Escape fees embarrass Aussie Navy

SYDNEY - The Australian Navy scored a major public relations victory with its slick evacuation of Honiara yesterday, then just as quickly turned victory into defeat.

All the good work that HMAS Tobruk did with the evacuation was undone by a plan to charge everyone rescued - Australians as well as New Zealanders - $A717 ($907) an adult, $A480 a child and $A72 a baby.

Many in the Solomons denounced the escape fees as blackmail, especially as they had to sign IOUs and face the threat that their passports would be confiscated if they did not pay up.

But after a public outcry in Australia, the Navy beat a hasty retreat and agreed that the Tobruk would carry everyone to safety free.

- NZPA