THE CARETAKER MINISTRY
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER,
THE HONOURABLE MALCOLM FRASER, M. P.
ON 11 NOVEMBER 1975 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
I STATED THE TERMS ON WHICH HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL,
HAD INVITED ME TO FORM A CARETAKER GOVERNMENT " THAT IS ONE
THAT MAKES NO APPOINTMENTS OR DISMISSALS AND INITIATES NO
POLICIES UNTIL A GENERAL ELECTION IS HELD".
I SAID THAT I HAD GIVEN HIS EXCELLENCY THAT
ASSURANCE. I ALSO SAID THAT THERE WILL BE NO ROYAL COMMISSIONS
OR INQUIRIES INTO THE ACTIVITIES OF THE WHITLAM GOVERNMENT
THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD OF THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN.
liHEN I ANNOUNCED THE FORMATION OF MY MINISTRY
YESTERDAY I WENT ON TO EXPLAIN THAT MY GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT
ALTER THE POLICIES OF THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT UNTIL THE ELECTION
IS DETERMINED. WE WILL OF COURSE BE ADVOCATING THE POLICIES
THAT WE BELIEVE OUGHT TO PREVAIL AND THAT WE WILL IMPLEMENT AS
A RESULT OF WINNING THE ELECTION.
I HJAVE, TITEREFORE, ISSUED INSTRUCTIONS TO ALL
MINISTERS THAT EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY THEY SHOULD TAKE ONLY
THOSE ACTIONS NECESSARY FOR THE ORDINARY ADMINISTRATION OF
THEIR DEPARTMENTS AND THAT AS FAR AS POSSIBLE THEY SHOULD
AVOID MAKING DECISIONS THAT COULD GIVE RISE TO CONTENTION.
YESTERDAY IN CABINET IT WAS AGREED THAT IF CASES
ARISE WHERE APPOINTMENTS ARE UNAVOIDABLE, THE TERMS OF SUCH
INTERIM APPOINTMENTS SHOULD NOT RUN BEYOND 1 JANUARY 1976.
THE GOVERNMENT AGREED THAT THE PUBLIC SERVICE BOARD
SHOULD ADVISE DEPARTMENTS THAT, IN THIS INTERIM PERIOD,
EXCEPT IN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES TO BE OUTLINED TO DEPARTMENTS
BY THE BOARD, THE CREATION OF NEW POSITIONS SHOULD NOT BE
PROCEEDED WITH AND NEW PROVISIONAL PROMOTIONS SHOULD BE HELD
OVER. IN THE ELECTION PERIOD, NORMAL DEPARTMENTAL
INFORMATION, ADVICE AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES WILL BE
AVAILABLE TO MINISTERS. THIS ACCORDS WITH THE USUAL PRACTICE.
13 NOVEMBER 1975