Media Release - National Update on Tsunami Appeal - 6 January 2005

In response to the continued escalation of the Asia tsunami tragedy, in particular its impact on children and families, the National today announced it would donate $1 million to the appeal.

This donation is to be split evenly between CARE Australia's programs for women and children in the affected areas and World Vision Australia.

The National has also extended the list of agencies for which it can accept donations at its branches:

• World Vision Australia
• CARE Australia
• Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA (overseas aid arm of the ACTU)
• Lions Australia
• Oxfam Community Aid Abroad
• Caritas Australia
• Save the Children

Other contributions from the National include making an 800-seat call centre available for this Saturday's telethon appeal.  Approximately 500 National employees have volunteered to staff the phones.

The National's paid 'volunteer leave' program for employees is also being used to provide assistance to World Vision, UNICEF Australia, Caritas Australia, Australian Red Cross, Medecins Sans Frontieres and Baptist World Aid.  A number of other agencies are also exploring opportunities to take advantage of this resource and the National will continue to encourage employees to use paid 'volunteer leave' to support this effort.

The National is also making available EFTPOS facilities free of charge for the World Vision charity cricket match to be held at the MCG on Monday 10 January.

The National's Asia Tsunami Fund launched on 29 December 2004 has now raised over $6.1 million, including the $100,000 that the National contributed to 'kick-start' the appeal.  Over 46,000 individual donations have been processed.  The National intends to keep this fund open at least until the end of March.

In addition, the National's United Kingdom banks, Yorkshire Bank and Clydesdale Bank, have together collected more than £550,000 from the public, and Bank of New Zealand has raised approximately NZ$380,000 through donations to its branch network.

The National would also like to assure people making donations through the National that 100 per cent of their donations will make it to the various appeals.  No customer or inter-bank fees will apply.

For further information:

Mikala Sabin     
Corporate Affairs     
National Australia Bank    
03 8634 1572 work    
0404 863 976 mobile    

Samantha Evans
Corporate Affairs 
National Australia Bank
03 8641 4982 work 
0404 883 509 mobile