E&OE...........................................
JRNLST:
You've offered to fund a High Court challenge against the Wik
plan. Will this stop the critics, do you think?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well this is the circuit breaker that can see this matter resolved
in an honourable way.
What we're saying is, let the court decide. The Senate should
pass the bill. If it is challenged, as I am sure it will be, then
the Government will fund that challenge and moreover, we will approach
the High Court in the normal way and ask the Court to expedite its
hearing.
Now this is the honourable way out and I do hope earnestly that Mr
Beazley seizes the moment and says yes, this is a way in which the
court can resolve the matter because much of the Labor Party's
criticism of our legislation has been on the basis that it might be
unconstitutional and we are prepared of course to allow that to be
determined and we will ask that it be determined as quickly as possible.
The Australian people want this matter resolved. This is the honourable
way of resolving it. I now say to Mr Beazley, you should seize this
opportunity to have this matter honourably resolved.
Thank you.
ENDS