PRESS OFFICE TRANSCRIPT WEDNESDAY 20 JUNE 1979 0
PRIME MINISTER INTERVIEWED ON ABC'S " NATIONWIDE" BY
RICHARD CARLETON
Carleton
Here in Canberra what happened was that at 11: 15 this morning
Mr. Fraser, Mr. Anthony, Mr. Viner, Mr. Macphee and Mr. Ellicott
were joined by Mr. Peter Nolan, the Secretary of the ACTU,
Mr. Petersen, of the Manufacturing Group in the ACTU, Mr. Scott
of the Metal Group, Mr. Bob Gregory of the United Trades and
Labour Council of South Australia and Mr. Ray Geitzelt of the
Services Group of the ACTU, and also Mr. Cliff Dolan the
ACTU Vice-President. These gentlemen all together had lunch
in the Cabinet room, the discussions continued all through the
afternoon. At one stage Mr. Fraser had a break I understand
to sreak to the Chairman and Chief Executive of Caltex Oil.
The discussions continued after that and they had sandwiches
for dinner. The discussions continued after that and they broke
a little before 9: 00 EST. Mr. Fraser has since had a press
conference and has been kind enough to come down to the studios
here in Parliament House.
Mr. Fraser, I would like to ask you simply, what has been
achiaved since 11: 15 this morning?
Prime Minister
I think a good deal has been achieved. As you know the ACTU
resolution that was passed yesterday was calling for a day of
protest tomorrow and then also indicating the very strong possibility
of continuing bans on the exports of major commodities and
indicating that if the TLC in Western Australia requested it,
there could be a blockade against the State of Western Australia.
It wasn't just a question of a day of protest that was confronting
Australia. It was also a question of a continuing situation of
deep industrial turmoil that would have done grievous and great
harm to this nation. We've had discussions today which have
been undertaken, I believe, with goodwill, on all sides. I also
believe that those members of the ACTU who were with us today
were concerned about the consequences of the proposed action on
Ausrralia and therefore we were working to see how we could
prevent that happening. Now, as a result of discussions, as a
result of discussions that the ACTU representatives had with
P. rr Czok cf t-e TLC in Western Australia; that Ian Vi~ er and
mysef h-ad-with Des O'Neil, Acting Premier in. Western Australia;
and also as a result of discussions that were being undertaken
between Mr. O'Neil and the TLC in Western Australia, very late
in the afternoon we got to a situation in which Mr. O'Neil wanted
to amplify a statement that he'made earlier in the day about
the nature of a review of the laws of assembly in Western Australia
and other States. / 2
2
Carleton Let me just reiterate here; Mr. O'Neil is the Acting Premier
of Western Australia.
Prime Minister
The Acting Premier of Western Australia.
Carleton
He is taking the place of Sir Charles Court whilst he is
out of the country?
Prime Minister
That's right. So he issued a further statement indicating that
the C:.-. monwealth Attorney-General and the Attorney-General of
the Stae would jointly conduct a review. Now it is our
understanding... Carleton What are they reviewing?
Prime Minister
They are reviewing the laws of assembly in Western Australia and
other States.
Carleton This is the Attorney-General in Western Australia
Prime Minister
And of the Commonwealth
Carleton
And Senator Durack the Commonwealth Attorney-General are to
review the laws of assembly?
Pri-e Minister
They are the laws that are in question. This section of the
Police Act which has caused this controversy is right at the
centre cf it. They will be reviewing the situation! the law
as itL i in Western Australia, the equivalent sections in the
Acts of other States and obviously making recommendations to the
Western Australian Government. I haven't got any doubt at all
that in that review the Attorney-Generals will be wanting to
reach a situation which prevents a continuation of these
difficulties. / 3
-3-
Carleton To take it step by step sir, what happens tomorrow when the
unionists go into court in Western Australia?
Prime Minister
Tomorrow, it is our understanding that the cases will be deferred.
There is no position being put by the Western AustralianGovernment
in relation to that, but on all the advice available to us and
in the normal practice, the case will be deferred and it is
the intention to use the period of adjournment of the case of
deferrment of the case for the two Attorney-Generals to encompass
their review. It will be the objective to have the report of
the Attorney-Generals in the hand of the Western Australian
Govern-ment before the case is resumed. Again, that position was
put to the ACTU representatives. As a result of that, they are
prepared to recommend to the ACTU Executive tomorrow that
any -uestion of continuing bans and limitations on the export
of co-modities from Australia or bans on Western Australia as a
State be put aside.
Carleton Could I summarise what you have said? You correct me where I
am wrong. That tomorrow morning the court case goes ahead in
Western Australia.
Prime Minister
Well, it will start.
Carleton Sorry, it will start. Right. And also the day of national
protest, the psuedo national strike, goes on tomorrow?
Prime Minister
They go on tomorrow.
Carleton Right-1ow the expectation is that. the court hearing tomorrow
will be adjourned.
That's right. / 4
-4
Carleton And then whilst that court hearing is adjourned, then your
Attorney-General and the West Australian Attorney-General will
get together to review the laws of assembly?
Prime Minister
Yes. Carleton And 1tihat review of the laws of assembly is expected to be
complete before tomorrow's anticipated adjourned case is resumed.
Prime M. inister
That's r-! ight.
Carleton
That's the compromise?
Prime MLinister
That's the position that we reached this evening. As a result of
that any question of further industrial action is put aside.
Carleton THat' s'some achievement, isn't it?
Prime Minister
I think it's a very significant achievement.
Ckrle ton
Not Just on your part I mean just in the negotiating process
between you and Mr. Nolan.
Prime Minister-
I thin-k it was a very significant achievement. We had a joint
press conference at the end of it all. I believe that the
representatives of the ACTU who were with us today did have a
wish -to reach a compromise. If you compare what we have arrived
at with the initial demands of the TLC or the union movement, it
was very different. I think also there is a recognition on the
part of the Western Australian Government that a question of a
national stoppage to be followed by bans on the export of major
commodities was going to cause a very very serious situation
indeed. If I could just make the point, it started as a
Western Australian matter one of Western Australian responsibility,
of Western Australian law and all that is perfectly true, it
doesn't involve us at all but when you start to talk about
bans upon a whole State by the rest of Australia, bans upon the
export of Australian goods to markets right around the world,
then very obviously the Commonwealth is involved and has to be involved.
Carleton I don't want to throw up a nasty issue when this air of
compromise is around. Do you think you could have got this
far if Mr. Hawke had been in the country.
Prime-Minister
I would prefer not to comment about that. Let me only say
that I think the representatives of the ACTU who were with us
today believed that there was a job to do. They were
representatives of the industrial movement, representing the
industri: al interest, with a concern for the right of assembly
because they felt that was threatened whether that was a valid
fear or not it was a fear that they had and they are people
with one objective and one purpose and as a Government we were
able tosit down with them and have a discussion that was
sensi--.-. There was no grandstanding, not grandstanding at the
press conference afterwards. It was productive and I think it's
the wa-; relations ought to be conducted between a union movement
and a Government.
Carleton
Are you going to turn those skills now, those negotiating skills,
to solving the problems that exist in N. S. W. for the oil industry,
and where are we now with that from your point of view?
Prime Minister
Representatives of the Kurnell Refinery company people
came down to see me today because they wanted to report directly
on the seriousness of the situation in N. S. W. About 60 percent
of the oil used in N. S. W. is for industrial purposes or important
essential services. With the Kurnell shut N. S. W. has available
to it with the Shell Refinery only about half the oil that is
necessary for essential purposes and for industrial purposes.
That just emphasises the enormous seriousness of the present
positi" on. I don't want to comment on what has been happening in
N. S. 1W4. today because there have been discussions involving elements
of the N. 5. W. Government, as I understand it, all the people
involved, including Sir John Moore. I only hope that having regard
to the enormous severity of this issue, that they do reach a
sati-' s,-'-Actorv-and a r-easonable and an-ecruitable solution.
Carleton Eve r= has h-oe but is there expectation on your part that
the aolat-ion to the oil indus'try dispute is
Prime Minister
We've obviously been having reports through the course of the
day. But as I was advised just 10 or 15 minutes ago the discussions
are still going on and I am afraid that I don't want to make
any comment about that. I can only express a : hope at the moment
because it is sensitive and it is delicately balanced and it
again just shows the enormous harm that can come, in this case to
a whole of State, to tens of thousands of people. / 6
6
Prime Minister ( continued)
If you just think for a moment what's going to happen to
Carleton Everyone knows they can't get
Prime Minister
I don't really know that they do. You might think that they
know they can't get petrol to put in their car, but think of
the person whose business depends on being able to get petrol.
There are many small business people in that particular position.
Their businesses can be destroyed as a result of this continuing.
Many larger businesses that can ultimately survive find that
they just have to stand people down. They can't keep operating.
The hardship if you say you think you understand but I
think the hardship that would be involved if this continues
is aLrcst beyond our comprehension.
Carleton That's why all the efforts, I suggest maybe impertinently
but all the efforts should be directed towards a solution rather than
Prime Minister
They are being today. I haven't got the slightest doubt of that.
That's why I don't want to comment on negotiations that are so
important, that are still continuing, that I do know from
reports that have come through the day are sensitively balanced
at this moment. 000---