PM Transcripts

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PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA TUESDAY, 26 JANUARY 1982
DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH POLAND
Because they dared to try to obtain for themselves some small
part of the freedoms which we take for granted, the Polish
people are now suffering appalling hardship and repression
under martial law.
The bare essentials of life are in hopelessly short supply.
Thousands of workers have lost their jobs because they refused
to give up their union membership.
Nobody can doubt that Soviet influence stands behind the
present situation. It is a scathing indictment of totalitarian
systems that they cannot meet people's basic needs or recognise
fundamental freedoms.
January 30 is being set aside in a number of countries as a
" Day of Solidarity with Poland". The Day of Solidarity has
the Government'. s full support. It will give Australians the
opportunity to join with people from other countries to oppose
the imposition of martial law on the Polish people, and to
support a return to the path of freedom.. We cannot ignore
what the Polish Primate, Archbishop Glemp, only last Sunday
described as " voices full of pain and distress plagued by
impatience due to prolonged misery".
An international television program, entitled " Let Poland be
Poland", is being organised for the Day of Solidarity. I have
agreed to take part in this program, together with a number
of other Western%, Heads of Government including President
Reagan. The Day of Solidarity provides a further opportunity for the
community to make contributions in terms of practical humanitarian
assistance to the people of Poland. The Government has
contributed $ 1 million to the " Help Poland Live" appeal.
Private humanitarian assistance is, according to the
information available to the Government, apparently reaching
the people for whom it is intended. The flow of private
aid for the benefit of the Polish people will obviously continue
with the Government's full support.