TRANSCRIPT OF PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE LODGE FEBRUARY 9, 1986
E 0 E PROOF ONLY
JOURNALIST: Mr Howard is claiming to have given the Labor
Government a kick in the shins Mr Hawke?
PM: My shins are in the very best of shape. The outstanding
loser out of Saturday is John Howard. Just look at the three
areas where the people of Australia had something to say. And
look at it in terms of Mr Howard and the Federal Liberals. First
of all Scullin, where even with the donkey vote they could only
get a five per cent swing, which is well within the normal
by-election experience, achieve 22.7 per cent of the total vote
and with the donkey vote. A massive rejection of Mr Howard's
concentrated campaigning in the electorate. Western Australiaa
disastrous day for the Liberals. In the Lower House they lost
three seats to the Nationals, one seat to us. And they lost
seats in the Upper House to the Nationals and the Labor Party.
And Mr Burke and his team are to be congratulated on increasing
their vote. A complete repudiation of the Federal Liberals. And
in Tasmania, Mr Gray held office. It looks as though the number
of seats will be the same probably. But Mr Howard was repudiated
during the election. Mr Gray told him to keep out, he treated
him like a leper. He didn't want the Federal Liberals in
Tasmania. So, whichever way you look at it, a very, very black
day for John Howard and the Federal Liberals. And I congratulate
Mr Burke particularly in Western Australia for this historic
achievement a return of the Labor Government, successive
victories for the first time in 30 years there.
JOURNALIST: What conclusions can you draw from the resurgence of
the National Party in Western Australia?
PM: I think you have to say this, that there is concern in the
bush, and understandable concern about the position in which they
find themselves. But they repudiated the Liberals and there is
some sort of a protest vote there. Of course, what you have got
to understand is the relationship between the Nationals and the
Liberals in Western Australia is a poisonous relationship and so
I think understandable that there was some sort of swing in the
bush. But as far as the federal picture is concerned, no comfort
for the major party there. And I don't think the National Party
generally would be sensible to take any comfort from the present
position because in my travels around the country I don't believe
that the rural interests of this country see the National Party
as their saviours.
JOURNALIST: Do you think there is any message there though for
the Federal Government?
PM: I can only, in these circumstances, pick up from Mr Howard.
Mr Howard said give Mr Hawke a kick in the shins. Now, it was
said in regard to Scullin that it had to be a swing of at least
per cent to be any adverse message. They were battling to get I
five per cent and that was with the donkey vote. As far as
Western Australia is concerned an improvement in our overall
position. And Tasmania has been out of the mainstream of, if you
like, of federal politics now since 1983. what you have got to
face up to now is what I have been saying for some time. I said
clearly following the South Australian results. The Liberal
Party is in total disarray in this country. It has been
repudiated by, the electorate. It hasn't won an election in
mainland Australia since 1980. The Liberal Party is on the nose
with the Australian electorate because they are irrelevant, they
insult the intelligence of the Australian people. In election
after election they come out with their irrelevant, ideological
nonsense which has nothing to do with the real interests of
Australian men and women. And while they continue to behave in
this way they will be treated as they consistently are as an
irrelevancy, an ideological, divided irrelevancy in the
Australian political scene.
JOURNALIST: Why can't the Labor Party do better in Tasmania?
PM: Well, we suffered badly in 1982-83 down there over the dam
issue. And that has been a residual factor. Mr Gray has been
able to capitalise on the divisions that that caused within
Tasmania and within the Labor Party. Now, I am confident however
that, as far as the next federal election is concerned, we will
be able to improve our position. I mean, after all if you have
got no seats in the House of Representatives, you have got
nothing but room for improvement. I think we can do that.
JOURNALIST: Mr Hawke, you really wouldn't want the result in
country Western Australia to be reflected in a federal election
though in country seats, would you? So what will you be doing to
ensure that doesn't occur?
PM: Well, there are a number of things. I have asked Mr Kerin
to prepare a submission for Cabinet to analyse what are the
possible areas in which we can do something more to assist rural
Australia. Secondly, I have started myself now to go out and
meet individual Australian farmers. And I must say as a result
of the experience I had during this week where I was able to sit
down and basically listen rather than talk to, listen to farmers,
their wives and their children, I certainly have got a sharpened
sense, if you like, of the tragedy that exists out there. They
understand that there are limits to what the Federal Government
can do in this area. But I must say that when those submissions
from Mr Kerin come before the Cabinet, we will be looking at them
sympathetically to see what more we can do. You have got the
tragedy, as I say, of very, very efficient Australian rural
producers suffering now basically as a result of the corruption
of international markets which has ruined the price situation
for them. That means that they concentrate even more
particularly on their internal cost structure. We have got to
see what we can do to help them in that area.
JOURNALIST: Having regard to the nature of the campaign in
Western Australia, how would you see the future of Aboriginal
land rights legislation from here on?
PM: well this is a matter which will be brought before the
Cabinet by Mr Holding in the near future and as I said over
there, I believe that we are going to be able to reach a
situation where the interests of the State as well as of the
Federal Government will be able to be accommodated. I said that
in Western Australia and I believe that has been accepted there.
JOURNALIST: Mr Hawke, interest rates and petrol prices are
fairly significant costs for farmers. Is there anything you can
do for them in those two areas?
PM: Well, I have got nothing to add to the answer I gave before
and I'll just repeat it. When Mr Kerin brings his submissions
which will be basically concerned with the cost structure of
farmers, we'll be looking to do what we can. I am not saying
anything in advance of the Cabinet consideration of that
submission.
JOURNALIST: Mr Hawke, are you disappointed in the performance of
Mr Wriedt in Tasmania?
PM: I think Mr Wriedt had a very difficult job and I think he
did as well as he could in the circumstances.
JOURNALIST: Do you believe he would survive a challenge?
PM: Well, it is not for me to intrude. I don't know whether if
there were another nomination Mr Wriedt would may not
be a concept. I simply don't know and because I don't know I not
going to proffer an opinion.
JOURNALIST: Would you like to make a comment on the Philippines
election? PM: Well, I don't know that I can say anything very penetrating
on it. I have been kept informed by my own people and what they
are saying is that you are just getting these different
assessments. I would say on the basis of what has been put to me
that it looks as though Mrs Aquino has polled well and has polled
well enough to win if the elections allowed to run its fair
course. That seems to be evidence as it is put to me.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, have you had any information on
whether or not they have polled......
PM: Well, my sources within Foreign Affairs are, over the
weekend, analysing the information that's available in from a
number of sources. All I would say is in a preliminary sense the
indications that everyone has got not just those in official
positions here. It seems to be that it hasn't been an entirely
fair election.
JOURNALIST: Would you welcome an Aquino victory?
PM: Well, let's wait and see the outcome. I mean I have made my
comments about the present situation in the Philippines and it
has incurred some cancellation of landing rights, I believe.
ENDS