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PRIME MINISTER WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26 19 83
ADVANCE AUSTtRALTA BREAKFAST
I think this is a time when we all like to think about what
Australia means to us. It is a time we ought to think about
the problems, but also about the opportunities for 1983.
1 believe that we all understand that there are many
difficulties ahead of us, and share those with countries
right around the world, but at the same time, I believe in
Australia, above all other places, we are determined to
approach those difficulties together in a positive fashion
and determined to make the most of the opportunities that
are clearly available to Australians.
I would like to think that 1983 was the year, or that this
was the Australia Day when Australians determined that they
just can't sit around and wait for the world. There are so
many people who have their eyes cast across the Pacific,
and there they ask when there is going to be an economic
recovery in the United States, because that is important
for us, it means a great deal for our businesses, it means
a great deal for our traders and commodity prices. But
nobody can give a very firm answer about when that particular
recovery is going to occur.
Some of*. the optimists may be right. The United States might
start to move forward through this year, but on the other hand,
predictions of their recovery have been repetitive over the
last two or three years. I would like to believe that
Australiarts are going to determine this year to do what we can
for ourselves to get a larger share of the action, not sit
around and wait for the United States or Europe or anyone
else, but to recognise that it is a difficult world, it is
sometimes a nasty place outside, and just determine to do
things better, to be more competitive, to be more efficient,
to produce what the world wants and to make sure that we get
a bigger share of the action and therefore more opportunities
for Australians.
I believe that we can achieve this because if you ask
Australians whether anyone else can do something better
than an Australian in one field or another, I think most
Australians are prepared to say that we can do things as
well as anyone. We can win the Ashes, we can do well at the
Commonwealth Games. Our scientists, our technologists, our
sportsmen and women, our artists are right up with the best
in the whole world. So, in the competitive world of bus3iness,
there is no reason why we can't do the best in the world also. / 2
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I believe government and people perhaps need to examine
some of their attitudes to make sure that we work very
closely together to make sure that we do what is necessary
to make sure that the problems that we share are properl. y
understood so that they can be overcome.
What is happening with Advance Australia over recent times
is something which all Australians are proud of. America's
Cup Challenge is an example of Australians continuingly being
determnined to do what many people, and some still say, is
impossible, but I haven't got the slightest doubt, whether
it is in this particular challenge round or at some future
time, Australia is going to bring that America's Cup back
to this country and then I think the United States might
find it very difficult to take it back to where it has.
been for so long. But again it is an example of Australians
working together.
There are three or four competitors in that America's Cup
here. Once the real challenger is decided for all Australia,
I have not got the slightest doubt that all those c ' ompeting
very firmly for that honour will work together to make sure
that the Australian flag is carried to victory.
I think we all believe that this is the best country in the
world but Australia is only what we all make of it, what
every one of us adds to Australia, by our own actions, every
day as we go through the year.
I would like to wish you all a very happy Australia Day,
and a good, challenging but successful 1983.
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