PRESS STATEMENT NO. 1
6 December, 1972
Immediately upon the return of the Labor Government,
Senator Lionel Murphy, set out to arrange for the release
of seven young men serving eighteen-month gaol sentences under
the National Service Act.
Last night, I signed letters to the Governor-General,
Sir Paul Hasluck, recommending remission of the sentences.
In my letters, I said:
" The effect of these decisions is that all
obligations to render national service will cease and that
there will be no further court proceedings against those who
opposed the scheme. In the recent elections, it was a part
of my party's election programme that this action would be
taken and that a recommendation would be made that Your
Excellency exercise the prerogative to bring about the
release from custody of those offenders against the National
Ser-v. ic Act who are still in custody. It may be assumed that
this was endorsed by the electors and that Your
Excellency's Government has a mandate to take these steps.
The decision havin--been taken not to proceed with pending
prosecutions, it veld not be just to keep in custody those
now serv-ing pris o sentences for offences under the National
Service Act." This mornng the Governor-General exercised the
prerogative of mercy to release the men on my recommendation.
Arrangements have now been made with prison
authorities in the States for the immediate release of the
sevenmen r-hrre. were serving sentences in Victoria, two in
Nevy-out^ i', one in South Australia and one in Western
tralia. The seven are Michael John Payne, Ian Robert Turner,
i chael . h'ristonher Matteson, Michael Kocan, Robert Geoffrey
Scates, Kenneth Joseph McLelland and Robert William Martin.
I firmly believe that this historic decision marks'
the end of peace-time conscription in Australia for all time.
ATTACHMENT TO PRESS STATEMENT NO. 1
6 December, 1972
The men who will be released from goal today, the names
of the gaols where they have been held and the dates on which
they were imprisoned are as follows:
NEW SOUTH WALES
Michael KOCAN, Mannis Afforestation Camp, 27 April 1972;
Michael Christopher MATTESON, Long Bay, 9 November 1972;
VICTORIA Kenneth Joseph McLELLAND, Pentridge, 8 March 1972;
Ian Robert TURNER, Ararat, 21 January 1972;
Robert Geoffrey SCATES, Pentridge, 26 April 1972;
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Robert William LARTIN, Cadell Training Camp, Renmark, 25 February 1972;
WESTERN AUSTRALI
Michael John PAYNE, Kames Training Centre, Serpentine, 23 October 1972.
i.