This is audio and text of Prime Minister John Gorton’s address to the National Press Club on June 20, 1968.
Gorton appeared at the Press Club just 5 months and 10 days after becoming prime minister, following the death of Harold Holt.
He had just returned from a 12-day trip to South-East Asia, where he visited South Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. The trip was against the backdrop of the Vietnam War and its escalation via the Tet Offensive just weeks after Gorton became PM.
Gorton announced an extra $132 million of Defence spending, including an extra 3000 men for the regular forces and new equipment.