Extract of doorstop interview
Transcript, proof E&OE
Subjects: Assistance to Pakistan; Judicial Review for Scott Rush
19 August 2010
STEPHEN SMITH: ....Firstly can I just make some remarks about Pakistan. The situation unfortunately in Pakistan continues to deteriorate. Floodwaters continue to rise and spread. Monsoon rains continue and so we're very concerned about the deteriorating situation in Pakistan.
Some 20 million people adversely affected; six million people desperately in need of food aid. Australia currently is in the top four contributors.
In the course of the last couple of weeks we've announced $35 million worth of assistance including through C17 defence aircrafts flying supplies direct to Pakistan.
Overnight tonight, the United Nations General Assembly will consider the situation in Pakistan. Australia continues to urge not just Australians to give generously but we urge the international community to also redouble its efforts so far as Pakistan is concerned.
Secondly there is some interest in Scott Rush's appeal. You might have seen overnight that the Indonesian court effectively deferred the hearing of his appeal procedures until next week, Thursday twenty-eight.
We will patiently wait until the Indonesian judicial and legal processes have been concluded. If at that stage he is still subject to the death sentence then we will pursue, as we've always indicated, a plea of clemency on his behalf.
Media inquiries
- Minister's Office: (02) 6277 7500
- Departmental Media Liaison: (02) 6261 1555