PRIME MINISTER
TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P J KEATING, MP
RAAF FAIRBAIRN
THURSDAY 18 AUGUST, 1994
PMV: This could be quite a defining moment in the history of the Federation,
but it can only be so if the states embrace the challenge of competition
as outlined by the Hilmer Report. There is a real test here. There is a
Labor government, federal government, going to a, largely, a group of
Liberal-National party states that is, nominally pro-market
governments and saying, " Please embrace the market. We want
you to embrace competition and competition policy." Now, as I say,
this could be a defining moment in the federation but they will have to
grasp it. And, the federation is not a device which is about
aggrandising the status of the states. The federation was an event
which took place to form the nation so there can't be any notion of the
states hiding behind so-called federal rights or federal imperatives to
turn back what is a central thrust of extending the Trade Practices
legislation to guarantee that all Australians benefit from competition in
states' authorities like electricity, like water, like gas.
So, much can be done here, a great benefit for the Australian people,
a great benefit for Australian business, for Australian competitiveness
but the conservative states will have to grab the notion of
competition in business. So, that's what it is about and there are other
things on the agenda roles and responsibilities, that is the delivery
of programs between the Commonwealth and the states. But, it is
about, principally the Hilmer recommendations for free and fair
competition by the states and their authorities, access by business,
lower prices to Australian consumers and a better go for all Australians
all ' round.
J: Does that mean no compensation for the states, Mr Keating?
PMV: No, it means a discussion about a real regime of putting these
competitive changes in. In other words, the Commonwealth will be in a
real discussion. But, if we have conservative governments trying to
hide behind state parochialism, on the basis that they don't want
competition, while they are telling the rest of us we should be
embracing the market, and they are pro business... They are pro
business but if they show any problems about the embrace of business
and competition well, then, of course, this moment will be lost.
J: They want compensation, how far are you prepared to compromise on
that?
PM: Well, we want competition, that's what we want. What they want will
be about what makes the deal go around.
J: The Commonwealth games and the furore over Arthur Tunstall, your
reaction to that?
PM: Well, I think Mr Tunstall's remarks are to be regretted but, I think he
regretted them, didn't he? I think he has apologised for them and I
think that is appropriate.
J: Are you concerned that Australia's reputation as a sporting nation
could be damaged by these comments?
PM: Well, he's an independent sports administrator and, in a sense, not
representing the Commonwealth government. But, the fact that he has
recanted, I think, is the important point.
ends.