PM Transcripts

TRANSCRIPT OF PRIME MINISTER'S COMMENTS TO THE PRESS AT
INTERNATIONAL MOTOR RALLY, SYDNEY, 8 APRIL 1978
We had a meeting yesterday. Mr Viner has reported
publicly, and officials are working on a number of options
available to the Commonwealth. We have had for several days
a group of officials and Ministers working to analyse
what courses of action the Queensland Government might take
and what we ought to do if they did take action.
The legislation that we had introduced was confined, as it was,
to its proper purpose in relating to the circumstances of
Aborigines on Queensland reserves, because we believed and hoped
that the Queensland Government would then discuss with us the
best way of providing for the means of the Aborigine people
because that is what it is all about. So far as states rights
is concerned that is a nonsense issue on this question because
the people of Australia determined that by, I think, about
eight to one an overwhelming majority including an
overwhelming majority in the state of Queensland itself.
QUESTION: Well do you think what the-Bjelke-Petersen Government
has done indicates that it has an over-riding concern for the
Aborigines, or is it concerned about maintaining states rights?
PRIME MINISTER: I don't think it will be helped if I try and
judge-the motivations of the Queensland Government.
QUESTION: Did you anticipate that move by them Sir?
PRIME MINISTER: This is one of the moves that we thought they
might undertake, but we hoped that they wouldn't.
QUESTION: What options does it leave for you now?
PRIME MINISTER: There are a number of options and the Government
will be examining these on Monday. The only thing that I want
to make completely clear, and I think Ian Viner did last night,
is that our concern is overwhelmingly and predominantly
the interests of the Aborigine people, to establish the circumstance
in which they can and will be treated as equals with other
Australians. QUESTION: long legal wrangle Sir? What is going to happen to
the Aborigines while that goes on?
PRIME MINISTER: This is one of the matters that concerns us,
but it will not deter us from pursuing the course which we believe
is right and necessary in achieving racial equality in Australia
ENDS