I I
PRIME MINIS11TER
TRANSCItIPT OF PJNTERVIEW WITH PRIME MNJSTER, THlE HON. P J
KEATING, XM?, PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRAL EA
SATURDAY 9 OCTOBER, 1993
3: Prime Ministe, Mir Court said ther was nio pro~ ress. Do you agree with tha?
PM: Well, It was a reasonably convivial discussion that we had, and I ffhink tha t it
certainly bad a very friendly and cooperative towb,. But the ' Premier has this view
that much of Western Australia will fall to native title that much of Wes1ezn
Australias area will b6 native title. Well, that ma~ y in the end be true. That's a matter
that was decided by the High Court of Austraia not by me. The question I put to
him then, is, '" Which way ma you bring certain* y for the people of Wes= er Aumtnlia.
for the economic use of this land?" I say only via our legislation. The
Commonwealth is the only authority which is go ing to legislate with an eye to the
twin objectives of social justice for Aboriginals and a proper system of land
manapucmnt for srates. Anid econorric use for slates.
And, I explainied to him that tde economic use part of the bill is exclusively
dominated by the stars. Theme is no Commonwealt tribunal there. Its the Mining
Board and it's courts reconfigured but still there and there is an over-ride by
state, minism r. So, I said to im " Where. else ame you going to get this sort of
certainty if ites not frorm u3, where?". And he says. " Well, I don't like the Hligh
Court decision." WeIl you know, I don't think ihe nation is going to overtur the
High Cow~ r decision.
Y: So you're saying hes not facing the fact4, then?
PM: WelL, he says that state land mranagemnent should be left to stte ministers. Well, this
has been. by and large, true state ministers miking grdnts of interest over Crown
land. Bat a lot of the Crown land will now beccmne native title land a proportion
of it will become native title land because the High Court has said there is a native
title in the common law. Now, I don~ t know wl. a you do about that.
PM: Do you think he understands that or do you think he's playing local politics?
Canberra bashing has always gone downi well over hert.
PM: Well, if he understands the point I don't think he~ accepts the point that the Hligh
Court has made a seminal decision here. And What rye been tryin to do with the
states all of them, including West= r Ausuralia is to sit down and say let's get a
11. Oct. 93 8: 29 NNo. 0. 001 P.. 8018/ 10
TEL
regime together here that works for the country, works, for the whole nation. So the
Aboriginal people feel they've got a stake bi it but by the samie token it doesn't gum
up the workcs in terms of economnic develpment. Now, the Bill is a good Bill. Its a
fair and offective piece of draft law. And I asked ii if he wanted an outline of the
draft bill and he said yes and rye undertaken to let him have that. And Icnrainly
hope that when he goes through it he will mee that the Comnmonwealth has done Vl it
can reasonably do to make this a workable systerr of land mainalernent while at the
surie tirm trying to handle the very reasonable aspirations of Aboriginal people for
justice,
1: Whai about these claims that he's beon shut out ol negotiations? Wes been saying
that for a couplc of weeks.
PM: Theme are all matters of choice on Western Austrulia's part. T mean, obviously, the
Cornrnonwealth isn't going to shut anyone out of -these negotiations. We'll talk to the
Aboriginal conumunity, we'll talk to the states. A'id T certainly welcome him in that.
And I hope that he takes the position that the othcr Coalition premiers have taken.
Now, I think he says, " Well they don't have our problern." But ' ours' is a national
problemn.
P: So you're still poles apart then, aren't you?
PM: Well, I don't know whether the Pzmniier is poles a part with me as inuch as lhe is poles
apart with the Eligh Court I think thats the probhl. b
J1: So thores no way you can depend on Richard Co-at for any kind of national solution
on this?
PM: weUi, I didn't comne here today expecting him to SILty, " well, rm giving your Bill a
tick." But, I did expect a serious and proper conlrersation, you know, " n that's what
rye had with him. The public interest demands that heads of government get on with
Setting things worked OUL And that's what we sought to do here today.
3: Can you understad why Wes= er Australian Abcriginals would be very, very
doubtful about having state based tribunals given the attitude of the state government
towards the igh Court decision?
PM; WeUj, this is a nation wide view of Aboriginal pecple against states generally. And
that's why the Comrmonwealth, in its outline, has tried to cover off all those nice
balances between Aboriginal interests legitimate aspirations and interests of
Aboriginal people and the very clear-interest th~ e states have in land management.
It's a nice It seeks to reah a nice balance and T think we've largely achieved that.
J: Where do you stand on the suspension of the Racial Discimination Act?
PM: The Bill will be consistent with the Racial Discrimination Act
On another matter, Archbishop Turn wants the Australian Governent and industry
to invest in South Africa. What's your reaction to that call. T1EL1: . Oct. 93 8: 29 No. 001 P. 09/ 10
TEL: 11. Oct. 93 8: 29 No. 001 P. 10/ 10
3 0-
PM: We14 I think that as South Afica resolves its economic difficulies as ifs clear that
them is a stablc political basis to the managmeitt, of the couny I don't think the calls
will be necessary. I think youll see investment flow from various parts of the world
The conomic sanctions have been lifted now. ' Ibas the key point
Ends&