E&OE................................................................................................
PRIME MINISTER:
Well I'd like, I know on behalf of all Australians, to thank
Mark Taylor for a magnificent innings as captain of Australia. He
has been a very great captain. He's had a terrific record. He
struggled through a period of personal batting adversity with tremendous
courage and kept his good humour and his good spirit. Never took his
eye off the responsibility of leading the Australian team. I want
to wish him and Judy, and their two children the very best for the
future. I think his decision is both understandable and correct. And
once again he's displayed a good judgement and I wish him well
for the future and I warmly thank him for the memories of some magnificent
innings and tremendous leadership.
JOURNALIST:
PM, do you have thoughts on a successor?
PRIME MINISTER:
That is a matter for the selectors and the Australian Cricket Board.
I am the Prime Minister I won't give a running commentary of
things like that. I don't think it's fair to the administrators.
Of course I have thoughts, but I'll keep them to myself.
JOURNALIST:
Do you think he's been Australia's best Test Captain?
PRIME MINISTER:
Oh, look, let's not get into comparisons. He must take his place
alongside people like Bradman, and Ian Chappell, and Richie Benaud.
Different people for different periods take different things into
account. West Indies perhaps haven't been as strong in the last
few years as they were in the 1970s and the 1980s. On the other hand
he's gone through some difficult personal periods which some
other captains didn't go through. And I don't want to sort
of start making comparisons, they're odious.
JOURNALIST:
[inaudible] Prime Minister when he was making up his mind?
PRIME MINISTER:
Oh look, he runs his own life. We talk to each other from time to
time. I'm quite sure his ultimate council, as it should be, his
wife and family.
JOURNALIST:
Do you think Australian Test Cricket can maintain its momentum in
the short term?
PRIME MINISTER:
I'm quite certain it can. I mean there's enormous depth
in Australian cricket, enormous depth and I have no doubt that the
team will continue to be a very strong one, no doubt at all. But thank
you Mark for the tremendous contribution to Australian cricket.
JOURNALIST:
[inaudible]?
PRIME MINISTER:
I have not...[inaudible].
JOURNALIST:
Do you have (inaudible) like a standing ovation?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well I was delighted to see that Test Match, it was one of the best
matches I've seen in years.
JOURNALIST:
PM, can I just ask you, are you pleased with today's trade figures?
PRIME MINISTER:
It's a very good figure. It's only one month, but it is
an excellent figure and it's way better than market expectations.
But I emphasise it's only one month.
Thank you.
[ends]