PM Transcripts

FOR PRESS PM. No. 5/ 1971
A USTRALIA DAY MESSAGE 1971
From the Prime Minister, Mr John Gorton
T his is the first Australia Day of our third century.
We should regard it as a landmark for new endeavours
to make Australia stronger and more self-reliant. I ask all Australians
to treat it as a national day in the real sense...,. as a focus for what we
are as a people and what we do as a nation.
We move into our third century with a great many
advantages denied to others. We are the only continent in the world
inhabited by a single nation and we have in recent years discovered
great wealth in our national resources. We have a steadily-increasing
population and full employment.
Although we are facing some economic challenges at the
present time, we have an economy growing more varied every ) ear.
This holds much promise for the future prosperity of our nation.
But we must not forget that there is still a pioneering
job to be done. We are taking on new responsibilities in our region and
we have great tasks at home to tackle. This is not a time to be content
with past achievements or to look for more leisure as a primary
industrial goal It is a time to work to make sure we come to grips with
current problems and to sustain our growth as a nation. It is a time
to press ahead with development and expansion to eliminate poverty,
to improve the quality of life, to take a more active interest in
protecting our environment, and to support and promote our own
Australian culture. If Australia Da y helps to gi us an awareness of all
this, then it is a national day in the real sense.
CANBERRA, January 1971