TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P J KEATING, MP
DOORSTOP ADELAIDE, MARCH 6 1992
E& OE PROOF COPY
J: Sir, if I may ask a question of a cricket nature, Ian
Botham has come out today and said that your comments
last week spurred him and England on to greater things.
You have taken the wrap for the recession over the past
months, will you now take it for the cricket?
PM: Oh well, we, have got four games to go, I think, let's
wait and see what happens.
J: Well, Australians can stand perhaps a recession, but
they really, can't stand losing the cricket.
PM: Well in that case tell that to our crew.
J: What about Mr Botham, what about his comments?
PM: Well if it spurred him on to greater heights, it's good
for spo: ct, good for cricket.
J: Mr Keating, were you further annunciating your
republicanism remarks within that speech?
PM: Well I ' have never made republican remarks so-called, I
was just talking about Australia's independence and its
cultural identity, and the fact that Australians should
be whole-hearted Australians, and not half-hearted
Australians.
J: Have they been that in the past, under the previous
Prime Minister perhaps?
PM: Certainly under conservative Prime Ministers, and I
think that this is all part of Australia's continuing
transition.
2
J: But there is'a difference in your sort of
Australianess, and Bob Hawke's sort of Australianess,
isn't there?
PM: Well I don't know, that is for you to make a judgement
about. ' rhe ABC keeps a sharp eye on all these things,
I know.
J: Is Dr Hewson off the pace of the republican debate,
Prime Minister?
PM: Well, the republican debate is very hard to pin down
isn't it, don't you think so?
J: How long do you think it will be before it will happen?
PM: I don't know, but I think we will probably see that
happen in Australia, but I am not sure when.
J: Will you be maintaining the pressure on the general
debate Prime Minister?
PM: Well I am not putting any pressure on the debate, I
just sort of made a few simple points about Australia's
independence from Europe, the fact that we are now a
country trading our way in the Asia Pacific, and Dr
Hewson had pains to point out. I didn't have enough
respect. And I said well maybe not for you, but for
Australia I have.
J: Do you like the flag Prime Minister, or would you like
to see it changed?
PM: Well I do think it is a curiosity to have the Union
Jack in the corner, I mean it is a bit of a corner.
J: Should : Lt be in the middle?
PM: Well the question is, should it be there at all?
J: Do you -think we should take it off?
PM: Well that's again another debate. It is no doubt, I ami
sure, that plenty of people in our neighborhood wonder
about us, whether we are as we describe ourselves as
being, a nation, while there is so much ambiguity about
our flag.
J: How are we all together different? You are quoted in
the Guardian this week as saying Australians are all
together different. How are we all together different?
PM: Well we are all together different in knowing, I think,
what we feel about the place, and different certainly
to Europe.
J: But how, does an Australian be more Australian? What
are you. saying about that?
PM: Well for a start, not tugging the forelock to the
British establishment, that's a place for starters.
The Liberal Party are yet to learn about this, well
most of them. I
J: What's the essence of being Australian today?
PM: Being proud of the country, proud of our achievements,
wanting to see it be independent and successful, and
identifying with its independence and success, and not
hankering for something else.
J: What is going to be done about the Aboriginal questions
you mentioned in your speech?
PM: Well the Government is going to be attending to that in
the Aboriginal Deaths and Custody recommendation to the
Royal Commission, and which is one of the longest
running Royal Commission, probably ever. It is a very
serious set of recommendations which we are going to
respond to seriously.
J: Have you given some assurance to the, Premier of Western
Australia, Carmel Lawrence, that you will be looking at
perhaps modifying the fringe benefits tax in the
Budget? L
PM: No, I don't know why have you
J: There has been a report today along those lines.
PM: Well no I haven't.
J: What's your reaction to certain businessmen asking for
a lower dollar thinking that will fix their ills?
PM: Well you know, the Australian Foreign Exchange Market
is very deep, we turn over $ 40 billion a day, and if
they wish to make plaintive pleas about the rate, they
should make it loud and with feeling to the market, and
maybe someone will listen and take notice.
J: Mr Keating, what are your views on Bill Hayden being
Australia's first President?
PM: Well you should ask him that, I am not sure he has
volunteered for that role yet.
J: Mr keating, on a lighter note, Domingo is in town at
the moment and he wants to catch up with you, will you
have time?
PM: Well I am around but the thing is, I have got things to
do too.
ENDS