N HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER
5 DECEMBER 1974
A YEAR AGO I REPORTED TO THE PARLIAMENTrI ON THE GOVERNMENT
S FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE. IT WAS A YEAR OF FAR-REACHING
REFORM, OF UNPRECEDENTED ACHIEVEMENT, OF-LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY
SURPASSING ALL RECORDS. IENDED MY SPEECH WITH THESE WORDS:
" AM CONFIDENT'THAT THE AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE, WHE-N NEXT THEY
ARE ASKED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THE ALTERNATIVES BEFORE THEM, WILL
ENDORSE OUR RECORD AND RENEW OUR MANDATE..
THE PEOPLE DID SO. IN-APRIL THIS YEARo FOR THE FIRST
TIME IN THE HISTORY OF AUSTRALIA'S NATIONAL PARLIAMENT, THE
" OPPOSITION IN THE SENATE REFUSED SUPPLY TO THE ELECTED
GOVERNMENT. THEY FORCED AN ELECTION BY V-IOLATING AN ESTABLISHEDACCEPTED
CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLE. SENATORS ELECTED' 3k YEARS
AND 6 YEARS BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES$
SENATORS WHO HAD ALREADY BLOCKED ESSENTIAL PARTS OF OUR LEGISLATIVE
PROGRAM, FORCED US TO THE POLLS HALFWAY THROUGH OUR TERM.
WE ACCEPTED THEIR CHALLENGE. WE WENT TO THE PEOPLE
AND THE PEOPLE RETURNED US TO OFFICE. ON 18 MAY, AUSTRALIANS,
CONFIRMED THEIR DECISION OF 2 DECEMBER 1972.. s vN a 2/ s
T* T.
i i 2.
.; THEY ENDORSED OUR PROGRAM, THEY STRENGTHENED OUR': ' C
POSITION IN THE SENATE; THEY ANNIHILATED THE D. L. P. SENATORS.';
: WHOo . C OLLABORATED IN THIS ABUSE OF DEMOCRACY. THEY. CONFIRMED
LABOR'S VOTE IN THE CITIES WHERE THE GOVERNMENT SECURED
MANDATE 17 MONTHS' BEFORE. THEY GAVE US CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS
TO CARRY ON WITH THE JOB THE JOB THEY HAD ELECTED US TO DO.
SWE ACCEPTED THOSE INSTRUCTIONS AND IMMEIATELY SET
ABOUT TO DISCHARGE THEM. -WE HAVE WORKED UNREMITTINGLY TO..
FULFIL OUR UNDERTAKINGS TO THE AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE. IT HAS NOTi
BEEN EASY.-WE HAVE CONTENDED WITH THE SAME OBSTRUCTION WE
FACED LAST YEAR. YET OUR RECORD OF ACHIEVEMENT IN 1974 IS
AS SOLID AND IMPRESSIVE AS IT WAS LAST YEAR,
OUR LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM IN 1974 WAS CARRIED. THROUGH
ON THE SAME MASSIVE SCALE AS LAST YEAR. WHEN THE 28TH PARLIAMENT
ADJOURNED FOR CHRISTMAS LAST YEAR, 254 BILLS HAD BEEN INTRODUCED.
A FURTHER 42 WERE INTRODUCED BEFORE THE PARLIAMENT WAS DISSOLVED
IN APRIL. DURING THE 29TH PARLIAMENT, A TOTAL OF 187 BILLS HAS
BEEN INTRODUCED SO FAR. THE PARLIAMENT HAS THEREFORE DEALT
WITH 229 BILLS IN' 1974 A FIGURE THAT EXCEEDS ALL RECORDS FOR
A SINGLE YEAR WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 1973. WE HAVE SAT FOR A
TOTAL OF HOURS IN 1974 COMPARED WITH 908 HOURS IN 1973.
THE FIGURES FOR EITHER YEAR REPRESENT THE GREATEST NUMBER OF
SITTING HOURS IN SE YEAR FOR MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY,
3
WE HAVE CONSOLIDATED AND EXPANDED THE GREAT REFORMS , i
WE BEGAN IN 1973. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WE HAVE. CONTENDED
WITH ECONOMIC PROBLEMS ON A SCALE UNKNOWN FOR MORE THAN
YEARS. SUCH PROBLEMS WOULD BE DAUNTING FOR ANY GOVERNMENT
FOR A LABOR GOVERNMENT, COMMITTED TO REFORM AND INNOVATION
' ON THE WIDEST FRONT, THEY HAVE BEEN DOUBLY BITTER AND
SFRUSTRATING. YET WE HAVE NEVER RELAXED OUR EFFORTS TO DEAL
WITH INFLATION AND UNEMPLOYMENT.' EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WESTERN
WORLD HAS FACED THESE PROBLEMS. NO COUNTRY IN THE WESTERN
WORLD HAS SOLVED THEM. OUR RECORD STANDS UP WELL BESIDE
S" THAT OF ANY OTHER COMPARABLE NATION. S. , Io
a
-7 7
DESPITE THESE PROBLEMS, AUSTRALIANS TODAY ARE
EVERYWHERE BETTER ' OFF THAN THEY WERE WHEN LABOR CAME IN.,:
AVERAGE EARNINGS HAVE INCREASED IN REAL PURCHASING POWER
BY MORE THAN SEVEN PER CENT UNDER A LABOR GOVERNMENT.
OUR MEASURES TO STRENGTHEN AND INVIGORATE THE ECONOMY ARE
CONTINUING. WE NO LONGER REGARD THE BUDGET AS THE SOLE
INSTRUMENT OF ECONOMIC POLICY. THIS YEAR, FACED WITH
UNPRECEDENTED AND COMPLEX PROBLEMS OF ECONOMIC IANAGEMENT,
WE HAVE SHOWN OURSELVES READY TO ACT WHENEVER NECESSARY.
THREE WEEKS AGO WE ANNOUNCED CUTS IN TAXATION WORTH
$ 1200 MILLION IN A FULL YEAR. WE HAVE EASED CREDIT AND
BOOSTED THE MONEY SUPPLY TO MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT, EVERY
FINANCIAL WEAPON, EVERY CONSTITUTIONAL POWER AT OUR
DISPOSAL HAS BEEN USED IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST INFLATION
AND UNEMPLOYMENT. WHENEVER IT HAS BEEN NECESSARY TO
TAKE ACTION WHICH MAY HARM INDIVIDUALS OR COMPANIES,
WE HAVE DONE OUR BEST TO SHIELD THOSE AFFECTED AND CUSHION THE
EFFECTS OF OUR DECISIONS.
v i 1 rCi; I i
g
ECONOMIC PROBLEMS, HOWEVER, HAVE NOT BEEN OURONLY
DISTRACTION;. THE WORK OF THE PARLIAMENT HAS BEEN MADE
INFINITELY MORE ARDUOUS AND PROTRACTED BY THE BEHAVIOUR OF
THE SENATE, THE DEFERMENT OR REJECTION OF A BILLDOES NOT
AFFECT THAT BILL ALONE; IT DELAYS AND COMPLICATES THE
S GOVERNMENT'S WHOLE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM. IT FORCES THE
PARLIAMENT TO DEAL WITH MEASURES OVER AND OVER AGAIN. OUR
FOUR REFERENDUM BILLS WERE REJECTED TWICE'BY THE SENATE
DESPITE'THE FACT THAT THEIR REJECTION COULD NOT PREVENT.
THE REFERENDUMS BEING HELD, AND OPPOSITION SENATORS KNEW
THIS. THEY PREFERRED TO: DELAY THE BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
THE DOUBLE DISSOLUTION WAS AN UNNECESSARY AND INTOLERABLE
INTERRUPTION, NOT ONLY FOR WHAT IT SIGNIFIED, BUT FOR THE
DELAY IT CAUSED TO THE GOVERNMENT'S WORK. TWENTY-TWO
BILLS INTRODUCED DURING THE PREVIOUS PARLIAMENT LAPSED
WHEN THE PARLIAMENT WAS DISSOLVED AND HAD TO BE REINTRODUCED
AND DEBATED AGAIN. DURING THE 29TH PARLIAMENT WHICH MET
IN JULY, THE SENATE HAS REJECTED 12 BILLS, DEFERRED ANOTHER
4 AND AMENDED 8 NOT INCLUDING THOSE PASSED BY THE JOINT
SITTING. IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE FACT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO
KEEP THE NUMBER OF SEPARATE BILLS TO A MINIMUM BY
COMBINING RELATED MATTERS IN SINGLE BILLS, THE DELAY AND
INTERFERENCE WITH THE PARLIAMENTARY PROGRAM WOULD HAVE
BEEN MUCH GREATER.
I r
r
i I
r
i' r I :; r
r
. S -i ' i 1
i r I
r i
WITH OUR MANDATE RENEWED IN MAY WE WERE READY
TO RESUME THE TASK OF GOVERNMENT WITH-EVEN GREATER VIGOR
AND DETERMINATIONS IF JUSTICE AND SANITY PREVAILED IN
THESE MATTERS, WE WOULD HAVE EXPECTED A FAIR, GO AT LAST
FOR OUR LEGISLATION& WE GOT NO SUCH THING. THE OPPOSITION
LEARNT NOTHING* FROM THEIR DEFEAT.' FOR THE THIRD TIME THEY
REJECTED THE SIX BILLS ON WHICH THE DOUBLE DTSSOLUl ION
WAS GRANTED. HONOURABLE MEMBERS WILL RECALL THE SUBSTANCE
OF THOSE BILLS. THEY WERE THOSE IMPLEMENTING OUR UNIVERSAL
HEALTrH INSURANCE SCHEME, OUR PROPOSAL FOR ONE VOTE ONE
VALUE,' OUR PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY. IHEY FORMED
THE BASIS OF THE DOUBLE DISSOLUTION IN APRIL AND THE
ELECTION WHICH FOLLOWED. THE PEOPLE ENDORSED THESE MEASURES
AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PASSED THEM FOR'THE THIRD
TIME. YET THE SENATE REJECTED THEM AGAIN, KNOWING-THAT
THE JOINT SITTING WOULD EVENTUALLY, INEVITABLY, PASS THEM.
IT WAS A NEEDLESS AND PETTY DELAY.
THE SENATE'S CAMPAIGN OF WANTON OBSTRUCTION DID
NOT END THERE. WITH THE PASSAGE OF OUR HEALTH LEGISLATION
OPPOSITION SENATORS PROCEEDED TO REJECT THE ANCILLARY
BILLS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT IT.. THEY HAVE REJECTED OUR
LEGISLATION, THREE TIMES PASSED BY THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, TO ESTABLISH THE AUTHORITY-OF THE NATIONAL
PARLIAMENT OVER AUSTRALIA'S OFF-SHORE RESOURCES. THEY HAVE
CONTINUED TO OBSTRUCT OUR PROPOSALS TO EXPAND THE AUSTRALIAN
INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND ENABLE IT TO ASSIST
AUSTRALIAN COMPANIES AND PROTECT AUSTRALIAN OWNERSHIP OF
OUR INDUSTRIES.
FOR THE THIRD TIME'THEY. HAVE REJECTED OUR LEGISLATION TO.
ENCOURAGE GREATER INDUSTRIAL HARMONY BY FACILITATING
INDUSTRIAL AGREEMENTS AND UNION AMALGAMATIONS... THEY HAVE.
REJECTED OUR ELECTORAL LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD SIMPLIFY THE
COMPLEX ANDTEDIOUS VOTING METHODS WHICH LEFT AUSTRALIA
WITHOUT A NATIONAL PARLIAMENT BETWEEN 10 APRIL AND 9 JULY.:
ONLY THIS WEEK THEY REJECTED OUR BROADCASTING AND TELEVISION
BILLS AND OTHER LEGISLATION TO ENCOURAGE GREATER AUSTRALIAN
PARTICIPATION IN THE FILM AND TELEVISION INDUSTRY. ALL
THESE MEASURES HAVE BEEN ENDORSED MOST OF THEM ENDORSED
TWICE BY THE AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE. THE MOST IMPORTANT OF
THEM THOSE WHICH FORMED THE GROUNDS FOR THE DOUBLE DISSOLUTION
HAVE BEEN ENDORSED EMPHATICALLY AND SPECIFICALLY. YET THE
OPPOSITION PERSISENTLY BLOCKS THEM.
THIS PATTERN OF OBSTRUCTION IS A TRAVESTY. OF
THE PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM AND A TRAVESTY OF DEMOCRACY.
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD THE PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM IS UNDER
CHALLENGE: IN EUROPE, IN NORTH AMERICA, EVEN IN BRITAIN
ITSELF. NOWHERE IS THE SYSTEM SO STRONG THAT IT CAN
SUSTAIN THESE ATTACKS ON ITS BASIC FOUNDATIONS. THE
OPPOSITION SENATORS I CERTAINLY DO NOT BLAME THE LEADER
OF THE OPPOSITION FOR THEIR CONDUCT FOR HE IS POWERLESS TO
CONTROL THEM ARE NOT JUST ATTACKING THE LABOR GOVERNMENT,.
THEY HAVE DECLARED WAR ON THE PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM, ON THE
ABILITY OF DULY ELECTED GOVERNMENTS TO GOVERN EFFECTIVELY
AND CARRY THROUGH THEIR PROGRAM WITH THE FAITH AND
CONFIDENCE OF THE PEOPLE. I 1 I
I
11-IMPLEMENTING OUR PROGRAM, ONE OF OUR HUIMARY
4ASKS HAS BEEN TO IMPROVE THE INSTITUTIUNS SERVINGi THE
GOVERNMENT AND-THE SOURCES OF INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO
US. WE HAVE NEVER BEEN READY ' TO ACCEPT THE METHODS OR
THE MACHTNEFY VIE fNHER2ITEI) FPR( MI OUR PREDECESSORS.
TO DO SO WOULD HAVE MEANT ACCEPTING THEIR VALUES AND
PRIORITIES, THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR WE HAVE CONTINUED
THE PROCESS OF GATHERING INFORMATION, MAKIN4G IT PUbLIC
AND REFORMING THE INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNMENT. OUR EARLIER.
REFO'RMS ARE BEAPING FRUIT. THE GRANTS COMMISSION, WHOSE
CHARTER VIE AMENDED LAST YEAR TO FNABLE IT TO DIlAL WITH
INEQUALITIES BETWEEN RmN 1l. s BROIlffif IN ITS FIRST
oSi u I C RECUNN~ EN'DAT ! OC ' ThF bi9AR ifS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
BODIES. WE HAVE ACCPETED THOSE RECOtIMENDATIONS IN FULL
AND MIADE GRANTS TOTALLI1NfG 7{ L1 IVN 1-0 % L CO U. NC IL-;-
THROUGHOUT AUSTRALIA. THOSE GRANTS ARE AMONG OUR
PROUDEST ACfiIEVLM&! TU-& A ith, LASF YEAR, 1,. E E*.: TAf: I S i-j) 7
AN EXPERT AND IMPART~ IAL SCHOOLS COMMISSION TO RECOMMEND
GRANTS To AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLS ON THE BASIS OF NEED.
THE FIRST FULL YEAR'IS GRANTS ARE NOW. FLOWING T0 SCHOOLS
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSION'S RF. COM! ENDArIONS,
AND WE HAVE ADJUSTED THE AMOUNTS OF THESE GRANTS TO TAKE,
ACCOUN~ T OF RISING PRICES.
77
WE HAVE ESTABLISHED NEW BODIES TO ADVISE US AND IMPLEMENT
OUR POLICIES. WE HAVE APPOINTED AN INTERIM COMMITTEE FOR A'.
NEW CHILDREN'S COMMISSION, WHICH WILL PLAN AND CO-ORDINATE OUR
PROGRAMS FOR CHILD CARE AND OTHER SERVICES, WE ARE ESTABLISHING
AN OVERSEAS TRADING CORPORATION AND AN AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE COUNCIL.
WE HAVE EXTENDED THE POWERS OF THE PRICES JUSTIFICATION TRIBUNAL
TO COVER RETAIL PRICES AND THE PRICES OF IMPORTED GOODS.
WE HAVE FORMED AN EXPERT COMMITTEE REPRESENTING INDUSTRY,
. GOVERNMENT AND THE TRADE UNIONS TO ADVISE US ON POLICIES FOR
MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES. WE HAVE ESTABLISHED AN EXPORT FINANCE
AND INSURANCE CORPORATION, AFTER MONTHS OF OBSTRUCTION BY THE
OPPOSITION WE HAVE AT . LAST SET UP OUR PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
AUTHORITY TO SAFEGUARD AUSTRALIAN OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL OF OUR
RESOURCES. WE HAVE HAD THE BENEFIT OFA GREEN PAPER IN THE
PROBLEMS OF RURAL INDUSTRY, THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO FEWER THAN.
EIGHT ROYAL COMMISSIONS INQUIRING INTO MATTERS OF SOCIAL IMPORTANCE
PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THEM, THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION HEADED BY DR. H. C. COOMBS,
HAS UNDERTAKEN THE FIRST COMPREHENSIVE INQUIRY INTO THE
AUSTRALIAN PUBLIC SERVICE FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS. OTHER ROYAL
COMMISSIONS ARE-DEALING WITH THE MARITIME INDUSTRY, LAND TENURES,
THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY, INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY, TASMANIAN
TRANSPORT COSTS AND HUMAN RELATIONS. IN ADDITION THIS YEAR WE
HAVE APPOINTED TWENTY-FIVE COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES OF INQUIRY
AND TASK FORCES TO REPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT, S~~ v
l0
DESPITE AN IRRESPONSIBLE OPPOSITION AND COMPLEX ECONOMIC
PROBLEMS, WE HAVEMADE GREAT PROGRESS TOWARDS OUR GOALS IN 1974.
I LIST SOME OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS TO DEMONSTRATE THE SCOPE AND
IMPORTANCE OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE. WE HAVE NOT . EEN CONTENT TO
REST ON OUR LAURELS OR MERELY CONTINUE THE POLICIES WE BEGAN
LAST YEAR. WE HAVE NOT MERELY PROVIDED MORE MONEY. FOR THINGS
WE WERE DOING BEFORE, THOUGH MORE MONEY THERE HAS CERTAINLY BEEN.
WE HAVE LAUNCHED NEW PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES. , WE HAVE INTRODUCED
OUR NATIONAL COMPENSATION SCHEME BASED ON THE COMPREHENSIVE REPORT
OF JUSTICES SIR OWEN WOODHOUSE AND MEARES; WE HAVE EMBARKED ON
OUR PLANS FOR A MASSIVE UPGRADING OF TECHNICAL AND FURTHER
EDUCATION. AND HAVE BUDGETED $ 100 MILLION FOR THIS PURPOSE OVER
THE NEXT TWO YEARS, IN THIS WE ARE ACTING ON THE REPORT'OF THE
KANGAN COMMITTEE WHICH WE RECEIVED THIS YEAR. WE HAVE REACHED
SUBSTANTIAL AGREEMENT WITH EVERY STATE EXCEPT QUEENSLAND ON THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF LAND COMMISSIONS TO STABILISE LAND PRICES IN
URBAN AREAS.. WE HAVE ACCEPTED IN PRINCIPLE THE REPORT OF MR.
JUSTICE E. A. WOODWARD ON LAND. RIGHTS FOR ABORIGINES. WE HAVE
CAUGHT UP FURTHER WITH THE SEWERAGE BACKLOG IN OUR MAJOR CITIES,
INCREASED OUR GRANTS FOR URBAN PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND LAUNCHED
UUR PLANS FOR A NATIONAL HIGHWAYS SYSTEM. AFTER THE PREMIERS'
CONFERENCE IN JUNE WE GAVE THE STATES A VIRTUAL BLANK CHEQUE
FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF WELFARE HOUSING. WE HAVE ESTABLISHED
OUR LEGAL AID SERVICE AND THE FIRST AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT COMMUNITY.
HEALTH CENTRE THE FIRST OF MANY SUCH CENTRES UNDER OUR
COMMUNITY HEALTH PROGRAM,
CONTINUED OUR EFFORTS' A'
THAILAND, EAST GERMANY, THE PHILLIPINES, BULGARIA, SOUTH KOREA
S CERTAIN ACSH EVEMENST S THIS YEAR HAVE BEEN ESPECUIDAELDL, Y O
SYMBOLIC OF OUR WHOLE PHILOSOPHY.-OUR LEGISLATION AGAINST U " IS
RACIAL DISCRIMINATION OUR WORK FOR WOMEN, OUR VIGOROUS i . i:
AND SUCCESSFUL POLICIES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, OUR"
30 PER CENT INCREASE IN OUR FOREIGN AID PROGRAM. WE HAVE
CONTiNUED OUR EFFORTS TO ENHANCE AUSTRALIA'S REPUTATION
' ABROAD. AND IDENTIFY OUR PEOPLE WITH THE BEST AND MOST
S: ENLIGHTENED MOVEMENTS IN WORLD AFFAIRS, WE HAVE'CONFIRME
OUR IMPLACABLE HOSTILITY TO RACIALISM IN ALL ITS FORMS BY::
S '" OUR VOTE IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL ON SOUTH AFRICA'S MEMBERSHIP
OF THE UNITED NATIONS. WE.. HAVE BROADENED THE RANGE OF OUR
DIPLOMATIC CONTACTS BY ESTABLISHING RELATIONS THIS YEAR WITH
MORE THAN 20 COUNTRIES IN AFRICA, LATIN AMERICA, MIDDLE EAST.-
AND ASIA. WE ARE NEGOTIATING TRADE AGREEMENTS WITH IRAN,
THAILAND, EAST GERMANY, THE PHILLIPINES, BULGARIA, SOUTH KOREA,
LAOS, NORTH VIETNAM AND RUMANIA IN ADDITION TO THE MANY
AGREEMENTS WE ESTABLISHED LAST YEAR, WE HAVE CONCLUDED, OR
ARE NEGOTIATING, SCIENTIFIC OR CULTURALAGREEMENTS WITH 14 COUNTRIES.. 4,
I 1
AUSTRALIA HAS CONTINUED TO PLAY. ITS PART IN
ENHANCING GLOBAL STRATEGIC,' ECONOMIC AND. SOCIAL SECURITY
AND PROGRESS. WE HAVE URGED MUTUAL RESTRAINT ON THE
TWO SUPERPOWERS IN THE INDIAN OCEAN AND GIVEN OUR SUPPORT
IN PRINCIPLE TO PEACE ZONE PROPOSALS AS PART OF OUR
DESIGN TO STRENGTHEN THE NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY. WE
HAVE SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC
ENERGY AGENCY ON THE APPLICATION OF SAFEGUARDS , PURSUANT
TO RATIFICATION OF THE NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY AND
PROPOSED THE INTRODUCTION OF AN INTERNATIONAL SERVICE
FOR PEACEFUL NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS.
AUSTRALIA HAS DEMONSTRATED ITS CONCERN TO
BRING ABOUT A MORE EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF THE WORLD'S
' WEALTH AND IMPROVE LIVING STANDARDS IN" ALL COUNTRIES.
WE HAVE PLEDGED $ 40 MILLION TO THE UNITED NATIONS EMERGENCY
PROGRAM TO ASSIST. THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES HARDEST HIT BY.
SRECENT RISES' IN OIL AND RELATED COMMODITY PRICES AND
OTHER ADVERSE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, WE HAVE OFFERED
MILLION AT THE RECENT WORLD FOOD CONFERENCE IN ROME
AN ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTION TO COUNTRIES STRICKEN BY FOOD
SHORTAGES, WE HAVE GIVEN $ 5 MILLION TO ASEAN FOR JOINT
PROJECTS. WE HAVE BECOME A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE
INTERNATIONAL BAUXITE ASSOCIATION AND HAVE ATTENDED A
RECENT MEETING OF IRON ORE EXPORTING COUNTRIES, AUSTRALIA
PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE LAW OF THE SEA CONFERENCE
A
IN CARCAS AND THE WORLD POLLUTION: CONFERENCE IN BUCHAREST t I
AUSTRALIA HAS BEEN PROMINENT . IN EXPRESSING
CONCERN ABOUT VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS. AND UPHOLDING
THE RIGHT OF: ALL, PEOPLES ', TO LIVE IN DIGNI TY .: ANDF'R EEDOM.
AN AusTRALIAN INITIATIVE ON DIPLOMATIC. ASYLUM WAS'
-,..,. BROUGHT BEFORE/ THE 29TH UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
'. AUSTRALIA HAD MADE KNOWN ITS ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE
DETENTION OF POLITICAL PRISONERS AND SUPPORTED*
UNITED -NATIONS RESOLUTIONS CONDEMNING THE VIOLATIONS
; OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHILE.... WE-WILL MARK THE 26TH-ANNIVERSARY-'.
OF THE UNIVERSAL. DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS-NtXT
' TUESDAY, BY BECOMING A PARTY. TO TWO SIGNIFICANT INTERNATIONAL. 1
-:-' CONVENTIONS ON THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF WOMEN..
HUMANITY AND ENLIGHTENMENT ABROAD ARE'
. REFLECTED IN OUR POLICIES AT HOME. ERNMENT HAS
DONE MORE FOR THOSE MOST IN NEED, FOR THE WORKING
MAN AND HIS' FAMILY1 FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN. NEVER
ONCE IN c23 YEARS1 0 % WHETHER THERE WAS INFLATION OR
RECESSION1DID A LIBERAL GOVERNMENT FAIL TO * LEND' ITS
SUPPORT TO'THE EMPLOYERS IN THE NATIONAL WAGE CASEI
FOR 20 YEARS UNIONSHAD BEEN ARGUING FOR. THE
RE-INTRODUCTION OF WAGE INDEXATION. ONLY NOW HAVE
WE A GOVERNMENT TAKING A POSI. TIVE ATTITUDE TO THE
QUESTION. WE HAVE MADE A POSITIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE
INTERVENTION BEFORETHE ARBITRATION COMMISSION.
WITHIN HOURS OFTAKING OFFICE WE RE-OPENED THE WAGE
CASE TO SECURE EQUAL PAY FOR WOMEN. oil
r a
I IN MAY THIS YEAR WE SUPPORTED THE EXTENSION OF THE
ADULT MINIMUM WAGE TO WOMEN. WE HAVE TAKEN NEW
INITIATIVES TO PROTECT EMPLOYEES BY TRAINING AND
RETRAINING PROGRAMS AND STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT
ASSISTANCE. NO ONE SHOULD BE IN ANY DOUBT ABOUT THE:;
OPPOSITION S POLICIES ON THE GREAT PROBLEMS BEFORE
US. ONE THING IS CLEARLY IMPLICIT IN OUR OPPONENTS'
PROPOSALS THE SLASHING OF BASIC PUBLIC
EXPENDITURE ON SCHOOLS, WELFARE, HEALTH AND CITIES.
EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILIES WOULD BE THE FIRST
TO SUFFER. I WANT TO EMPHASISE AS STRONGLY AS I CAN
THAT THE CURRENT PROBLEM OF INFLATION IN NO WAY
DOWNGRADES THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR GOVERNMENT'S TOTAL
PROGRAM-THE PROGRAM I ANNOUNCED IN 1972, THE. PROGRAM
I REPEATED IN MAY 1974, THE PROGRAM ONCE AGAIN
ENDORSED BY THE PEOPLE IN 1974. WE SHALL GO AHEAD
WITH THAT PROGRAM. IT IS CRUCIAL TO ALL OUR EFFORTS
TO PROTECT THE AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITY FROM THE BUFFETS
OF ECONOMIC CHANCE AND CIRCUMSTANCE. THE FIGHT
AGAINST INFLATION AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR
PROGRAM WILL GO ON TOGETHER. i i
c
WITH'OUR PROGRAM WE WILL BUILD A FAIRER
AND STRONGER AUSTRALIA, AN AUSTRALIA PROVIDING GREATER'
EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL OUR: PEOPLE AND. A
GREATER ABUNDANCE OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES.' WE ARE NOT
GOING TO BE DETERRED FROM THOSE GOALS, THE GOALS
ADOPTED BY THE PEOPLE OF AUSTRALIA IN 1972 AND 1974.
OUR RECORD THIS-YEAR HAS BROUGHT US CLOSER TO THEM.
IEMPHASI SE THAT IN EVERY THING WE DO, IN ALL OUR
PLANS AND DECISIONS, WE SHALL PROCEED ON THE
ASSUMPTION THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL SERVE ITS FULL
ELECTED TERM.' THAT IS THE BASIS ON WHI . CH WE WERE
ELECTED AND THAT IS THE BASIS ON WHICH WE SHALL
PROCEED. II