FOR PRESS 20 SEPTEMBER 1976
ADDRESS TO THE R. S. L. CONGRESS
It gives me great pleasure to be present at this official
opening of the 61st National Congress of the Returned Services
League. I, like the overwhelming majority of Australians am deeply
appreciative of the basic commitments that motivate the R. S. L.
The ideals of devotion to the nation, loyalty, service and
the wilinness to serve one's country in a military capacity
overseas. 71: qualities of devotion and service that the
R. S. L. -e-r-lifies are of great importance to the well-being
of the-As-.-s-aian Commonwealth.
The R. S. L. -1 nurtured these qualities and contributed to the
vitalit: which they are passed from generation to generation.
On ever-Day Australians reflect on their past and the
qualities d sacrifices that made possible the freedom
Australians now enjoy.
As the: years pass this appreciation for past sacrifices has
come to be shared by families who have come to Australia in the
post-war years and whose children are such a vigorous
and important part of Australia.
Every natio! needs to take the time to reflect and
affirm the values the R. S. L. represents the values of
patriotisn and the capacity for sacrifice and achievement
against odds.
It is a great tribute to the League that Anzac Day has come to
serve this purpose. The motto of the R. S. L. is " the price of
liberty is eternal vigilance". This motto has guided the League
in relatiz r: c questions of the national defence.
Today, r. ne-ed for vigilance in the defence of liberty remains.
The intern.~ ional situation is one in which tensions have not
been eli:-'-ined. There is a continued readiness on the part of
some st3es -o nursue theirinterests by the use of force. The
influence countries opposed to the freedom and respect for
the individual is growing. / 2
In acting effectively in such an international environment,
Australians must be willing to view the world as it is,
not as we would like it to be. There must be a willingness
on the part of many people to discuss the needs of Australian
defence and foreign policies: in ways which illuminate the
underlying realities of the international situation;
in ways which produce an ability to cope with challenge
and complexity and in ways which serve Australia's national
interest.
The discussion should be dispassionate and free of either
stridency or false illusions. The Returned Services League
has a significant role to play in the discussion of our
foreign and defence policies. One of the major advantages
democracies have over authoritarian regimes is that they have
the benefit of the free play of discussion and debate.
This is not a restriction on foreign policy as some might
think. It is in fact essential to the development of
effective and sophisticated foreign and defence policies.
The Government has sought to take the lead in pomoting
this discussion by putting before the Australian public
its perspective on the world, the problems and the
opportuniti. s it affords to Australia.
Let me refer briefly to one matter which I raised in my
June 1 st-ement and which has occasioned some debate. I expressed
the Australian Government's concern at the growth of Soviet
military power, pointing to the fact that the U. S. S. R. now has
a strategic and political reach a capacity to influence and
intervene -: ell beyond the established zone of Soviet security
interests. -is concern has also been expressed by the defence
and foreign ministers of the NATO powers.
The Opposition Shadow Minister for Defence, Mr Hayden, seeks to
deny that there is any reason for Australia to be concerned.
He makes the acute observation that the NATO powers' statements
relate to: " events 14,000 kilometres away in the distant
reaches of Europe."
Somie people apparently cannot grasp that what happens
in Europe is of . vital importance to Australia that we are
no longer living in the days of sailing ships but in the days of
I. C. B. M's. We no longer live in an isolated region but in a
world of nations linked by the technological revolution.
The Australian Government seeks nothing more than friendly and
mutually beneficial relations with the Soviet Union.
But the Government must put before the Australian people its
concerns. The Government must tell the truth as it sees it.
To adopt any other course would be to rail in its responsibilities
to the nation.
If the concern we have expressed on the basis of evidence before
us is misplaced, it is within the means of the USSR to make this cleo
We fervently hope it will do so. / 3
Since the Government came to office, it has acted to strengthen
Australia's relations with a number of countries in the
region and ouside it. This year a Treaty of Friendship
and Cooperation has been signed with Japan.
Extensive discussions have been held with the Chinese
leadership. In South East Asia our major concern is to support
the ASEAN countries' efforts to promote internal development
in the region. We believe the ASEAN countries are making significant.
progress and that it is vital that the conditions allowing
this progress to continue are maintained.
Our attitude to foreign and defence issues are not based
on ideological preconceptions but on a realistic concern for
Australia's national interests.
In pursuing these interests, the nation with which we can have the
closest cooperation is the USA.
America has assumed tremendous responsibilities in the world.
In the Second ' orld War, the USA ensured Australia' security from
invasion and led the destruction, of the Axis powers.
Since has played an indispensable role in preserving
world 2e: ed security.
This CGoverr-e-t will ensure that the ANZUS alliance with the
U. S. and Zealand is sustained. We will meet to the full
our res. ilities under this alliance.
In this z: k, we have the overwhelming support of the Australian
people. who tried to undermine the ANZUS alliance by
attempting prevent the visit of the Truxton have discovered
where the c.: imitments of the Australian people lie.
Although Australia has been facing great economic difficulties
the Governe. nt has taken decisions to ensure that the defence of
Australia * ill not be allowed to run down. Recognition
of the realities of Australia's global and regional strategic
circumstances gives rise to the requirement to formulate
and implement a national defence policy.
Firstly, we must ensure that realistic diplomacy is
employed to the full to support our security and accordingly
that of friends and allies.
Secondly, , e nmust achieve within the practical limits of our
available rsz-urces a steady enlargement of self-relianoe
in defe.-. pability.
Thirdl:, e -ust cooperate with and support our allies and
regional . ssciatesi n countering threats to peace and stability.
The Gov'er-. ent recognises that Australian policy must be based
on a czm. re. ensjve, independent and coordinated assessment and
definition our national interests, and on maintaining close
consul: atin and collaboration with our allies. / 4
4.-
Acceoting responsibility to achieve greater military
self-reliance in no way diminished the importance of our
defence alliance with the United States. But we do not
believe that America should alone bear the responsibilities
which other nations share.
Our first concern must be to ensure that Australia is seen
as a nation that is militarily competent, capable of independent
effort and that has a realistic understanding of its strategic
situation. Military forces able to discharge a range of current and foreseeabl
tasks, and which have the ability to expand are an
essential element in Australia's defence policy.
It is against this background that the Government announced
earlier this year its intention to embark on a defence programme
that will involve the expenditure in real terms of more
than $ 12,000 million in the next five years.
The first instalment of this programme has now been approved
in the 3ud;, e for 1976/ 77 in . which provision of $ 2,178 million
is made Defence. This is an increase in real terms
in excess f 7%.
Making -such significant increase at a time of acknowledged
economic difficulties is an indication of the priority
this Gove_-. rnt attaches to national security, our refusal to
follow : he previous Government in its relegation of the nations
defence tc-second place.
Further in: reases are planned in the later years of the programme,
which is the time at which spending on substantial and long lead
items begins to take effect. The White Paper soon to be
presented vy my colleague, the Minister for Defence, will elaborate
on these matters.
In the equipment area advantage will be taken of the enhanced
capabilities made possible by new techniques which have produced
weapons with unsurpassed accuracy. Examples of this may be seen
in the capabilities that will be available in the new long
range maritime reconnaissance aircraft and the new destroyers.
The weapons system associated with these two purchases will
herald a significant advance in the technological level of Australia'
forces.
There is one final point which I wish to make. The Government
recognises That in peacetime, with volunteer defence forces,
there is a nced to provide for an adequate community life for
servic. e. en and their families.
The R. S. L. has done admirable work in assisting ex-servicemen,
and their f~-ilies in these matters.
My Government has and will continue to ensure that the
C: f. nce forces requirements not only the equipment and
f:,:; lites but also for conditions of service, receive
the highest priority.
My colleague, the Minister for Repatriation, Senator the
Honourable Peter Durack, will be addressing you later today
so I will comment on repatriation matters except to say
that the Go : ernment has before it the reports of a number of
expert inquiries all of which touch upon repatriation in some way,
In acting on these inquiries the Government will be guided by
its commiitment to preserving and improving the repatriation
s; stem including retention of the Department and Commission
which have served the ex-service community of this country so
well for some sixty years.
Both the Liberal Party and the National Country Party recognise
that the repatriation system needs to be adjusted from time to
-time in line with the needs of ex-servicemen and women and their
dependants. Ladies and -en-lemen, thank you for giving me an opportunity
to relate the objectives of the Government to the ideals of
this gre-: : ational institutions.
I hope th:--our Congress is a very successful and productive one.
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