PRIME MINISTER
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flWSOM B nIAZLMI2 OF MiRDUS8P1 PRfSCIPL UD LIDERLZS
Dr Hevson has today sold out Australia's indigenous
people, the fair and democratic traditions of his
country, and what remained of the liberal traditions of
his party.
In his address tonight he will be speaking not for a true
Liberal Party, but a party of the nev right.
And there is a pathetic and inexcusable dimension to this
development Dr Hereon has brought it about not by
strength, but by weakness. By a total failure to lead.
The fey remaining moderates within the Liberal Party have
been jettisoned along vith commonsense, principle and the
national interest.
Anyone vho thought that the Liberal Party had turned over
a ney leaf after losing the election on a right wing
platform was mistaken.
There is nothing of substance in the Liberal Party's
response to the Government's Nabo legislation to su~ gest
that it has been guided by anything more than cynicism
and opportunism.
At the end of 12 months of intense and extensive
negotiation with the major parties and the achievement of
a remarkable degree of consensus and support for the
legislation, Dr Newson now tells the Australian people
that a Senate inquiry is needed.
Nothing was ever needed less.
What is needed nov is the just resolution which the
legislation provides and an end to uncertainty.
Dr Hewson has told the Australian people that he accepts
the High Court's judgement on Native Title.
Yet tonight, he will tell them how be will embrace
Premier Court's legislation which will wipe out Vative
Title across Western Australia.
In his press statement of today Dr Howson talks
unctuously about an " undivided Australian nation" but
tonight vill hand over responsibility for this national
issue to a Premier bent on overturning the High Court's
decision and denying the rights of indigenous
Australians I remain confident that most Australians Vill reject Or
Hewson's " response" for what it is, and that the
Government's legislation vil survive such cynical and
unprinciple4 opposition.
O qlek COUNYT, CALO" 31
November 27 1993