Subjects: Sir John Gorton
E&OE....................................................................................................
JOURNALIST:
Prime Minister, could I get a quick word on Sir John Gorton as we
go into this evening?
PRIME MINISTER:
I'm delighted that the Liberal Party tonight will honour his
service to the Australian people and to the Liberal Party.
JOURNALIST:
What sort of Prime Minister was he?
PRIME MINISTER:
He was a passionately nationalistic Prime Minister. He brought a style
and flair that was different. He was one of the people who earlier
than most understood the power of communication on television. And
he was unconventional in some ways and he's proud of that but
he always had a very clear view as to what the Australian national
interests was and he always put the national interest ahead of provincial
or sectional interest. And there's an instruction in that for
all Australian Prime ministers.
JOURNALIST:
A true Liberal.
PRIME MINISTER:
Yes. Everybody has their own definition of what that is. His view
of liberalism and mine, we converge on some issues and diverge on
others but that's the nature of a broad church. We find that
in any political party.
JOURNALIST:
And I suppose, well, you'll welcome him back to the fold after
some years where perhaps he was in some sort of exile anyway.
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, I wouldn't use that word. He's been a great Australian.
He served Australia courageously in war time and paid very dearly
during war. And he is Australia's oldest living ex-Prime Minister
and we're delighted that he's with us tonight and I'm
delighted to, as the 25th Prime Minister of Australia,
to have the opportunity of honouring the 19th Prime Minister
of Australia, the first Senator to become Prime Minister of Australia
it's a long time ago now 1968 to 1971. It will
be a very nice thing.
JOURNALIST:
And something the Liberal Party would like to do more of, celebrate
its former leaders perhaps, like the Labor Party is legendary for
doing.
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, we're not into copying anything the Labor Party does. We're
doing this because it ought to be done and people want it to happen.
I suggested it to the Party two weeks ago and they took up the suggestion
very enthusiastically and we are very happy that John and Nancy are
with us tonight.
[Ends]