TEL: 26. Aug. 92 13: 31 No. 013 P
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PRIME MINISTER
TRANSCRIPT OF TIHE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P J KEATING MP,
DOORSTOP, AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL, 26 AUGUST 1992
E& OE PROOF COPY
J: Given the AS situation at the moment, is there any need to change interest rates?
PM: The markets arc big enough and ugly enough to look after themselves. But I think
it's incumbent upon a few of you people in the media to reflect upon other things.
That is, what we've just seen there is one of the symbols of Australia at war, a war
which was entirely material in changing the course of Australia's history. And the
media has got a long term remit as well as the very day to day rcmit in reflecting
upon thesc things, the things that make up the nation and not just to be dismissed
in the daily hurly burly of picasing your producers or your news directors.
J: But the markets don't. Just how long can the Reserve keep propping up the dollar?
PM: Well obviously what I've just said has made no impact on you whatsoever. It's
gone straight over the shoulder, hasn't it?
J: Aren't wc fighting another sort of war though, at the moment a sort of financial
war to kccp our end up?
PM: Oh, I doubt it, I doubt it, I doubt it.
J: So you are confident that you won't have to take action on interest rates?
PM: Wcll the markets arc, as I said, big enough and ugly enough to look after
themselves.
J: And how long will the Reserve stay there propping up the dollar?
PM: Wcll, you know, I've got nothing more to say about that than that.
J: Should the gold pass system be modified to stop rorts?
TEL: 26. Aug. 92 13: 31 No. 013 P. 04/
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PM: I don't know. Look, nothing of MPs entitlemecnts should evcr be abused,
obviously. But to say that says it all. I mean it's not an issue of major national
momcnl, is it?
3: And is it being abused?
PM: Well, I haven't seen the report.
J: Will you be spending any time in Queensland hclping out Waync Goss in the
campaign?
PM: Well, as I go there in the normal course of my duties, yes.
ends