very confident that in terms of being able to get materials both to Indonesia and Samoa, that we've got either sufficient defence force assets or can charter civilian assets to deliver in a timely way.
Samoa, we have provided both medical teams and medical equipment and disaster relief equipment; tents, tarpaulins, water tablets and the like, so we'll make a judgement over the next 12 hours as to what more, if anything, is required in Samoa for the immediate effort, but of course there's going to be a much ...
MARK COLVIN: Indeed these things go in phases; this is the emergency phase in both cases, presumably we must be already, this country must already be preparing for what it can offer in the much longer term?
STEPHEN SMITH: Absolutely and I've spoken... in Samoa's case, I've spoken today to New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully, my counterpart. We have been coordinating with New Zealand on the emergency relief and working hand in glove and we'll be doing the same thing on the longer term reconstruction and rebuilding phase as well, so far as Samoa is concerned.
MARK COLVIN: Stephen Smith thank you very much indeed for joining us.
STEPHEN SMITH: Thanks very much Mark.
[END]
Media inquiries
Foreign Minister's office (02) 6277 7500