Interview on ABC Radio - Earthquake in Chile
Transcript, Proof copy E&OE
28 February 2010
REPORTER: Minister, what's the latest information that you have in regards to Chile at this stage?
STEPHEN SMITH: Chilean officials have confirmed that there are over 120 dead, so we express our condolences to the Chilean people. We expect more loss of life, so it's a terrible human tragedy.
We're working very hard to try and satisfy ourselves as to the safety and well-being of any Australians who might be in the area. We know that all of our officials who are in Chile are safe and accounted for, as are their families. But our highest priority at this point in time is to try and track down the whereabouts of any Australians who might be there, to satisfy ourselves about their safety and welfare.
Because it is such a terrible earthquake, of course, there are tsunami implications, so we are urging everyone to follow the advice so far as tsunami warnings are concerned and to follow the advice of local authorities.
Finally, we have already, because of the size of the earthquake, indicated to the Chilean authorities that Australia stands ready, willing and able to assist. It's unlikely that that will be in the rescue or the emergency effort itself, given the distance between Australia and Chile, but we are having a look at what we can do in terms of longer term reconstruction. But if Chile does require any assistance then, of course, we will move to assist as quickly as we can.
REPORTER: So in regards to Australians in the area, do you think that there are people there that you don't [break in audio]...
STEPHEN SMITH: We have formally registered in our system, over 400 Australians who are registered in Chile. We always find though, that there are more Australians in a particular country than those who are registered.
But it's a matter, not just of those who are in Chile, it's a matter of whether any were in the area of the earthquake, and so that's what we're working very hard now to do. So, any Australians who are concerned that family or friends or loved ones may have been in Chile or in the area, they should contact our consular section, and we'll do our best to track them down.
REPORTER: In regards to aid, do you think that the international aid agencies would be very stretched at this stage already with the work that they're doing in Haiti, the ongoing work, to then be established in Chile very quickly?
STEPHEN SMITH: There are always demands on the international agencies and on governments in the aftermath of terrible disasters like this, but in the face of such a large-scale earthquake, already significant loss of life and terrible dislocation, the international community led by the regional community; South America, Latin America and the Carribean, will respond.
Australia will do its bit. It's unlikely that we'll be called upon to assist in the actual, immediate emergency and rescue work. More likely, we'll be asked to assist in the longer-term reconstruction, but we've made it clear already to the Chilean authorities that Australia stands ready, willing and able to render whatever assistance they might request.
REPORTER: It would be way too early to put any kind of dollar figure on it?
STEPHEN SMITH: Much too early. We'll need to see the scale of the disaster and what's required.
In the aftermath of an earthquake of this nature, we always find that communications is a difficulty. We know that the main international airport in Santiago has been closed and communications are disrupted. So, it'll take a bit of time before the scale of the disaster is able to be assessed.
END
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