JOURNALIST:
Mr Howard, your concessions to SOCOG re the GST and the Olympics
- do you think the News South Wales Government should embrace what
you've had to offer?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, what we've had to offer is a very reasonable thing and
it will greatly benefit Australians who are going to the Olympic
Games. I want the New South Wales Government to work with us. We
want to work with them. We want to make the Games successful. And
we've made a very reasonable offer and I'm hopeful that
Mr Carr will see that. And that when we meet some time in the next
two or three weeks all the outstanding loose ends can be tied up
and the impression again will be there that people are working together
to make these Games an outstanding success.
JOURNALIST:
But since the government hasn't signed the MOU does that make
you question their commitment?
PRIME MINISTER:
Look, I'm an optimist. I come to this whole thing with a very
positive frame of mind. The Australian community wants any suggestion
that bickering over the Games to end. That's been my view for
a long time. We've made a very reasonable offer and I am sure,
in the same spirit of reasonableness, the New South Wales Government
and SOCOG will agree to the conditions attached to our offer.
JOURNALIST:
And it's the last offer, no more concessions?
PRIME MINISTER:
Oh look, I don't use language like that in something where
the national reputation of Australia is at stake.
[ends]
k, I don't use language like that in something where
the national reputation of Australia is at stake.
[ends]