TEL: 28. Jan. 96 10: 43 No. 004 P. 01'.
PRIME MINISTER
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER THE HON PJ KEATING MP
WILL MR HOWARD AND HIS SENIOR SHADOW MINISTERS DEBATE
THEIR LABOR COUNTERPARTS?
Yesterday, I challenged Mr Howard to two head-to-head debates, and to
other debates which will give electors a chance to judge in more detail both
the policy differences and the leadership differences between Labor and the
Coalition. Mr Howard agreed to the head-to-head debates, but he appeared to baulk at
the idea of debates which would pit himself and the Coalition's three most
senior shadow ministers against their counterparts in the Government
namely, himself, Mr Fischer, Mr Costello and Mr Downer against myself, Mr
Beazley, Mr Willis and Senator Evans.
There can be no good reason to refuse these debates. Yesterday,
Mr Howard suggested debates between junior ministers instead If this is
really what he Is offering it is a lame excuse for not exposing to public
scrutiny the people who would be most powerful in a Howard government.
I renew the challenge to Mr Howard:
Will the man who would be Prime Minister, and the man who would be
Deputy Prime Minister, and the man who would be Treasurer, and the
man who would be Minister for Foreign Affairs in a Coalition, publicly
debate the future of Australia with the people who presently fill these
roles in the Labor Government?
CANBERRA 28 January 1996 9/ 96
Keating, Paul
Period of Service: 20/12/1991 - 11/03/1996
Find more information on Keating, Paul on the:
Release Date:
28/01/1996
Release Type:
Media Release
Transcript ID:
9927
Document:
00009927.pdf
1 Page(s)
Released by:
- Keating, Paul John
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER THE HON PJ KEATING MP WILL MR HOWARD AND HIS SENIOR SHADOW MINISTERS DEBATE THEIR LABOR COUNTERPARTS?
9927