DATE TOPIC STATE AFFAIR ( Channel 7 with Howard Sattler)
FRIDAY 19 OCTOBER 1984
ELECTION CAMPAIGN interview with. the Prime Ninister
SATTLER: Why are you bothering to debate Andrew Pcacock when you're so far ahead? You've got nothing to win.
PM Well it's true that the challenger in those circumstances has always had some advantage. But it seemed to me that I had said before that there should be a debate. And the only question that had arisen as to whether there would not be was because of the untenable behaviour of the Leader of the ODposition over recent months. But I believed then in the circumstances that it ws appropriate to have the debate. I debate him all the time in parliament. I have no fear or worry about debating him.
SATTLER: Ronald Reagan said that of a fellow called Walter Mondale.
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PM. .2 PERTH
President because, I think, of his age. But there's another debate to go. I wouldn't write off President fleagan.
SATTLER: A lot of people wionder why you're campaigning at all. I mean you're so far ahead and why not just say nothing?
PM: Because I believe the pcople are entitled,-H~ ward, to a full
exposition and a continuous exposition from me. I don't think it
would do justice to the Australi. n peopla for me to say to them
well I know you support me and the Government and I take that for
granted. I want to gro to the people and do really two, things: to
explain what we've done to justify the trust they'imposed in us,
how together this Government and t: he people have changed Australia
into a much better place nowv than it was before; and, to contrast
our programme and wvhat we of-fer for the Suture against the abysmal
performance of the valternative governmenz._ I think they're
entitled to a full programme from me and they'll get it.
SATTLER: Well wve thou~ ght we'd go out and ask some of the people what t~ iey'd like to asl1, you, rather thant people like me hogging all1 the quostions. So, here's the first one. lighto Howard.
QUESTION: Mr Hawke I would like to ask, you one q~ uestion. MTat would be your top priority as far as you're concerned? To ma I think th~. t a man or a girl having a job is the highest priority in ' Cheir
life? PH: I agfree with you. And that's vhat we've made our~ top) prYiolityr
PM.
Howard, in the period we've been in Government. I said. as you
will recall during the last election campaign, that we would do
these things: we would halt the enormous rise in unemployment.
In the twelve months before came to office there was an increase
of a quarter of a million in unemployment, We've done that.
We've reduced unemployment from 10.3 per cent down to 8.6 per cent.
SATTLER: From a senior citizen to a young man. Let's* hear what he has
to say.
PM: Young man.
QUESTION: I was just wondering, mate, how come you don't think of some ideas
like putting unemployed people in houses and giving them fool
parcels instead. of giving them dole cheques and them m-iaybe they'd
want to work a bit. You know, go out anid get a job, instead of
burmning around, you know, ' cause they need smokes and they need
to go out every now and agein.
Well we've, we have in fact increa,. ed the funding that's
Qavailable for honusing for the unemployed.. But we think that the
riost important thing that vie can do for the unemployed is to
mahe worlt.
QUESTI ON:
M. y name's Joanna and I'd like to 1, now if you think you're good
look; ing?
( Lauahter) I'm not as good looking'at the moment ac I vns. I'lv( e
got a bit of a shiner. Oh passing, I think.
PEI... 4 PERTH
SATT. ER:
Let's talk about your job now and I think the next questionEtr
wants to know a little bit about the money you get for it,
QUESTION: Hi Mr Hawke, I'm Naomi. How do you justify your high salary?
PH: Well I don't set it. All I can say is t. hat as a result of the
decisions that I've taken we've knocked back salary increases.
If I'd left it to those whose indlependent job it is to determine
what it is that I should be paid and others should be paid, it
would be much more than it is. We'Ive kniocked back the. increases
they suggested.
SATTLER: And I think you'll recognise the next questioner.
PIA: 17bo'Is this?
QUESTION: ( Bill Nassell, 17A Opposition Leader)
Prime Minister given that W~ estern Australia's Aboriginal popi1l tion,
which is two per cent of the total population of the State, already
owns eight per cent of the land area of Western Australia; and
given that Labor policy is firmly cozmmitted to the granting of
Aboriginal land rights in W~ estern Australia: I ask you how riuch
of W~ estern Australia.-you believe should be open to claim by
Aborgines on the basis of their race?
Pn: 17ell the position
BATTLER: You do recognise the questionor?
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PM. .5 PERTH
PL4: Well I don't want to be rude. It is Mr Bassell is it?
SATTLER: It is Mr Hassell.
PM: Oh I see. I'm not being rude because I don't believe I've met
him before as far as I understand. And he's not a well known
figure in the Eastern States of Australia. The answer to that
is quite clear. And indeed, today, Mr Burke and I have released
a statement which makes the position of the Government of Western
Australia and my Government at one. And may I say to Mr Hassell
that that position has been endorsed by the miners and I believe
that he is very much in a minority on this issue.
SATTLER Small business is said to be the backbone of Australia and we
thought we'd ask one of Perth's growing businessmen, he certainly
is, Alistair Norwood, to ask you a question as well.
PM: Sure.
QUESTION: Ur Prime Minister in these times of high unemployment, opportunities
in the retail and service industries particularly for school
leavers would be much greater if these industries could operate
extended hours without the burden of penalty rates thereby allowing
the use of additional staff. Has your Government considered the
effects on unemployment by the introduction of n fired hourly rate
of pay, and is there any plan to introduce such a measure?
p11:
No I understand that there's been argutment about the effezt of
penalty rates, but all I can Sray is that the research that's bsen
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PMI.. 6 TPERTH
conducted in Australia and overseas is not conclusive about the
impact of relative rates of pay between Juniors and seniors and
penalty rates on the levels of employment. But clearly we would
not do anything which is going to make more difficult the
employment of more people, and particularly young people.
SATTLER: So 1984 has been a year of giving, but what about 1985? Are
you going to take so much of it back from. us: in taxes maybe
capital gains taxes?
P11: No certainly not. The Liberal opponents: that we've got are the
masters of deceptive promises. 1977 in the election campaign you'!
remember the fist full of dollars, vote for us as soon as they
were re-elected they grabbed it all back and more.---Nov this is
the first goverrnent for a very, very long period which have
given the people of Australia real tax cuts. In a matter of days
now, in the beginning of November all Australians will receive a
real tax cut. And I say real because it's more than was necessary
just to cover indexation. If we're just given indexation to cover
wages moving into higher brackets that would have been a full year
cost of $ 1.3 billion. The real tax cuts that we're giving the
people of Australia will cost in a full year $ 2.1 billion. So they
are the first real tax cuts. And they will stay and they'll
not be taken back.
SATTLER: ( Introduces segement from Mile Carlton's puppets) He must have known something.
p11PMHost of it I enjoy. / 7
P2.. 7 PERTH
SATTLER: You don't mind him at all?
PM: No, no. I mean if you let that sort of thing get under your skin you shouldn't be in the business.
SATTLER: Mr Hawke thanks for
PM: Thank-you very much joining us. Howard.