E&OE................................................................................................
JOURNALIST:
Prime Minister, what's better, the GST passed by the Senate or
Australia winning the World Cup?
PRIME MINISTER:
Oh gee, don't put me on the rack. Oh well, you know my passions
about cricket and it was tremendous. But the GST going through the
Senate is the end of what I guess is a almost a 25 year odyssey. I've
been trying now myself for something close to 20 years to get fundamental
tax reform in this country and it is now I think within real reach.
I can't imagine that the legislation as amended will be rejected
in the House of Representatives where the Government has a healthy
majority. So I want to express my gratitude to the Senate leadership
of my own Government, to Robert Hill, to Rod Kemp and to Ian Campbell
for their work. I want to thank the Australian Democrats for the faithfulness
of the commitment they made after we'd reached an agreement.
They were straight-forward and direct in their negotiations. We have
a better tax system and as a result we'll have a stronger economy.
And I'm proud that once again the Government has been able to
do things. We are a Government that does things. Unfortunately our
opponents knock and say no and I think the Australian public's
getting tired of that. They're tired of Oppositions that bag
and criticise and nark rather than occasionally getting behind the
Government and saying well we agree with that, even though we'd
like to replace them we agree with that. And I think the Australian
public's well of patience for that is starting to run a little
dry.
JOURNALIST:
How important to you is it after a quarter-of-a-century in politics
to see tax reform come to fruition?
PRIME MINISTER:
It's very important personally because I'd known for 20
years that we've needed fundamental reform of our tax system.
You go into public life to do things for the betterment of the country,
not to have a white car and the perks such as they may or may not
be of office, but to actually do things to achieve something. And
I feel a sense of achievement about this like virtually none other,
and it's a great sense and it's a great feeling. And I guess
when it finally goes through the House of Representatives I'll
know finally and for sure it's over, although I get a sneaky
suspicion we might get it through the House of Representatives.
JOURNALIST:
Is it a testament to your true Australian grit?
PRIME MINISTER:
Oh look I'll leave it for others to make observations about my
personal commitment or otherwise. But I've certainly been trying
a long time and I have a tremendous sense of personal achievement
and my party has too. And I want to thank Peter Costello very warmly
for what he's done because Peter has carried the detail of it
and he's carried it very well and he's carried it with great
persistence and great skill and great flair. And it thank him very
warmly for the role that he's played behind me.
JOURNALIST:
What's your priority now Prime Minister?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well the priority now is to go on governing well for the people of
Australia. And we've got the business tax reform plan coming
out soon, and there will be other few things around the corner. I've
always got a few surprises. I think part of political life is to have
the odd surprise and we go onto the Federal Council meeting of the
Liberal Party at the weekend which will celebrate the great Liberal
family and it will be an opportunity for us to talk about the future
and to throw forward to the remainder of the Government's second
term.
JOURNALIST:
PM, you're heading abroad in seven days.....
PRIME MINISTER:
Yes I am.
JOURNALIST:
....so what sort of message does today's decision by the Senate
send out to our trading partners?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well it sends a very clear message to the rest of the world that this
is country and this Government is serious about economic reform. It's
serious about being competitive. We have stared down the worst of
the Asian economic downturn but we're showing that today's
strength is a product of yesterday's reform. Today's reform
will deliver tomorrow's strength. And what this means is that
in a few years time the Australian economy will be even stronger because
we'll have a more competitive tax system.
JOURNALIST:
And your new found ally in the Senate, how do you see that working
with the Democrats...?
PRIME MINISTER:
We will deal with the Democrats in good faith on each individual issue.
I don't make blanket predictions. It's ridiculous to do
so. I have found in relation to tax that they are a group of men and
women who deal directly and honestly and candidly and on other issues
we'll reach agreement, on others we won't. I don't
have any starry eyed delusions but equally I have a determination
to do what I can to secure there support on important issues.
JOURNALIST:
Do you think the Democrats have an obligation to sell the GST now
throughout its implementation?
PRIME MINISTER:
It's the Government's responsibility to sell, as you put
it, the GST because it was our proposal and we don't shirk from
that and we will make the resources available to ensure that the Australian
public is fully aware of the enormous benefits and the enormous advantages
as well as a way in which this new proposal operates. One more question.
JOURNALIST:
Do you have empathy for some of the political flak that the Democrats
have been taking over the GST and also the environment legislation?
PRIME MINISTER:
I think they've handled themselves very well, very well indeed.
We all endure political flak. I think I can spell the work myself.
Thank you. Goodnight.