TSUNAMI DISASTER - MEETING WITH AID AGENCIES

2 January 2005

The Governor-General, Major General Michael Jeffery will meet Australia's main non-government aid agencies to offer his full support and to be briefed on sustained assistance strategies for countries dealing with the aftermath of the tsunami disaster.

As the search for missing Australians continues in conjunction with victim identification, the Governor-General said the nation shared a profound sense of anguish for all the victims, their families and friends.

Major General Jeffery said Australians everywhere were still coming to terms with the scale and emotional impact of the disaster and he would continue to be personally involved in a range of support measures.

The Governor-General said that because the enormity of the catastrophe was still unfolding it was vital to ensure specialist agencies were fully supported.

The Governor-General will meet aid agency representatives in Sydney on Tuesday.

Major General Jeffery who has been in regular contact with the Prime Minister, said it was important that people heeded calls not to travel to areas where they could hamper relief operations and risk infection.

The Governor-General said he was deeply moved by the contributions made by millions of Australians from all walks of life, through financial and other donations, in their professional work and in many voluntary capacities.