PRIME MINISTER
TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRIME HINSTR, TH% HON P. J. KEATING MO
DOORSTOP MELBOURNE 19 MARCH 1992
E& O PROOF COPY
PM1 Well, z thiNt that it is a very significant victory for
the processes of democracy, for President de Klerk in
particular, a nd we hope now that we will see a
reconvening of CODESA, and that work will proceed to a
new constitution, and I think upon those things
happening, the rest of the world, the Commonwoalth In
particular, -o look further at the sanctions.
J: When do you think those sanctions realistically could be
lifted?
PM: I think as wea get through those processes, when we see a
reconvaning of CODESA, to look at the working parties
work, and to se then what adoptions there are of that
work, I think that is the time. A lot of sanctions of
course, have already been lifted, people to people
sanctions and transport. But in the area of trade and
finance I thLnk we will follow generally the
Commonwealth's pliCy which was to watch what happens
inside South Africa, and look at the movement towards a
new constitution.
J: Have you sent the message to Mr de Ilerk?
PM: I will be youi.
J: What will you be saying?
PM: Well, congratulating him on his important win, that the
referendum result will see which he has been pursuing.
That is for a change and to be able to negotiate on
behalf of the white community, to establish new
constitutional arrangements. we will also be wat | iing
for what is s; aid In South Africa about the events over
the last 24 hours, and what they think from the ANC and
other* about prospects for the future.
0: Mr Keating you have been suggesting we should get away
from the Commonwealth and not be caught by the British
cringe. Why are we waiting for the Coaimonwealth to
move?
2
PM: Wel1 we are not waiting for th6 Commonwealth to move, it
is matter that we have been part of the Commonwealth
policy, an international policy, you can't read
Commonwealth, Feed Britain as you know, for a very long
period in this, Margaret Thatcher was the one not
involved in this, but Australians * played a leading role
in these negotiations and discussions over a
considerable period of time.
J: Senator Evans said he thought sanctionB could be lifted
vary soon.
PM: Well we will see what progress is made, and there is
going to be, I think, a reconvening of C0DESA probably
in early to mid April.
J: Mr Keating Phil Cleary said he probably won't stanld as a
candidate for Will& now, where does that leve the ALP,
and what a. re your chances for succeoe7
PM: Wall our ch'ancp-s of success I think, are good Bi1l
Kardamitais is a person of the community, a people
person, somebody who truly reprsents this place, is
interested in it, and while the going has been tough for
the Labor Party in victoria, we hope we can win, but it
will be decided by a small margin.
3: But you won't have those preferences from Mr Clery..
PM: Mr Cleary is entitled to make his own mind up about
those things, but the Labor Party will campaign on its
policy, whiLch has been to induce a recovery, to come out
of the recession, induce a recovery, create jobs and
emlployment and get Victoria working again. A very large
part of the One Nation stat~ ieet was concentrated in
Viatoria,. that is trying to rebuild the Victorian
infrastructure, provide it with now industries like
transport, like tourism, even though they exist here
now, to develop them properly in Victoria, for ViLctoria
to got its share of those things. And TAFS, we have
just comes out of a TAFE collage, and we will make, as I
said in thea St~ toment, TAFE one of the strong reeds of
Australian education, And a significant proportion of
that $ 750 mililion is going to be spent in Victoria.
J: in airing t; he Delacretat letters hasn't there been a
serious breach of parliamentary tradition?
PM: No. Look the Liberal Party is entirely embarrassed
about this. I mean, overnight apparently, Dr Howsonl end
Mr Kroger had to have a meeting about whether they would
pull their candidate out of the race. And they decided
to laave him in. And I notice that Dr llewson said he is
happy with Mr Kroger's report. That is, he is happy
apparently with Mr Delacretez saying that social
security should be cut by 30 per cent, that pension*
ought to be, out by 30 per cent, that we ought to send
6O/ ZO'd OZO* ON ~ I W: 3
migrants home. that we shouldn't fund sheltered
workahops for the disabled If they compete with any
business of which their candidate Is involved. You
know, I WRLs quite interested to see Dr Howson say he was
happy with Mr Kroger'su report, and the report, of
course, haid to comprehend the policies which their
candidate has proposed.
J; Some would say that airing the letters was a dirty
trick.
PM: Look, the thing is, I don't know where the letters came
from. I was shown them by a Channel 10 journalist and I
gave a comnunt on the spot. But the f act of the matter
Ls, I canl understand the Liberal Party is embarrassed.
They have got a candidate in the field who wants to cut
social security payments by 30 per cent. Who wants to
cut pensiolns back, who wants to send migrants home, who
wants to cut payments to sheltered workshops.
J: You don't thirik you have breached tradition at all?
PMt: I haven't, no, anyway this is a public debate. I moan,
what is the Liberal Party of raid of They are af raid of
the policies of their candidate. I mean, here they are
now fomenting, going on about privacy. This is a public
debate. It iv a by-election. And they don't want the
public to know that their candidate believes in a 30 per
cent out in social security and sending migrants home.
J: Mr iKeaving-, will you avcept that this by-election is a
mini-referendum on the One Nation versus Fightbacc
packagos?
PM: I don't accept that, no, but a victory for the Liberal
Party here, would certainly make the goods and services
tax at 15 per cent impost on the lives of all
Australians onie step closer. And that is why I think
that the electors of Wills have a heavy responsibility
here to make certain that that impost, that shift in our
lifestyle which the OST would bring is rnot endorsed here
in Wills.
J: Housing finance figures show the big drop in housing
finance approvals today, does that mean we should be
reducing interest rates yet again?
PM; I haven't seen the figure.
J: They are down to 7 per cent, does that surprise you?
PM: Well they move, they were up a month ago as I remember.
They move but you can't take one month's figures on any
Of thace things.
Jt Mr Keating, after your strong statement of racism how do
you feel about the call by Aboriginal leader in Brisbane
today, Bob Weatherall, for a referendum?
-CIA -Ale" AA
PM, I haven't seen it.
3: to establish an Aboriginal nation in Australia....
PMI I Just haven't seen it. We have got those
reconciliation processes in place. I think they ore
good processes. I think Australian'@ are conscientious
about their relations and the tolerance which is part
and parcel in this country in, I think, evidence to
that. I mean, look inside this TAFE college, how many
various people of different ethnic origins are here,
part and parcel of this community. It just speaks for
itself.
J: Mr Keating, what is your reaction to Peter Reith's
comments about Bernie Fraser in front of the
international banking community that he is a political
stuge?
PM: Well I mea: n, this is the sort of irresponsibility of the
Liberal Party trafficks in. One of the great pleasures
of my professional life was working with Bob Johnston,
the former Governor of the Reserve Bank who was
appointed by John Howard. But the Liberals have no
respect for conventions. They want to tear and rip at
people and institutions. Mr Reith was saying a day or
so ago that he wanted to knee cap the public service,
now he wants to be disloyal to Australia and again in
front of a large and significant audience of business
people from South East Asia to say that their central
bank is politically interfered with, which it isn't.
And the Governor rebuked him instantly, apparently.
J: You were the one who was saying the Reserve Bank was in
your pocket?
PM: No, I have said very clearly in the Parliament the
balance between the Government's prerogatives and the
Bank Board's prerogatives and the Reserve Bank Act. The
Bank was supporting the policies of the 0overnauent at
the time.
J: One of your own cupporters, Mr Punch, has recently been
very critical of the public service. Do you endorse
that sort of sentiment?
PM: The public service has served this Government
particularly well as I think It has served most
governments well. And to have someone like Mr Reith
Crudely putting about essentially blatant untruths for
sort of cro ss political purposea, but taking that
crassness ' to a meeting of international bankers in
irresponsible and disloyal to the country.
J: What about Mr Punch's commente?
an, sn'. n~ n'ON ) q: ZT Z6JPW6T: 131
PM: He didn't talk in those terms. He didn't direct him
remarks about the government.
J: His point wall that the Government last year got captured
by the publigz servie.
PM: Well I don't believe that.
J: It seems Mr Ca4rr has backed Mr Hewson's thoughts on
immigration
PM: I think we will just and it there.
ENDS
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