PM Transcripts

SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER, RT. HON. fl. G. MENZIES,
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 24TH SEPT., 19 ' 9
Mr Chairman I just want to intervene very briefly to
say something on behalf of the Government in this matter. The
honourable member for Scullin ( Mr. Peters) appears to be under
the impression that the point that has just been under discussion
has never been considered. I can assure him that he is
wrong. Very many aspects of this law have engaged very close
attention, But I think it is necessary to point out that when
a Government produces a budget, it does not consider social services
alone; it considers the whole range of financial and economic
activities in the country, and it has to arrive at a
balanced conclusion as to the terms of a budget which it thinks
will be best for the country. In doing that, it cannot concentrate
on one matter to the exclusion of others. It does something
useful, as it hopes, in relation to each m--atter and on
this occasion, we have done something useful as I believe, and
as I think most people believe, in relation o the rate of pension.
In previous years, we have made changes in the means
test and we have dealt with other aspects of the social services
law. I know, Sir nobody knows better that there are
great differences dm..' pinion around the cham--ber on the matter
of the m--eans test. The property means test has been very much
discussed of late. The honourable member for Port Adelaide ( Mr.
Thom.-pson) has given notice of an armendmaent in relation to it.
Another amendm-ent is down in the name of the honourable memlber
for Mackellar ( Mr. 1; entworth). I am very well aware of these
differences of opinion. Somie of miy own friends have very
strong views on them.
Aill I want to say, Sir, is that we gave considerable
thought to these matters as part of the general Budget preparation.
The Budget has been presented; this is one of the
Budget measures, and, naturally the Government stands by it. A
vote against it is a vote against the existence of the Government.
That is elementary in parliamentary practice.
Mr Curtin: Look at the sour faces on Government supporters now.
I thought that some of the new boys opposite might not
know that. That, of course, is an elementary observation, Sir.
I apologize for having felt obliged to state it. But I want to
say this: Although the Government has not felt able to deal
with the means test, or, in'particular, the property means test,
in the Budget and in this measure, that does not mean that we
regard the problem as closed or as finally disposed of. On the
contrary, there are still many problems to be worked out, and
this, no doubt, is one of the most contentious of them.
I have, some timae since, agreed with m y colleagues in
the Cabinet that it is not always satisfactory to deal with the
intricacies of the social services structure at the time when
you are considering the broad sweep of Budg et preparation, and
I therefore propose to have this problem, and those problems allied
to it, very carefully examined by the Government well before
the preparation of the next Budg et. I say that because I
know that the problem is difficult, and I believe that it requires
concentrated attention and a Egood deal of close study.
I want to muake it quite N~ lear, Sir, that when I say
that, I am making no commitment. Ido not undertake to say
what the result will be.
Mr Reynolds: Two bob each way.
Of course, if I undpp'. took to say what the result would
be, it would be mere humabug to engage in the investigation; and
I do not propose to engage in humbug at this late stage of my
political life.