Army Minister in Singapore DPR/TV/1066

After his five-day Vietnam tour, during which he spent Easter with Australian troops, Army Minister, Mr Phillip Lynch, paid a six-day visit to Singapore and Malaysia. In Singapore, he toured the Nee Soon, Selarang, and Dover Road complexes, where Australian troops are expected to be based after their withdrawal from Malaysia. The Minister was able to renew his interest in helicopters on a flight over the Nee Soon, Sembawang and Selarang areas. At Selerang they landed near the Barracks complex, where Mr Lynch was met by senior British and Australian Army Staff members. They discussed with him plans for the changeover of Australian and British troops. Shortly afterwards, the official party entered cars for the journey to the Nee Soon Army married quarters, where Mr Lynch had further discussions with British officers. His visit to Singapore had included talks with Singapore Defence Minister, Lim Kim San, the Commander-in-Chief Far East, Admiral Sir Peter Hill-Norton, and Army Commander Sir Peter Hunt, as well as discussions with the Australian High Commission and Australian Army officials. Mr Lynch was accompanied by Mrs Lynch, the Army Secretary, Mr Bruce White and Assistant Secretary (General), Mr Bill Major. They returned to Australia today. Mr Lynch and his party left Australia on March 28 for visits to Vietnam, where he spent his second consecutive Easter with Australian troops, Malaysia and Singapore. Mrs Lynch visited patients in Australian Forces Hospital, Vung Tau and, in Malaysia, took the opportunity of meeting families of Australian Servicemen.