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IWEDNESDA P. M. No. 61/ 161
Statement by thie Prime Minister, teRt. Honl, R. G. Majgi
The Government now has a majority in the House of
Representatives, and the probability of a stronger position in
the Senate than at one stage seemed likely.
Ministers met yesterday. They frankly reviewed the
election and its results, ma the causes of the set-back the
Government sustained, particularly in Queensland and New Soutih
Wales. Subsequently, we had a meeting with private members, and
wiere supported in the views which we had formed.
In this brief statement, therefore, I speak with the
authority of all Ministers and Members on the Government side.
We acknowledge with gratitude and appreciation tb. e
support which we received from those who stood behind us in
difficult and unpopular policies. These policies have already
had, in importLnt fields of the national economy such as the
trade balances and the arresting of boom inflation, notable
results. But we are quite prepared to face the facts of the
election. It is clear that we have been opposed in the
electorates by many people normally our supportcrs. They
appear to have felt that our economic measures of last year were
too severe; that we acted in too much detachment from those
actually engaged in industry and banking and commerce generally;
that full weight was not given to human considerations; and
that we were not sufficiently conscious of unemployment. We
pleaded and plead ? not guilty' to these charges; but the verdict
of the jury almost went against us,
Facing the position in a realistic and democratic way,
we do not propose to take up rigid attitudes, cr to ignore the
currents of public opinion. This does not mean that we will
abandon the twin policies of stability and national development
which we have been applying, with, we believe, benefit to
Australia, for the last 12 years. They are vital to true human
progress. But in the application of those policies, modifications
of method and approach should clearly be made.
To this end, we will at the earliest practicable date
set up closer conta'~ s and discussions with leaders in the
manufacturing and business and banking fields, to secure their
first-hand views on their problems and those of the men and
women employed by them, and their suggestions on how they can be
solved. We will particularly desire to discuss with
manufacturers the problem of tariffs and imports.
We continue to desire to have full employment, and
will give special and urgent attention to ways and means of
getting rid of such unemployment as now exists.
The question of Northern Development is one on which
there has clearly been great public confusion and misunderstankg
I hope that we may have an early opportunity of personal
discussions with State Ministers on this important problem.
We will of course. devote the closest attention to
the problems involved in the Common Market negotiations, with
the object of safeguarding the rural industries, whose
prosperity is so vital for the nation.