The Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies, will record his policy speech for television and radio at GTV Channel 9 studios tonight.
Pre-recording will, for the first time in Australian political history, permit voters simultaneously throughout Australia to see or hear a leader delivering his party's policy. It will be the first Australian-wide TV programme of any kind.
The Prime Minister will address an audience of some 300 of his supporters from the electorate of Kooyong and at least 12 members of the Federal Ministry, including the Leader of the Country Party, Mr McEwen, and the Federal Treasurer, Mr. Holt.
Admission by invitation to the recording session is designed to preserve the necessary secrecy of the policy speeceh until it has been distributed to all States for transmission by television and radio stations at 8.30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 12.
The decision to pre-record the policy speech, made soon after the announcement of the election date reflects the Prime Minister's wish that T.V. viewers from Townville round to Perth should have equal opportunity with viewers in New South Wales and Victoria to hear at first hand his Government's proposals for the future.
Thirteen national TV stations in city and country areas and 20 commercial stations in all States will carry the telecast. In addition., the ABC No. 1 network of metropolitan radio stations and the No. 3 network of regional stations and practically all metropolitan and country commercial radio stations will also participate. National short wave stations in Australia and the Port Moresby local and short wave stations will also broadcast the speech.
Estimates by television and broadcasting authorities place the possible viewing and listening audience at upwards of five million people.
The Prime Minister's speech which was completed in Canberra on Wednesday after having been considered by the Federal Ministry on Monday, will take forty minutes to deliver.
MELBOURNE,
8th November, 1963.