PM Transcripts

EMBARGO: NOT TO HE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST OR TELECAST BEFORE
7.15 P. M. ON TUESDAY, 24TH NOVEMBER.
BROADCAST NO, 1 SENATE ELECTION
BROADCAST BY THE PRIME MINISTER THE RT. HON.
SIR ROBERT MENZIES, OVER ABC NATIONAL STATIONS
IN ALL STATES AT 7,15 P. M. ON TUESDAY,
24TH NOVEMBER, 1964
The primary issue in this Senate Election is whether
you want to reverse your decision of December last.
Now why should you? You agreed with us that Labour,
divided, and under the growing influence of the Left Wing,
is not to be trusted to maintain sturdy foreign policies,
or to have a realistic defence policy.
Why should you change your minds?
Take our domestic policy, from development to
education to housing. We have just concluded the most
active and productive Session in the history of the Commonwealth
Parliament. Many our soecial policy promises
have already been performed or put into legislative form
so that they may operate next year. Prosperity is high.
Wages are at record levels, The national income has grown.
Unemployment has disdppeared
You elected us to carry out a three-years policy,
Why should you now defeat your own choice?
True, Labour does not like our provision for science
teaching and scholarships in secondary schools, without
discrimination between State and Church or private schools,
With. a majority in the Senate, it could defeat any further
legislation in this field, or disallow any Regulations.
On top of all this, we now have a cleavage between
the parties on the vital matter of Defence,
But I should say something to you about our reasons
for introducing a limited measure of compulsory selective
military service in the Regular Army.
Our strategic position has suffered a deterioration
since the end of last year. North Vietnam has not hesitated
to attack ships and forces. South Vietnam is
increasingly threatened by the Communists. Indonesian
attacks upon Malaysia are increasing in illegal boldness.
Our own forces have been engaged in resisting them. Clearly
our defence provisions must be stepped up.
The present strength of the Regular Army, well
trained, well equipped, and mobile, is 22,750. I e are
convinced on the highest military advice, that we should
increase this to 37 500, which would mean an effective force
of 33,000 by the ena of 1966. Current experience of
recruiting shows that these numbers just cannot be achieved
in the time unless there is a compulsory call-up.
We have adopted this policy in the interests of the
national security, You will take your own way of expressing
your own opinions about it, You would have had a poor
opinion of us if we had delayed the announcement until after
the Senate Election. We thought you ought to know right away.
Without this now policy the defence of Australia would be
inadequate. This, in a period of great risk, would be a grave
breach of Government duty,