Fax from 07/ 09/ 96 18: 39 Pg: 18
7 SEPTEMBER 1996 TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER
THE HON. JOHN HOWARD MP
DOORSTOP INTERVIEW, NSW GENERAL MEETING OF
STATE COUNCIL ST MARY'S BAND CLUB
JOURNALIST: Mr B3eazley intends to oppose measures in the Budget. What is your response to that?
PRIME MINISTER:
If you really believe in lower interest rates you will let the Budget go through
unscathed. There's a direct link over time between the size of the Budget deficit and
the level of housing interest rates. I can't think of anything that's more likely to slow
down further interest rate reductions over time, than people mucking around with the
Budget. JOURNALIST: How far will you be pushed, Mr Howard, before it becomes a possibility of a double
dissolution? PRIME MINISTER:
Oh look I'm not contemplating a double dissolution. It's not in my range of
contemplation. JOURNALIST: How much trouble will you have to have with the Telstra sale, before that becomes an
option?
Fax from PRIME MNISTER:
Well I'm not considering a double dissolution, I'm continuing to advocate getting the
Telstra legislation through, advocate the cause of that through the minor parties in the
Senate and I hope that we can be successful, but I don't take anything for granted. I'll
continue to talk to them and deal with them and listen to their questions and respond
to their concerns, and I'm hopeul but I don't take anything for granted. But as far as
a double dissolution is concerned, I'm not interested in a double dissolution, I'm eager
to have three years and I think the Australian public is eager that we have three years
and probably some more after that as well, but that'll be a matter for them to decide in
three years' time or two and a half years' time.
JOURNALIST: Will Senator Colston's defction make it easier for you to get your package through?
Have you speaking to him over the last few days?
PRIME MINISTER;
I haven't spoken to him, no. Some of my colleagues I think have spoken to him, I
don't know how many. I'm not going to publicly speculate about how any individual
is going to vote or how the Democrats are going to vote, the only person who can say
how Senator Colston is going to vote, is Senator Colston. The only person who can
speak for Senator Harradiae, is Senator Harradine, and the only people who can speak
for the Australian Democrats are the Australian Democrats. And I want to make it
clear I am not going to get into the business of publicly ruminating about or
speculating as to how any of these people are going to vote. If you want to know how
they're going to vote, you should address your questions to them.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, the appointment, of a Labor Minister to head of SOCOG, how do you
feel about that?
PRIME MINISTER:
I don't want to make any comment about it at this stage beyond saying again that to
me, total co-operation between the Labor Government of New South Wales and the
Liberal National Party Govenment federally is important, to Australia having and
Sydney having a successful Olympic Games in the year 2000. The Australian public
Wants a bi-partisan apolitical approach on both sides, on both sides, to the Olympic
Games and I will talk to some people on the SOCOG Board, I'll talk to the Premier,
I'll naturally talk to Mr Coates the head of the Australian Olympic Committee, I'll do
everything I can to make sure that the Olympic Games of 2000 in Sydney are a
uniting experience for the Australian people and an opportunity to showcase the
wonders of Australia and the beauty of Sydney to the rest of the world. 2.
07/ 09/ 96 18: 39 PS: 11
Fax from JOURNALIST: Mr Howard, will you rule out meeting, or having Mr Downer meeting the Dalai
Lama? PRIME MINISTER:
I don't have anything to add to what I've said before in relation to that. I place a very
high store on human rights and naturally I meet people according to my assessment of
what is in the best interests of Australia.
JOURNALIST: How do you feel at the moment about the possibility of a by-election?
PRIME MINISTER:
Oh there's a possibility of a by-election, because the defeated Labor member who was
thrown out with a swing of more than 12 per cent, by Jackie Kelly who's with me thik
morning, has gone to the Court of Disputed Returns and the Judge has reserved his
judgemernt. And if a by-election is ordered, because of a technicality, then we'll fight
very hard to retain the seat. It will be a tough fight, but we've got a geat member in
Jackic Kelly. She's asked more questions of the Government than any other member
of Parliament in the six months that she's been in Parliament and if ever anybody
represents the aspirations of western Sydney, it's Jackie Kelly.
JOURNALIST: ( inaudible)
PRIME MINISTER:
It will be a tough, hard fight. It was a Labor stronghold until Jackie Kelly came in
like a breath of fresh air with the policies of the Coalition in March and we'll be
asking the people of Lindsay, if there is a by-election ordered, to confirm their
decision of March and to vote for the future rather than the failed past
JOURNALIST: ( inaudible)
PRIME MINISTER:
I didn't hear a word of that I'm sorry.
JOURNALIST: ( inaudible) 87/ 09/ 96 18: 39 Pg: 12
I Fax from PRIME MINISTER:
jcan't every imagine either Donald McDonald or John Valder not getting a say.
Thank you. Faoxm 07/ 89/ 96 18: 39 Pg: 13