PM Transcripts

PRIME MINISTER 22 FEBRUARY 1979
From the Press Office
SUMMARY OF ABC'S
After surviving the rigours of the Queensland electoral
redistribution affair, Federal Minister for Finance, Mr. Eric
Robinson, stunned Parliament last night by resignina.
No reasons have been given. Is understood Mr. Robinson told
Party colleagues he could not longer qive the Prime Minister
his unqualified suoport. Report from Geoff Duncan: " Behind
the scenes all has not been well and the Fraser-Robinson
relationship has deteriorated to its present finale. According
to his supporters, Mr. Robinson felt that he had been shabbily
treated by the Prime Minister when some 6 months ago he was
hauled before the MacGregor Royal Commission to answer allegations
of electoral boundary rigging. Further conflict developed over
the role Mr. Robinson's Department of Finance was to play in
giving alternative economic advice to Mr. Fraser. I understand
that Mr. Robinson felt frustrated and out-manoeuvred by the
seeming dominance of the Treasury and the Prime Minister's
Department... . the crunch seems to have come when Mr. Robinson
got wind that Mr. Fraser had done a deal with the National Party
in Queensland which would ensure them Senate preference in the
next election..."
Sir William McMahon said he was not suprised at Mr. Robinson's
resignation and that all backbench sympathy would be with
Mr. Robinson. Sir William McMahon interviewed.
Fighting is continuing on China-Vietnam border. Reported
the Vietnamese are using American technology and American
propoganda techniques. For the first time since the outbreak
of fighting between China and Vietnam began, their representatives
are being draw into diplomatic dialogue aimed at ending the
conflict, likely to start tomorrow in the Security Council of the U. N.
Federal Minister for Indust%. ry and Commerce, Mr. Lynch, last
night announce'd the Government has accepted General Motors terms
for establishiing a $ 210 million engine plant in Victoria.
Federal opposition has mixed feelings about the plan. Labor
Spokesman on Business and Consumer Affairs, Mr. Hurford,
interviewed. Said he opposed the details of the decision but
supports what motivated the decisions. N. S. W. Secretary of
the Vehicle Worker's Union believes the decision is not only
likely to cause unemployment but also to deprive Australia of
irreplacable mechanical skills. Interviewed.
Britain' s civil servants are to go on strike in a few hours
time. 24-hour walk-out will1 affect a wide variety of services.
The British Prime Minister is adamant that he won't yield to
pressure. France: steel workers facing reduncancy are staging large
scale demonstrations by occupying railway stations.
Strikes in industrial disputes in Spain have come at critical
time with the country going to the polls in one week.
Western Australia: State ALP member, Keith Wilson, has
rejected a 9 percent wage rise. 00