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STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P J KEATING MP
The Leadcr of the opposition, Dr Hecwson, refused today to distance himself from the
statements of Mr Hug Morgan.
When pressed by Mr Brian Bury on radio station 2UE about whether he agreed with the
sentiments expressed by Mr Morgan, Dr Hewson refused to say that he could not abide
with Mr Morgan's sentiments. He referred instead to what he called the indecision
surrounding the Mabo decision saying that he thought the Mabo decision ' may prove to be
unworkable' an unhelpful observation.
Dr Hcwson said it was wrong to see Mabo in terms of reconciliation with the Aboriginal
community and wrong that the issues of Mabo and reconciliation should be joined. He
apparently has not read the very explicit references in the High Court decision to
Aboriginal dispossession and the shame this dispossession has laid upon the nation.
Dr Hewson claimed the Oovernment had adopted a fundamentally divisive position on
Mabo, despite the fact that his own statements of last week treated the High Court
decision only in terms of benefits it could bestow on mining companies and pastoralists.
Dr Hcwson was roundly criticised by the Aboriginal community for the callousness of his
position. If Dr Hcwson wants to shoot his mouth off on radio be should at least have the courage to
say that Mr Hugh Morgan's remarks are extremist and that he will not have a bar of them.
He is always talking about leadership. Now is the time for him as the leader of the
conservative forces of Australia to nall these extremist sentiments as alien to the Liberal
Party's philosophy
2 JULY 1993
SYDNEY 2. Jul. 93 15: 12 No. 008 P. 01/ 01