PM Transcripts

FOR M4EDIA TUESDAY, 23 MARCH 1982
AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL TREE PLANTING
I'd like to congratulate you very much on having your second
national conference in Canberra and I think the first
seminar. From my information on the first occasion there
wasn't a seminar of the kind that was organised yesterday.
I understand that went well and was regarded as a great
S success. -You can't really blame us if you
haven't been recognised in some special and unique way,
because if you have a National Conference in Canberra in 1951
then turn around and forget that this capital exists for 30 years.
So now I'm very glad that that decision has been rectified and
you have had a national conference here. I've alsb no-ted what you
have said about the National Institute of Sport.
The InstitutE! is expanding, it will be embracing additional
sports, I'm riot quite sure of the mechanisms that the Institute
uses to choose which sport, but as sometimes a supporter of the
Australian game, I only hope that you put up a very good case
and one that is irresistible and can't be rejected. As a supporter
of football :-Lf you don't put up a case that is as strongj as that,
and as good as that, I'll be writing to people who represent mqy
interests in football to see why they didn't do a better job.
I do hope that you do have success with that application.
You mentioned New Zealand, you know if the Australian game was
stronger and overwhelming in New Zealand, some of
the problems we have had and are likely to have, just wouldn't
have been present. So there is a challenge in front of you
to maybe replace rugby and become the number one gamne in New
Zealand, because I've got no doubt that that would do a great
deal for ties with New1 Zealand and Australia.
I would just like to wish all good fortune to all of you.
The administration of Australian football has really beenundertaken
on a high plane over recent years in a that has
advanced the: game wherever it is played, and it is not just players
who make the! game, it is the administration, and you're here in
that capacity. I believe you have every right to be proud in the
way this game has been managed in recent times while its been in
your collective charcres. May Australian football go fromstrength
to strength whether it is in Australia or elsewhere.