PM Transcripts

FOR PRESS WEDNESDAY 15 APRIL 1981
RESIGNATION OF THE MINISTER FOR INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
Mr Peacock has today resigned from the Ministry, and I
have accepted his resignation. I regret both his departure
and the manner of his departure.
Mr Peacock won wide regard as Minister for Foreign Affairs
and keenly approached his job as Minister for Industrial
Relations. The charges which Mr Peacock has made about me are totally
false. There is no substance in Mr Peacock's allegation
that I have allowed false and damaging reports to be
published about him.
I reject utterly the charge that I have sought to undermine
Mr Peacock's authority while he was a Minister. I have
engaged in no acts of disloyalty to Mr Peacock or to his
Office. I reject also the attempt through choice of words
to draw a parallel with an earlier situation.
The allegation of reluctance to consult Cabinet is completely
false. The policies of my Government are established in
Cabinet discussion. These policies are binding on all
Ministers, and Cabinet discussion and consultation has been
a central feature of my Government throughout its entire
office. The practices of Cabinet consultation and
discussion have been consistently maintained throughout
the period of my Government office.
I am aware that the responsibilities of office can impose a
heavy burden on Ministers and I have always sought as part
of my responsibilities as head of Government to assist
Ministers through difficult periods.
I have done so with Mr Peacock in the past.
This time Mr Peacock's feelings and his frustration in his
Ministry have obviously become too strong. Those feelings
received expression in the statement which he issued today
when he announced his resignation.
I wish to make it clear that it was never my intention to
contribute to the strain which Mr Peacock so clearly felt.
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