PRIME MINISTER
TRANSCRIPT OF PRESS CONFERENCE SCULLIN BY-ELECTION
19 January, 1986
E& 0OE -PROOF ONLY
JOURNALIST: Bill Hartley to the Scullin electorate.
PM: I have got nothing to say about that issue. As you know
that will be considered by the National Executive on Thursday.
It is not appropriate to talk about that.
JOURNALIST: Mr Hawke, considering your calling the Liberals
faction-ridden, don't you think that is slight the situation with
ALP at the moment, over Scullin in particular?
PM: No. The question of various groupinigs within parties has
has always been there as far as Labor is concerned and as far as
the others are concerned. What I am talking about is the way in
which factions are operating. AS far as the Labor Party is
concerned, the existence of different groups with different
emphases has not affected the development of policy and the
implementation of policy. As I said here, this is the most
stable and competent government in recent Australian memory.
Against that, the factionalism in the Liberal Party is just
completely breaking them up because they can't formulate policy.
You look at-any issue that they have talked about. Privatisation
a total mess. The factions there are just absolutely opposed
to one another. Some of them saying this is what has to be done.
The others saying this is an absolute nonsense. You look at the
question of wages regulation. -Some are saying you have got
to abolish the Arbitration Commission. That is what Sinclair is
saying and sections of the Liberal Party. Others are saying you
must keep it. Now it is that sort of factionalism which I am
talking about which is stopping the emergence of effective
policy. JOURNALIST: Mr Hartley would say that Socialist Left isn't
getting any say in policy though?
PM: I haven't got anything to-say about Mr Hartley.
JOURNALIST: I was going to say that the Liberals have said that
it is the public's view of the factional fighting within the ALP,
particularly in this electorate, which is going to do it damage.
what do you say about that?
PM: I have already answered that. The existing groups in the
Labor Party have not prevented the emergence of strong, effective
government.
JOURNALIST: But does the public see it that way?
Pm: of course they do. Look at the polls and look what they are
saying. They are repudiating the Liberals. Why do you think
that Mr Gray has said of the Federal Leader of the Liberal Party
he doesn't want him over there because he doesn't agree with what
he is saying. He says his talk about privatisation, his talk
about wages deregulation, Mr Gray has said in a letter on 3rd
January to the Hobart Mercury, he said " that is nonsense. I wish
he would stop talking about those things and talk about issues
which are relevant to the people of Australia". Now it is that
sort of factionalism and division which is ruining the Liberal
Party in mainland Australia.
JOURNALIST: Mr Hawk you mentioned employment and inflation,
the Government's record there. There was no mention today of the
rally today of interest rates?
PM: Well, I didn't mention interest rates. It is not an issue
which I am being inundated with. What I am being told by the
people of Australia is that they welcome the achievements of this
Government in the areas that I am talking about employment and
inflation. They know that to protect the exchange rate to some
extent there has been a necessity to have fairly tight monetary
policy for a while. And that taking the overall economic policy
into account, which is producing a continuation of strong
economic growth, that that particular phase that we are going
through is one that is necessary within the total framework of
policy. And the Australian people are much more intelligent than
some commentators give them credit for.
JOURNALIST: Is monetary policy likely to ease a bit now, Prime
Minister? PM: I am not talking about monetary policy at this stage. I
merely make the observation that you will have seen that there
has been a strengthening of the dollar and slight easing of
interest rates. And I welcome that. And simply repeat that the
Government will continue the policies which are necessary to
maintain what, I have referred to earlier today. That is the fact
-that we have the strongest economic growth rate amongst the OECD
countries and the highest rate of employment growth. We are
going to have policies which enable us to sustain that growth
with sustainable levels of inflation.
JOURNALIST: The Liberals say they are going to make big inroads
into your majority in this seat?
PM: Is that right.
JOURNALIST: Have you got any comment on the sanctions against
Libya? PM: The Government will be considering this matter. There is a
Cabinet meeting tomorrow. I merely say that I -endorse what Mr
Hayden, the Foreign Minister, has said. That this country
rejects the tactic of international. terrorism which has been
increasingly emerging in the world. And we believe the
international community needs to act together against this. We
will be considering the issue in detail tomorrow.
ends