PRI IME MINISTER 22 FEBRUAItY 1979 1 e C
From the Press Office
SUMkLAkRY OF ABC'S 7: 00 PM TELEVISION NEWS
In major statement to Parliament today, the Prime Minister
expressed the Government's concern that the fighting in
Vietnam might spread. Mr. Fraser said although China had
indicated it would act with prudence, there must be no
underestimation of the serious danger posed to the region
and the world by the present conflict. Mr. Fraser interviewed.
The Leader of the Opposition gave his view of the
Government's response to the situation in Indo-China.
Mr. Hayden interviewed.
Because of the situation in Indo-China, the visit of
a high-ranking Chinese leader to Australia next month
has been postponed. A Vice-Premier will not be able to come
to Australia.
Health workers at a rally in Sydney today called for
a total and indefinite strike from Monday unless the
Government drops its proposed health service cuts.
In his wide-ranging speech to Parliament today, the
Prime Minister said he believed that the Government's
economic policies would bear fruit in 1979. In his
speech Mr. Fraser reviewed developments overseas and within
Australia and spoke of a growina mood of optimism about
Australia's economic prospects.
Mr. Hayden said Mr. Fraser's speech was " a tour de farce"
rather than a " tour de force". Mr. Hayden said there were
three main issues in Australia today: the Prime Minister's
credibility; Mr. Fraser's deficiencies in economic
management and the Government's harsh neglect of social problems.
As the Prime Minister was on his feet today in Federal Parliament
talking optimistically about the economy, figures were released
showing food prices had soared during January. Food group
index went up by an average of 2 percent in Australia's seven
capital cities.
was claimed by the Federal Opposition today that there had
been an alarming growth in overseas travel by Government
ministers. Mr. Peter Morris, Opposition Transport Spokesman,
said in Parliament Ministers flitted out of the country at
the rate of one every 20 days. Said the Prime Minister had
been averaging one overseas trip every 10 weeks in the past
three years.
Students at a number of Melbourne schools are being used
as tutors and are often being paid to help other younger students.
Education departments in N. S. W. and Tasmania have shown
interest in the scheme.
The State Government ( NSW) today announced establishment of
two large national parks in Southern N. S. W.
One million Australians a year are using legal aid. Chairman
of Legal Aid Commission said he would like to see more
people using the service. / 2
2
A former President of the American Society of Criminology
believes penalties in Australia for white collar crimes
are inadequate.
Singapore has renewed its attack on Australia's cheap
air fares scheme at meeting of the five ASEAN nations
in Kuala Lumpur.
An American cyclone research team this afternoon left
Townsville for a second monitoring mission on Cylone Kerry.
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