PM Transcripts

PRESS STATEMENT NO. 400
8 December 1974
QUEENSLAND ELECTION
The results in Queensland will disappoint all
Labor supporters and disillusion all believers in a healthy
Parliamentary democracy. I very much regret that Perc Tucker, an able
leader and a close friend has lost his seat in Townsville.
He fought a clean, honourable and vigorous campaign.
It is unhealthy that with 36.4% of the vote
Labor seems likely to hold only 10 or 12 seats out of 82.
The Liberals under Sir Gordon Chalk won 4%
more votes than the National Party under Mr Bjelke-Petersen
and the increase in the Liberal vote since the last State
election was much greater than the increase in the National
Party vote. Nevertheless, thanks to Mr Bjelke-Petersen's
gerrymander the National Party will hold at least 5 more seats
than the Liberal Party in the new Queensland Parliament and
Mr Bjelke-Petersen will remain Premier.
Throughout the campaign the Liberals showed
a much greater willingness than the National Party to
co-operate with the Australian Government in the development
of Queensland. The continued eclipse of the Liberals will
do nothing to heal the deep division in the coalition.
I regret that Queensland electors have been exposed to
emotive tactics and inflammatory slogans that would win
little attention in other parts of Australia. There are
dark currents of intolerance and extremism at work in
Queensland. I am convinced that honest policies of
co-operation will eventually prevail over bitterness and
division.
CANBERRA. A. C. T.