1A.. L
R I. i. V L7_
FOR _ MEDIA 3 February 1963
DOUBLE DISSOLUTION
The Governor General has agreed to a double dissolution of
the Parliament, and a general election will be held on
March, 1983.
This week we have seen clear evidence of a concerted attempt
by the trade union movement, with the full support of the
Australian Labor Party, to break t: he wages pause and wreck
the hopes of Australia's workers for job security. This
attempt to break the wage pause ignores the fact that excessive
wage increases have been a major cause of our econcmic
difficulties, particularly unemployment, and the wage pause
is a key policy to renedy this.
This selfish and greedy action is taken at the expense of all
the young Australians wanting jobs. It ignores the importance
of doing everything possible to save jobs. It cannot be
tolerated. Right-around Australia there has been a national consensus
behind the wages pause a consensus broken only by the
divisive and destructive actions of the union leadership and
the Federal Labor Party. The pause was put in place with the
agreement of the seven State Governments as well as the
Corrmnonwealth, it has been endorsed by the Arbitration Coimnission
and other wage tribunals, and it has the backing of the great
majority of the Australian people. The attitudes and actions
of the union leadership and the Labor Party can only breed
uncertainty and insecurity at a time when firmh policies and
a clear sense of direction are more important than ever.
It is the wages pause which makes possible the direct
expenditure of $ 300m., saved from Commonwealth wages, on
the constructive job-creating projects which have recently
been announced. These projects, together with the programme
of major national projects recently adopted by the Goverrnment,
will encourage private enterprise to provide jobs, and to
show the potential this country has.
Because of the Government's policies Australia was one of the
last countries to be hit by the world recession. The
Government's programme, set out in the family budget, in
the wages pause, in the national and bicentennial projects
and in assistance to industry, will. help Australia to be one
of the first countries out of the recession. We don't need
to sit back and wait for the rest of the world. There are
many things we can do to help ourselves, and we cannot afford
to be prevented from doing these things.
Because of the attitude of the unions, because of the attitude
of the Labor Party, because of the importance of carrying
through the wage pause and the other Government policies ; hich
will help Australia to move onto an upward path, it is
imperative that an election be held at this time.
I do not want Australia to be racked by enormous industrial
strife. If the union movement and the ACTU cannot accept a
decision backed by all eight governments, Labor as well as
Liberal and National Party; if they cannot accept the
decision of the Arbitration Commission; if they cannot
accept the decisions of wage tribunals right around
Australia; then let us ask them one very simple question.
Will they accept the verdict of all the people of Australia?
Because if they will not, they are challenging the very
foundation of Australian democracy.
And if that is the case it will be a good thing for the
Australian people to know just where they stand.
I therefore call upon the Trade Union Movement to withdraw
all bans, to end all strikes, and to accept the verdict of
the Australian people. I'm prepared to accept their
verdict. I challenge the union movement to accept their
verdict also.
The choice before people in this election is whether they
want security based on continuity and the stable policies
which the Government has in place, or whether they want the
total uncertainty and subservience to union pressures which
is all that the Labor Party can offer.
I had previously arranged to travel to the United States at
this time for official discussion with President Reagan in
advance of the Williamsburg economic summit. But events in
Australia obviously take total priority.
The basis for the double dissolution is the rejection on two
occasions by the Senate of 13 bills relating to sales tax,
tertiary fees and unemployment benefit payments to the spouses
of strikers. The technical qrounds are only one aspect of the
reasons T have sought a double dissolution.
I ask for full support to continue the work of building Australia.
We need a continuation of the wage pause not just for six
months but for a full twelve months. We need a continuation
of stable policies. Ve need a continuation oC the longer term
prora7dmhs ,. iich i secure Aus tra ia's future.