EMBARGOED AGAINST DELIVERY , lb. TPAL A. CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
1. 30P11
PRIME MINISTER
ADDRESS BY THE PRIME MINISTER BUSINESS-LUNCH, SYDNEY 23 NOVEMBER 19
I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO SO
MANY KEY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND I
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SUPPORT YOU'VE SHOWN HERE TODAY.
As BUSINESS PEOPLE YOU, AS MUCH AS ANYBODY, APPRECIATE THE
DISTINCTION BETWEEN RHETORIC AND PERFORMANCE, BETWEEN
PROMISING SOMETHING AND DELIVERING.
SO IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE THAT I'M ABLE TO COME BEFORE YOU-
' WITH PAUL KEATINGo THE WORLD'S BEST TREASURER, AND WITH
THE PRESIDENT OF OUR PARTY, PREMIER WRAN AND SAY: DURING
OUR FIRST TERM THE HAWKE GOVERNMENT HAS DELIVERED THE
ECONOMIC GOODS. IT'S WITH A GREAT SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT
.4
THAT I SAY: WE HAVE HONOURED OUR tOMMITMENTS. IT'S WITH
A GREAT DEAL OF PLEASURE THAT I SAY: IN ALL OF THE CENTRAL
AREAS GROWTH. EMPLOYMENT, INFLATION, WAGES, INTEREST
RATES, INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS THIS GOVERNMENT'S ECONOMIC
PERFORMANCE HAS EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS.
THAT IS A TRULY REMARKABLE THING TO BE ABLE TO SAY. BUT
IT UNDERLINES JUST HOW MUCH WE HAVE ACHIEVED TOGETHER.
AND I SAY " TOGETHER" BECAUSE NOT FOR ONE MOMENT DO I BELIEVE
THAT WE COULD HAVE ACHIEVED ANYTHING LIKE THE RESULTS WE
HAVE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY AND PARTICULARLY / 2.
2.
THE SUPPORT, ON THE ONE HAND, OF THE TRADE UNION MOVEMENT,
AND ON THE OTHER, OF YOU IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
AND I APPRECIATE THAT SUPPORT VERY MUCH.
THERE'S NO NEED FOR ME TO GIVE A LONG LIST OF STATISTICS
ON WHAT'S HAPPENED IN OUR FIRST TERM BECA USE YOU IN THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY KNOW IT ALL. YOU KNOW THAT STRONG
ECONOMIC GROWTH IS UNDERWAY. YOU KNOW THAT INFLATION
HAS BEEN MORE THAN HALVED. YOU KNOW THAT I TfEREST RATES
HAVE FALLEN. YOU KNOW THAT CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IS AT
RECORD LEVELS. YOU KNOW THAT UNEMPLOYMENT IS FALLING.
YOU KNOW THAT THE HOUSING INDUSTRY IS OPERATING AT
PER CENT HIGHER LEVELS THAN TWO YEARS AGO, YOU KNOW
THAT INDUSTRIAL DISPUTATION. JS THE LOWEST FOR MORE THAN
A DECADE. YOU KNOW THAT AUSTRALIA HAS GONE FROM ECONOMIC
DECLINE TO BEING THE WORLD'S NUMBER ONE
ECONOMIC FRONTRUNNER. YOU KNdt4 ALL THAT.
BUT IT IS NOT SIMPLY A MATTER OF IMPROVED STATISTICS.
IT IS A MATTER OF A DRAMATIC ECONOMIC RESURGENCE WHICH
HAS HELPED US PROVIDE GENUINE AND SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE LIVES: OF ORDINARY AUSTRALIAN FAMILIES:
OVER 260A000 EW JOBS FOR THE PARENTS AND CHILDREN
IN
OF AUSTRALIAN FAMILIES
60,000 AUSTRALIAN FAMILIES ASSISTED WITH HOME
OWNERSHIP UNDER OUR FIRST HOME OWNERS SCHEME
400,000 AUSTRALIAN FAMILIES PREVIOUSLY WITHOUT
ANY FORM OF HEALTH COVER NOW PROVIDED FOR THROUGH
MEDICARE OUR NEW 8 YEAR EDUCATION FUNDING PLAN TO GUARANTEE EVERY
AUSTRALIAN FAMILY THE RIGHT TO'A GOOD EDUCATION FOR THEIR
CHILDREN IN EITHER THE PUBLIC QR PRIVATE SCHOOL SYSTEMS
A 40 PER CENT INCREASE IN THE; FAMILY INCOME
SUPPLEMENT BENEFITTING 30,000 OF AUSTRALIA'S MOST NEEDY
FAMILIES
MAJOR INCREASES IN PROVISION FOR PENSIONERS WHO
RENT ACCOMMODATION AND FOR OTHER PENSIONERS IN GREATEST
NEED TAX CUTS FOR EVERY tAXPAYING AUSTRAL. IAN FAMILY FOR MOST
A REDUCTION OF $ 7.60 A WEEK
A ONE PER CENT CUT IN HOUSING INTEREST RATES SAVING
A FAMILY WITH A $ 30,000 MORTGAGE MORE THAN $ 20 A
MONTH. AND CUTS IN OTHER INTEREST RATES OF UP TO AROUND
3 PER CENT.
THESE ARE THE ECONOMIC REALITIES THAT MATTER TO ORDINARY
AUSTRALIAN FAMILIES%-JOBSS HOUSING, HEALTH, EDUCATION, TAXATION.
INFLATIOF AND INTEREST RATES@
AND THESE ARE THE THINGS WE ARE DELIVERING TO AUSTRALIANS
AS PART OF THE SAME GREAT PROGRAM THROUGH
WHICH WE ARE DELIVERING EFFECTIVE ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT
TO YOU IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
I SUBMIT THERE IS NOT A PERSON HERE INDEED NOT A SINGLE OBJECTIVE
AUSTRALIAN ANYWHERE WHO WOULD NOT AGREE THAT AUSTRALIA
IS NOW A HEALTHIER, STRONGER, HAPPIER NATION THAN IT WAS
TWENTY MONTHS AGO.
AND WHATEVER POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS YOU MAY HAVE, I KNOW
THAT ALL OF YOU, AS SINCERE AND COMMITTED AUSTRALIANS,
WELCOME THAT PROGRESS. I KNOW YOU WANT US TO CONSOLIDATE
AND BUILD ON THAT PROGRESS AND ENSURE THE EXTRAORDINARY
POTENTIAL OF OUR NATION IS REALISED TO THE FULL.
Now, AFTER A PERIOD OF SJCH REMARKABLE RESURGENCE IT IS
' S
VERY EASY TO FORGET THE STAGNATION AND ECONOMIC DECLINE
OF AUSTRALIA WHEN WE WERE OLLED TO OFFICE. IT IS VERY
EASY TO FORGET THAT INVESTMENT WAS DRYING UP, THAT DEMAND
WAS SHRINKING, THAT ECONOMIC GROWTH HAD CEASED ALTOGETHER,
THAT JOBS WERE DISAPeEARING AT A DEVASTATING RATE, THAT
WHOLE INDUSTRIES WERE BEING THREATENED WITH EXTINCTION.
BUT THAT SORRY STATE OF\, AUSTRALIA THAT STAGNATION AND
DECLINE IS STILL A, DESTINY VERY MUCH OPEN TO OUR NATION.
BUT'IT IS A DESTINY WE NEED TO REJECT DECISIVELY. AND ON
DECEMBER 1, I BELIEVE WE WILL.
IN MY POLICY SPEECH A WEEK AND A HALF AGO I SPELT OUT
KEY ELEMENTS OF MY GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS TO SUSTAIN
STRONG GROWTH, NOT FOR ONE OR TWO YEARS, BUT OVER THE
TERM OF THE NEXT GOVERNMENT, AND MANY YEARS BEYOND.
AUSTRALIA NEEDS A GENERATION OF STRONG SUSTAINED
NON-INFLATIONARY ECONOMIC GROWTH.
I NOW GIVE YOU IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNIVTY-ONE VERY SIMPLE
BUT. VERY FUNDAMENTAL UNDERTAKING. DURING OUR SECOND
TERM THIS GOVERNMENT WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO CONTINUE
THE MOMENTUM OF ECONOMIC GROWTH THAT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED
OVER THESE LAST TWENTY MONTHS.
THIS GOVERNMENT IS A GOVERNMENT OF ECONOMIC GROWTH AND
THE LABOR PARTY IS THE PARTY OF ECONOMIC GROWTH. AND WE
DON'T'APOLOGISE TO ANYBODY FOR THAT.
BUT WE DON'T SEEK ECONOMIC GROWTH MERELY FOR ITS OWN SAKE.
RATHER WE SEEK IT BECAUSE tJE KNOW THAT ECONOMIC GROWTH
IS CRUCIAL TO ACHIEVING A FAIRER AND MORE EQUITABLE SOCIETY,
WITH HIGHER LIVING STANDARDS FOR ALL AUSTRALIANS.
GROWTH MEANS HIGHER WAGES AND BETTER CONDITIONS FOR
AUSTRALIAN WORKERS. -GROWTH MEANS IMPROVED CAPACITY TO RAISE
PENSIONS AND TO PROVIDE FOR THOSE IN NEED. GROWTH MEANS\ A
MORE COHESIVE SOCIETy WITH LESS PRESSURE FOR DEBILITATING
CONFLICTS OVER INCOME SHARES. AND GROWTH MEANS MORE JOBS
FOR AUSTRALIANS YOUNG AND OLD. AND ALL THIS DERIVES FROM A
PROFITABLEo EXPANDING PRIVATE SECTOR WHICH NOW ePROVIDES AND
INTO tHE FORESEEABLE FUTURE WILL. CONTINUE TO PROVIDE
THREE OUT OF EVERY FOUR JOBS. 6,
I FIRML. Y BELIEVE THAT AUSTRALIA H-AS AN OPPORTUNITY NOW TO
BUILD A NEW ERA OF GROWT-t DEVELOPMENT AND PROSPERITY,
BUT TRANSLATING OPPORTUNITY INTO REALITY IS QUITE ANOTHER
MATTER. IT REQUIRES CONTINUED BALANCED -FISCAL AND MONETARY
POLICY, PLUS EFFORTS TO PROVIDE INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY
AND INCREASED EFFORT IN OUR MOST PRODUCTIVE INDUSTRIES.
IT REQUIRES AUSTRALIANS TO BE CONFIDENT". IN THEMSELVES AND
IN * THE COUNTRY IN WHICH THEY LIVE,, SO THAT THEY TAKE RISKS
NOW IN THE EXPECTATION OF FUTURE REWARD." IT REQUIRES
CO-OPERATION AMONG THE GREAT ELEMENTS OF THE AUSTRALIAN
ECONOMY, SO THAT OUR EFFORTS ARE DEVOTED TO INCREASING
PRODUCTION RATHER THAN BEING DISSIPATED IN CONFLICT.
UNDER OUR GOVERNMENT THESE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF A GROWTHPRODUCING
ENVIRONMENT HAVE BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE
PRESENT. BUT WE SHOULD NOT BE FOOLED THAT BECAUSE THESE
CONDITIONS EXIST NOW.-THEY WILL AUTOMATICALLY CONTINUE IN
THE FUTURE. WHAT YOU IN THE.% BUSINESS COMMUNITY KNOW ALREADYAND
WHAT THE AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS JUST
HOW EASY IT WOULD BE TO " BLOW" THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY WITH
THE WRONG POLICIES. WHAT AUSTRALIA SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD AT
THIS CRITICAL TIME IN OUR HISTORY IS COMPLACENCY.
CERTAINLY WE CAN'T AWORD THE COMPLACENCY OF OUR
POLITICAL OPPONENTS WHO WOULD IMPOSE RADICAL AND DANGEROUS
CHANGES IN OUR WAGE FIXATION ARRANGEMENTS FOR PURELY
IDEOLOGICAL REASONS. 4 s 5 / 7
THERE IS ONE THING WE CAN LEARN FROM THE ' ORRY ECONOMIC
EXPERIENCE OF THE 1970' s AND 80' S, IT IS THE NEED FOR A
CO-ORDINATED APPROACH TO WAGES AND OTHER IIFCOME CLAIMS,
THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED AND THAT IS WHAT OUR
OPPONENTS WOULD DESTROY.
IN LAST WEEK'S POLICY SPEECH I SAID THAT bNDEi' THE LABOR
GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES, EMPLOYMENT WOULD EXPAND MORE RAPIDLY
THAT THE LABOUR FORCE SO THAT UNEMPLOYMENT'CON1INUED TO FALL.
I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE HIGH GROWTH ANTICIPATED OR THE CURRENT
FINANCIAL YEAR IN THE 1984-85 BUDGET WILL BE EXCEEDED, LARGELY
BECAUSE OF STRONGER THAN EXPECTED CONTRIBUTIONS B" PRIVATE
CONSUMPTION AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT,
PRIVATE CONSUMPTION WAS STRONGER THAN ANTICIPATED It' THE
SEPTEMBER QUARTER, AND THAT WAS BEFORE THE TAX CUTS ' ND
INCREASES IN SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS EARLIER THIS MClTH.
IT IS CLEAR FROM RECENT SURVEYS OF INVESTMENT AND INVE3TMENT
EXPECTATIONS THAT THE BUDGET ESTIMATE OF 5 PER CENT GRC'WTH
IN PRIVATE INVESTMENT WILL BE EXCEEDED. I SAY THIS FOL,.. OWING
ANALYSIS OF YESTERDAY'S DATA ON NEW FIXED CAPITAL EXPENI TURE,
WHICH SHOWS A WEAKER OUTCOME FOR THE SEPTEMBER QUARTER 1i84;.
BUT A MUCH STRONGER OUTtOOK FOR THE DECEMBER QUARTER AND 1984-85
AS A WHOLE. THIS RESULT IMPLIES A STRONG BUILD-UP INPRIV. TE
INVESTMENT THROUGH THE YEAR, CARRYING FORWARD INTO AND LAY. NG
A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR RAPID ECONOMIC GROWTH IN A935-85.
ONE REMARKABLE FEATURE ABOUT THE STRONG AUSTRALIAN ECONOMIC
RECOVERY SINCE MID-1983 IS THAT THE AUSTRALIAN ECONOMY HAS HAD
RECORD GROWTH DESPITE SUBDUED PERFORMANCE FROM THE RESOURCES
SECTOR, WE HAVE HAD STRONG GROWTH IN RURAL PRODUCTION; IN PRIVATE
SERVICES, LED BY THE GOVERNMENT'S INNOVATIVE AND INTENSIVE
PROMOTION OF TOURISM; IN GOVERNMENT SERVICESs IN HOUSING; AND
IN MANUFACTURING.
BUT SINCE THE COLLAPSE OF THE DISASTROUSLY MANAGED " RESOURCES
BOOM" OF THE LATE COALITION YEARS, INVESTMENT IN THE RESOURCES
SECTOR HAS BEEN DEPRESSED. THIS HAS DRAGGED DOWN THOSE PARTS
OF THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR WHICH SUPPLY RESOURCE PROJECTS,
MOST NOTABLY HEAVY ENGINEERING.
As I EXPLAINED IN DETAIL YN WESTERN AUSTRALIA ON MONDAY, THE
OUTLOOK FOR RESOURCES INVE. TMENT HAS STRENGTHENED RECENTLY.
OVER THE PAST THREE MONTHS, SIX MAJOR RESOURCES DEVELOPMENTS
TO THE VALUE OF ABOUT $ 15 BILLION HAVE MOVED FROM BEING GOOD
IDEAS TO BEING CONSIDERED BY THEIR PRIVATE SPONSORS AS CERTAIN
TO PROCEED THROUGH 1985.
ON TOP OF THE STRONG'GROWTH MOMENTUM IN OTHER SECTORS, THIS NEW
STRENGTH IN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT UNDERWRITES CONFIDENCEIN HIGH
LEVELS OF OVERALL ECONOMIC GROWTH THROUGH NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR AND
BEYOND. BUT LET ME MAKE ONE POINT CLEAR: THIS GOVERNMENT DOES NOT LOOK
TO EXPANSION IN THE RESOURCES SECTOR ALONE PrR MAINTAINING
STRONG GROWTH IN THE AUSTRALIAN ECONOMY*
WE ARE SEEKING TO PROMOTE STRONG PERFORMANCE ACROSS ALL SECTORS,
AND NOT A LOP-SIDED RESOURCES BOOM.
IT WAS THE HEIGHT OF FOOLISHNESS FOR THE LIBERAL AND NATIONAL
PARTIES IN GOVERNMENT TO BELIEVE THAT STRONG GROWTH IN ONE
SECTOR COULD SOLVE THE PROBLEMS THAT THEY'H-AD CREATED FOR
AUSTRALIA. WE. ARE SEEKING WELL-BALANCED GfROWTH IN AUSTRALIA,
WITH. ALL SECTORS CONTRIBUTING THEIR PARTICULAR STRENGTHS,
STRONG ECONOMIC GROWTH BASED ON RAPIDLY EXPANDING PRIVATE
INVESTMENT INCREASES THE IMPORTANCE OF REDUCING THE
BUDGET DEFICIT NEXT YEAR. GIVEN OUR COMMITMENT NOT TO INCREASE
THE OVERALL TAX BURDEN, THIS WILL BE ACHIEVED BY HOLDING THE
RATE OF GROWTH IN GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE BELOW THE RATE OF
GROWTH OF THE ECONOMY. THIS " TRIO" OF FISC AL COMMITMENTS HAS
BEEN INTERPRETED BY SOME COMMgNTATORS AS A CONSTRAINT ON
REFORMS TO INCREASE EQUITY IN AUSTRALIA. I REJECT THAT
COMPLETELY. THE FULFILLMENT 4OUR dOMMITMENTS ' IS TOTALLY
CONSISTENT WITH CONTINUED REFORM IN THE.-SERVICES PROVIDED BY
GOVERNMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF AUSTRALIA THROUGH USING WISELY
THE MODEST GROWTH IN REAL OUTLAYS THAT WILL STILL OCCUR, AND
THROUGH FIRM DISCIPLINE IN THE ASSERTION OF PROPER PRIORITIES
IN THE BUDGET-MAKING PROCESS. I a410/ 1
IT IS A DANGEROUS ILLUSION TO BELIEVE THAT UNCONTROLLED
EXPANSION OF GOVERNMENT SPENDING IS NECESSARY FOR REFORM
DESIGNED TO MAKE AUSTRALIA A FAIRER AND BETTER SOCIETY.
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EXPENDITURE IN RELLJCING POVERTY, PROVIDING
SERVICES OF VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY AND OTHERWISE CONTRIBUTING
TO IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LIFE OF OUR SOCIETY, DEPENDS NO MORE ON
ITS AMOUNT THAN ON THE WISDOM WITH WHICH IT IS ALLOCATED AMONG
COMPETING PRIORI'TIES.
THIS GOVERNMENT IN OUR FIRST TERM HAS ALREADY DONE MUCH FOR
THE POOR AND THE DISADVANTAGED, AND FOR THE LOW AND MIDDLE
INCOME EARNERS. IN FRAMING OUR LAST BUDGET,-WE TOOK THE VIEW
THAT THE HIGHEST PRIORITY FOR NEW OUTLAYS SHOULD BE GIVEN
TO SOCIAL WELFARE RECIPIENTS. AND SO WE PROVIDED MORE THAN
$ 1 BILLION ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN A FULL FINANCIAL YEAR FOR
WELFARE BENEFICIARIES. THE TAX CUTS, NOW BEING ENJOYED BY ALL
AUSTRALIANS, ARE HIGHLY PROGRESSIVE AND LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME
EARNERS ARE RECEIVING THE ~ RAETBNFT. THE MEDICARE
LEVY IS ALSO HIGHLY PROGRESSIVE, WITH THE LOWEST COSTS FOR
HEALTH SERVICES BEING LEVIED ON THOSE WHO HAVE THE LEAST
CAPACITY TO PAY.
AND SO I PUT IT TO YOU: THESE ARE THE ACTIONS OF A GOVERNMENT
FOR WHOM A FAIRER AND\, MORE EQUITABLE SOCIETY BASED ON STRON4G
AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH IS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY.
0
I WANT NOW TO CONCLUDE WITH THIS OBSERVATION
THROUGHOUT THIS ELECTION CAMPAIGN I HAVE DELIBERATELY AVOIDED
RESORT TO EXTRAVAGANT CLAIMS ABOUT AUSTRALIA'S FUTURE. ALL
POLITICIANS LIKE TO BE THE BEARERS OF GOOD NEWS AND I CLAIM
NO EXCEPTION FOR MYSELF ON THAT SCORE. -BUT I HAVE BEEN VERY
CAREFUL NOT TO MAKE ANY CLAIMS ABOUT WHICH I CANNOT BE
ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN.
Too OFTEN IN THE PAST, AUSTRALIANS HAVE BEEN PROMISED A POT OF
GOLD AT THE END OF THE ELECTION RAINBOWS
Too OFTEN, THEY HAVE BEEN PROMISED POST-ELECTION-DAY BOOMS
AND BONANZAS.
Too OFTEN, THEY HAVE HAD THEIR EXPECTATIONS LIFTED TO EXTREME
HEIGHTS BY OUR ELECTIONEERING CONSERVATIVE OPPONENTS ONLY
TO SUFFER EVENTUAL DISAPPOINTMENT.
To PUT IT BLUNTLY, AUSTRALIt AND AUSTRALIANS HAVE BEEN HOAXED
TOO OFTEN.
EVEN THOUGH I BELIEVq MY GOVERNMENT HAS THE BEST STORY TO
TELL FOR VERY MANY YEARSo I WILL HAVE NO PART OF NEEDLESS
EXAGGERATION.
12.
I AM CONTENT TO LET OUR RECORD OF THE FIRST 20 MONTHS SPEAK
FOR ITSELF BOTH AS A TESTAMENT TO OUR SKILLS AS A GOVERNMENT
AND A POINTER TO THE FUTURE. WE HAVE THE DETERMINATION TO
STICK TO THE ROUTE WE HAVE PLOTTED AND THE DISCIPLINE TO SEE
THE TASK THROUGH TO THE END.
HAVING SAID THOSE THINGS, LET ME MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT MY
RETICENCE TO ENGAGE IN BLOATED RHETORIC AND NEEDLESS HYPE
HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PESSIMISM.
INDEED I GO BEFORE THE PEOPLE ON DECEMBER 1 AS A PRIME
MINISTER FULL TO THE BRIM WITH OPTIMISM FOR OUR COUNTRY
CALM OPTIMISM BASED ON FACTS, FIGURES AND INFORMATION.
WE ARE, I BELIEVE, AT THIS VERY MOMENT, LAYING THE
FOUNDATIONS FOR A NEW ERA OF GREATNESS IN AUSTRALIA. NOT THE LUCKY
COUNTRY BUT A COUNTRY WHERE GREATNESS, WILL HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED
BY DEDICATED AND COMMITTED CO-OPERATION IN HARNESSING TO
THEIR FULL OUR UNRIVALLED HUMAN AND MATERIAL RESOURCES.
ALREADY, WE ARE REBUILDING THOSE PRECIOUS ASSETS
CONFIDENCE AND BELIEF IN OURSELVES. WE ARE REBUILDING
SHATTERED INDUSTRIES. ALREADY, RENEWED PROSPERITY IS
BEGINNING TO FLOW FROM RENEWED GROWTH.
REAL PROSPERITY PROSPERITY RESULTING FROM GROWTH*
CO-OPERATIVE PLANNINGs INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY AND TRADE
WILL FLOW'TO ALL AUSTRALIANS. .,. 113.
THROUGH GROWTH AND PROSPERITY WE CAN ATTACK UNEMPLOYMENT,
POVERTY, HARDSHIP,-AND INEQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY,
EXPAND AND IMPROVE OUR EDUCATION AND HEALTH SYSTEMS,
LIFT OUR SUPPORT FOR PENSIONERS, EASE THE TAX BURDEN
OF MIDDLE AND LOW INCOME EARNERS AND CONSISTENTLY AND
STEADILY LIFT OUR STANDARD OF LIVING.
WE HAVE MADE GREAT STRIDES, NO LONGER. ARE WE AS WE
WE. RE, JUST 20 MONTHS AGO A NATION HANGING ON AND HOPING
TO SURVIVE. WE ARE ON THE ROAD BACK.
OUR NATIONAL ENDEAVOURS ARE NO LONGER A POINTLESS EXERCISE
OF KIDDING OURSELVES THAT SOMETHING WILL TURN UP. WE
ARE PROGRESSING NOW IN AN ORDERLY PLANNED WAY. WE HAVE
NATIONAL TARGETS, NATIONAL ASPIRATIONS -AND WE ARE MOVING
RESOLUTELY TOWARDS THEM.
AS A NATION, AUSTRALIA IS WINNING AGAIN. AND THAT MEANS
AUSTRALIANS ARE THE WINNER.
As I SAID, I APPROACH 1985 BRIM FULL OF OPTIMISM OPTIMISTIC
NOT ABOUT SOME UNREAL MAGIC-WAND SOLUTION TO OUR PROBLEMS
BUT ABOUT THE WAY WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS REAL AND LASTING
SOLUTIONS. OPTIMISTIC NOT THAT THERE' IS A FLASHY, PATCHY BOOM AROUND
THE CORNER BUT THAT AUSTRALIA WILL STEADILY AND ENDURIN~ GLY
GROW RICHER AND STRONGER. A BETTER COUNTRY FOR ALL
AUSTRALIANS. * 40* ee*