Australia To Treble Vietnam Forces

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31004, 9 March 1966, Page 14

Australia To Treble Vietnam Forces

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) CANBERRA, March 8. Australia will treble its military commitment in Vietnam in June. A task force of 4500 men containing the fifth and sixth battalions, including national servicemen, will replace the Ist battalion now in South Vietnam.

The Prime Minister (Mr Holt) announced Australia's increased commitment in the House of Representatives tonight.

It was hi s first major statement to Parliament as Prime Minister.

Mr Holt said Australia’s contribution in Vietnam would be enlarged to 4500 men—trebling the current strength of Australian forces in Vietnam. The task force would contain a headquarters, two infantry battalions, a special Air Service squadron and a substantial force of combat and logistic support units. It would be equipped with a flight of eight Royal Austral-

ian Air Force Iroquois helicopters. Mr Holt said Australia would continue to provide a flight of Caribou aircraft and a team of 100 Army advisers. This contribution would be in addition to Australia’s other contributions for the defence of Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. 12 Months’ Duty

Mr Holt said the normal tour of duty for the task force in Vietnam would be 12 months.

Agreement had been reached with the United States for the sale of a substantial quantity of Australian small arms ammunition to American forces in South Vietnam. Australia had also been asked to quote for several other important items.

Mr Holt said the Australian Government had raised the matter with the American

Vice-President (Mr Humphrey) during his recent visit It is believed that Australia could, with advantage to the allied effort, play an increasing part in supply. Service Medal Mr Holt also announced a joint Australian and New Zealand service medal for Vietnam. He said the New Zealand Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) and he were jointly recommending to the Queen that the special medal be struck. “The Prime Minister of New Zealand and I have seen the issue of a special medal as another welcome link in the chain of the Anzac tradition,” Mr Holt said. Mr Holt announced that he hoped to visit South Vietnam within the next few months. He also hoped to visit other South-east Asian countries where Australian troops were on active service. Long-term Loans | He announced a special Commonwealth payment of 50-million dollars to enable banks to grant long-term loans to primary producers affected by drought.

Mr Holt said that under the current immigration review non-Europeans would be able to apply for citizenship after five years—the same period as applied to settlers from Europe. Hitherto non-Euro-peans had to spend 15 years in Australia before applying. Mr Holt said other changes were being made which maintained the basic principles of Australian immigration policy but which would enable more flexibility in administration. Mr Holt said that there were now more than 12,000 Asian students being educated in Australia.

That fact, together with the expansion of Australia’s military effort, the scale of diplomatic contact, increasing Australian participation in aid projects and the growth of tourism, combined to make an immigration review desirable.

“But it is important at the same time that there should be a clearer understanding in Asia of our policy and the reasons for it,” he said. “It is certainly not based on any false nation of Superiority.”