The Australian government has committed an immediate $5 million donation to help with the earthquake recovery effort in New Zealand.

The donation will be made to the New Zealand Red Cross earthquake appeal, following advice from the New Zealand government.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard said the money will be used to assist in the immediate recovery and to help Christchurch get back on its feet after one of New Zealand’s darkest days.

The Prime Minister has advised the New Zealand Prime Minister John Key that the Australian government will make the donation to the Red Cross.

The New Zealand Red Cross is on the ground in Christchurch, working with authorities to provide welfare assistance and first aid.
Red Cross relief supplies are being distributed and deployed from around New Zealand.

Medical, police support

Australian police officers as well as medical staff and a field hospital will be deployed to Christchurch to provide emergency assistance following a request from the New Zealand government.

Attorney-General Robert McClelland said the 300 police officers – comprising of 50 Australian federal police officers and 250 officers from state jurisdictions – will be deployed on Friday, for an initial period of two weeks. These police resources have been requested by the New Zealand
government to support general duties police as part of the disaster recovery.

This is in addition to an Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT) comprising of 25 Queensland-based personnel including emergency department doctors, nursing staff, an orthopaedic surgeon and general surgery specialists.

Australia is also supplying a 75 bed medical field hospital with ten surgical, medical and support staff.

“We have also sent two emergency management Australia liaison officers to the crisis command centre in New Zealand to ensure any requested assistance is provided as quickly as possible," Mr McClelland said.

“This assistance is in addition to more than 140 uban search and rescue specialists that have been deployed by Australia to New Zealand.

“A number of these specialists are already on the ground right now in Christchurch helping with the rescue effort."

Mr McClelland said the Australian government remains in regular contract with our New Zealand counterparts to offer any assistance they need.