TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P J KEATING MP,
REV. HOLLINGWORTH, AND SIMON BAILEY
DOORSTOP, AUISTRALIAN OF THE YEAR, ADMIRALTY HOUSE, SYDNEY
26 JANUARY 1992
E OE PROOF COPY
PM: I've been a good listener. I've met him a few times,
this fellow, over the years. But I was particularly
pleased with Peter, that someone representing the
softer values of Australia was up there as Australian
of the Yfear. Which is a nice thing for this country.
J: What are you planning to do this year?
REV: Well apart from running a diocese I am doing something
about renewing the life of the church and finishing off
a cathedral, I want to get into raising money to help
young people who can't get into the workforce, who
can't get traineeships. And already with the support
of the Federal Government through our employment action
centres, we have a got a very good program going in two
States of Australia, and I hope we can extend that.
And I hope we can get some money in to help young
people who would otherwise take advantage of all that.
J: How do you feel about winning the award?
REV: Overwhe: lmed mostly. I think you can only accept it on
behalf of other people, not on your own behalf.
J: Well, Mr Hawke told you that you to butt out, that you
didn't know' what you were talking about. Is that the
case?
REV: No, he didn't quite say it as directly as that. He
suggested that I should stick to my area of
responsibility and he would stick to his.
J: Will you be sticking to your area of responsibility?
REV: Well I think we are all concerned about the building up
of a just, efficient, caring, participatory Australia,
and we will work together in partnership, I'm sure.
PM: Absolutely
J: Will this be shown in your economic statement Mr
Keating?
PM: Well, as I see it that will be essentially the essence
of it because a country without fairness and equity is
a count-y that does not understand itself well. And we
will be continuing to keep a focus on those values.
J: Mr Keating, will traineeships be a specific be part of
the Economic Statement?
PM: Well I can't say what is in the Economic Statement, but
the labour market area has traditionally been an area
of concern to us and most particular at this time,
including and especially for young people.
J: Simon how do you feel?
SB: Overawed, actually. I'm very honoured. I'm sure there
are many young people in this country who are equally
deserving of this honour.
J: What do you plan to do now?
SB: Get back to training if I can. After I start the
National. Championships in early March I go to Arizona
to perform there, so I have got to get back into peak
condition.
J: Does this vindicate your statement from last year,
Archbishop?
REV: I think this has nothing to do with my statement last
year.
J: You're nriot, you're certain you're not
REV: No I do not. I think it's to do with a long term
commitment to justice and the care of the poor over
many, many years. I think that's the issue really.
You don't achieve these things, flash in the pan
activities. Because it is those who are the long-term
stayers, that ' are going to achieve something.
J: But surely perhaps some of those statements, that at
the time were a little controversial, are major step in
campaign to actually get things done?
3
REV: There is nothing wrong with controversy as long as it
speaks the truth, and as long as it keeps the issues
before people who are in a position to make decisions.
I don't resile from any of that and I'm sure that the
Prime Minister and everybody else would expect me to do
it.
PM: If there are issues of substance, then controversy can
often bring light to a subject. So there we are.
ENDS