PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA SUNDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 1983
ELECTORATE TALK
We are in the last days of a very important election compaign.
I want to talk to you tonight about some issues that
are tundamin. nal" to the choicQ to be made on March 5. The impact
of the drought, the severe world recession and irresponsible
wage demands have made recent years difficult, yet your Government
has responded with strength and determination.
We have a record of positive achievement across every front.
We have achieved new strengths in our alliauces and our
position in the world. We have achieved reforms by cutting
taxes, substantially increasing family allowances and
providing significant rebates on home loan repayments. Recently
we have embarked upon two major projects a Bicentennial Roads
Programme and a National Water Resources Programme, part of our
vision of achievement for Australia.
A recent achievement has been to put in. place the wages
pause. Our arguments persuaded all eight Governments to support
it. Only Federal Labor and their ACTU masters opposed this
programme, which will lead not only to economic recovery but also
free $ 300 million to provide jobs for young Australians, the
: older unemployed and welfare housing.
We are it Government not only of achievement but of. promise.
We have promised a new deal for young Australians, with jobs
especially in conservation projects. Lower tax rates, more
finance and help with advanced technology promise a bright
future for small business, new child care programmes and
expansion in pensioner health benefits promise more security for
families.
We promise major reforms in industrial relations. Secret
ballots and reforms to strikes in essential services,
promise security and sanity, especially compared with Labor's
pledges of more power tothe unions. My Government has a record
of achievement a commitment to the future based upon this.
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in difficult times Australians have always been prepared to f ace
up to-making touqh and difficult decisions. Tlwy 1I. now there
a'rf ho quick. and easy solu'tions...
We know we cannot overcomae this
problem by a simple, crude policy of spend, spend, spend. Yet
that is precisely what Labor is determined to do.
In order to get that money they will have to compete with you
for funds. The money you need to build or buy your own home,
to develop youir small business and increase employment would go
instead to Labor. The money which our dyrnanic industries
need to expand, to compete, to create Jobs -it would go instead
Labor.
In addition % to depriving you of funds,
in order to find 4,000 million dollars more than is already being
spent, Labor policies will mean much higher interest rates on
what money is left higher interest rates on your home loan,
higher interest rates which will prevent industry from growing
and employing more people, higher interest rates which will hurt
all Australians.
We will not let that happen. Wle will r~ ake sure that money is available
not for big-spending governments, but for big-thinking Australian.
The disaster of Labor's policies is so much worse when you look
at Labor's deal with the unions. Most Australians agree that
the unions already have too much power. For selfish and often
irresponsible ends unions continually disrupt the lives of decent
Australians paralysing transport systems, drying up petrol
supplies, costing you money, costing Australia jobs.
Yet on March 5 the former head of the A. C. T. U. is asking you
to vote for more union power. The so-called prices and incomes
deal dictated by the unions and accepted by the Labor Party must
be exposed. This shameful deal gives the unions a power of veto
over the policies of a Labor Government. Labor Government
policies must be agreed to by the unions that's what the deal
Bays. It means Labor would provide policies to suit the unions
regardless of what's best for you. This deal commits
Labor, in their own words, to being " accommodating and supportive"
of the unions. That means no less than a Labor Government
accommodating agreeing to union demands and being supportive
of the unions even when they ought to be supportive of you, the
people of Australia who are the constant victims of union militancy. ./ 3
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This deal provides a blueprint for socialist control of Australia.
Every business big or small is to be regulated. They say
" comprehensive" and " closely monitored" interventionist policies
are necessary to achieve " a transition of thq economy into a
planned framework".
The lives and inco: esin t. eir wojds of shopeep'ers, self
employed biilders and tradesmen are to be contxol Lied...
Government and unions unde4 this deal will even be given the right
to set profit levels. As if this were not enough, the deal gives
unions this same right of veto over policies for your health
care, over your children's education, over pensions and
superannuation and over immigration, which was a particular
target of the last Labor government.
But most despicable of all, this deal leaves no room for you to
really influence your own future. It is an exclusive deal
between Labor and militant unions, a deal in which you have no
say.
My government will never permit this to happen. We propose to
bring the militant unions back under the control of the law,
responsible to their own members and to the people all the
people of Australia.
On March 5 youwillhave a choice you can elect the men and women
who will actually govern Australia, or you can elect a party which
will be the instrument of militant unions. Australians don't
want union dominance and socialist control. They want the
freedom to work, to strive, to succeed, to prosper, to be
rewarded for effort. We will provide a government which values
those endeavours and which seeks to promote the talents of a
great people in a free society.
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