TEL: 20. May. 93 16: 28 No. 008
PRIME MINISTER
TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRINI E , IIN ISTER, THE HON P J KEATING, MP
DOORSTOP, FAIRBURN RAAF BASF
MAY 1993
E& OE PROOF COPY
1: Mr Keating, do you rcgrct the media headlines that over in New Zealand
over this social security business?
PM: If I got into the business of regretting what the Australian media does I would
be on my knees every day of the week praying for you.
J: Do you expect a hostile reaction over there?
PM. No. I am looking forward to the visit. This is the country that has been
traditionally nearest to us We have got a lot of common, not just cultural but
economic links, and it is a timely visit and I am looking forward to it.
J: Were you pleased to see the New Zealand Ambassador here saying that they
haven't been pulling their weight, they really nccdcd to sort of get down to
on social scurity?
PM: Social security is just one iss e. It is an issue that has been on the table for a
while and requires some attcntion, but it has got to be ranked and prioritised
with other Issues, and there are others of similar rank.
1: Is their quick response on the social security matter though, any indication that
they might quicken their responses in other areas?
PM: Well we have a lot of matters under discussion all ( he time and like two mature
countries we advance them appropriately by discussion, Minister to Minister
and thtn Prime M4inister to Prime Minister. So, one of the things I will be
discussing with Mzr Bolger is his recent trip to North Asia. For instance, how
both Australia and New Zealand can Integrate our economies with the Aia-
Pacific economies, how we can further Integrate our Iwo economies, the
TEL: 20. May. 93 16: 28 No. OO$ F'. C
2
continuing development of CER, Closer Economic Relations. These are issues
which are, If you like, on the agenda most of the time, but we keep advancing
them in particular ways. This gives us in opportunity to do this again.
J: What's your reaction, Prime Minister, to the Pearce Report?
PM: I will talk about that when I come back.
ENDS
TEL: 20. May. 93 16: 21 No. 004 P. 02/ 02.
continuing development of CER, Closer Economic Relations, These are issues
which are, if you like, on the agenda most of the time, but we keep advancing
them in particular ways. This gives us an opportunity to do this again.
J: What's your reaction, Prime Minister, to the Pearce Report?
PM: I will talk about that when I come back.
ENDS