Are.' y
PRESS OFFICE TRANSCRIPT MONDAY, MARCH 16 1981
PRESS CONFERENCE. THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE PREMIER
FOR QUEENSLAND ( BRISBANE)
Premier: just an interesting discussion, exchanging views on
quite a different number of subjects.
Question: Which particular subjects?
Premier: Well, no end of subjects. We talked about our hospitals,
State/ Commonwealth relationships and problems there
We have given a clear indication of our views which I
am sure will be taken into account. On irrigation matters
we discussed details there in Bundaberg and elsewhere.
These sort of things.
Question: Did you discuss tax?
Premier: Yes we did, but we have both got very definite views on
tax. I know your views on it you think you pay too much.
Question: So, you didn't agree with the Prime Minister?
Premier:
Well, we didn't really have any discussion on tax.
Prime Minister:
We have had that discussion.
Question: Did you discuss the possibility of the Federal Government
cutting Queensland's share of the tax inaudible..?
Premier: That was mentioned. Yes, that was mentioned also. Here
egain, I don't know that there is anything intended in
this regard by the Commonwealth. I didn't get that impression
from our discussions. Naturally we told the Prime Minister
our views in that regard, but again, I think a lot of that
was just views expressed by one or two of the Federal Ministers. ./ 2
-2
Question:
Mr Fraser, just what is your view in that area?
Prime Minister:
I think all governments should be as lean as they possibly
can be and save-tax payers dollars.
Question: -* tt for tat arrangement whereby Queensland is getting
a bit of resources tax or through the resources tax, therefore
they should get less federal money. Did you
Prime Minister:
That is not really something you should put that question
to the Grants Commission, because the Grants Commission at
the moment is doing an examination of the relativity between
all the States. That report won't be available, I don't
think, Premier, until about the middle of June. They will
then be assessing the proportions of the total tax pool
that now goes to the States to see how much each. State
ought to get. It is up to governments to decide what they
do with that report. Since the proportions were first
established, many years ago, there have obviously been
very great changes in the relative wealth of different
States. All the Premiers in the Commonwealth agreed about
two or three years ago that there ought to be an examination
of this. Now, how it comes out I have no idea at all, but the
report will be available in June -and we will be looking
at it. I think it is also worth noting of course, that
because-of the problems of large States such as Queensland
and Western Australia, and also the problems of States such
as Tasmania, the Commonwealth payments to Western Australia,
Queensland, Tasmania and South Australia on a per capita
basis has been very, very much greater than it would have
been to Victoria or New South Wales. That isthe historical
reason, and it really needs to be kept in your mind when
you are asking the kind of question you did about taxes
on ; resources.
Question: So you are sort:-, of laying the groundworks there for a suggestion
that there should be a reduction in moneys to those two States?
Prime Minister:
No, I am not laying the groundwork for anything. I am giving
an historic background, and indicating quite plainly that
the Grants Commission, at the request of all the Premiers
and the Commonwealth, have been looking at this. When we
get their report we will examine it.
Question: What option will you favour, Mr Prime Minister? / 3
-3
Prime Minister:
How would I know when I haven't seen the report?
What I do favour, and I have said very plainly, and will
go on saying, that all governments should be as restrainedL
in their own expenditure as possible, because that is the
only way that you can really reduce taxes.
Question: Ir
Mr Premier, you have said in the past that you just won't
have a bar of that. Have you changed your tune?
Premier: . I
No, no. I indicated, naturally, to the Prime Minister
exactly what I thought of any such suggestion, that we
certainly wouldn't go along with it. No, but let's cross
that bridge when we come to it. I don't think we will
come to that. I am sure the--Prime Minister appreciates
our position. wait and see.
Question: L
Has he given you an assurance of that?
Premier: No, he hasn't given me assurance. He wouldn't do that.
You don't do those sort of things in politics.
Question: L
What makes you think it won't come to it
Premier: I think he would respect our wishes.
Question: . inaudible
Prime Minister:
We have to have a look at the reports so I think we both
agree with that.
Question: Prime Minister, you have expressed concern at the growth in
the State public service. Did you express those views today?
Prime Minister:
No, we'were talking about' a whole range of issues, and only
very passing references to tax. But, I have said that often
it is right across the board. But it is just part of the
general proposition that if tax cuts are to be real, government
must be restrained in their expenditure. We can't spend the
same dollar twice. You can't spend it out of your pocket, and
Prime Min ister: ( cont.)
and neither can the Government spend it again on top of that.
If taxes are to be reduced, governments must be restrained
in their expenditure. I didn't say it today because we were
really talking about other things, but I have made the point
that State and local governments spend a little over
of the final dollars spent by governments, and therefore,
in the interests of lower taxation, the expenditure of
State governments is obviously relevant, just as the
expenditure of the Federal Government.
Question: Mr Premier, as a result of what you have heard today,
are you in for an especially tough time next month?
Premier: No, I am not. I expect a good time next month, because I think
I have done some ground work, too. I think it is a matter
of waiting to see. Things change from day to day in politics.
You never know quite what is going to happen and what is
around the corner. So, when that day comes, we will assess
it and the propositions that are put forward at that time,
I don't think the Prime Minister would have anything firm
in his mind as to what the attitude would be toa particular
State, or States generally. Perhaps to an extent he would,
but on the other hand, we will worry about that later
when we get there.
Question: Mr Fraser said he would work out his ground work, and
you say you have worked out your groundwork. What is your
groundwork? Premier: My groundwork is just to get a fair deal for Queensland,
nothing else. If we by good management may eVen have been
able to get tremendous growth and development where people
come from Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia,
as they do in New Zealand all the time by some thousands
every month, that indicates a good solid State where it is
good to live, and everybody knows that. But that shouldn't
detract from what our entitlemehts are. That should actually
add to it because the Commonwealth will get much more taxation
as , a consequence of the development here in Queensland.
Question: What were some of the other things you discussed today?
Prime Minister:
We discussed some matters relating to the establishment ofr
national parks in Queensland which invc~ lves the transfer
of Commonwealth held land to the State. We discussed
in very broad terms Aboriginal questions. The Commonwealth Games
Prime Minister: ( cont.)
we discussed at quite some length. I think most of them have
been mentioned hospital and hospital cost sharing.
Question: On the Commonwealth Games, did you discuss the possibility
of ' a-boycott at all by African nations?
Prime Minister:
I don't really think that that will happen, you know.[
Australia is well regarded and I think African nations
are probably more concerned at events outside Australia
inielation to the Commonwealth Games. The British
Lions Tour of Africa, I think, did a good deal of harm.
They are concerned, I know, about the Springbok Tour
of New Zealand, and Mr Muldoon has said he is opposed
to that tour, but it still looks as though it will
take place. These are the sorts of things which have
disturbed the African nations in relation to the GleneaglesL
agreement which I helped to negotiated, three or four years
ago. Mr Ordia ., from Nigeria will be out here shortly
and will be having discussions with people here. But,
I believe the general respect with which Australia
has held will assist Queensland in relation to the r
Commonwealth Games. But having said that, it is, and can
be a very emotional issue. I think you would understand
the reasons for that, and events outside Australia, events
in which Australia is not involved, would be capable
of making that a very difficult issue.
Question: The Australian Security and Intelligence Service is that
bugging foreign embassies in Australia? r
Prime Minister:
We don't talk about the work that ASIO does. The Leader
of the opposition is briefed quite regularly on the work
of ASIO, and the reforms recommended by Mr Justice Hope
have been implemented as a new legislative charter for
ASIO. Under Mr Justice Woodward, I have no doubt that the
both have the total confidence in the work that the organisation
is doing.
Question: . inaudible..?
I thought the question was asked about ASIO/
Question: AS IS. r
-6
Prime Minister:
Well, we don't answer questions about ASIS, or any of the
security organisations. But in terms of the briefings that
are available to the Leader of the Opposition, that would
apply in relation to ASIS, just as much as to ASIO.
Question: What, of the discussions you had today, to you, was the
major thing to come out of those talks?
Prime Minister:
It is very useful to be in Queensland, and useful to
have discussions in a relaxed way with the Premier and
the Deputy Premier. I think that fact alone -quite
apart from the substance of the discussions . So . often
during the period of:. the Premiers' Conference or the
times the Premier is in Canberra, there is other business
around, and time is pressed. At the* iPremiers' Conference,
there are other Premiers pressing their claims just as
Mr Petersen presses claims for the State of Queensland.
Just to be able to be here and to discuss a number of issues
in a relaxed way, and to set in train some processes and
procedures which I think will enable us to settle a number
of outstanding issues, I would hope, quite quickly in the
next few weeks.
Premier: gives you a good feeling to be in Queensland, does it, L
Mr Fraser?
Prime Minister:
It always does. It gives me a good feeling to be in Australia.
Question: Do you intend to have similar discussions with Mr Wran?
Prime Minister: I
If he wanted those discussions, I am very easy to I am
much closer than Brisbane, and I am in Sydney very often.
Quite obviously. Mr Wran and I have discussions on a number
of issues and sometimes come to joint views, as we did in
relation to that Expo in Sydney.
Question: On that Commonwealth Games problem, did you also discuss
expediting the upgrading of Brisbane Airport to cope with the
Commonwealth Games?
Prime Minister:
I am not aware that there is a particular problem in relation
to that. There is no way that the new works can be completed
in relatio~ n to the Games.
-7
Question: I gather there is a temporary upgrading though, to somehow
cope with the..?
Prime Minister:
Well that matter was not raised. if there is a problem
there, we will certainly look at it.
Question: . put on the hospitals issue and the inaudible..
Aborigine inaudible. What was the discussion?
Prime Minister:
We discussed the consequeces of the Premier's intention
inirelation to Queensland Acts, and there will be ongoing
discussions in relation to that at the request of the
Premier and myself. In relation to hospitals, without
going into any of the details, we discussed the manner
in-which the Commonwealth would make continued payments
in support of hospitals.
Question: inaudible
Prime Minister:
I wouldn't have any idea, Michelle. L
Question:
Mr Fraser, how do you intend to inaudible..
to restrain its expenditure?
Prime Minister:.
That is entirely a decision for the State of Queensland
and for the government of Queensland.
Question: inaudible.._____
Prime minister:
I suppose the money that the Commonwealth in its generosity
ultimately makes available to States is solely a decision
for the Commonwealth to make, as the Premier, and other
Premiers would know. It is our legislation.
Question: that the criticisms of Queensland's export coal rail
freight policy are to quote, ill-informed and unsupportable..
Would you agree with him, or would you agree with.. inaudible..?
6
-8-
Prime Minister:
What are the criticisms?
Question: The criticisms of the export rail freight charges are that
this is a way of imposing a pseudo resources tax of a
kind that is only distributed to people of Queensland
rather than perhaps the people of the nation.
Prime Minister:
Dr Edwards explained Queensland's approach to it and I am
not going to be arguing dt. a State that manages to run
a railway at a pirof it. I would much sooner those States
that run Iheir railways at a vast loss were able to reduce
their losses, because what you ascribe the charges to lead
to that situation, wellthat is another part of the question.
But I think the total public transport losses of various
State authorities is something like $ 1,200 million.
In New South Wales I think it is something like $ 500 million
a year, and quite obviously, if there were no public
transport deficits, no State would have any financial
problems and people could have lower taxes too.
Question: F
Did you discuss infra structure for Gladstone at all?
Premier: It was one of the ones of the list that we have given6
a submission to the Prime Minister on, and it was one
ofithose that we didn't get a great deal of opportunity
to discuss in depth. But I have a submission again which
I have already sent to the Prime Minister some months
ago. It is a very inaudible.. that we are trying to
clear up.