THE PRIME MINISTER'S PRESS CONFERENCE
AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA
TUESDAY, 13 MARCH 1973
PRIME MINISTER: First there's an Executive Council appointment.
The Executive Member of the National Pipeline Authority will be
Mr James Donald. I can give you details of his career afterwards
if you wish. Next we're sending our first Australian Government
Trade Mission to the People's Republic of China. Dr Cairns will
lead it. The business interests represented in the mission wili
be led by Sir Ian McLennon, the Chairman of B. H. P. The other
members we can give you afterwards also. Dr Cairns will be
issuing a press statement on it.
There were a very great number of Cabinet decisions th-is
morning. Many of them were confirming decisions made by the
Economic Committee and by the Urban and Regional Development
Committee. Perhaps you can get details from Dr Patterson on the
legislation for weirs on the lower Dawson River and assistance
for the first stage of the Ross River Dam; from Mr Johnson on
the terms of the new Commonwealth/ State Housing Agreement; from
Senator Wriedt on the details of the fruit-growing reconstrucuion
scheme and the rural reconstruction scheme. I can give you th. e
general terms of the arrangements we are willing to enter into
with New South Wales and Victoria about the Newcastle dockyLL.
and the new dock in Melbourne. The Minister for Transpulc. a e
Treasurer are authorised to negotiate an agreement with b,, u
respective governments under which the Australian Governme..,
provides the finance required for the construction of ilie , o ,-ka
new docks on the condition tha, the dockyards will be o
owned and operated by the Australian Government and the Neuw
Wales Government in one case, by the Australian Governmen-t ' l
the Victorian Government in the other case, the Australian
Government's share in assets and management being commensura. te
with its contribution. Mr Jones can give you more details o7 onis.
These are matters upon which Sir Robert Askin and Mr Hamer ., ve
written to me. They were also matters of course which were
considered by an inter-departmental Committee under the lat
government that it be left to us to make a decision and
proposal. There's also a matter concerning Evans-Deakin
Shipyards in Brisbane. I can give you details if you like
but then Mr Jones can go into greater detail with that also
if you wish. Also Mr Jones can give you the terms of the
we are suggesting that the Australian Government and the
Government should join in giving to maintain a shipping seo: v...
King Island. I can give you a fair amount here but perhaps yoo
might like to ask the Ministers concerned.
Now then, there's to be amending legislation to the Pul.
Service Act I suppose I'd better give you the details of l
It really means that an acting Head of a Department will hwve.
full authority that a Head has. There has been some doubt ou
up till this stage.
Mr Beasley will be bringing in legislation for the Commonwealth
Teaching Service. Mr Morrison made a submission which we endorsed
on decisions taken by the Australian and Papua-New Guinea
Governments. Senator Murphy will be bringing in legislation to
amend the Book Bounty Act; to establish the Superior Court
promised ten years ago; to permit us to ratify the Convention on
Psycho-tropic substances; to appoint an ombudsman; and to
establish an Australian Law Reform Commission. Senator Willesee
will bring in legislation to amend the National Library Act;
Mr Morrison to carry out Metric Conversion; and the last one is a
proposal which we endorsed from Senator McClelland that there should
be a Committee comprised of the Department of the Media., wlich will
provide the chairman and secretarial services, the Departmei-of
Education, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and
the Department of the Treasury to inquire into the nature and
extent of supplies and shortages of text and reference books
required by primary, secondary and tertiary students and to
recommend means of improving the supplies and overcoming the
shortages. We have in mind that we'll seek the assistance of
representatives of book publishing, printing and selling
organisations including government printers and university
presses. Those are the decisions we made or confirmed this
morning. Mr Whitlam, I was wondering what happened to the F111.
Has that been considered. If so, what has happened to it?
PRIME MINISTER: There is a submission on that. It has not
been determined by the Cabinet.
Are there any hold-ups?
PRIME MINISTER: No. But there might be a couple of score-of
submissions which we haven't dealt with yet. We haven't
determined this matter.
Sir, at a press conference today the Malaysian Deputy
Prime Minister made it clear that over-crowding would mahc the
Australian squadrons at Butterworth unwelcome by 1976. but, ho u
said that if the airfield facilities were expanded the Australian
squadrons would still be welcome. My question, which 1 w. s going
to address to Mr Barnard is: Will the Australian Governrmcnt help
expand the airfield facilities or will the squadrons be withdrw.',
in 1976?
PRIME MINISTER: This is too far ahead to determine at this stage.
By 1976 the Mirages will be pretty well obsolescent.
In view of Malaysia's decision to withdraw from ASPAC I
was wondering if Australia will follow the same line?
PRIME MINISTER: Wo won't withdraw from ASPAC at this stage. , W
are considering our membership of ASPAC because, clearly, the
usefullness of ASPAC is very limited indeed while Taiwan rcma-inj.
a member because three of the members of ASPAC Japan, New Zealand
and Australia have now recognised the People's Republic of China
and not Taiwan. There is a Standing Committee of ASPAC meeting
in Bangkok at the moment. We are not attending it. We would not
be attending a ministerial meeting if one eventuates.
should have read to you incidentally another decision
which will interest you. I hadn't written a name against it so
that's how I overlooked it. Export incentives: We will extend
!. he present l] cgi slo. tion for one year.
Mr Wh. itlam, if I can ;. isk my weekly question on the American
bases. Coul. d you tell us how you can reccncil. e the Australian
Government's attitude as unnunc iated by you and Mr Barnard on
conti. nuing the prence of the lses and the secrecy of the bases
f. rstly with Labor policy on ANZUS which suggests that the ANZUS
TrecLaty should be mi. d~ into a s. lightly less militaristic thing
than it has been in the past, and secondly, now that the
Australian Government has ratified H. i, Nuclear Non-proliferation
Treaty, can you explain how we c; ni: conilinue either as part-owners
or a;. s not owners at all to have thli No. r-hL West Cape Base which
as everyone knows is concerned ih pi'laris submarines on our
so L?
PRIME MINISTER: The future manage. rment or joint management of
the North West C;. a p . Stiation wil. 1., be discussed by Mr Barnard as he
told you. If this is inconsistent with the Treaty to which we
are party, then that would have to be considered also that aspect.
Prime Minister, supplementary to that question, at your
Calucus Meeting last week we believe a substantial number, or tlie
majority of those present actually voted in favour of a motion
which would have allowed discussion of a proposal that Cabinet
should reconsider Mr Barnard's statement. That was defeated
because of a technicality. However, does the vote influence you
to take the matter back to Cabinet for reconsideration?
PRIME MINISTER: I'm led to believe that this matter arose too.
I was out of the Caucus when it happened. I was out discussing
the reply to what was to be a no-confidence motion in the Gove'rnient
or Mr Barnard on this subject. At any rate there has been nothi; g
on the Cabinet Agenda about this.
You are not interested to take it back to Cabinet as a result
of the vote which you and I both understand occurred in the Party
meeting? PRIME MINISTER: I think there are more pressing matters for the
Cabinet to consider at this stage as you'll see.
Sir, after your mooctings with Tun Dr. Ismail and President
Sooharto how do you feel the Australia. n proposals for a new
Asia-Pacific grouping are going how are they being received
now in your view at this stage?
PRIME MINISTER: I found Tun Ismail was interested as, of course,
President Soeharto was in contemplating wider arrangements for
regular discussion among all the nations of this region. I
must say that when I answer questions like this, I'm not to
be taken to endorse terms such as " grouping" which I think is
the first time I've heard this one used. Also I know four-letter
words are popular. People use the term " pact". Now nobody has
suggested grouping; nobody has suggested pacts. What has been
suggested and it's been suggested by the ASEAN nations at their
meeting four weeks ago in Kuala Lumpur and it will be further
discussed at their next meeting next month the prospect of
having some wider forum for discussions. The particular relevance
to Australia is that there is only one arrangement to which we
are a party which would seem to have continuing validity like
that's ANZUS I don't really think one could say it was a
militaristic; it was the least militaristic of all the
arrangements we've had. It wasn't made the basis for Vietnam or
any other objectionable courses overseas. Similarly, Indonesia
and Malaysia value an association with the other three members of
ASEAN which also has continuing validity. The other arrangements
to which Australia is a party SEATO, ASPAC, which we've discussed
earlier, and the five-power arrangements are all anachronistic or
objectionable in part or transitory. Now in these circumstances
it's mere wisdom to contemplate contemporary arrangements which will
have some future.
Prime Minister, can you elaborate on the statement you made c
in Parliament this afternoon that there were reasons why Australiacould
not consider an approach to the International Court on
Chinese nuclear testing?
PRIME MINISTER: Because the winds from the Chinese nuclear L> s-.. ing
don't come within thousands of miles of Australia. The winds from
the French ones do. The basis of our claim is that the French are
committing a nuisance in our environment and we are hoping that
the International Court of Justice will take steps to restrain
that nuisance; to enjoin the French from committing it the same
way as can happen between neighbours within the jurisdiction of
any of our domestic courts.
That environment applies only to Australia..?
PRIME MINISTER: No, no. It applies to all the countries of the
same latitudes.
Doesn't the same argument apply to China, that other countr-e..-
are being affected by fallout?
PRIME MINISTER: No. Not Australia. Australia is not discernabiy
affected by nuclear tests by China. It is, we believe, discori:..,,. y
affected by nuclear tests by France. It is a sheer climatic m,. i;, er
that the winds encircle the world at particular latitudes. They
don't go from one hemisphere to another.
Sir, are you accepting that with the return of the Pompadou
Government then that the only way this matter can be settled to
your satisfaction is going to the Court that you think the
Pompadou Government will go on with the tests irrespective of any
meeting you have in Paris?
PRIME MINISTER: We won't assume that; that the Pompadou Government
will prsist with the tests. We will have the ministerial
discussions which have already been the subject of discussions
between France and Australia. The French suggested there should be
discussions before an apprcach was made to the World Court. We
accepted the suggestion and suggested that they should be
ministerial discussions. The French accepted that suggestion.
Will you go to Paris and London?
PRIME MINISTER: I think it's unlikely that I'll go. I think it
is likely that one of my senior colleagues will go, probably in
Holy Week. Whether it's Maundy Thursday or Ash Wednesday you're
getting a bit out of my ecclesiastical depth here. The Australian
Parliament will not be sitting in the week in which Good Friday
falls. That would seem to be a convenient week for Australian and
French ministers to discuss this matter in Paris.
Has any preliminary approach been made to the Court about
the proceedings?
PRIME MINISTER: No, no application has been made to the Cout;>
Mr Whitlam, until 101 days ago when Labor was in opposiiUio
Labor members spoke frequently about the defence sign: ifica: lce o,
Omega. I remember Mr Barnard giving a learned exposition on 1io%
it could be used by nuclear submarines. Now when we contact
Mr Barnard's office we are told it is purely a matter for Mr Jones.
PRIME MINISTER: That's right.
When we talk to Mr Jones, we are told he doesn't want to
talk about it. Will you tell us what your Government's attilud
is to Omega what's going to happen about it, and do you expecany
problems within the Party over this?
PRIME MINISTER: It is a matter for Mr Jones and his Departme. V.
There are no submissions from him on the subject.
Is it of defence significance, Sir?
PRIME MINISTER: I would believe it would have some defence
significance. But 1 frankly don't know enough about it. I'm
leaving it to him to brief mc. But, as rational men, you will
know that there are ve ry few naiLgational, aids which dcn't have
some defence significance.
Mr Barnard in the past has been quite outspoken about it.
You don't feel. that if perhaps, as the expert in what's now the
Cabinet, he should be consulted on this?
PRIME!' MINISTER: He has responsibilities in defence matters. This
is primarily, as far as I concern myself with it, a navigational
matter. You agree with the previous government?
PRIME MINISTER: As farc as I know, this is primarily a navigational
matter. It will be taken up by Mr Jones if it is taken up at al.
Prime Minister, could. I ask you a question. As Member for
Werriwa, how will you vote on the Bill of which notice was given
last week to allow abortion on demand?
PRIME MINISTER: In favour.
Prime Minister, in view of the statements by two Ministers
in favour of limiting Australia's population growth, can you
state a general Government policy on this, or ha~ s the Government
a. completely open mind pending the Bornie Report?
PRIME MINISTER: It's not of immediate concern to me I must
confess. It's not a matter the Government has discussed.
Everybody else i~ s discussing it. One would expect therefore thai-
Ministers would be among those who discussed it. I don't know how
long Professor Bornie is going to take over his report. hn
it's a couple of years on the original timetable.
On the Flll again, you mentioned that no determination had
been made by Cabinet. Is this because of the lack of time or
PRIME MINISTER: Yes.
No other reason?
PRIME MINISTER: No.
Q. There were no queries about some aspects of
PRIME MINISTER: We didn't have time to determine this matter.
Sir, will the R. A. A. F. still take delivery of the first pl
aircraft on Thursday as planned?
PRIME MINISTER: I don't know.
A couple of weeks ago Mr Hartley said that the Defence
Department was being runi by America ns. Your comment?
PRIME MINISTER: I bclicvc it is bceing run by Australians. I'm
in a better position to know.
Do you think the Americans have any control within the
Department? PRIME MINISTER: None whatever. Australians ccntrol the
Australian Department of Defence.
Prime Minister, in Tasmania last week a member of your
Cabinet, Senator Wriedt, was reported as saying that there was no
room in the Labor Party for the Socialist Left. Was this statemcnt
made will. knowledge and your consent?
PRIMLE MINISTER: I don't know. It wasn't made in my presence.
will not comment on reports of what people have said unless 11vo
seen a text.
You didn't see a text at this stage?
PRIME MINISTER: No.
Sir, do you believe there is room in the Labor Party for the
Socialist Left?
PRIME MINISTER: I'm not going to promote speculation on this
issue. Prime Minister, in the Parliament ( last Thursday I think) o
Treasurer, Mr Crean, said that the Government would be making q. ioe
substantial changes in the Australian taxation structure forx , Ah,
next budget. Can you assure the public that this will not inockj.-c
greater taxation on some members of the Australian public?
PRIME MINISTER: There is no submission before Cabinet on thl. s
matter. Qo: Have you any plans, Sir, for an overseas visit which woula
include Great Britain and the United States this year?
PRIME MINISTER: There are no definite plans that I've made uG
visit either Britain or the United States this year. It's quJLo
possible I shall. It might help you to know that I have made
definite plans to attend the South Pacific Forum in Apia in 11o i3
Week; to visit Japan to attend the ministerial conference
annual one between Japan and Australia, in Tokyo at the end
of October; to visit the People's Republic of China on the v,-. y
back; to visit Ottawa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government',
Conference in August.
Will you go to Washington during that trip, Sir?
PRIME MINISTER: I think it is very likely, but no arrangeaenAts
have been made. There are a very great number of invitations
I've received Ambassadors and High Commissioners are brlng q:
me personal letters from their Heads of Government or Heads oi
State in great numbers. I told them that it will be pretty well
impossible for me to accept these invitations this year. I
would hope to accept them next year or the year after. There
is one particular one which I must try to accept this year
India to which no Australian Prime Minister has made a visit
since 1959.
Mr Whitlam, have you received a report from the Foreign
Al'tairs Department yet on the arguments for and against the
Tieaty of Friendship and Commerce with Japan and can you say
what your attitude would be on the merits of Australia signing
such a Treaty?
PRIME MINISTER: I saw the paper on this a couple of months ago.
I've not made up my mind on the subject, I've not discussed
it with my colleagues. Anerica, Britain, Canada have such
treaties. That weighs with me clearly.
Qo: Prime Minister, would you say what youvould hope Dr Cairns
mission to China would achieve?
PRIME MINISTER: Increased trade,
Anything else?
PRIME MINISTER: Well that will be good0
I'm trying to clear up something Sir. Will the Cabiilt's
failure to have time to deal with the Fll today delay the
physically accepting the first ones later this week on
PRIME MINISTER: No. We're having a Cabinet meeting tomorrow " 6o
deal with this and some other unfinished business.
One other thing, Sir. When's Holy Week? Before Easter o'.
the week after?
PRIME MINISTER: You were better instructed than I was in -these
matters. You learnt them at school I had to learn them in the J'. r
Force. Under James 1, whom I follow, Holy Week is in the week ii.
which Good Friday falls. Easter Week is the following week
You and Evelyn Waugh, Sir, are the only people I know who
use the term.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, on my staff they refer to it as Pabsovei.,
Sir, your Government is in favour of trade union amalgamaio,.:.
Have you any views on the amalgamation of your political opponicns'
PRIME MINISTER: This is not a Dorothy Dix one As a mc ,, i
genera] principle I am convinced that the two-party system is wh,
makes the British Parliamentary system work. I believe that iV
been the experience in Britain, New Zealand, the United States,
Canada, Australia. I believe that our Parliamentary system would
work very much better if there were two parties contesting each
election Federal and State each House, Federal and State.
I believe that the multiplicity of parties debauches the system.
Can I ask one final supplementary to that A public
opinion poll published today says that 55 per cent of Australians
are now in favour of ' first-past-the-post'. Is this likely to
influence your decision announced to a meeting that you won't
introduce it at the next elections but possibly the one after?
PRIME MINISTER: I don't believe that we should change the system.
I undertook this before the elections. We should not change
the system on which the next House of Representatives elections
will be contested. I favour ' first-past-the-post' voting myself
but that doesn't mean that I feel that we should change the
system without having a mandate from the people. I therefore
believe that the next House of Representatives elections would
be contested on the present preferential system or at least on
the optional preferential system.
Gentlemen, I won't be able to give a Press conference next
week. I will be in Canberra for the very special reason that
the Yugoslav Prime Minister is visiting here in the course of his
tour through the whole of this region and that is the day when
there is going to be a Government House luncheon, and it is the
only time when I can have talks with him. We are therefore also
taking the opportunity of having Cabinet meetings morning and
afternoon, and that Night I have a long-standing dinner ongageicint
in Sydney with the High Court.
Will you be having a private briefing with newspaper heads?
PRIME MINISTER: Not unless you insist.