SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER,
THE HON, E. G, WHITLAM, 0, C. M. P.
TO THE TASMANIAN STATE A, L. P CONFERENCE
I_ AUNCESTON, 23 FE3,. PUARY L975
JUST OVER TWO WEEKS AGO WE ENDED A SUCCESSFUL
NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE PARTY IN TERRIGAL. THAT
CONFERENCE REKINDLED OUR SPIRITS AND STRENGTHENED OUR
DETERMINATION TO CARRY ON WITH LABOR'S PROGRAM AND PUT
US BACK ON THE ROAD TO VICTORY. YOU WILL REMEMBER THAT
OUR OPPONENTS PREDICTED ALL SORTS OF DISUNITY AND
DISSENSION IN TERRIGAL. IT WAS TO BE A CONFERENCE
STEEPED IN GLOOM AND WRACKED BY CRISIS. AND OF COURSE
IT WAS NOTHING OF THE SORT, AT TERRIGAL WE RALLIED
OUR STRENGTH AND GATHERED OUR RESOURCES TO MEET WHATEVER
CHALLENGES, WHATEVER THREATS, WHATEVER OBSTACLES MAY
FACE US . IN THE MONTHS AND YEARS AHEAD. FOR WE CAN NO
LONGER HAVE ANY ILLUSIONS ABOUT OUR OPPONENTS. THE
EVENTS IN THE TWO SHORT WEEKS SINCE TERRIGAL HAVE SHOWN
ONCE AGAIN HOW DESPERATE AND UNSCRUPULOUS THEY ARE. THEY
WILL NOT ACCEPT THE UMPIRE'S VERDICT AND THEY WILL NOT
ABIDE BY THE RULES OF THE GAME. ./ 2
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I TOLD THE DELEGATES AT TERRIGAL:
" WE NOW KNOW THAT OUR OPPONENTS WILL TEAR UIP THE
RULE BOOK AND WRITE NEW RULES WHENEVER THEY THINK IT
SUITS THEM." I HOW TRUE THOSE WORDS WERE SHOWN TO BE,
WITHIN DAYS THE LIBERAL PREMIER OF NEW SOUTH WALES
HAD TORN ANOTHER PAGE FROM THE RULE BOOK. WE SAW THE
LENGTHS TO WHICH THE LIBERALS WOOLD GO TO OVERTHROW AN.
ELECTED GOVERNMENT, TO FRUSTRATE ITS PROGRAM, TO OBSTRUCT
THE PEOPLE IS WILL. WE KNOW THIS, AND IN EVERYTHING WE
DO, IN EVERYTHING WE SAY, WE MUST KEEP THIS. FACT , IN MIND.
OUR OPPONENTS ARE OUT TO DESTROY US BY ANY MEANS THEY
CAN. THE COMING YEAR WILL PUT ENORMOUS STRAINS ON OUR
RESOURCES, OUR ORGANISATION, OUR LOYALTY AND OUR VIGILANCE.
THIS TASMANIAN CONFERENCE IS THE FIRST STATE
CONFERENCE SINCE WE GATHERED OUR FORCES AND REDEDICATED
OUR EFFORTS'IN TERRIGAL. IT WILL CARRY FORWARD THE
MOMENTUM AND THE GREAT SPIRIT OF RESOLVE WHICH TERRIGAL
SET IN TRAIN.-OUR PARTY HAS A I) NIlAcqtRFITh IN
TASMANIA AND A REMARKABLE HOLD ON THE CO) NFIDENCE OF
TASMANIAN VOTERS. WIE HOLD ALL FIVE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
SEATS IN THI. S STATE. WE HAVE FIVE LABOR SENATORS. WE HAVE
A VIGOROUS STATE LABOR GOVERNMENT. ALL THESE ARE'TREMENDOUS
ASSETS AND A GREAT SOURCE OF STRENGTH AND CONFIDENCE FOR
THE PARTY AT THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS. WE MUST'
DEFEND IT RESOLUTELY. I WANT THIS CONFERENCE FOR THE GOOD
OF THE WHOLE LABOR MOVEMENT -TO'CONSOLIDATE OUR UNITY AND
SAFEGUARD AND STRENGTHEN OUR DOMINANCE IN THIS STATE. ia/ 3
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LET'S BE QUITE CLEAR WHAT OUR OPPONENTS
ARE TRYING TO DO. THEY WANT TO DRAG THIS COUNTRY BACK
BACK TO THE STAGNATION AND COMPLACENCY THAT WE BROUGHT
TO AN-END AFTER 23 YEARS OF CONSERVATIVE RULE. THEY WANT
TO MAKE AUSTRALIA SAFE FOR THE FANATICS, THE STATES
RIGHTERS, THE REACTIONARIES, THE VESTED INTERESTS, THE
OVERSEAS COMPANIES WHO HAD IT SO GOOD FOR SO LONG.
THEY WANT TO TEAR DOWN OUR PLANS FOR BETTER SCHOOLS, OUR
PLANS FOR CHILDREN, MIGRANTS, WIDOWS, MOTHERS, ABORIGINES
OUR PLANS FOR UNIVERSAL HEALTH INSURANCE, FOR NATIONAL
COMPENSATION, FOR DECENT CITIES WITH DECENT TRANSPORT,
THE CLOSER THESE GOALS COME TO FRUITION THE. MORE DESPERATE
THEY ARE TO DESTROy THEM, THE NEARER WE GET TO MEDIBANK
OR A PROPER LEGAL AID SERVICE, OR AN EFFECTIVE' PETROLEUM
AND MINERALS AUTHORITY, THE MORE FRANTIC AND RUTHLESS ARE
THEIR METHODS. ANY TACTICS WILL DO FROM OBSTRUCTION
IN THE SENATE TO Oi1STRUCTION I,'' THE COJRT3
OF COURSE THEY ARE COY ABOUT WHAT THEY
WOULD DO THEMSELVES. ONLY LAST WEEK, IN AN UNGUARDED
MOMENTMR. SNEDDEN LET SLIP ONE OF THE LIBERALS.' LESS
ATTRACTIVE PROMISES THE RESTORATION OF FEES FOR
TERTIARY EDUCATION AND A CUTBACK IN STUDENT ALLOWANCES.
THAT'S THE SORT OF LIBERAL ECONOMY MEASURE THE YOUTH OF
AUSTRALIA COULD EXPECT. BUT THE LIBERAL AXE WOULD FALL
MUCH WIDER THAN THAT. IT WOULD CHOP RUTHLESSLY INTO THE
CONSUMPTION AND LIVING STANDARDS OF THE POOR AND
UNORGANISED. WE KNOW WHO WOULD PAY THE PRICE FOR THE
RESTORATION OF SO-CALLED LIBERAL ' PROSPERITY' EVERY WAGE
EARNER, EVERY EMPLOYEE, EVERY PENSIONER, EVERY WORKING MAN
AND HIS FAMILY.
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HERE IN TASMANIA YOU HAVE HAD VIVID EVIDENCE IN
RECENT WEEKS OF THE CONTEMPT WITH WHICH OUR OPPONENTS
TREAT THIS STATE, TASMANIA HAS BECOME THE LATEST
COCKPIT FOR COALITION SQUABBLES AND PERSONAL FEUDS, THE
HAI-RED AND BITTERNESS AMONG THE FORCES OF THE RIGHT IS
NEVER SO EVIDENT AS WHEN THEY FIGHT AMONG THEMSELVES.
FIRST WE HAD .' ENATOR TOWNLEY SHEDDING HIS THREADBARE
MAiNTLE OF INDEPENDENCE AND EMERGING IN HIS OLD LIBERAL
COLOURS. FOR THIS. IT SEEMS, HE WILL BE REWARDED WITH
FIRST PLACE ON THE NEXT LIBERAL SENATE TICKET, I CAN
ONLY SAY THAT HE HAS MANAGED 1O CONCEAL HIS INDEPENDENCE
VERY WELL IN RECENF MONTHS.
THEN WE HAD THE CELEBRATED VISIT BY BJELKE-PETERSEN
TO TASMANIA IN AN ATTEMPT TO RESUSCITATE THE NATIONAL
PARTY. HE AND , R A'ITHONY MADE IT A TWO-NAN CRUSADE.
THEY HAD A DUSTY RECEPTION FROM THE LIBERAL LEADER IN THIS
STATE, WHO ACCUSED THE COUNTRY PARTY OF " EMPIRE-BUILDING" lei
AND WENT ON AT LENGTH ABOUT ITS " UNSAVOURY PAST".
BJELKE-PETERSEN SPENT SEVERAL DAYS IN TASMANIA PROCLAIMING
THE BENEFITS HIS PARTY WOULD BRING. TifEI HE RETURNED TO
QUEENSLAND AND THREATENED THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT WITH
REPRISALS UNLESS THEY STOPPED. BUYING BEEF FROM TASMANIA,
YOU WILL REMEMBER HIS WORDS ON AN INTERVIEW ON THE ABC
LAST MONDAY: " JAPAN SHOULD THINK IN TERMS OF THEIR GOOD
FRIENDS AND GOOD CUSTOMERS IN THIS AREA WHERE THEY BUY
THESE VAST QUANTITIES OF COAL THAT IS SO VITAL TO THEM
THEY SHOULD THINK OF US TO BUY THEIR MEAT, NOT NEW
ZEALAND AND NOT TASMANIA. THAT IS THE MESSAGE I'M
TRYING TO GET OVER TO THEM.",
AND THAT'S THE BJELKE-PETERSEN MESSAGE TO
TASMANIA: JAPAN SHOULDN'T BUY BEEF FROM FOREIGN
COUNTRIES LIKE TASMANIA AND NEW ZEALAND: I MUST SAY
I WAS RELIEVED WHEN IR SNEDDEN CONDEMNED THE 9UEENSLAND
PREMIER IN THE SAME, BRAVE FORTHRIGHT AND PRINCIPLED FASHION
THAT HE CONDEMNED THE LEWIS TACTICS IN NEW SOUTH ' JALES.
SO THESE ARE THE MEN WHO OPPOSE US. WE ARE
DEALING WITH MEN WHO WILL SCRAP THE RULES WHEN IT
SUITS THEM, MEN WHO WILL CHEERFULLY THREATEN THE WHOLE BASIS
OF OUR DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM, MEN WHO CARE NOTHING FOR THE
SENSITIVE CONVENTIONS OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE., MEN WHO WILL
JEOPARDISE AUSTRALIA'S STANDING ABROAD FOR
A QUICK POLITICAL ADVANTAGE, MEN TOO WEAK TO BRING THEIR
FOLLOWERS INTO LINE OR DEFEND A COURSE OF ACTION WHICH
THEY KNOW IS RIGHT.
WIE HAVE HAD ANOTHER GOOD EXAMPLE OF THEIR DESPERATION1
IN RECENT WEEKS. THE LIBERAL GOVERNMENT OF VICTORIA,
CASTING OFF THE TRENDY IMAGE WHICH ONCE SERVED ITS
PURPOSES, HAS MOUNTED A HIGH COURT CHALLENGE TO TWO OF
OUR CURREHI PROGRAMS THE REGIONAL EMPLOYMENT DFVELOPMENT
SCHEME AND THE AUSTRALIAN ASSISTANCE PLAN. l OF COURSE
THESE PROGRAMS ARE OF GREAT IMPORTANCE IN THEMSELVES,
AS PIONEER ATTEMPTS TO INVOLVE LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN
EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THEIR WELFARE. BUT THE VICTORIAN
CHALLENGE, SUPPORTED BY OTHER LIBERAL STATES, DOESN'T JUST
JEOPARDISE LABOR'S PROGRAMS: IT THREATENS LEGISLATION ON
A RANGE OF MATTERS WHICH HAS STOOD FOR 22 YEARS OR MORE.
IT WILL JEOPARDISE SCHEMES WHICH WERE ORIGINALLY
AUTHORISED BY THE PREVIOUS LIBERAL-COUNTRY PARTY GOVERNMENTSGRANTS
TO THE BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE, PROJECTS IN THE
FIELD OF MEDICAL RESEARCH AND CHILD CARE, PAYMENTS UNDER
THE NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME, GRANTS TO THE
AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE.
IT'S WOR-DiLISTING THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT
INITIATIVES WHOSE EXISTENCE OF LEGAL STANDING ARE
THREATENED BY THIS CHALLENGE. THEY INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
ASSISTANCE FOR ISOLATED CHILDREN, PRE-SCHOOL TEACHER
EDUCATION ALLOWANCE 1 COMMONWEALTH TECHNICAL SCHOLARSHIPS,'
GRANTS UNDER THE NEW PROGRAM FOR CHILD CARE AND PRE-SCHOOL
EDUCATION, NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP SCHEMES, GRANTS TO
COMMUNITY-AGENCIES INVOLVED IN MIGRAN'T WELFARE, LOCAL AID
FOR ABORIGINALCOMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, PROTECTION OF
ABORIGINAL SACRED SITES, ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY ENTERPR-ISES1
AGED PERSONS' HOMES AND HOSTELS, SHELTERED EMPLOYMENT
ASSISTANCE, HANDICAPPED CHILDREN'I S ASSISTANCE, HOMELESS
PERSONS' ASSISTANCE, MEALS ON WHEELS, HOME NURSING
SUBSIDIES, NURSING HOMES IASSISTANCE AND MANY MORE.
IN ALL, SOME 56 SEPARATE PROGRAMS OF ASSISTANCE FROM THE
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT COULD BE AFFECTED IF THE CHALLENGE
SUCCEEDS. IN THE'LONG HISTORY OF LIBERAL OBSTRUCTION,
THERE COULD BE NO BETTER EXAMPLE OF FANATICISM AND
BLOODYMINDEDNESS THAN A LEGAL CHALLENGE WHICH THREATENS,
NOT ONLY LABOR PROGRAMS, BUT MANY OF THE THINGS THE LIBERALS
STARTED THEMSELVES.
WHEN WE LOOK BACK ON THE MANY REFORMS AND
ACHIEVEMENTS UNDER A LABOR GOVERNMENT, THERE IS ONE
THING WE CAN LOOK TO WITH THE GREATEST PRIDE. WE HAVE
BROUGHT ABOUT A MARKED SHIFT IN THE WEALTH OF THIS
COUNTRY. REAL LIVING STANDARDS FOR THE WAGE-EARNERESPECIALLY
THOSE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCALE -HAVE BEEN
RAISED AS NEVER BEFORE. THIS FACT MORE THAN ANYTHING
ELSE THIS RAPID INCREASE IN THE SHARE OF GNP GOING
TO WAGES AND SALARIES 15 INTOLERABLE TO OUR OPPONENTS.
IN OUR FIRST TWO YEARS IN OFFICE AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS
INCREASED By 40% 7 AGAINST AN INCREASE IN THE CONSUMER PRICE
INDEX OF 30%. MINIMUM AWARD RATES FOR MEN-INCREASED BY
47% AND FOR WOMEN BY NO LESS THAN 70%. REAL AVERAGE
WEEKLY EARNINGS AFTER TAX HAVE GONE UP
ISHALL HAVE MORE TO SAY ABOUT THE LONG-TERM
IMPLICATION8 Of THIS TREND, BUT THE FACT REMAINS THAT* THE
LABOR GOVERNMENT HAS LOOKED AFTER THE OPLE W'HO NEED Us.
AND THERE IS ANOTHER THING; WE HAVE LOOKED AFTER THOSE WHO
CAN'T SPEAK UP FOR THEMSELVES. KNOW THE MIDDLE CLASS
AND THE LABOUR UNIONS CAN PROTECT. THEIR INTERESTS BECAUSE,
IN THE LAST RESORT, THEY CAN ORGANISEi THEIR STRENGTHS AND
ARTICULATE THEIR DEMANDS. THE ABORIGINES, THE MIGRANTS"
THE WIDOWS, THE DESERTED CHILDREN, THE PENSIONERS, ARE
NOT SO FORTUNATE. THEY ARE NOT SO VOCAL. THEY ARE NOT
SO ORGANISED. THEY NEED A GOVERNMENT THAT WILL HEED
THEIR PROBLEMS AND SAFEGUARD THEIR NEEDS. AND IT IS BECAUSE
WE HAVE DONE SO THAT VAST NUMBERS OF FORGOTTEN'PEOPLE,
NEGLECTED AND UNDERPRIVILEGED PEOPLE, HAVE HAD A BETTER DEAL.
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THE LIBERALS KNOW THIS. AND THEY KNOW WHEN
PEOPLE FEEL THE BENEFITS OF OUR PROGRAMS, THE REA\ L GAINS
IN THEIR LIVING STANDARDS, ALL THE LIBERAL TALK ABOUT
CENTRALISM, STATE RIGHTS AND THE CONSTITUTION WILL BE
REVEALED FOR THE CLAPTRAP IT IS. YOU HEAR A LOT ABOUT
LABOR ATTACKS ON THE FEDERAL SYSTEM.* HERE IN TASMANIA
THE SMALLEST STATE, YOU HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN THE
FEDERAL SYSTEM, A SPECIAL CONCERN TO ENSURE THAT THE
SYSTEM OPERATES TO YOUR ADVANTAGE. IASK: WHO IS
MORE CONCERNED TO MAKE THE SYSTEM WORK THOSE.: WHO WANT
TO PRESERVE ITS MANIFEST INADEQUACIES OR THOSE WHO WORK TO
IMPROVE IT? IHAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE FEDERAL SYSTEM
CAN WORK BUT IKNOW IT WILL WORK BEST WHEN WE ESTABLISH
THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN THE THREE TIERS OF GOVERNMENTLOCAL1
STATE AND NATIONAL. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING.
THE LESSON OF THE PAST DECADE THE LESSON TO BE DRAWN
FROM OUR OWN'ELECTORAL SUCCESSES -, IS THAT MANY OF OUR'
PRESSING PROBLEMS DEPEND ON A GREATER INVOLVEMENT BY THE
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.-I HAVE POINTED OUR THAT IN THE TWO
AUSTRALIAN STATES WITH THE LARGEST POPULATIONS, IT WAS
OBVIOUS THAT ONLY THROUGH THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE NATIONAL
GOVERNMENT COULD THE PEOPLE BE PROVIDED WITH ESSENTIAL PUBLIC
SERVICES LIKE. HEALTH, TRANSPORT AND EDUCATION. INIHE
STATES WITH THE LARGEST AREAS ONLY THE. NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
COULD SAFEGUARD AUSTRALIAN CONTROL. OF. THE VAST NEW NATURAL
RESOURCES DISCOVERED IN THE LAST 10 YEARS. 841/ 9
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IN TASMANIA, WHO BUT THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENJT COULD DO
ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR SHIPPING AND RAILWAYS? ONLY AN
A\ USTR~ ALIAN LABoi? GOVLRiimiFNT HAS THE WILL, THlE RESOURCES,
f 1-IE AUTH~ OiRITY TO-DEVELOP THF: A. N. L. ArmIF THE_ NATIONAL
RAILWAYS. ONLY THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT CA N RELIEVE YOUR
STATE GOVERNMENT OF THE CRIPPLING COSTS-OF ITS RAILWAY
SERVICES. AND WE HAVE MADE GREAT PROGRESS TOWARDS THAT
GOAL-IN THE PAST FEW DAYS.
LABOR HAS-A GOOD RECORD IN TASMANIA -A RECORD OF
POSITIVE ACHIEVEMENT AND WE SHOULD MAKE-SURE THE PEOPLE
ARE AWARE OF IT. CERTAINLY WE HAVE A S PECIAL PROBLEM
WITH UNEMPLOYMENT WHICH IS HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL
-AVERAGE. BUT OUR MEASURES HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO TACKLE
UNEMPLOYMENT NATr 0ONALLY AS WELL AS REGIONALLY. THE
GOVERNMENT HAS DONE MORE FOR TASMANIA THAN ANY GOVERNMENT
BEFORE US. WE HAVE BEEN UNSTINTINGLY GENEROUS IN OUR
FINANCIAL PAYMENTS. OUR GENERAL PURPOSE REVENUE4
ASSISTANCE To TASMANIA-AMOUNTED TO $ 131 MILLION IN OUR
LAST BUDGET 31.6% MORE THAN 1973-74, SPECIAL PURPOSE
PAYMENTS FOR UNIVERSITIES, HOSPITALS AND THE LIKE HAVE
SHOW4N AN EVEN MORE SPECTACULAR RISE. THEY AMOUNTED TO
$ 109 MILLION IN OUR LAST BUDGET 80% MORE THAN THE YEAR
BEFORE. AND BEAR IN MIND THAT OUR PAYMENTS IN rHE
PREVIOLUS BUDGET WERE THEMSELVES FAR IN. EXCESS OF ANYTHING
PROVIDED BY OUR PREDECESSORS. SO WE HAVE NOTHING TO
APOLOGISE FOR IN OUR FINANCIAL TREATMENT OF TASMANIA.
EVERY MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD IN THIS STATE RECEIVES AN
ESTIMATED $ 790 PER HEAD FROM THiE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT
COMPARED WITH $ q66 PER HEAD FOP. THE SIX STATES COMBINED.
Ah) THESE FIGURES TAKE NO ACCOUNT OF THFI ADDITIONAL
FUNDS GRANTED TO [ ASMANIA AT THE PREMIER'S CONFERENCE
LAST FRIDAY WEEK,
THE MESSAGE WE MUST KEEP IN MIND IS -THIS: WE MUST
NEVER ALLOW THE THUGS AND WRECKERS IN THE OPPOSITION TO
RATTLE US OR SHAKE OUR NERVE, THERE IS A CONSTANT ATTEMPT
TO DO SO IN THE MEDIA, FROM THE MORE STRIDENT VESTED
INTERESTS, FROM THEIR SUPPORTERS IN PARLIAMENT, I KNOW WITH
OUR PROBLEMS OFINFLATION AND UNEMPLOYMENT, AND WITH
THESE CONSTANT THREATS OF AN ELECTION, WE CAN EASILY LOSE
HEART. BUT THE AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT
ALONE WITH INFLATION AND UNEMPLOYMENT THEY KNOW THAT ALL
THE WORLD'S MIXED ECONOMIES, ALL THE WORLD'S INDUSTRIALISED
COUNTRIES, ALL OUR TRADING PARTNERS ARE SHARING THE SAME
EXPERIENCE. MANY OF THEM ARE MUCH WORSE OFF THAN WE ARE.
INDEED, ON MY RECENT VISIT TO EUROPE I CONCLUDED THATAUSTRALIA'S
ECONOMY IS BASICALLY MUCH SOUNDER THAN THOSE
OF MOST OF THE COUNTRIES I VISITED, 1lO SENSIBLE PERSON,
IN AUSTRALIA OR ABROAD, IMAGINES FOR A MOMENT THAT
UNFMPLOYMENT OR INFLATIO14 WOULD 12E ANY iETTIER IN AUSTRAL! A
TODAM UNDER A SNEDDEN-/\ N[ HONY GOVERNMENT. THEY WOULD
ALMOST CERTAINLY BE WORSE, MR ANTHONY WOULD SEE THAT PETROL
PRICES WERE A GOOD DEAL HIGHER FOR A START. MANY OF OUR
MEASURES TO RELIEVE UNEMPLOYMENT AND RESTRAIN PRICES
THE THE R. ED. S. SCHEME, WAGE IJDEXATION WOULD
BE SCRAPPED OUT OF HAND, .,/ ii1
Il-
THELRE I S GOOD R FASOH TO H OPE TIHAT OUR ECONOMI C
CONDITIONS WILL SOON BEGIN TO IMPROVE. lIN SAYING THIS
I DONAl WANT TO RAISE UNDUE HOPES OR GENER~ ATE COMPLACENCY.
WIE LIVE IN. TIMES OF RAPID AND SOMETIMES UNPREDICTABLE
CHANGCE, BUT I AM CONFID: ENT THAT OUR RECENT CCONOMIC
MEASURES WILL SHORTLY SHOW THEIR EFFECTS. LATER THIS
YEAR WE CAN EXPECT SOME MARKED IMPROVEMENT IN THE
LACOUJR MARKET. THE IMPORTANT THING FOR US AND OUR PARTY
SUPPORTERS TO BEAR IN MMII) ISA HAT THIS IMPROVEMENT CAN
ONLY BE SUSTAINED IF WAGE-EARNERS EXERCISE RESPONSIBILITY
INJ THEIR PAY CLAIMS. IKNOW THERE ARE SECTIONS OF THE
LABOR MOVEMENT WHO ARE RELUCTANT TO FACE THIS FACT.
THEY ARE QUITE OBSTINATE IN IGNORING IT. I SHALL NJOT
MINCE WORDS. THE TRUTH IS THAT WE CANNOT AFFORD WAGE
GAINS IN THE YEAR AHEAD LIK( E THOSE IN THE YEAR JUST PAST.
IDON'T TAKE ANY PLEASURE IN POINTING THIS OUT, ISTATE
IT AS A FACT. WAGE EARNERS HAVE MADE UNPRECENDENTED GAINS
IN THE PAST YEAR. IF WE WANT TO PRESERVE THE REAL
VAL. UE OF THOSE GAINS, IF WE WANT TO BUIlD ON THE
ACHIEVEMENTS WE HAVE MADE TOGETHER, IF WE WANT TO PREPARE
THE GOUND FOR FURTIIER GAINS IN FUTURE YEARS, WE CANNOT
PUSH THlE SYSTEM TOO FAR TOO FAST. IF & I OVERLOAD
OUR DEMANDS AT PRESENT WE RUN THE RISK OF CANCELLING
OUT OUR GAINS. WE WILL CERTAINLY POSE A THREAT TO
THE GOhVERNMENT'S SURVIVAL WHENEVER THE IJEXT ELECTION
COMES.
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DON'T FORGET THAT OUR TAX CUTS ARE MAKING IT
MUCH EASIER FOR THE WORKING MAN AND GIVING THE GREATEST
BENEFIT TO WAGE EARNERS WHO NEED IT MOST. OUR OPPONENTS HAVE
BEEN IN A LATHER OF INDIGNATION ABOUT SOME OF THE LURKS
AND CONCESSIONS WE HAVE CUT. TAKE OUR REDUCTION IN EDUCATION
EXPENSES, A DEDUCTION OF $ 400 BENEFITS A MINORITY OF PEOPLE
WHO LEAST NEED HELP. ALWAYS WITH SUCH CONCESSIONS THE
MAN ON THE HIGHEST INCOME RECEIVES THE GREATEST BENEFIT.
I SUPPOSE THAT OF ALL THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM I WOULD HAVE
THE HIGHEST SALARY. I COULD -AFFORD TO SPEND MORE ON MY
CHILDREN'S EDUCATION THAN ANYONE ELSE. WOULD ANYONE
CONSIDER IT JUST AND PROPER ON THAT ACCOUNT THAT I SHOULD
ALSO GET THE GREATEST BENEFIT IN TAX CONCESSIONS FROM
MY EDUCATION EXPENSES?
TASMANIA HAS HAD AMPLE PROOF OF THE GOVERNMENT'S
CONCERN FOR ITS PEOPLE. WE HAVE GIVE! J SPECIA. L IFLP TO
IASIANIA'S AGRICU! LTURAL INDUSTRIES AND MADE SPECIAL EFFORTS
TO IMPROVE TRANSPORT LINKS WITH THE MAINLAND. OUR RESPONSE
TO THE TASMAN BRIDGE DISASTER WAS PROMPT, EFFICIENT AND
GENEROUS. THE OBJECT OF ALL OUR REFOPMS, ALL OUR
PROGRAMS, . IS TO ENSURE THAT THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR AUSTRALIANS
TO LEAD RICH AND FULFILLING LIVES ARE MADE MORE ABUNDANT
AhD MORE EQUAL. IN TASMANIA YOU FACE SPECIAL PROBLEMS
BECAUSE OF YOUR STATE'S SIZE AND ISOLATION. NO ONE IN
TASMANIA Si OUIlD SUFFER ON THAT ACCOUNF. I BE IFVE ', OUR
CONFEREI. CE W; L, BRING ; S CLOSER in THE ACHIEVEMENT OF OUR
GOALS, AND ENA. BLE OUR TWO LABOR ' iOVEPr'MEN i S IN HOBART AND
CANDERRA TO CO-OPERATE IN FURTHER EFFORTS FOR THE oENEFIT
OF TiE PEOi'L. E OF TASMANIA AND OUR NATION.
* t . I'c