PRIME MINISTER
TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P. J. KEATING, MP
INTERVIEW WITH FRAN KELLY, ABC RADIO " PM" 1 PROGRAM,
WEDNESDAY, 27 APRIL 1994
E& OE PROOF COPY
FK: Prime Minister, the last minute save of Abogriginal health funds last
night, why did you undercut the normal budget process like that?
PM: Because I think that that is one of the things that Prime Ministers do
make sure the system works properly and I think that we hadn't
maximised our opportunities in this area, and a further consideration of
it has meant there will be a massive improvement in the funding of
Aboriginal health in this country.
FK: It has been reported today that Graham Richardson rang you and
lobbied hard for you to intervene. Did he persuade you to persuade
ERC?
PM: That is totally without foundation. That is just a bit of Press Gallery
corridor nonsense. Largely, what has been allocated last night is what
would have been allocated, I think, had Graham Richardson remained
the Minister. And the important thing is that -weare-going to see a
huge increase in the program funding to around nearly $ 500 million
dollars over the period.
FK: But that is a long way short of the $ 800 million..
PM: But Graham's submission was never ever for $ 800 million.
FK: Where did that figure come from?
PM: Well again, it was floating around. What has come out is what would
have come out, but I have got to say, though, let me just say a couple
things here about Dr Hewson in this matter. He did a press doorstop
this morning saying that I have lied to Senator Richardson, that I am
lying. He has this very unpleasant habit of calling people liars. It
seems to be his principal political tactic these days. Now, this is a
fellow who said in the Times on Sunday 1987, " I live in fear of some
Ministries, Aboriginal Affairs and Veterans Affairs, are wastes of my
talents." Now, this is an area of policy which he said was a waste of
his talents, he said that I had raised expectations in the Redfern
speech about Aboriginal policy, but never delivered on them. We
delivered Mabo in full, more then the Aboriginal community would have
expected at the time. And as the Bills passed the Parliament Dr
Hewson said it was a day of shame. This is a man without judgement
and without integrity. Now, can I just say that as far as the
Government is concerned that the things which we think can sensibly
be done, these programs have got to be delivered on the ground. So,
this is a big boost, but the important thing is it will be a boost which is
also delivered effectively and efficiently.
FK: It is a boost to funds, but people are still saying today that you have let
them down. Expectations were raised, the figure, whether it was right
or not, around was $ 800 million dollars. No one ever stepped in to say
that that was not right.
PM: But look, numbers around Press Gallery discussions and corridor
conversation that has no Cabinet authorisation, for which a submission
has never been lodged, has no status whatsoever. I mean, what has
happened here is what would have happened in terms of the
Governments general intentions about this area. And I must say
Carmen Lawrence did a first class job in arguing the case in full
Cabinet and the ERC yesterday.
FK: How much of your decision to step in and get the funds boosted was a
desire on your part to protect Carmen Lawrence from what would have
been a very public defeat in virfuallfy the firsv-action.
PM: Carmen doesn't need any protection whatsoever. I noticed some
people jumped all over it. Some of the lower life's of the West
Australian got all over it. But apart from that she doesn't need any
help from me. She did well and effectively with a difficult brief. I mean,
I made her the Minister for Human Services and Health, this is an
agenda which was being developed by a former Minister and she has
run with it with panache and alacrity.
EK: What exactly did you promise Graham Richardson? He said at his
final press conference that you had given your word that his package
on Aboriginal health was safe. What was the promise?
PM: That the broad outlines of the medical program and environmental
health program would be funded in the budget.
FK: So the criticism today from people like AMA President, Brendan
Nelson.
PM: Well I thought he was complimentary.
FK: He said, as I understand, he said it was a cruel hoax on Aboriginal
people, this letting down their expectations.
PM: These are all the people who wanted to damn Mabo. I mean, Dr
Hewson stood in the Parliament and voted it down shamefully without
a reason, and then, as it passed, calling it a day of shame. Remember
he was recently up crying crocodile tears over Vietnam Veterans,
today it is over Aboriginals. This is a fellow who said, ' I live in fear of
some Ministries, Aboriginal Affairs and Veterans Affairs are a waste of
my talents'. He says, when things are going well for the Government,
he says the Government is running scared. I notice today in the
Bulletin David McNicoll saying and he says With things going well
for the Government, it seemed almost incredible that the Hapless
Hewson emerged from his " retreat" and announced on television that
the Keating Government was " running scared". Has Hewson no
minders? Or doesn't he take any notice of advice?" Well, I can
only say dead right.
EK: Well, things are going well for the Government at the moment on the
economy. There was a beautiful set of numbers again for you today
with an inflation rate of 1.4 per cent for the year, with things going so
well will you be able to fund the White Paper spending from growth
without tax increases in the Budget?---
PM: I'm not here to run through the White Paper numbers, but the
Government's record of fiscal consolidation is second to none in the
OECD over a decade. I mean, it's not what we say, it's what we do
that matters. Can I just say about the inflation rate though, it is a
tremendous outcome; .4 per cent for the quarter and 1'. 4 per cent for
the year and, I think what it does clearly show is that the bond market
has lost credibility as a guide to inflationary expectations. With
everyone playing the game; business, the workforce producing a CPI
as low as the only people not playing the game are the financial
markets.
FK: Why the decision not to go ahead with the jobs levy?
PM: You will have to wait and see what's in the package. I said on election
night, that this Government was governing for all Australians; that we
wouldn't leave the unemployed behind; that we'd put an arm up and
pull them up. When I said, that Dr Hewson said if he does that he will
pull the rest of us down. I am not going to be deflected by John
Hewson's callousness and we set in train the Green Paper processes
and we have now considered it to produce a Wh-tef Pap'e That White
Paper will maintain the momentum of the economic changes which
Australia has and in doing it sweep along all those areas of the
economy that need support and that will be including outside of
physical resources in the area of those who are long-term unemployed.
That, I think, is a proper social and economic objective of a Labor
Government, indeed any government, and the doing of it is something
which will make this a country more economically efficient and more
equitable.
EK: What about the Medicare levy? Carmen Lawrence indicated before
last week that a sm all rise in-the Medicare levy was probably a good
idea to fund some health measures, yet now we hear no rise in the
Medicare levy. Why not?
PM: Again Fran, you will have to wait and see what's in the Budget, but can
I just say this about these measures governments can resort to
revenue measures of this kind. We have modestly increased the levy
since 1983, but the public, I think, have always got to take the view
that what comes in return is a quantum improvement or at least a
qualitative improvement in the circumstance of their health and
welfare. Therefore, occasions for increasing the levy have to be
occasions where there are changes of that variety.
FK: And there's not those kinds of changes right now? There's certainly
plenty of changes being called for.
PM: I think I'll have to say to you, you'll have to wait and see what's in the
Budget.
FK: The Opposition are saying today it is clear the Budget will include
hundreds of millions dollars worth of increased taxes are they right?
PM: I'm not confirming their nonsense. Here they are flat out holding
themselves together. They are now having crisis meetings twice a
week to try and keep themselves together and as Mr McNicoll
described him " the Hapless Mr Hewson" is flat out staying afloat. So, I
think he should wait and see what's in the Budget and then he can
have all the time he likes to make judgements about it.
FK: Just finally Prime Minister on South Africa. Black Africans are voting
for the first time today. Australia has played a fairly significant role in
getting to this point. How do you feel watching black Africans casting
their votes?
PM: I think it is very moving to see television coverage of voters lining up
for South Africa's first non-racial elections. There was a nice picture
on the front page of Ne1sorL. Man~ ela's niece going through the novel
experience of voting. Things seem to be going peacefully and not
withstanding the problems of the recent bombings and this must be a
tribute to the political leadership of the country and most particularly
Mr Mandela. We are contributing as you know to the Commonwealth
Electoral Office Task Force in monitoring the activities of the national
peace keeping force and we have got, as you know, two former Prime
Minister's who will represent Australia at the inauguration. So, you are
right, we have a lot in this, we have had a very firm policy on apartheid
and South Africa for a long period of time and it is very pleasing to see
the course of democracy that that country is taking.
FK: Prime Minister, thank you.
PM: Thank you, Fran.
ends