S FIL
I
S PRESS OFFICE TRANSCRIPT 12 JUNE 1979
PRESS CONFERENCE: WESTERN SUBURBS LEAGUES CLUB, MEETING
WITH ETHNIC PRESS.
Prime Minister
I am delighted to be here supporting Bill Vasseleou and
I would like to make the point that over the last three to
four years the Government has given a very great deal of
attention to ' the needs of migrant families in Australia.
We had the Galbally Inquiry, as you know, into the post-arrival
services available to migrants and we have been implementing
the recommendations of that particular report, which desigcned
across a wide range of service provided by the Federal Government
and y the State Government to improve what was otherwise
available. It is not only a question of some of the basic
servic. es English teaching in schools and matters of that kind
we are also moving to encourage all schools to teach history
and culture of Australia's great migrant communities so that
there will be a much better understanding amongst all Australians.
I think the day has long gone past when it was enough to teach
English history and a bit of Australian history. It is important
for Australians to know the history of Italy and of Greece and
of many other countries from which our migrant communities
have come.
We have also, as you know, established ethnic radio. Ethnic
television is moving forward. The experimental programme
is now being undertaken. That will move onto its own basis
a little bit further on. We are pursuing these policies because
we recognise that there have been deficiencies in the past and
in a multicultural society as Australia has become, it is very
important to make sure that Governments respond to the change
and respond to the diversity that we have amongst us.
I think one of the quite exciting things I have seen in visiting
ethnic radio in both Sydney and Melbourne is when you speak to
all the broadcasters and organisers, how people from say
different countries have come together for the first time. They
are all Australians but they have come from 40 different countries.
The-are responsible for the progra-nes for their own communities,
but they are recognising the common link with Australians.
I th-ink that the programmes that we've developing for Australia's
re. t et-hnic ccrunities are better devised than ever before in
or-s tory. I believe that it is coming to be quite widely
recognised. I don't think I have anything more to say at the
outset. It's over to you for questions.
Question ( Inaudible). My question relates directly to ethnic broadcasting.
Could you tell us please what is the currentattitude of the
Government regarding a possible second frequency for ethnic radio?
/ 2
-2
Prime Minister
When I visited 2EA the other day this was put to me because
it's difficult to get enough time on one frequency for say,
up to 40 communities. I have spoken to the Minister, Tony Staley,
about this. I can only say that it is under examination.
It's not necessarily an easy question. There is a question of
some degree of equity in other areas where services might not
be available but I can understand the reasons why that request
has been put forward. It is being examined at this moment.
Question Etinic television. I know it's at the moment, it's only under
trial. Will it be run under the same system as ethnic radio?
Prime Minister
I think it's too early to say yet. There's a trial service on.
We want everyone to say what they think of it whether they
like it or dislike it, whether it is too tame or too provocative
I don't think anyone will be saying what's been done so far is
too provocative. There is the Ethnic Television Review Panel
whizh wants-to have the views of ethnic communities, and of
everyone for that matter, in what the programme ought to cover;
what sorts of programmes there ought to be and I think we've
got to have a look at that because we really do want the programme
to be one that is going to respond to the needs and to the wishes
of the ethnic communities. It's not something that a few people
from the centre want to dictate. I think we've got to get the
views of those who are interested in watching ethnic television.
I think it's very important therefore that people make sure
their views do get to the Review Panel and to make their views
known. We want that-involvement from the communities and from
other Australians also.
Question
-Aswith all these things, programme times as with radio, and I
believe television, are going to be divided amongst the communities
percentage-wide, according to the number of migrants from each
grcup. Hence, the small groups the minorities like the
Baltic. communities always tend to get very very small time slots
an. unsuitable ones as we have with radio. ( Inaudible), but
with T. V.-I know that a lot of Australians watch the ethnic
procramme as do, of course, almost all the ethnic communities.
T ha-e seen that a lot of the programmes are in English or half
ir ' ish and half the original language, and I was wondering
whether more stress could be put not so much on time given on
a percentage, but the quality of the programme or something which
would provide interest for the entire community. Unless this
aspect was looked at then the smaller minority communities,
as I was told, might only get a quarter of an hour, a half an hour,
every three months. This certainly brings about an inferiority
complex. / 3
3
Prime Minister
I hope it won't do that. But, I agree with you. I think the
best ethnic television will be television that appeals to all
Australians wherever they cone and however long they have been
here. It's not just a question of having Italian programmes
which only Italians are going to be interested in seeing to
give an example. So, I hope many of the programmes can be
broadbased in the groups of people that they appeal to. But it
is too early yet to make any judgements and it would be quite
wrong for me to make any judgements about what the programmes
ought to be. We want to assess the views of the communities
and of Australians generally and that's the reason why the
pilot programmes are in place so that people can look at them
and judge them say if they like them or say if they don't,
say what they think they ought to be.
Quest ion
( Inaudible) to raise the question of postal rates for
foreign language newspapers. Up until now we didn't get any
( inau.-ible) lowering of the postal rates.
Pri-e Minister
.1 wilñ chase that up for you, but it was my understanding that
the postal rates for a number of newspapers were reduced a couple
of months ago.
Question ( Inaudible) foreign language newspapers.
Prime Minister
There wouldn't have been any distinction. Let me check it.
Question ( Inaudible).
PrLme Minister
Le-t check it up and I will write to you about that, because
ñ 5 adig is that there has been a reduction in postage
rates for a number of periodicals.
expand on the newspaper situation. I have noticed that some
ethnic newspapers carry quite a few Commonwealth and State
Government advertisements, whereas some don't. I was wondering
whether this again is these advertisements are placed on a
percentage basis depending on the circulation of newspapers,
or whether they should be placed in all ethnic newspapers to let
all communities know about Government decisions, especially
regarding social security rules and if that is so, then there
is a communications gap because some of the smaller papers have
them, some haven't and for some of them I know no advertisements
have been sent. / 4
.** a'CTgaww r
4
Przime Minister
I will get a report on that and see how the placing of
advertisements in.-. ethnic newspapers is judged. The Government' s
objective is to have the newspapers placed in such a way that
we get to all communities and to as many people as possible.
But, let me make some inquiries and I will write to you about
that also.
SPrime Minister
One or two of you might be interested in a statement that I think
has been issued in Canberra a short while ago in the names of
myself, Doug Anthony, Sir-Charles Court, and Mr. Petersen.
The statement I think speaks for itself but it is an important
one. It indicates an agreement in relation to export guidelines.
I will be in touch with other Premiers who are also involved
in the export of minerals and N. S. W. of course will be involved
in -* tat. The Chief Minister of the Northern Territory is involved
in exports from the Northern Territory. Other states are
concerned but to a lesser extent. But it is an important statement
becau-se last night we came to an agreement that has resolved
the differences between State and Commonwealth and the agreement
was referred to my Government this morning and to the Queensland
and Western Australian Governments during the course of the day.
In each case the Governments have ratified the agreement.
Question Can you tell us the essence of the agreement?
Prime Minister
The essence of the agreement really is that there will be full
consultation between the States and the Commonwealth on a
cortinuing basis. We will want to keep in touch on market
circumstances in any particular industry any particular
export.-Nobody wants to be using export controls in commercial
Scircumstances, but I think everyone recognised there can be
occasions when Governments need to be involved. That is not
denied by the States. The Commonwealth's power is accepted and
admitted, but I think the main thing that the States want and
it is reasonable-is that if that power is to be used it should
be used in consultation and desirably, obviously, with the
agreemenu of the State and with the agreement of the industry.
The Commonwealth has a reserve position, clearly, but we will
be seeking to act ih agreement and in concert with the States.
We onZunced some time ago that in the present marketing
circ:-. stances there is no need for the export guidelines as such
to remain in relation to iron ore and if there is to be any
introduction or introduction of controls of some kind in that
particular industry that will be in consultation with the
Government of Western Australia. In relation to coal, aluminium
and bau ite, where the export guidelines remain in force, we
will having consultations with the States concerned about current
market circumstances and the continued application of the
guidelines. We will be having those consultations against the
background of the whole ( inaudible) agreement that was reached
last night and which will have been published in the press statemen
today. Basically, it I think represents a very sensible
.7 Prime Minister ( continued)
arrangement between Governments. It will resolve differences,
establish a basis for consultation and principles which will
govern that consultation and therefore give very great
security of course to investors in great development projects
in different parts of Australia. I think therefore it's
certainly something the Commonwealth welcomes very greatly
and something that I am sure the States also will welcome.
The document speaks for itself. The details of it are all
there. Question
Mr. Fraser, has Mr. Bjelke Petersen reacted yet about-on
your decision, the Government's decision, on the Great Barrier Reef?
Prime M1inister
I was with him for hours last night and I don't see any
prc--1ems in that area.
Que-stion
Did he mention it?
Prime Minister
No. I think he publicly said that Queensland accepts or lives
with, or whatever, the decision. I don't see differences
there. Prime Minister
Pr. me Minister, from what you've just said ( inaudible) does
that mean there is no need for consultation on iron ore?
Prime Minister
No, if there was to be any application of export controls of
one kind or another in the iron ore industry of course there
W471 be consultation.
Question Pr:*! e Minister
No, it's not envisaged at the moment. I think the marketing
situation is improving. The market is much stronger than it was.
Generally, the market situation in a number of minerals is
improving. Mr. Anthony is also issuing a statement shortly
which will indicate that a very large number of commodities
of lesser importance than the ones I mentioned will be
completely de-controlled. In other words, a large part of the
fabric of control is disappearing. / 6
6
Prime Minister ( continued)
That is an examination that he set in train as a result
of an examination he set in train many many months ago during
the course of last year.
Question Prime Minister, basically that means that coal and iron ore...
Prime Minister
No, the guidelinesremain in place at the present time on
coal, alumina and bauxite andthere will be discussions with
the Governments concerned about the continuing need for
application of guidelines judged against current market
circ-. mnstances and future prospects.
Question You said that the Government will always retain reserve power
( inaudible).
Prie Minister
I didn't have to say it, that was accepted; that the
constitutional power is the Commonwealth's and that's not
challenged. But the States do press and that is not unreasonable,
because they are involved in development projects. They want
them to go ahead, they want them to maximise investment,
development, for export earnings, just as we, and they have got a
constitutional position-in relation to a number of aspects as
we have in relation to others. It's only reasonable therefore
that Governments should act in consultation and to the maximum
-extent possible by agreement.
Question Are you aware of a situation in Canberra amongst the Hungarians
living there and are being harrassed by the Hungarian
Ambassador. The Canberra Times had reported this some months
age when the Hungarian Ambassador refused to ( inaudible) for
a Hungarian woman who receives the same ( inaudible)...
bl-t nce he is a member of the Committee of the Australian-Hungarian
Club, ( inaudible)...
Pr-i" e Minister
I haven't heard of problems in that area. I would be happy to
make some inquiries for you if I can. I haven't heard of
the problems. I don't think I have had any representations
in relation to it. I will check with my office. I can't guarantee
I have about 2,000 or 3,000 letters into my office a week.
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