7 2USR~~ l
PRIME MINISTER
CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY EMBARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY
OPENING OF THE RSL NATIONAL CONGRESS CANBERRA
2 SEPTEMBER 1985
DISTINGUISHE D GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
I AM DELIGHTED. TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCEPT YOUR
INVITATION TO ADDRESS THIS NATIONAL CONGRESS OF THE
RETURNED SERVICES LEAGUE.
SINCE COMING TO OFFICE TWO ALID A HALF YEARS AGO THERE
HAS BEEN EXTENSIVE CONTACT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND
THE LEAGUE WITH RESULTS WHICH I BELI EVE HAVE BEEN VERY
BENEFICIAL TO BOTH SIDES. IT IS TIMELY NOW TO REVIEW
WHERE WE S'AAND ON THE 14AJOR ISSUES CONCERNING US.
AUSTRALIAN VETERANS HAVE OVER THE YEARS MADE A
MAGNIFICENT CONTRIBUTION TO AUSTRALIAN SOCIETY THROUGH
NOT ONLY THE DEFENCE OF ITS BOUNDARIES AND ITS PEOPLE
BUT THROUGH THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE RESOLUTION OF
CONFLICT IN MANY OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD. OUR VETERANS
HAVE FOUGHT FOR DEMOCRACY, FOR FREEDOM AN4D FOR THE
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF NATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS. OUR
VETERANS KNOW THE HORROR AND WASTE OF WAR; THEY ALSO
KNOW THE NEED FOR A JUST AND HONOURABLE PEACE AROUND THE
WORLD. THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THAT PEACE IS SOMETHING OF
WHICH ALL AUSTRALIAN'S ARE JUSTIFIABLY PROUD.
AUSTRALIA'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE CAUSE OF PEACE HAS BEEN
OUT OF PROPORTION TO ITS POPULATION AND ITS RESOURCES.
I SOMETIMES WONDER H-OW OUR COUNTRY WOULD HAVE PROGRESSED
IF WE HAD NOT PROVIDED SO MANY YOUNG MEN BETWEEN 1914
AND 1918 IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR. AUSTRALIA LOST MORE
MEN IN THAT WAR THAN THE UNITED STATES AT A TIME WHEN WE
WERE BUILDING OUR NATION. THE LOSS OF G5,000 MEN WAS AN
EXTRAORDINARY SACRIFICE IN A NATION OF UNDER 5 MILLION
PEOPLE.
THERE ARE NOW ONLY 6,000 FIRST WORLD WAR DIGGERS ALIVE.
THE LABOR GOVERNMENT WAS VERY PLEASED TO BE ABLE To SEND
EIGHT OF THEM TO THE CEREMONIES TO MARK THE
ANNIVERSARY OF THE ORIGINAL ANZAC DAY AND, LIKE YOU, I
WAS PROUD OF THE DIGNIFIED WAY IN WHICH THEY AND THEIR
ONE-TIME TURKISH ADVERSARIES MET AFTER SO MANY YEARS.
SIMILARLY, MANY OF OUR BEST MEN WERE KILLED IN WORLD WAR
II WHEN WE AGAIN SUFFERED GREAT LOSSES TO THE CAPACITY
OF THE NATION. THE SUBSEQUENT LOSSES IN BOTH THE KOREAN
AND VIETNAM WARS POSED STILL FURTHER STRAIN ON OUR
PRECIOUS AND NECESSARILY LIMITED HUMAN RESOURCES.
THESE LOSSES SHOULD NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. SIMILARLY THOSE
WHO SUFFERED INJURIES OR DISABILITIES IN THE PURSUIT OF
PEACE SHOULD BE ACCORDED DUE RECOGNITION.
THE LABOR GOVERNMENT FIRMLY BELIEVES THAT WE SHOULD BE
GENEROUS IN OUR TREATMENT TO THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED
DISABILITIES BECAUSE OF THEIR PARTICIPATION IN WAR AND
IN THE TREATMENT OF THE WIDOWS AND ORPHANS OF THOSE WHO
HAVE DIED AS A RESULT OF WAR SERVICE.
I KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU MAY BELIEVE THAT MEASURES WE
HAVE TAKEN, AS ANNOUNCED IN THE 14 MAY ECONOMIC
STATEMENT, WERE NOT CONSISTENT WITH THAT OBJECTIVE.
I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT TO BE SO. WHAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS
TRIED TO DO IS TO ENSURE THAT ANYONE WHO IS DISABLED AS
A RESULT OF WAR SERVICE WILL HAVE HIS OR HER CLAIM-FOR
DISABILITY PENSION ACCEPTED WITH A MINIMUM OF FORMALITY
AND DELAY AND BE PROVIDED WITH THE BEST POSSIBLE
TREATMENT AND OTHER SERVICES. THIS GOES ALSO FOR WAR
WIDOWS. AT THE SAME TIME WE WOULD HAVE BEEN IRRESPONSIBLE IF WE
HAD ALLOWED A SITUATION TO CONTINUE WHERE PENSIONS WERE
BEING PAID VIRTUALLY TO ANYONE WHO CAME FORWARD TO LODGE
A CLAIM SIMPLY ON THE BASIS THAT THEY WERE VETERANS OR
THE WIDOWS OF VETERANS. THE END RESULT OF LETTING SUCH
A SITUATION CONTrINUE IS THAT THERE IS LESS MONEY
AVAILABLE FOR PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY SERVICES AND
TREATMENT FOR THOSE VETERANS WHO GENUINELY REQUIRE THEM.
AS WITH ALL AREAS OF GOVERNMENT ACTIVITY AND
RESPONSIBILITY, THERE IS NOT A ' BOTTOMLESS PIT' OF FUNDS.
AND GOVERNMENT MUST ENSURE THAT FUNDS ARE DISTRIBUTED IN
AN EFFICIENT AND EQUITABLE MANNER.
WHAT WE SOUGHT TO DO THROUGH TrHE LEGISLATION WHICH CA. ME
INTO EFFECT ON 6 JUNE THIS YEAR ( WITH THE SIX-MONTH
SUNSET CLAUSE) WAS TO MAINTAIN A GENEROUS APPROACH TO
DETERMINATION OF DISABILITY PENSION CLAIMS WHILE
ENSURING THAT THE EXCESSES OF THE HIGH COURT'S O'BRIEN
DECISION WERE ELIMINATED. THOSE WHOSE DISABILITrIES OR
DEATHS ARE THE RESULT OF WAR SERVICE SHOULD RECEIVE
PROPER COMPENSATION. THAT POSITION IS, AND SHOULD
ALWAYS BE, NON-NEGOTIABLE. A REASONABLE LEEWAY IN
FAVOUR OF THE CLAIMANT SHOULD ALSO EXIST GIVEN THE
UNCERTrAINTIES AS TO CAUSE IN MANY CASES AND THE MORAL
CASE FOR GENEROUS TREATMENT. INDEED, THE AUSTRALIAN
REPATRIATION SYSTEM REMAINS ONE OF TilE mos'r GENEROUS, IF'
NOT THE MOST GENEROUS, IN THE WORLD.
SOME AREAS OF THE EX-SERVICE COMMUNITY HAVE OBJECTED TO
THE APPROACH WHICH WAS TAKEN FOLLOWING THE O'BRIEN
DECISION. HOWEVER, WHEN THE AMENDING LEGISLATION WAS
BROUGHT FORWARD EARLIER THIS YEAR THERE WAS BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT FOR THE VIEW THAT THE PROVISIONS INTRODUCED INTO
THE REPATRIATION ACT IN 1977 AS SUBSEQUENTLY
INTERPRETED, PARTICULARLY IN THE O'BRIEN DECISION, WENT
BEYOND THE LEVEL OF GENEROSITY THAT THE PARLIAMENT, AND
INDEED MANY 59CTIONS OF THE EX-SERVICE COMMUNITY,
BELIEVED WAS . REASONABLE.
I ACCEPT THE POINT THAT HAS BEEN MADE BY YOUR NATIONAL
PRESIDENT, SIR WILLIAM KEYS, AND OTHERS THAT THERE WAS A
GENUINE MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT CONSULTATION ON CHANGES
TO THE LEGISLATION. I BELIEVE WE HAVE OVERCOME WHATEVER
MISUNDERSTANDINGS AROSE BY ENGAGING IN A PROCESS OF FULL
CONSULTATION WITH THE EX-SERVICE COMMUNITY, THROUGH ITS
MAJOR ORGANISNTIONS INCLUDING THE RSL AND THEIR
REPRESENTATIVES, ON THE PROVISIONS OF THE VETERANS'
ENTITLEMENTS BILL. I BELIEVE ALSO THAT WE CAN DRAFT THE
BILL SO THAT BOTH THE RSL AND THE GOVERNMENT, AS THE
REPRESENTATIVE OF TAXPAYERS, ARE LARGELY SATISFIED WITH
ITS PROVISIONS AND THE GOVERNMENT CAN PUT TO THE
PARLIAMENT A BILL WHICH MEETS THE NEEDS OF VETERANS
WITHOUT GOING BEYOND THE BOUNDS OF COMMUNITY EQUITY AND
ECONOMIC RESPONSIBILITY-.
THERE HAS BEEN A GOOD DEAL OF CONSULTATION WITH SIR
WILLIAM KEYS WHO HAS PUT FORWARD THE INTERESTS OF THE
EX-SERVICE COMMUNITY WITH VIGOUR AND LOGIC. INDEED HIS
ROLE HAS BEEN ONE TO WHCIH I SHIOULD) LIKE TO PAY
PARTICULAR TRIBUTE. JUDGE PAUL TOOSE HAS ALSO BEEN
ADVISING THE RSL AND THERE HAS BEEN CONSIDERABLE
DISCUSSION WITH HIM ON THE DETAILED PROVISIONS OF THE
LEGISLATION. THERE COULD BE NO MORE EXTENSIVE PROCESS
OF CONSULTATION THAN THE ONE WHICH HAS TAKEN PLACE ON
THE VETERANS' ENTITLEMENT BILL.
I BELIEVE THAT THE CONSULTATIONS AND NEGOTIATIONS, AS
FAR AS THE RSL AND THlE GOVERNMENT ARE CONCERNED, HAVE
BEENI ON THE BASIS OF FORMULATING THE BEST POSSIBLE
LEGISLATION TO MEET THE NEEDS OF VETERANS IN THE CONTEXT
OF THE ECONOMIC SITUATION AUSTRALIA CURRENTLY FACES.
I MAKE NO APOLOGY FOR SAYING THAT THE GOVERNMENT SOUGHT
TO FIND SAVINGS IN THE VETERANS' AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO JUST
AS I MAKE NO APOLOGY FOR SAYING THAT WE TRIED TO FIND
SAVINGS IN ALL OTHER PORTFOLIOS. IT IS SURPRISING HOW
MANY GROUPS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY HAVE SAID TH-ATr THEY
HAVE BEEN SINGLED OUT IN THE MAY ECONOMIC STATEMENT FOR
SPECIAL CUTBACKS. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THAT WAS NOT
THE CASE EiTrHER IN THE CASE OF VETERANS OR ANY OTHER
GROUP. BUT ALL AUSTRALIANS MUST REALISE THAT THE FUTURE OF OUR
AUSTRALIAN SOCIETY DEPENDS UPON HAVING A SOUND ECONOMY
WHICH PROVIDES SUFFICIENT GROWTH TO ENABLE MORE JOBS TO
BE CREATED AND MORE FUNDS TO BE PROVIDED FOR THOSE AREAS
WHICH JUSTIFY GREATER EXPENDITURE. IT IS NOT IN
ANYONE'S INTERESTr TO TURN A BLIND EYE TO AREAS OF
EXCESSIVE OR UNNECESSARY EXPENDITURE WHEN THERE ARE SO
MANY AREAS WHICH NEED MORE FUNDS AND WHEN WE MUST DO AS
A NATION EVERF. HING POSSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT WE DEVELOP
AND MAINTAIN 4 SOUND ECONOMY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
YOU AND SO MANY OF YOUR COMRADES FOUGHT AND DIED THAT
WE, AS A FREE SOCIETY, SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THIS.
AS A SOCIETY WE NEED TO MAINTAIN HIGH LEVELS OF
PRODUCTIVE EMPLOYMENT FOR ALL IN THE WORKING AGE GROUPS,
ESPECIALLY FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. IT WOULD BE A SAD
IRONY IF THE SACRIFICES MADE BY OUR VETERANS WERE WASTED
BECAUSE WE COULD NOT SUSTAIN A RESPONSIBLE SOCIETY IN
WHICH ALL SECTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY RECEIVE A FAIR GO.
I SHALL NOT GO INTO DETAIL ABOUT THE PROVISIONS OF THE
VETERANS' ENTITLEMENT BILL. CABINET STILL HAS TO
CONSIDER IT.
I CAN ASSURE YOU, HOWEVER, THAT CABINET WILL TAKE FULL
ACCOUNT OF THE VIEWS OF THE RSL AND THE DISCUSSIONS
WHICH HAVE TAKEN PLACE WITH SIR WILLIAM KEYS AND JUDGE
PAUL TOOSE ON THE BILL. THE INTENTION IS TO INTRODUCE
THE BILL NEXT MONTH AND TO HAVE IT PASSED BEFORE THE
PARLIAMENT RISES SO THAT IT CAN COME INTO EFFECT FROM 6
DECEMBER WHEN THE SUNSET CLAUSE ON THE AMENDMENTS TO
SECTION 47 LAPSES.
MY GOVERNMENT IS ANXIOUS TO BRING STABILITY TO THE
VETERANS' AFFAIRS AREAS BY ENSURING THAT THE LEGISLATION
M4EETS THE CRITERIA I HAVE MENTIONED, AND THAT THE
DETERMINING SYSTEM WORKS QUICKLY, FAIRLY AND
EFFICIENTLY. I HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT THE LEGISLATION. THE LONG OVERDUE
CHANGES TO THE DETERMINING SYSTEM THAT WE INTRODUCED ARE
NOW MAKING A REAL IMPRESSION ON THE BACKLOGS AND SHOULD
BE OPERATING AS INTENDED BY THE END OF THIS FINANCIAL
YEAR. WE ALSO WISH TO ENSURE THAT. THE REPATRIATION HOSPITAL
SYSTEM IS ABLE TO MAINTAIN A HIGH QUALITY OF CARE AND
FITS INTO THE OVERALL HEALTH DELIVERY SYSTEMS OF THE
STATES AND THE COMMUNITY GENERALLY.
MY GoVLRZIMENT ACTED QUICKLY, WHENJ IT CAME TO OFFICE, TO
IMPROVE THE CONDITION OF THE REPATRIATrION GENERAL
HOSPITALS. SENATOR GIETZELT COMMISSIONED A REVIEW OF
THE REPATRIATION HOSPITAL SYSTEM BY A COMMITTEE LED BY
DOCTOR IAN BRAND. THATr COMMITTEE'S REPORT HAS NOW BEEN
RECEIVED AND ITCS WIDE-RANGING RECOMMENDATIONS WARRANT,
AND WILL RECEIVE, CAREFUL CONSIDERATION BY THE MINISTER
AND THE GOVERNMENT.
THEY WILL BE ADDRESSED AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF THE
COMMITMENT I GAVE IN THE NATIONAL POLICY SPEECH BEFORE
LAST YEAR'S ELECTION " TO CONTINUE UPGRADING REPATRIATION
HOSPITALS TOY MEET THE NEEDS OF AN AGEING VETERANS
COMMUNITY." -THAT WAS A FIRM, UNEQUIVOVAL PLEDGE AND ONE
WHICH, IF I KNOW THE RSL, THERE IS NO WAY IT WILL LET US
FORGET. I WILL WELCOME YOUR VIGILANCE BUT IT WILL NOT
BE NECESSARY. THAT COMMITMENT IS BEING FULLY
IMPLEMENTED.
ONE ASPECT OF THE BRAND REPORT WHICH IS NOW PLACED
FAIRLY AND SQUARELY BEFORE US ALL, IS THE QUESTION OF
INTEGRATION OF THE REPATRIATION GENERAL HOSPITAL SYSTEM
WITH THE HOSPITAL FACILrIES PROVIDED IN EACH STATE.
CLEARLY VERY CAREFUL PLANNING WILL BE NEEDED FOR
INTEGRATION To BE A SUCCESS.
INTEGRATION SIMPLY MEANS WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE STATE
SYSTEM TO GUARANTEE THE BEST POSSIBLE TREATMENT WITHOUT
DUPLICATING SERVICES.
THE PRECISE FORM THE INTEGRATION PROCESS WILL TAKE IN
THE FUTURE IS STILL TO BE DETERMINED. BUT IT WILL MEAN
THAT CLOSER CO-ORDINATION AND CONSULTATION WILL BE
REQUIRED BETWEEN STATE AUTHORITIES AND THE REPATRIATION
GENERAL HOSPITALS. IT WILL ALSO MEAN, ESPECIALLY WITH
AN AGEING VETERAN POPULATION, TH-AT A PARTICULAR EFFORT
SHOULD BE MADE TO PROVIDE SERVICES, INCLUDING HOSPITAL
SERVICES, CLOSER TO HOME.
THAT SAID, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THERE WILL CONTINUE TOBE
REPATRIATION HOSPITALS OPERATING AS AN IMPORTANT AND
VISIBLE ELEMENT IN THE OVERALL TREATMENT FOR VETERANS
AND WAR WIDOWS FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.
AT THE SAME TIME AS THE BRAND REVIEW TEAM WAS WORKING ON
ITS REPORT, THE GOVERNMENT WAS SHOWING ITS GENUINE
COMMITrMENT TO THE ACUTE MEDICAL AND SURGICAL NEEDS OF
VETERANS BY UNDERTAKING A MAJOR BUILD TNG AND REDEVELOPMENTr
PROGRAM IN THE REPATRIATION GENERAL
HOSPITALS. I COULD QUOTE A RANGE OF PROJECTS AND IMPRESIVE SOUNDING
DOLLAR TOTALS AND LIST EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE MANY
PROJECTS UNDER WAY OR IN THE PIPE-LINE. RATHER THAN DO
THAT, I WOULD MENTION THAT IN THE PAST MONTH IT HAS BEEN
ONE OF MY MORE PLEASANT TASKS TO SPEAK AT THE OFFICIAL
OPENING OF THE NEW SURGICAL OPERATING SUITES AT DAW PARK
ON 1 AUGUST, AND AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE NEW
RADIOLOGY DEPARTMENT AND REFURBISHED WARD AT HEIDELBERG
ON 29 AUGUST.
AND THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING, I EXPECT THAT THERE WILL
BE MORE OFFICIAL OPENING ACTIVITIES IN THE NOT TOO FAR
DISTANT FUTURE.
CRITrICISM WA. 4-EXPRESSED IN SOME QUARTERS WHEN I
ANNOUNCED TH . T THE AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL WOULD COME
WITHIN THE VETERANS' AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO. BUT THERE CAN
BE LITTLE DOUBT THAT THE WAR MEMORIAL HAS BENEFITTED
FROM THE TRANSFER, AND THAT THE PROOF OF THE PUDDING IS
IN THE CONTENTS OF LAST MONTH'S BUDGET.
A CONSIDERABLE INCREASE IN STAFF WILL BE PROVIDED DURING
THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR. AN INCREASED PROGRAM OF
CONSERVATION AND CONTROL OF COLLECTIONS COSTING ALMOST
$ 2M OVER THREE YEARS WILL BE INTRODUCED. A NEW STORAGE
FACILITY WILL BE BOUGHT, AND FUNDING WILL BE PROVIDED
FOR DOCUMENTATION AND CATALOGUE OF THE PRINTED
COLLECTION. AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, WE HAVE
AGREED TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW STAFF ACCOMMODATION
AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT BUILDING. THIS WILL COST
APPROXIMATELY $ 6.514 AND WILL BE COMPLETED IN 1988. THE
NEW BUILDING WILL THEN TAKE PRESSURE FROM THE MAIN
BUT LDING OF THE WAR MEMORIAL WHICH IS NEEDED FOR DISPLAY
AND EXHIBITION PURPOSES.
THE AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL IS ONE OF THE GREAT 3
INSTITUTIONS OF AUsTRLIAN SOCIETY. IT PAYS TRIBUTE TO
THE SACRIFICES AND THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF AUSTRALIAN MEN
AND WOMEN IN WARS AND THE PURSUIT OF PEACE. I AM VERY
PLEASED THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE THESE
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO ENABLE THE WAR MEMORIAL TO
FULFIL THE SYMBOLIC ROLE IT PLAYS IN AUSTRALIAN SOCIETY.
EVEN MORE RECENT THAN THE BUDGET WAS THE TABLING IN
PARLIAMENT ON 22 AUGUST OF THE FINAL REPORT OF THE ROYAL
COMMISSION ON THE USE AND EFFECTS OF CHEMICAL AGENTS ON
AUSTRALIAN PERSONNEL IN VIETNAM.
THE REPORT'S CENTRAL FINDING IS THAT THE CHEMICAL
AGENTS, BY AND LARGE, HAD NO ADVERSE EFFECTS ON
AUSTRALIAN PERSONNEL. THE GOVERNMENT ACCEPTS THAT THE
CASE FOR A LINK BETWEEN AGENT ORANGE AND HEALTH PROBLEMS
AMONG VIETNAM VETERNAS HAS NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED.
HOWEVER, BOTH THE GOvERNMENr AND THE RSL NEED TO BE
AWARE THAT THE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SUFFERINGS OF
THlE VIETNAM VETERANS ARE REAL ENOUGH, WHETHER OR NOT
THEY WERE CAUSED BY AGENT ORANGE. MR JUSTICE EVATT IS
CLEARLY STATING THAT THE MAIN TASK, CARING FOR VIETNAM
VETERANS, IS STILL CONTINUING.
I CAN ASSURE ALL OF YOU HERE TODAY THAT WE WILL BE
LOOKING VERY CAREFULLY AT THE REPORT'S RECOMMENDATIONS
IN THE LIGHT OF THIS GOVERNMENT'S DEMONSTRATED
COMMITMENT TO-PROVIDING OPTIMUM CARE FOR THE VETERANS OF
ALL WARS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR GOVERNMENT ATTACHES GREAT
IMPORTANCE TO SECURING CONDITIONS OF INTERNATIONAL
PEACE, SECURITY AND STABILITY. WE ARE DEDICATED TO
PERSUADING THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, AND PARTICULARLY
THE SUPERPOWERS, OF THE NEED FOR REAL PROGRESS IN' THE
TASK OF GENUINE ARMS CONTROL AND DISARMAMENT. THIS IS
REFLECTED IN OUR DETERMINED PURSUIT OF A COMPREHENSIVE
TEST BAN TREATY, AN INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT ON CHEMICAL
WEAPONS AND IN OUR PRESENT ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE
NON-PROLIFERATION REVIEW CONFERENCE IN GENEVA.
AUSTRALIAN VIEWS HAVE ALSO BEEN PUT DIRECTLY TO THE
SUPERPOWERS.
CLOSER TO HOME, THE RECENT AGREEMENT FOLLOWING AN
AUSTRALIAN INITIATIVE AT THE SOUTH PACIFIC FORUM TO
ESTABLISH A PACIFIC NUCLEAR FREE ZONE WAS A MAJOR
ADVANCE IN THE CAUSE OF PEACE.
AT THE SAME TIME W4E APPRECIATE THE REALITY OF AN
UNSTABLE WORLD AND AS A GOVERNMENT HAVE ACCEPTED THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF MAINTAINING EFFICIENT, WELL-MANNED,
WELL EQUIPPED AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCES. INDEED THE
LABOR. GOVERNMENT REGARDS EXPENDITURE ON NATIONAL DEFENCE
NEEDS AS AMONG THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL OF ITS NATIONAL
RESPONSIBILITIES. THE 3.5 PER CENT ANNUAL INCREASE IN
REAL DEFENCE EXPENDITURE THAT THE LABOR GOVERNMENT HAS
MAINTAINED SINCE COMING TO OFFICE IS A CLEAR MEASURE OF.
THE SERIOUSNESS WITH WHICH WE HAVE DISCHARGED THOSE
RESPONSIBILITIES.
MY GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO BEEN ESPECIALLY MINDFUL OF THE
PART. ICULAR IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING AUSTRALIA'S
ALLIANCE'RELATIONSHIPS. WE ARE TOTALLY COMMITTED TO
ENSURING THE HEALTH OF THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WHICH WE
CONSIDER VITAL TO THE MAINTENANCE OF PEACE IN OUR WORLD.
THE SUCCESS WITH WHICH WE HAVE DONE SO WAS RECENTLY
ACKNOWLEDGED AT A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ASIA SOCIETY ON
17 JULY BY US DEFENCE SECRETARY WEINBERGER WHEN HE SAID
THE AUSTRALIA/ US ALLIANCE HAD " RARELY BEEN STRONGER".
I KNOW THE RETURNED SERVICES LEAGUE APPRECIATES THE
IMPORTANCE OF THESE MATTERS FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF
INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY. THE LEAGUE HAS A MOST
IMPORTANT ROLE IN KEEPING THESE PERSPECTIVES TO THE FORE
IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE WELCOME THAT ROLE, PARTICULARLY
WHERE IT IS EXERCISED ON YOUR BEHALF IN THE RESPONSIBLE
AND EFFECTIVE MANNER OF YOUR PRESIDENT SIR WILLIAM KEYS.
ACCORDINGLY, I HAVE MUCH PLEASURE IN DECLARING OPEN THIS
ANNUAL NA~ TIONAL CONGRESS OF THE LEAGUE.