E&OE....................................................
JOURNALIST:
Prime Minister, wharfies are staging another seven-day strike from
next Tuesday, what do you think?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, it's obvious that there is a deep division between the
MUA and the ACTU. The ACTU wants the strike restricted, the wharfies
want to spread it to a lot of areas. My view is very simple, we support
more competition on the waterfront, we support any activity, within
the law of Australia, to give this country a more productive and a
more competitive waterfront. And we will act in all ways to achieve
that aim.
JOURNALIST:
What sort of damage are these wharfies doing to Australia?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, for years we have been denied a more competitive waterfront.
For years we have denied jobs and more export because we've had
a relatively unproductive waterfront and I want to see that changed.
JOURNALIST:
Patricks is considering legal action, would you support that?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, Patricks, like any other company, are entitled to act within
the law. My view is very simple, we change the law to allow certain
things to occur and I will support any action by Patricks or by the
National Farmers Federation that is within the law.
JOURNALIST:
Prime Minister, the union is claiming that Patricks was bringing in
security guards and dogs tomorrow morning at the Brisbane waterfront.
Do you support that sort of action?
PRIME MINISTER:
Look, I don't know what every individual company in Australia
does and I'm not going to try and answer for it. My view and
my principle is very simple. I support anything that will give us
a better waterfront provided it is within the law.
JOURNALIST:
The Democrats and Labor say the Government's, in fact, fanning
this unrest. What do you say to them?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, I don't take much notice of the Democrats.
JOURNALIST:
Are you fanning it by not intervening, though, or discouraging this
action?
PRIME MINISTER:
I'm for a more productive waterfront and I think most Australians
are. Overwhelmingly Australians are fed-up with lack of competition
on the waterfront.
JOURNALIST:
Sydney's the biggest port though, a seven day strike could be
crippling.
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, if there is a strike it'll be the fault of the MUA and
no one else's fault.
JOURNALIST:
Mr Howard, Senator Harradine is backing the Wik Bill being subject
to the Racial Discrimination Act. Are we now headed for a race-based
election?
PRIME MINISTER:
Look, I'm not going to start giving another running commentary
on that issue. I made a very fair offer yesterday and I hope it might
still be taken up. But I'm not going to give a running commentary
on a piece of legislation that is still in front of the Senate. Our
position is very clear. Everyone knows it. We've presented a
fair, decent compromise and the sooner the thing is passed by the
Senate and we can get this issue behind us, the better for all of
us.
JOURNALIST:
Prime Minister, the Japanese economy, what does the situation there
mean for Australia?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, I think the Japanese economy has a great deal of resilience
and I don't think people should start jumping to conclusions
about difficulties in the Japanese economy. Obviously, like any other
nation, from time to time structural change is necessary. But Japan
has unrivalled strength when it comes to her trade surplus, her savings
ratio, her long history of economic productivity and economic competition.
Japan is a remarkable economy and it would be very foolish for people
to embrace and unnecessarily negative views about the outlook for
Japan.
JOURNALIST:
We are talking about the corner stone of Asia's economy here,
though. I mean, are you saying that people should just hold back a
bit and not panic yet?
PRIME MINISTER:
I'm saying that, fundamentally, the Japanese economy is very
strong, that's what I'm saying.
JOURNALIST:
Mr Howard, how does July the 4th sound for an election?
PRIME MINISTER:
I thought it was American Independence Day.
Thank you.
[Ends]