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PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 26 JANUARY 1978
ADlDRESS. AT AUSTR~ ALIA DAY. LUNCHJEON, 14ELBOURNt
My Lord Mayor, I am delighted to have had this opportunity to
join with you at this luncheon to celebrate our national
day. Australians do not as a rule talk much about their feelings
towards their country. It is not part of our normal character
to display ardent public patriotism, eyxcept perhaps upon returning
from overseas when many Australians declare their conviction
that, after all they have ' sedyi, Australia Is the best country on
earth.
More public fervour by far is displayed at the V. P. L. Graoid Final
than at all Australia Day celebrations combined, But underlying
all this, there is a great strong curren't of pride in our country,
and a belief in the future destiny of Australia.
Australia Day is an appropriate occasion for Australians to take
a f ew minutes to think about what it means to be an Australian
what makes us distinctive as a nation. Like any other group of
people, we are . a product of the experiences we have had together,
and the experiences and the cultures and traaitions so mnany
Australians have brought with themn to us from other countries.
We have enjoyed good times. We have helped one another, and
other people, in some exceedingly tough times wars, depression,
bushfires, floods. Through it all,' our country has steadily
grown and developed, until we have now created a whole complex
civilisation on this continent. Much has been achieved. Much
remains to be dlone.
B3y thinking inore clearly about Australia and what it means to
each of us, we can f ind ways to -make this country an even
better place to live in than it already is. lie can preserve
our freedom and protect our people from injustice. And we can
and must take care of those among us who need our help, and
give it to them as a right and not a privilege, so that they
retain their dignity and self-respect.
if Australia is to become the great country we all believe it
can be if we are to translate the present into a better fCuture
for all Australians what obligations are on us? What do we
need to do? / The first
The first thing we can all do As to strive harder to achieve
our personal goals. The philosophy of " near enough is good
enoughi" of the half-hearted slapdash effort just is not
gooft enoughb any more. It does not matter what field of activity
we are an.
In the arts,-If we are to have ballet of world-wide distinction
and excellence if we are to give birth to authors whose works
will be read in 1,000 years in sport, if we are to beat the
nnqlish at cricket all of this takes a rmaximnum. effort by
individuals, the company, the team. So far as Axistralia is
concerned, we are all part of the team, every one of us.
We must all put in our best effort, riot just for o-ursel-ves,
bu~ t for Australia.
The next thing we can do As to show -more oare for each other
greater tolerance of others, a greater respect for others,
greater concern for the disadvantaged and underprivileged.
It is too easy to take the selfish attituade that the plight
of those less fortunate than ourselves is the Gover-nient's
problem. If we can su) pport each other -more, we shall all be
the stronger f or itt for' we ' shall be ' a -more ' humane, a mnore
liberal society.
Next, we must be prepared to initiate and adapt to necessary
reforms, and be propared to protcct. and prosearve that which is
best in our society. We need to strike a careful balance
bctween smoothing the way for change which advances ouor goals,
, andi providing the stability which wiill let ouor society prosper
a nd fl1. ourish._
There is a final rcg-uircient. Over a range of issues and basic
values, there is In Australia a strong degree of consensus.
This broad agreement is of te~ i obscured by the heat of political
debate by the division of opinion on the political issue of
the noment.
But Australians are not divided on the sort of country we want.
The great majority of Australians want to see Australia thrive
and develop. Want to see our youong people have the opportunity
to make their contribution to the nation's future. Want to see
that no Australians go without basic necessities throuigh no
fault of their own. Want to see the rights and liberties of
individual Australians protected and enhanced,
What we must all do and political leaders have a parti-cullar
responsibility in this is to support and reinforce these
common values and ideals. The media too has a responsibility
in this. ' They have a duty to criticise and expose, but they
have a like duty to emphasise those things of value in society
those things which act as a -unifying force . inour community.
Let us all concentrate for-a change on those things which
unite us, not seek to emphasise those that divide us. / it As
3
It is not for nothing that Australians are known as knockers.
Sometimes that may be a virtue, but it can be taken too far,
as it is when its proponents live by that philosophy alone.
There is more to life, more to Australia, than that.
The opportunities within our grasp are great. The
possibilities for Australia endless. On Australia Day 1978
it is fitting to reflect for a few moments on what has given
us a sense of national unity, and what it is that each of us
can do to build on that unity. This is a role for Government
and for every Australian, for Australia is no more than the
sum of all its people; nothing but the actions oœ all
Australians. If we as individuals act with a sense of responsibility,
Australia will be made a better place. in 1978, we should
all think of what we can do for Australia.