PRIME MINISTER
TRANSCRIPT OF NEWS CONFERENCE, BRISBANE SHERATON HOTEL,
4 JUNE 1989
E 0 E PROOF ONLY
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, can you give us your reaction
to events in China?
PM: Yes I can. I deeply deplore what has happened in
China. I have said before these most recent events
that we both welcome the democratic push for reform so
that people would have the pleasure of expression in
China and, on the other hand, welcomed also the restraint
with which the authorities in China had dealt with those
demonstrations. Now, of course, that situation has been
reversed. The jse c4 violence and force by the authorities
which has resulted in the deaths of at least 100, and
perhaps many more, of the these people who have been
exercising their rights peacefully cannot be accepted.
I haive instructed the Ambassador of Australia in Beijing
who shall transmit this attitude of the Australian Government,
and I'm sure the Australian people, to the authorities.
Let me also say that I have ordered that the HMAS Parramatta,
which was to be visiting Shanghai next week, shall not
at this stage make that visit. This is a tragedy because
the world has welcomed the processes of economic reform
and the gradual processes of social change that have
been occurring in China, these have been developments
which have been to the benefit, the obvious benefit.
of the people of China and to the rest of the world as
they have opened up policy of gradual reform and certainly
opening to the rest of the world. We, in Australia,
have been very closely associated with China and its
developments because we welcomed those things, as I say,
S a~ good for China and good for the rest of the
world. We deeply regj1; 2A and deplore, as I say, what
has happened and I hope that this will be a temporary
aberration and that there will be a return to the processes
which, as I say, we and the rest of the world have to
this point welcomed.
JOURNALIST: Are there trade implications for Australia?
PM: It's too early to say that. One should be optimistic
and hope that not merely the expression of view that
I put on behalf of Australia, but the views which I believe
are being and will be expressed by the rest of the world
will bring the leadership of China to a realisation of
two things. One, that as far as China itself is concerned,
this is not a viable situation for the future. The imposition
of authority by force and by the killing of innocent
people, you can't retain a credible authority in that
way. Secondly, it is against their interests internationally.
So one would hope that there will be change and a reversion
to the previous paths of reform and the acceptance of
the rights of individuals to express their views.
JOURNALIST: Do you have any concern for Australian nationals?
PM: No, I believe there is no reason to have any concern
for Australian nationals. But let me say this, that
I have been in contact with events up until the early
hours of this morning and then was awake again early
O this morning and understand that our Embassy in Beijing
has been up right through the night, so they are monitoring
the situation. To this point there is no indication
that we need to have cause for concern. But we have
a very efficient Ambassador and staff in Beijing who
will be, as I say, watching developments in all their
implications, but I have no reason to have concern for + 1ke sci. 9e+~
6 Australian nationals there.
JOURNALIST: Would you consider trade sanctiom of some
kind if this continues?
PM: It's too early to be talking about that sort of
thing. The appropriate sensible course, both from the
point of view of China and Australia and the rest of
the world, is to make sure that the leaders in China
know the unacceptability of this course of action. As
I say, steps have already been taken to make that clear
as far as we're concerned and I'm sure our friends around
O the world will be doing the same thing.
JOURNALIST: What about Hong Kong refugees? Are you
concerned there may be a flood of refugees, people who
want to immigrate from Hong Kong as a result and
would Australia accept those people?
PM: Australia's immigration program has clearly laid
down. It's determined on the basis of the components
which include a refugee component, but we will not be
-changing that position. IWe stiiation, of course, of
the refugees in Hong Kong is exacerbated at the moment
by an enormous exodus of people from Vietnam to Hong
Kong. It is quite clear that the great majority of those
are not political refugees, but economic refugees.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, Andrew Peacock said at the
Liberal Party conference in Brisbane that he'd like another
debate with you and he's written to Mr Barton to organise
one for the last Monday of the next election campaign.
Will you be in that?
PM: Look we're dealing with a Leader of the Opposition
who is devoid of policies and ideas, who is the epitome
of grimmickry and emptiness. I won't be accommodating
that sort of approach to politics.
ends