28 November 1996 TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER
THE HON JOHN HOWARD MP
DOORSTOP THE RESIDENCE OF
THE BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONER
DEAKIN, CANBERRA
E& EO
JOURNALIST:
Mr Howard how likely is it that we could end up going to an early election over
budget bills
PRIME MINISTER:
The only thing at issue now is whether the Senate will pass something that the
Australian public think is fair and that is a measure which restricts the immediate
availability of certain welfare benefits to migrants once they arrive in this country. We
disclosed this before the election, the people voted for it, and all we're doing is putting
it back and asking the Senate t) reconsider.
JOURNALIST: And if the Senate rejects it agaln?
PRIME MINISTER:
Look, we want the measure, this is not an exercise in anything else. I've said all along
that I want the Parliamnent to run its full course. I also want the Senate to pass
measures that the public wants. I mean, the Senate should pass this because the public
voted for it and we're going t8 put it back and ask the Senate to pass it again.
JOURNALISTAnd if the Senate doesn't paiit again? V
PRIME MINISTER:
Oh look, you come and talk to me then. But, you know, I wouldn't sort of get too
excited. JOURNALIST: Mr Howard, you're talking about going full term and Mr Costello was hinting...
PRIME MINISTER:
I don't.. . I know exactly what he said and I've talked to him we talk very regularly
and I just ask you all not to get excited.
JOURNALIST: Wasn't he hinting at tax rises yesterday as well?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, we have no intention of lifting tax. What we do point out to the Australian
public is that if expenditure savings are knocked off then Australians lose the
opportunity of even lower taxes. It's a big difference between increasing tax and
pointing that out.
JOURNALIST: Would you be happy to go to a campaign with that as a primary issue?
PRIME MINISTER:
Oh look, I've only just been elected and I'm liking it.
JOURNALIST: Mr Howard were you aware that Mr Costello was going to make these remarks about
the double dissolution today?
PRIME MINISTER:
He didn't talk about a double dissolution,
JOURNALIST: Well, about it going to an election? 2
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PRIME MINISTER:
Well took, Peter Costello and I have had a number of lengthy conversations, we talk to
each other very regularly. I don't think he said anything about a double dissolution. I
haven't heard the full transcript but I have spoken to him several times today and he
didn't make any reference to that.
JOURNALIST: ( Inaudible)
PRIME MiNISTER:
Well I didn't see it that way.
JOURNALIST: If the Senate rejects the bill twice after three months...
PRIME MINISTER:
Look, you know I never answer hypothetical questions but could I just again, I have
expressed and he has expressed on a number of occasions a desire for the Parliament to
run its full course.
JOURNALIST: If Australians have to forsake tax cuts does that mean you're going to stick rigidly to
the deficit reduction programme?
PRIME MINISTER:
Gee, let me think about that. What do you mean? I don't quite follow that.
JOURNALIST: If the budget deficit strategy is blown out by the Senate...
PRIME MINISTER:
I don't know whether it will, I mean, we've still got a few bills to be voted on in the
Senate. I think with the bills in the Senate you've got to look at each of them in
isolation. We've got the industrial relations bill through, we've got a large number of
budget bills through. I hope the Senate will pass the HECs legislation. I hope the
Senate will pass the Hligher Education legislation. I hope in particular they Will
support that measure because it gives to parents greater choice. I would find it very
strange if the Senate were to reject a measure that would allow the emergence of low
fee paying independent schools. It would seem to me to be promoting elitism to vote
against that measure. And so I certainly hope the Senate will pass that measure 3
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because I think it's an important element in providing choice to Australian parents and
to Australian families and that's something to which the Government is very strongly
committed. Once again, that's a measure that we put to the Australian public at the
election. We were open about that and for some reason the Labor Party and the
Democrats are opposed to it. My view about Senate measures is that you look at each
on its own. And we're very pleased that the cooperation we received from the
Australian Democrats in relation to the passage of the industrial relations legislation. I
hope we can get the support of some of the Independents in relation to other measures.
In respect of the migrant waiting period bill, we're disappointed in the extreme because
we think the Australian public wants this bill it's a fair bill, it takes a load off the backs
of Australian taxpayers against battling taxpayers and we think it ought to be passed.
JOURNALIST: What do you think of the chances of it being passed when it's reintroduced?
PRIME NMSTER:
Well next week, I mean, what happens is that when a measure is unacceptably
amended by the Senate the House of Representatives has to send a message back to
the Senate saying that it doesn't accept the amendments. I just hope next week the
Senate will reconsider its position.
ends.
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