MIN4I STER IAL STATEMi41T
BY THE PRIME M1HSTER
MRa E. G. WHITLAM, M. P.,
HOUSE OF REPRESENITATIVES,
THURSDAY 13 DECEMBER 197.3
WE HAVE COME TO THE END OF A MOMENTOUS AND MEMORABLE
YEAR IN THE LIFE OF THE AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENT. JUST OVER
12 MONTHS AGO THE FIRST NATIONAL LABOR GOVERNMENT IN
23 YEARS WAS ELECTED TO OFFICE. THAT IN ITSELF WAS AN
EVENT OF HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE. IHATEVER THE POLICIES OR
ACTIONS OF THE NEW ADMINISTRATION, A CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT
AFTER SUCH A PROTRACTED INTERVAL OF CONSERVATIVE RULE WAS
BOUND TO BRING NEW IDEAS AND FRESH DIRECTIONS TO OUR
NATIONAL LIFE, TO CHALLENGE OLD ASSUMPTIONS AND STALE
HABITS OF MIND, TO INVIGORATE THE WHOLE CLIMATE OF POLITICAL
DEBATE IN THIS COUNTRY. SO IT HAS PROVED. FOR ALL OF US
IN THIS PARLIAMENT IT HAS BEEN A UNJIQUELY ARDUOUS AND EXACTING
YEAR. FOR MY COLLEAGUES IN THE LABOR GOVERNMENT IT HAS !; EEN
A YEAR OF IMMENSE EXCITEMENlT AND UNREMITTING ACTIVITY.
FOR THE AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE FOR THIS COUNTRY.-IT HAS BEEN
A YEAR OF PROGRESS AND REFORM ON A SCALE UNMATCHED IN THE
RECORDS OF THIS FEDERATION. v 1 2
-2
I HOPE THOSE WORDS WILL N'OT BE TAKEN AS AN EMPTY BOAST.
I iELIEVE THE RECORD OF THE 6OVERNMENT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
ANYONE WHO STUDIES THAT RECORD IMPARTIALLY AS I NOW INVITE
THE HOUSE TO DO WILL ACCEPT THE EVIDENCE OF A PRODIGIOUS
LEGISLATIVE ACHIEVEMENT. TODAY I WANT-TO BRING TOGETHER
THE MAIN ELEMENTS OF THAT ACHIEVEMENT AND IDENTIFY THE
CONSISTENT PHILOSOPHY -THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES THAT
LIE BEHIND ALL WE HAVE DONE AND ALL WE HAVE ATTEMPTED TO DO.
I REMIND THE HOUSE OF THIS: NOTHING WE HAVE DONE IN THESE
EVENTFUL MONTHS CAN BE SAID TO HAVE BEEN UNEXPECTED OR
UNPREDICTABLE. OUR POLICIES WERE FORMULATED OVER MANY YEARS.
THE MOST IMPORTAN'T OF THEM WERE PUT TO THE PEOPLE NOT ONCE,
BUT TWICE. WE HAVE DONE NOTHING THAT WE DID NOT PROMISE TO
DO, WE HAVE iJONE WHAT THE AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE CHARGED US TO DO
WHEN THEY CONFERRED UPON US THEIR MANDATE IN LECEMBER LAST YEAR.
MY POLICY SPEECH FOR THE LAST ELECTIONS STANDS, UNQUALIFIED
AND UNDIMINISHED, AS THE RECORD OF THIS GOVERNMENT'IS ACTIVITIES
IN THE PAST YEAR AND ITS MANIFLE3TO FOR THIE YEARS TO COME.
I DO NOT PRETEND THAT THE YEAR HAS 3EEN PLAIN SAILING.
OF COURSE IT HAS NOT. THERE IS MUCH IN OUR PROGRAM THAT WE
HAVE YET TO ACCOMPLISH;~ MANY OF OUR PLANS ARE STILL IN THEIR
FORMATIVE OR EMj3RYOWIC STAGES. THIERE IS MUCH, REGRETTABLY,
THAT WE HAVE BEEN PREVENTED FROM DOING OR jARINGING TO FRUITION.
IF THE YEAR HAS REVEALED CLEARLY THE NATURE AND PURPOSES OF THE
GOVERNMENT, IT HAS ALSO REVEALED EVEN MORE NAKEDLY, MORE
UNMISTAK( ABLY THE NATURE AND PURPOSES OF THE OPPOSIKfON. i o/ 3
I SHALL GIVE THE HOUSE PRESENTLY THE DETAILED EVIDENCE
OF THE SENATE'S OESTRUCTION. I DCUBT WHETHER AiY OF
US CAN RECALL AN OPPOSITION THAT HAS iEHAVED WITH SUCM
RECKLESS AND IRRESPONSILLE INDIFFERENCE TO THE PEOPLE' S
WILL, WE HAVE SEEN IN THE SENATE A PATTERN. OF FLATANT
OBSTRUCTION, OF FLAGRANT DEFIANCE OF A POPULAR MANDATE
CONFERRED FY THE PEOPLE ON AN ELECTED GOVERNMENT. WE HAVE
TOO OFTEN SEEN IN THIS HOUSE A PATTERN OF ROWDINESS, OF DELAY,
OF UNRULINESS, OF PERSISTENT ATTEMPTS TO BAIT THE CHAIR Ah-D
FRUSTRATE THE BUSINESS OF THE PARLIAMENT, WE HAVE
CONTENDED WITH DINOSAURS IN ONE PLACE AND SCHOOLPOYS IN
THE OTHER. YET BY LONG HOURS AND HARD WORK WE HAVE DEALT
WITH AN UNPRECEDENTED VOLUME OF BUSINESS IN THIS PARLIAMENT.
SOME IDEA OF TIHE SCALE OF OUR LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM WILL
BE SEEN FROM THE STATISTICS OF LILLS PASSED AND INTRODUCED.
SINCE THE 28TH PARLIAMENT ASSEMLED ON 27 FEPRUARY A TOTAL OF
253 BILLS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED. THAT FIGURE SURPASSES ALL
RECORDS. THE NEAREST APPROACH TO IT WAS 1b9 " ILLS IN 1968,.
THE PARLIAMENT HAS PASSED 203 OF THE EILLS INTRODUCED THIS YLR,
THE SIZE OF THAT ACCOMPLISHMENT l'ILL IE SEEN MORE CLEARLY FROM
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PAGES OF LEGISLATION DEALT WITH BY TiE
PARLIAMENT IN EACH OF THE PAST SIX YEARS. IN 1968EXCLUDING
CUSTOMS TARIFF SCHEDULES, THE PARLIAMEhT PASSED 775 PAGES
OF LEGISLATION. THERE ARE q81 PAGES IN 19Q, 660 PAGES
IN 1970; 872 PAGES IN 1971, AND 707 PAGES IN 1972.
THIS YEAR THE BILLS INTRODUCED CONTAINED MORE THAN 2200 PAGES,
ROUGHLY THREE TIMES THE TOTAL LAST YEAR, I KNOW WHAT A HEAVY
BURDEN THAT WORK HAS IMPOSED ON MEMBERS AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR
THE WAY THEY HAVE BORNE IT.
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THERE ARE OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN MEASURE THE VOLUME
OF PARLIAMENT4RY AND GOVERNMENT ACTIVITY. SINCE FEBRUARY THIS
YEAR 39 REPORTS ON INQUIRIES INSTITUTED BY THE GOVERNMENT HAVE BEEN
PRESENTED TO THE PARLIAMENT, NOT INCLUDING REPORTS FROM
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES OR REPORTS OF INQUIRIES INSTITUTED BY
THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT. THERE HAVE BEEN' 19. STATEMENTS AND
COMMUNIQUES TABLED ON MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS WITH STATE
GOVERNMENTS. SIX CONSTITUTION ALTERATION BILLS HAVE BEEN PRESENTED
TO THE PARLIAMENT, THE TEXTS OF 39 TREATIES AND AGREEMENTS WITH
OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN PRESENTED. BETWEEN JANUARY AND NOVEMBER
THIS YEAR THE CABINET ITSELF MADE A TOTAL OF 1675 DECISIONS,
WHATEVER MAY BE THOUGHT OF THIS GOVERNMENT, NOT EVEN ITS WORST
ENEMIES CAN CLAIM IT HAS BEEN IDLE.
GREAT AS OUR LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM HAS BEEN, THE
GOVERNMENT HAS NEVER CURTAILED OR DISRUPTED THE SMOOTH
PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSE OR TRESPASSED ON THE RIGHTS OF MEMBERS.
INDEED, THE RECORD WILL SHOW THAT THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A YEAR
WHEN PRIVATE MEMBERS HAVE HAD MORE OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE MATTERS
IN THE HOUSE AND HAVE THEM DEBATED FULLY. THE HOUSE HAS SAT
FOR A TOTAL OF 908 HOURS UP TO LUNCHTIME TODAY. THE GREATEST
NUMBER OF SITTING HOURS IN ONE YEAR FOR MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY.
AMONG THE PARLIAMENTS OF THE WORLD, ONLY THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE HOUSE OF COMMONS OF. CANADA HAVE SAT
FOR LONGER HOURS THIS YEAR.
YET WE HAVE ONLY SAT ONCE AFTER 11 PM. THE EXHAUSTING
FARCE OF SITTING INTO THE SMALL HOURS, ITS INTOI. ERABLE TOLL
ON THE EFFICIENCY AND DIGNITY OF THE PARLIAMENT. HAS-. IEEN
ABOLISHED. WE HAVE ALLOWED 70 DEBATES ON THE ADJOURNME'T
THE GREATEST NUMBER ON RECORD. WE HAVE NEVER ONCE CURTAILED
OR SUSPENDED DEPATE ON GE1NERAL BUSINESS, AND EVERYMATTER
RAISED BY A PRIVATE MEMBER HAS BEEN DEBATED AND. VOTED UPON.
THE GREAT THEME OF OUR LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM HAS BEEN
ONE OF. REFORM AND RENOVATION. WE RECOGNISED FROM THE BEGINNING
THAT THE REFORMS WE WERE SEEKING FOR AUSTRALIAN SOCIETY
FOR A MORE JUST AND HUMANE AUSTRALIANI SOCIETY WOULD BE
POSSIBLE ONLY THROUGH REFORMS IN TIJE STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT
ITSELF. SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE ORGANISATION OF THE
AUSTRALIAN PUBLIC SERVICE WERE ESSENTIAL TO PROVIDE THE
ADMINISTRATIVE RESOURCES FOR THE GOVERNMENT'S PROGRAM.
THAT WAS OUR FIRST TASK. WE SET ABOUT IT WITH VIGOUR
AND DETERMINATION. WE CREATED NEW DEPARTMENTS OF URBAN AND
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, ABORIGINAt. AFFAIRS, ENVIRONMENT AND
CONSERVATION, TOURISM AND RECREATION, MINERALS AND ENERGY
AND THE MEDIA TO ADMINISTER I4IOLE AREAS OF POLICY THAT
HAD BEEN NEGLECTED OR DOWNGRADED IN THE PAST, OUR PROGRAM
DID NOT MEAN SIMPLY A NEW EMPHASIS HERE OR A LITTLE EXTRA
MONEY THERE. IT MEANT A NEW AND RADICAL ASSESSMENT OF OUR
SOCIAL PRIORITIES AND GOALS. TO HAVE WORKED WITHIN THE
ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK OF OUR PREDECESSORS WOULD HAVE MEANT,
IN LARGE MEASURE, ACCEPTING THE VALUES AND PRIORITIES OF OUR
PREDFCES ORS. 4E WERE r'.! OT PREPARED TO DO SO.
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OUR ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES WERE MADE IN TWO STAGES,
THE FIRST STAGE WAS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DEPARTMENTS
FROM 27 TO 37. QUALIFIED EXPERTS FROM OUTSIDE THE PUBLIC
SERVICE WERE BROUGHT IN AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. I MENTION
A FEW MR. JAMES OSWIN IN THE DEPARTMENT OF. THE MEDIA,
DR. DON MCMICHAEL IN THE NEW DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT
AND CONSERVATION; fMRS. MARIE COLEMAN AS HEAD OF. THE NEW
AUSTRALIAN COMMISSION ON SOCIAL WELFAREI MR. CHARLES
ALTON IN THE AMALGAMATED DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT.
AT THE SAME TIME WE FOUND IT POSSIBLE TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY
AND EFFECT ECONOMIES BY MERGIIIG SOME DEPARTMENTS AND
REDUCING THE FUNCTIONS OF OTHERS. THUS, IN THE SECOND STAGE
OF OUR ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS, l" E REDUCED THE NUMBER OF
DEPARTMENTS FROM 37 TO 31. WE MERGED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFEMC-. AND CIVIL AVIATION WITi4 TRANSPORT.
WE COMBINED THE DEPARTMENTS OF HOUSING AND WORKS AS A SIJNGLE
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND CONSTRUCTION. THE DEPARTMENT OF
EXTERNAL TERRITORIES WAS ABOLISHED. I COMMEND UNRESERVEDLY
THE AUSTRALIAN PUBL. IC SERVICE FOR THE PROMPT AND EFFICIENT
WAY IT HAS ADAPTED TO THESE CHANGES. THE PUBLIC SERVICE
HAS RESPONDED TO THE GOVERNMENI'T'S HEAVY DEMANDS WITH
IMMENSE PROFESSIONAL SKILL AND DEDICATION. / 7
7
OUR CHANGES AND REFORMS, HOWEVER, DID NOT END WITH
THE RESTRUCTURING OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS. qE HAVE ARMED
THE ADMINISTRATIVE MACHINE WITH NEW FUNCTIONS AND ORGANISATIONS
TO DEAL WITH THE INCREASINGLY COMPLEX AND DIFFICULT PROILEMS
OF PLANNING FOR THE NEEDS OF A GROPING INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY.
SOME OF THE ORGANISATIONS HAVE BEE; GIVEN PERMAIENT
STATUTORY FORM, SUCH AS THE SCHOOLS COMMISSION, THE SOCIAL
'.' ELFARE COMMITTEE, THE PRICES JUSTIFICATION TRIBUNAL AND THE
PIPELINE AUTHORITY; OTHERS HAVE HAD. THEIR STATUTORY
CHARTER UTTERLY TRANSFORMED, SUCH AS THE CRAINTS COMMISSIOl,
THE CITIES COMMISSION AND THE INDUSTRIES ASSISTANCE COMMISSION.
IN ADDITION SPECIAL TASK FORCES HAVE BEEN SET UP TO DEAL WITH
SPECIFIC AREAS OF POLICY AND PLANNING. 10 FEVER THAN 01
COMMISSIONS OR COMMITTEES OF INCUIRY WERE ESTALLISHED
THIS YEAR. THE BEST KI! OIl OF THEM, PERHAPS, l" AS THE 00, M1lS
TASK FORCE, WHICH REPORTED TO US ON THE PREVIOUS GOVERNME-; T'S
EXPENDITURE PROGRAMS AND RECOMMENDED ECONOMIES It! THEM.
iO0 OTHER GOVERNMENT IN AUSTRALIA HAS APPLIED SUCH A SEARCHING
SCRUTINY TO THE EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC MONEY. IN ADDITION,
MINISTERS HAVE DRAWN ON THE SERVICES OF CONSULTANTS AND
OUTSIDE ADVISERS. ' VE HAVE ESTABLISHED A ! WHOLLY NEW INSTRUMENT
TO PROVIDE LONG-TERM ADVICL ON PUBLIC PRIORITIES A
" THINK TANK' WHICH WE HAVE NAMED THE PRIORITIES PEVIE-l STAFF.
I BELIEVE WE CAN NOW CLAIM THAT THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNME T IS
EQUIPPED WITH THE MOST MODERN, EXPERT AND COMPREHENSIVE
ADMINISTRATIVE MACHINERY EVER SEEN IN AUSTRALIA. ,/ I
I WANT TO SUMMARISE FOR HOHOURABLE MEiBERS THE MAIN
LEGISLATION AND POLICY DECISIONS THE GOVERNMENT HAS INITIATED
IN THE PAST YEAR. LET ME DEAL WITH Tl ' O BASIC PRINCIPLES COMMON
TO ALL OUR PROGRAMS. THE TWO GREAT AND GUIDING THEMES OF
THIS % VERNMENT HAVE BEEN THE PROMOTION OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
FOR OUR PEOPLE AND THE PROMOTION OF AUSTRALIAN OWNERSHIP AND
CONTROL OF OUR INDUSTRIES ANID RESOURCES.
4E ALONE HAVE PROCLAIMED ArND FOUGHT FOR THE RIGHT OF
AUSTRALIANS TO PARTICIPATE TO THE FULLEST POSSIFLE EXTENT IN
THEIR OWN INDUSTRIES. i,' E ALONE HAVE PROCLAIMED AND FOUGHT FOR
TIE RIGHT OF AUSTRALIANS TO OV'N AND CONTROL THE PRECIOUS
RESOURCES OF THIS CONTINENT. IS THERE ANYTHING STRANGE OR
UNNATURAL ABOUT THESE RIGHTS? HOW OFTEN DID
WE HEAR THEM EXPRESSED OR ARTICULATED UNDER OUR PREDECESSORS?
HotO OFTEN DID OUR PREDECESSORS TAKE FIRM OR DECISIVE ACTION
TO SAFEGUARD THEM? ' iE SEEK FOR THE AUSTRAL. IAN PEOPLE A GREATER
PARTICIPATION IN THE DESTINY OF THIS COUNTRY. 1dE SEEK FOR ALL
AUSTRALIANS THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE IN THAT DESTINY
AND TO LIVE THEIR LIVES WITH THE HIGHEST MEASURE OF MATERIAL
SECURITY AND lELL-IBEING AND 1" 1T! THE HIGHEST MEASURE OF
INTELLECTUAL AND SPIRITUAL FULFILMENT.
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WHEN I SPEAK OF EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY I AM NOT THINKING
SIMPLY OF THE REMOVAL OF POVERTY OR THE REDRESS OF OBVIOUS
INJUSTICES SUCH AS THOSE IN EDUCATION OR HEALTH. THE EVIDENCE
OF UNEQUAL OPPORTUNITY IS TO BE FOUND AT ALL LEVELS, IN ALL
AREAS OF SOCIETY. WE ARE PLEDGED, FOR EXAMPLE, TO GIVE GREATER
EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY TO WOMEN, WHO HAVE LONG BEEN DISADVANTAGEDOFTEN
IN SUBTLE AND HIDDEN WAYS IN A MALE-ORIE* NTED. SOCIETY.
No GOVERNMENT HAS DONE MORE FOR THE WELFARE OF'WOMEN AND I
DO NOT MEAN SIMPLY WOMEN IN NEED OR WOMEN IN OBVIO US HARDSHIP.
SIMILARLY, WE ARE PLEDGED. TO GIVE EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY TO
ABORIGINALS;-NO GOVERNMENT HAS DONE MORE FOR THE ABORIGINALS
OF THIS COUNTRY. FOR THE FIRST TIME THEY ARE REPRESENTED
IN AN ELECTED CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL WHICH CAN DEAL DIRECTLY WITH
THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT. AGAIN, WE ARE PLEDGED TO GIVE EQUAL
OPPORTUNITIES TO MIGRANTS; NO GOVERNMENT HAS DONE MORE FOR
MIGRANTS. THESE ARE NOT IDLE OR PIOUS ASSERTIONS. THE
EVIDENCE OF ALL WE HAVE DONE IS ABUNDANT AND MANIFEST IN THE
RECORDS OF THIS ADMINISTRATION. IT WILL STAND, PROUD A'ND
UNCHALLENGED, IN THE STATUTES OF THIS COUNTRY.
N~ O ONE DISPUTES THAT WHAT WE HAVE DONE FOR EDUCATION
IS PRODIGIOUS IN SCALE AND REVOLUTIONARY IN CONCEPTION.
WE HAVE INCREASED FEDERAL SPE1NDING ON EDUCATION BY WELL OVER
WE HAVE ESTABLISHED AN EXPERT AND INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
COMMISSION TO BRING SANITY AND JUSTICE TO THE WHOLE PROCESS
OF ASSISTANCE TO PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS. WE HAVE
GIVEN A NEW DEAL TO THE CHILDREN OF AUSTRALIA. IT IS HERE
THAT THE FORCE AND SINCERITY OF OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUAL. OPPORTUNITY
IS MOST CLEARLYSEEN AND READILY TESTED. IT -IS A TEST ALSO
FOR OUR OPPONENTS.
10
IT IS A TEST THAT MOST OF THEM HAVE FAILED, HOW STRIKING
IT IS, HOW REVEALING, HOW SALUTARY A LESSON FOR THE AUSTRALIAN
PEOPLE, THAT THE TWO AREAS OF GOVERNMENT POLICY MOST
FUNDAMENTAL TO THE PEOPLE'S NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS EDUCATION
AND HEALTH ARE THE VERY AREAS WHERE OUR OPPONENTS HAVE
RESISTED OUR REFORMS WITH THE GREATEST DETERMINATION,
NOTHING REVEALS MORE CLEARLY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN . US
THE GOVERNMENT'S FORTHRIGHT COMMITMENT TO EQUALITY,
THE OPPOSITION'S REARGUARD DEFENCE OF INEQUALITY AND
PRIVILEGE. I ASK THE HOUSE TO EXAMINE IN DETAIL THE RECORD OF
THE OPPOSITION, HERE AND IN THE SENATE. LET US LOOK AT THE
BILLS TiEY HAVE BLOCKED AND DELAYED AND FRUSTRATED AND
AMENDED. LET US LOOK FOR THE COMMON THEME IN ALL THEIR
OBSTRUCTIVE TACTICS. THE OPPOSITION MAY LACK A COMMON
VOICE, BUT IT IS NOT WITHOUT A COMMON CAUSE. THAT CAUSE
IS THE DEFENCE OF VESTED INTERESTS. / 11
11
MIND YOU, I CONFESS THAT I SOMETIMES FIND IT
DIFFICULT TO TELL WHICH OF THEIR SPOKESMAN, THEIR LEADERS,
SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
WOULD AGREE THAT THERE ARE MORE BLUE-TAILED FLIES IN THE
SENATE THAN HERE. -ON ONE VERY IMPORTANT MEASURE BEFORE
THIS PARLIAMENT THE INDUSTRIES ASSISTANCE BILL' ' THE COUNTRY
PARTY VOTED AGAINST THE LEGISLATION WHILE THE. LIBERAL. PARTY
SUPPORTED IT. ON THE QUESTION OF GRANTS TO SCHOOLS, THE
LIBERAL PARTY VOTED AGAINST THE MEASURE WHILE THE CbUNTRY
PARTY SUPPORTED IT. VIE WILL BE FORGIVEN FOR FEELING SOME
CONFUSION. IN THE PAST YEAR THE SENATE HAS REJECTED 13 B. ILLS,
DEFERRED ANOTHER 10 OF WHICH SIX REMAIN SHELVED, AND AMENDED
21. I LIST THE 13 BILLS IT HAS REJECTED UP TILL TODAY:
COMMONWEALTH ELECTORAL TWO BILLS; CONCILIATION AND
ARBITRATION:-REPRESENTATION TWO BILLS; SENATE ( REPRESENTATION
OF TERRITORIES) TWO BILLS; LANDS ACQUISITION ( AUSTRALIAN
CAPITAL TERRITORY): SEAS AND SULDMERGED LANDS ( ROYALTY ON M1INERALS);
CONSTITUTION ALTERATION ( DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS); CONSTITUTION
ALTERATION ( LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODIES); HEALTH INSURANCE;
AND HEALTH INSURANCE COMMISSION. IN DEFENCE OF THEIR
WEALTHY FRIENDS AND VESTED INTERESTS, THEY HAVE REJECTED THE
DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLE OF EQUAL ELECTORATES; THEY HAVE BLOCKED
ATTEMPTS TO DEMOCRATISE AND MODERNISE THE TRADE UNION MOVEMENT:
THEY HAVE DENIED REPRESENTATION IN4 THE SENATE TO THE PEOPLE
OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY AND THE AUSTRALIAN CAPTIAL TERRITORY;
1?
THEY HAVE SOUGHT TO DENY TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT DIRECT ACCESS
TO NAFIONAL REVENUES AND BORROWINGS; THEY HAVE PRESERVED
FOR FOREIGN MINING INTERESTS THE RIGHT TO EXPLOIT OUR
OFF-SHORE RESOURCES; THEY HAVE PRESERVED THE INEQUITY,
INH~(. IHCYAND INJUSTICE OF AN ANTIQUATED HEALTH SCHEME.
BY SHELVING THE TRADE PFACT~ cEs-BILL THEY HAVE
LEFT THE DOOR OPEN TO MONOPOLIES AND BIG CORPORATIONS TO
FIX PRICES, ORGANISE CARTELS AND EXPLOIT THE AUSTRALIAN CONSUJMER,
13Y SHELVING THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY DEVELO0PMENT CORPORATION
jtll.. TIHEY HAVE BLOCKED THE MOST EFFECTI\ VE INSTRUMENT FOR
ASTRALIAN CONTROL OF OUIR INDUSTRIES AND DEV'ELOPING
NEW IN! DUSTRIES. THiEY HA\ VE LEFT THE DOOR OPEN TO FOREIGN
ThOF'VERS AND FOREIGN EXPLOITATION OF THE AUSTRALIAN ECONomY.
YFT F OR ALL. THE LEGISLATION I HAVL IHiONDTHE GOVERNMEINT
H~ WA CLEAR iAN V) A'i IUfRUll TijE * A'S~ filA LAN PEOPLE.
ISOMEI[ lIES HEAR IT SAID THAT THiL GcOvLRNMENf l's
00 ft! G TOO MUCH, THAT WE OUGHT T0 SLOW DOWN. Tm S I S AN
ARG( JM-EN\ T THAT COMES EAS IL. Y ANDt NATURALLY FROM CONS~ ERVAT IV\ E.
I FJCTIT IPfLJE[ CT IT BFCAUISE THE TASK 13EFORE 115:-tS
f'TIA. L. A GREAT AND FORMIDABLE TAC; K.. BECAUISE MUCH THAIr COULD
HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED THIS YEAR STILL REMAINS TO BE ACHIEVED,
RiCAUS11 A NATION THAT HAS WAITED 23 YEARS TO SEE ES E'O17-1AL
AND VERDUE SOCIAL REFORMS CA\ NNOT BE FXPECTi-D TO WAITr Ain,
L. 0NG E TIHE GOVERNMENT IS PROUD OF ITS RECORDS WE HAVE
A0005I) UNEMPLOYMENT AND RESTORED A HEALTHY RATE OF FC0N. 10HIC
GROWTH. AUSTRALIA HAS A NEW STRENGTH AND CONFIDENCE AT HOME
AND) A NEW RESPFCT ABROAD. 14E ARE NO LONGER A CIPHER OR A
SATrELLI TE IN V! ORLD AFFAIRS. WE ARE NO LONGER STAMPED WITH THE / 13
13
TAINT OF RACISM. WE ARE NO LONGER A COLONIAL POWER. WE
ARE NO LONGER OUT OF STEP WITH THE WORLD'S PROGRESSIVE
AND ENLIGHTENED MOVEMENTS TOWARDS FREEDOM, DISARMAMENT AND
CO-OPERATION. WE ARE NO LONGER IN THRALL TO BOGIES AND
OBSESSIONS IN OUR RELATIONS WITH CHINA OR THE GREAT POWERS.
WE HAVE STRENGTHENED OLD FRIENDSHIPS AND ESTABLISHED NEW ONES.
IN NO FIELD IN ITS FIRST YEAR OF OFFICE HAS MY
GOVERNMENT SO PROFOUNDLY, SO BENEFICIALLY, AND LET ME
BE QUITE CLEAR SO SUCCESSFULLY ESTABLISHED NEW PERSPECTIVES
AS. IN AUSTRALIA'S FOREIGN POLICIES. THAT THIS HAS BEEN SO
WAS FIRST OF ALL THE RESULT OF THE BITTER DISTORTIONS INTO
WHICH OUR PREDECESSORS HAD FORCED AUSTRALIA'S POLICIES, THE
INJUSTICES THEY DID TO THE GREAT MASS OF DECENT AUSTRALIANS
IN A SHORT-SIGHTED PURSUIT OF POLICIES AS UGLY AS THEY WERE
OUTDATED, AS NARROWLY CONCEIVED AS THEY WERE EQUIVOCAL.
IF ANYTHING CAME TO AN END ON DECEMBER 2 THE ANNIVERSARY OF
AUSTERLITZ LAST YEAR IT WAS THE DEMEANING OF AUSTRALIA IN
THE EYES OF THE WORLD AS THE COUNTRY OUR PREDECESSORS HAD
REPRESENTED IT TO BE: INSIGNIFICANT, RACIST, MILITARIST,
SYCOPHANTIC, A TIMID AND UNWORTHY CREATURE OF THE GREAT POWERS
TO WHOM IT HAD SURRENDERED ITS IDENTITY, AUSTRALIA IS NO
LONGER THOUGHT OF IN THOSE WAYS: IF I TAKE PRIDE IN THAT IT
IS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THE UGLY AUSTRALIA OF THE PAST DID
AN UNFORGIVABLE VIOLENCE TO THE WAY IN WHICH ORDINARY
AUSTRALIANS. THOUGHT OF THEMSELVES, AND TO THE WAY THEY HOPED
THEIR GOVERNMENT WOULD ACT IN ITS DEALINGS WITH THE REST OF THE
WORLD.
THERE HAVE BEEN GREAT CHANGES. HlY GOVERNMENT
IS UNEQUIVOCAL IN ITS BELIEF IN THE EQUALITY OF MEN OF ALL
RACES: WE HAVE PROCLAIMED THAT BELIEF AND HAVE CON'SISTENTLY
ACTED) IN ACCORDANCE WITH IT. My GoVEIRNMENT BELIEVES THE WAR
IN VIETNAM WAS A BITTER DISASTER, THE END RESULT OF THE
SQUANDERING OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEACE PRESENTED TWO DECADES
AGO. lI! E SHALL HAVE NO MORE VIETNAMS, AND WE SHALL-DO ALL IN
OUR POWER TO PROMOTE THE FORCES FOR PEACE IN OUR REGION AND
THE WORLD. ABOVE ALL my GOVERNMENT BELIEVES IN THOUE ABIDING
VIRTUES IN AUSTRALIAN SOCIETY WHICH HAVE GIVEN US A
DISTINCTIVE NATIONHOOD, THE BELIEF IN FRATERNITY AND INDEPENDENCE,
THE INSTINCT FOR FAIR PLAY, JUSTICE AND FREEDOM THAT EUREKA
SIGNIFIES. IT IS THOSE VIRTUES WHICH AUSTRALIA' S FOREIGN
POLICIES HAVE SOUGHT TO EMBODY OVER THE LAST YEAR: IT is
THAT INDEFE: NDENCE WHICH my GOVERNMENT HAS CELEBRATED AND REVIVED.
IN SPITE OF MANY CHANGES CERTAIN THINGS ABIDE:
AIUSTRALIA'S INTERESTS HAVE NOT CHANGED, ONLY THE WAY IN WHICH
MOST AUSTRALIANS PERCEIVE THEM. THE GOVERNMENT ACCEPTS ITS
BASIC RESPONSIBILITY TO CREATE FOR THE PEOPLE OF AuSTRALIA A
SECURE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THEY CAN MAINTAIN AND DEVELOP THEIR
i, ELFARE FREE FROM FEAR, THREATS OR ARTIFICIAL CONSTRAINTS
WHETHER INTERNALLY OR EXTERNALLY INSPIRED OR CONTRIVED. THAT
TASK WILL BE MORE READILY PURSUED, MORE EASILY ATTAINABLE
FROM NOW ON THAN WAS EVER POSSIBLE BEFORE. THE-* GOVERNMENT
RECOGNISES THAT NO SOCIETY CAN PROGRESS IF IT RESTS ONLY ON THE
ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE PAST. IBELIEVE WE HAVE REACHED A MORE
SANE AND EQUITABLE BALANCE WITH THE COUNTRIES OF IMPORTANCE TO
US IN THE WO0k~ i ' iHAN A'l AN'i TIMlE IN THlE PAST, BUT IT IS OF THE
NATURE OF OUR TASK THAT IT CONTINUES WITH ITS IMPORTANCE
UNDIMINISHED. ILI L
15
I INVITE THE HOUSE AND THE AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE TO
COMPARE THIS GOVERNMENT WITH ITS PREDECESSOR, TO COMPARE THIS
GOVERNMENT WITH THE TIRED, RESENTFUL, NAGGING AND SQUABBLING
RABBLE WHO OPPOSE US IN THIS PARLIAMENT. WHO CAN-DOUBT THE
IMPORTANCE AND THE URGENCY OF ALL WE SEEK TO'DO, THE IDEALISM
OF OUR MOTIVES, THE RELEVANCE OF OUR RLFORMS TO A BETTER AND MORE
SECURE AND PROSPEROUS LIFE FOR ALL AUSTRALIANS? ' WHO CAN DOUBT
THE TRIVIALITY, THE SELF-SEEKING BITTERNESS, THE PETTY
METHODS OF OBSTRUCTION AND REACTION THAT MOTIVATE OUR OPPONENTS?
WHO CAN DOUBT THAT AUSTRALIA IS NOW MORE RESPECTED AND ADMIRED
IN THE WORLD-BY ITS FRIENDS AN4D NEIGHBOURS? WHO CAN DOUBT
THAT THERE IS A NEW SPIRIT OF ACTIVITY, OF EXCITEMENT, OF
ADVENTURE IN OUR LIVES?
WE DO NOT REGARD THE GOVERNMENT OF THIS COUNTRYAS
OUR OPPONENTS REGARD IT AS A DIVINE RIGHT, A PRIVILEGE
THAT IS OURS TO ENJOY IN PF-Ri-LTUIY. WE REGARD IT AS A TRUST
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE. ' VE SEE NO POINT IN ACCEPTING THAT
TRUST IF WE ARE UNABLE TO DISCHARGE IT FULLY AND WHOLEHEARTEDLY,
I GIVE THIS ASSURANCE TO THE I-ARLIAMENT AND THE PEOPLE: WE , IiLL
CARRY ON WITH OUR TASK, WE WILL NOT SHIRK OUR REFPONSIBILITIES.
WE W1JLL CONTIN'UE TO W~ ORK: & OikA" MORE JUJ i AND PROSPERO~ US AND
ENLIGHTENED NATION. IN THIS FIRST YEAR OF THE LABCR GOVERNMENT
WE HAVE MADE GREAT AND LASTING PROGRESS TOWARDS OUR GOALS,
I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT ANY OF THE MAJOR REFORMS'WE HAVE ACHIEVED
WILL EVER BE REVERSED OR ABANDONED. AFTER ALL THE CARPING AND
NIGGLING, BACKING AND FILLING BY THE OPPOSITION, THE CHANGES
WE HAVE MADE WILL REMAIN LIKE ALL GREAT LABOR LEGISLATIONPERMANENT
LANDMARKS IN OUR HISTORY. THE YEAR AHEAD WILL BE / 1 F
16
ANOTHER YEAR OF PROGRESS AND ACHIEVEMENT. I AM CONFIDElTI
THAT THE AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE WHEN NEXT THEY ARE ASKED TO
CHOOSE BETWEEN THE ALTERNATIVES BEFORE THEM WILL ENDORSE
OUR RECORD AND RENEW OUR MANDATE,