T~ l 4. Mar-. 95 14: 30 No. 001
TRtANSCRIPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P J .( EATING MP
DOORSTOP, RAAF FAIRSAIRN ON DEPARTURE FOR SINGAPORE
4 MARCH 1995
E& OE PROOF COPY
PMV: Principally, I am going to the opening of the exhibition the CeBIT Fair
because Australia is the guest country, in Germany, because this is
the largest electronics and... its the largest communications and
electronics fair in the world. We have got 160 companies exhibiting
150 to 200 companies. Ten years ago we would have had maybe 2 or
3 companies only being able to be in this. I think this is a
demonstration of the new Australia it's the way the world is going,
and we are not being left behind. We are up there with the best of
them, amongst the toughest competition, the most concentrated Fair of
the new age the e' 1ectronic and computer age we are up there this
week, and we are the host country, the guest country. So, that is why I
am going in a sense to promote Australia, but also to celebrate our
achievements, and to see that we are in the mainstream of these
technologies.
J: What are~ you trying to achieve at the World Summit for Social
Development then?
PM: To put Australia's view, to record the fact that we have put together a
social democracy here I think second to none around the world a
counl: y with high employment and a good social wage, where equity
and 7-galitarianism are important milestones in ecz: nomic and social
policy. They are things worth saying in this context.
J: What do you hope to achieve through your talks with Helmut Kohl?
PMV: Germany is the third largest country in the world, it is a very big trader
with Australia, we have got substantial two-way investment I think we
would like to improve that. Germany united is a much larger country
it has now got probably an even greater destiny in Eastern Europe as
well as Western Europe, and it's simply an important relationship to
keep going.
J: It used to be our fourth largest trading partner, and now it's ninth
that's slipped over the last five years....
PMV: It depends on how much we have grown, and how much other
countries have come in, but I think the point is that Germany is now
focussing to the Asia-Pacific again after the reunification they are
really getting their gaze on the Asia-Pacific, and I think a lot of
companies think that Australia can be the platform where they launch
themselves in the Asia-Pacific. And, of course, we agree with that.
J: Just on another matter should Fred Many have been released from
9aol?
PM:, That's a matter for the New South Wales government it is not my
affair. Can I just make this point, though let us record that this week
a great milestone in Australian social history was agreed, and that was
the Aboriginal Land Fund Bill. Because of the to-ing and fro-ing, it's
now as if it's coming and going, hardly to be noticed. But let's
understand, that because this Government decided that there will be
justice for Aboriginal people, and there will be land for them which is
central to the way they live the passage of the Land Fund was a great
victory for Aboriginal people, and a great victory for the Government.
it's a pity that John Howard, and the Coalition, couldn't have seen their
way clear to agree to the original Bill, and know that stain is on them,
and though they have tried to wash it away it remains. But, the happy
part is that justice Was done, and the Aboriginal people will now have
their fund.
J: In the sense that it will ease some pressure off Mr Howard, are you
disappointed to be leaving the country at this time?
PM: No look, Mr Howard... I have got him on simmer. And when I come
back to him, he will be just I'm sure warming along nicely.
ends.