JUL 1970 VJSIT TO NEW GUINEA 1970
KIETA, BOUGAINVILLE LOCAL GCVERNMENT COUNCILS
Speech by the Prime Minister, I/ r. J ohn Gorton JULY 1970
I would like to thank the Me mber, Mr. Paul Lapun, for the kind things
which he has said about what Australia has done in general and about the small part
which I was able to play in the time of the troubles, so that between us we were able
to overcome those troubles.
I really cannot give an answer on whether a road to a particular locality
will be built yes or no I cannot do that at this stage. All .1 can say is if the
suggestions for this road, and possibly for otherroads, isputtorheAdministration-ard
I am sure you would be the man to put them to the A--ministration then they can
be fully considered along with other development proposals which would have to be
decided on the basis of economics a.-d developing priorities.
On the second question which you raised, that of trying to see that local
businessmen would have their own businesses in the town of Arawa, I understand
that it has already been agreed by the Administration that the Development Bank
will make loans to local people for businesses in that town subject only to a decision
as to whether they are likely to be a good businessman. That, of course, applies
to whoever loans are made, but we want to see as many local businessmen as
possible with their own businesses in this new town which is being properly planned
and properly built.
Also we want to ensure that the greatest possible equity is held by local
people in developments at Arawa. I have seen a list of a number of projects in
which the Administration want to see at least 49 per cent equity owned by the local
people, whether it is a garage, an hotel a variety of businesses of that kind
where we will certainly offer and seek to provide at least a 49 per cent equity.
I know that there are some people how many I don't know but there are
sume people who wish to secede from the Territory of Papua and New Guinea. I
think that it would be bad for the people of Bougainville if this should now happen.
I think that as a part of a much bigger unit, the future of the people of Bougainville
will be oetter. There will be bigger markets for the produce of Bougainville, there
will be the advantages that the people of Bougainville can go to other parts of the
Territory and get work there, join the Administration there, There are all the
advantages which a large unit gives to the people as distinct from a smaller unit.
Also as the industry of the other part of the Territory grovw and develops, as
perhaps oil is discovered on the mainland, then while Bougainville remains in the
Territory, she will share in all those advantages. And that means her individual
people will share in those advantages.
Australia itself is a Federation of six different states, and Australia
is strong and each state is the stronger because it is a part cf that Federation.
If the State were out by itself, it would be weak in all ways, or weaker in all ways, / 2
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and it would be to the detriment of the people of that state in Australia. And I think
the people of Bougainville should think of this and see whether it does not apply to
the people of Bougainville as well.
In any case, I suggest that it is much too early to try and reach any
decision on this subject now. I think there should be much more thought given to it
by the people of Bougainville, much more discussion, meditation on the advantages
of secession, recognition of the disadvantages of secession, talk amongst the older
men and the younger people. And that should go on for some long time. Time
enough to make significant decisions on something of this kind when thetime of
independence of the Territory comes. In the meantime, let there be proper
discusbion among the people of Bougainville.
Meanwhile, Members elected to the House of Assembly from Bougainville
will now have much more opportunity to influence decisions, and the Ministerial
Members and Assistant Ministerial Members will have much more ooportunity to
influence decisions. And they can get up when they are elected by their people here,
they can get up in the House of Assembly and speak for the people here and they
can say " We want this road" or " We want that harbour" or " We want that wharf",
and they can put the views of their people in the same way as Members of Parliament
from the different States do in Australia.
That does not mean, of course, that every time one of these requests
is raised, it will be met. But it does mean that the wishes of the people of
Bougainville will be able to be known all throughout the Territory. I know the
Members you have elected and they are pretty good Members and they speak out
strongly for the people of Bougainville.
So I think it is too soon yet to talk about referendums for secession.
I think, as I said before, there should be much more time for discussion amongst
the people here. And I say this and you know it is true. It is nothing to me if
Bougainville is independent. It is nothing to Australia if Bougainville is independent.
I don't say what I say because it is of some advantage to me or to Australia but
because I believe it is of advantage to the people of Bougainville, and I want them to
have a lot more time to make up their own minds about it.
I think that is all I have to say on those subjects except to express
the hope that now that much more authority has been given to Ministerial Members,
the Administrator's Executive Council and to the House of Assembly, and decisions
that were formerly made in Canberra will now be made in the Territory, that this
will help to develop the capacity for running the Territory amongst all the peoples
of the Territory and that they will all go forward together, helping each other, and
with Australia giving help as long as it's wanted, to build up a better life, a
better economic life for all the people.