VICTORIAN AL. P. CONFERENCE
NATIONAL SCIENCE CENTRE, PARKSVILLE,
ADDRESS BY THE PRIME MINISTER, MR WHITLAM,
SUNDAY, 23 MARCH, 1975.
THE CONTINUING LEADERSHIP CRISIS IN THE LIBERAL
PARTY IS NOW IN ITS NINTH YEAR/ THERE IS NO REASON TO
BELIEVE THAT. LAST FRIDAY'S DECISION HAS REALLY SETTLED
ANYTHINGx THE WAR OF THE LIBERAL SUCCESSION HAS BECOME
WAR BY ATTRITIONX THERE MAY BE, AFTER THE MELODRAMA OF
THE LAST FORTNIGHT, A PERIOD OF TEMPORARY TRUCE, BUT IT
WILL BE ONLY THE PEACE OF EXHAUSTIONX FOR THE FACT
REMAINS THAT IN ALL THOSE NINE YEARS OF STRUGGLE AND
BLOOD-LETTING, IN ALL THOSE SEVEN CONTESTS INVOLVING
CHALLENGES TO THE LEADERSHIP, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A REAL
DEBATE ABOUT ISSUES, ABOUT THE DIRECTION THE LIBERAL
PARTY SHOULD TAKE OR ABOUT THE DIRECTION IT WANTS
AUSTRALIA TO TAKEX
THE MOST DEPRESSING ASPECT OF THE CRISIS IN THE
LIBERAL PARTY HAS BEEN, AND REMAINS, THE FUNDAMENTAL
TRIVIALITY OF THE TERMS IN WHICH THE DEBATE HAS BEEN
CONDUCTEDX NONE OF THE PROTAGONISTS S: EM TO BE AWARE
THAT A CHANGE IN PARTY LEADERSHIP HAS DEEP IMPLICATIONS
FOR THE DIRECTION THAT PARTY WILL TAKEX AND THIS IS HOW
IT HAS BEEN FOR NEARLY A DECADEX
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THE DESTRUCTION OF SO MANY LIBERAL LEADERS GOES
DEEPER THAN THE MERE CONFLICT OF PERSONALITIES AND
PERSONAL AMBITIONS, PRETTY SAVAGE AS THAT HAS BEEN; IT
HAS BEEN A DIRECT RESULT OF THE SHEER NEGATIVISM OF THE
LIBERAL PARTY> THE
EXCRUCIATING BARRENESS OF THE LIBERAL APPROACH HAS BEEN
PAINFULLY EXPOSED IN THE PAST TWO YEARS)
WHEN THE APPARATUS OF GOVERNMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY AFTER
23 YEARS, THE LIBERALS HAD PRECIOUS LITTLE TO SAY OR TO
DO) YOU REMEMBER THAT WHEN THEY FORCED ON THE. MAY
ELECTIONS THEY TOOK A WEEK OFF TO DEVISE POLICIES FOR
THE ELECTION) WE'VE HEARD NOTHING OF THEM SINCEX ALL
WE HAD WAS A PRE-OCCUPATION WITH TACTICS ELECTORAL
TACTICS, PARLIAMENTARY TACTICS AND ABOVE ALL, ULTIMATELY
FATAL TO BILL SNEDDEN, PARTY TACTICSy AND IN THIS SENSE
BILL SNEDDEN HAS BEEN A VICTIM-OF LIBERAL PARTY NEGATIVENESSA
THE ABSORPTION WITH TACTICS, THE DELIBERATE DAMAGING
CREATION OF ELECTION HYSTERIA, INEVITABLY MEANT A PRE-OCCUPATION
WITH PERSONALITIES RATHER THAN POLICIES, PERSONAL
CONFRONTATION RATHER THAN DEVELOPMENT OF RELEVANT POLICIESx
YOU HEAR A GREAT DEAL OF TALK ABOUT PARLIAMENTARY
PERFORMANCESX OF COURSE, THAT IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF
POLITICS IN A PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEMx IT IS A TEST, A VALID
TEST OF LEADERSHIP BUT IT IS ONLY ONE OF MANYX BUT IN
THEIR SELF-CREATED OBSESSION WITH ELECTIONS, THE LIBERALS
TOOK A SINGLE POOR PERFORMANCE IN PARLIAMENT AS A CATASTROPHE)
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BECAUSE THERE IS NO ESSENTIAL UNDERPINNING OF A
POLICY, OF A PHILOSOPHY, OF ANYTHING THAT COULD BE
DESCRIBED AS A WELL MOTIVATED, PURPOSEFUL PARTY,
PERSONALITIES HAVE BECOME EVERYTHING TO THE LIBERALSX
THE THREAT OF USING THE SENATE TO FORCE OUT THE
ELECTED GOVERNMENT TO FALSIFY DEMOCRACY ONCE AGAIN
WAS AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE US LOSE OUR NERVE; ALL THAT HAS
HAPPENED IS THAT THE LIBERALS HAVE LOST THEIR HEADx
I NOTE THAT MR FRASER HAS STATED THE CORRECT DEMOCRATIC
PRINCIPLE THAT A GOVERNMENT SUSTAINED BY A COMFORTABLE
AND ASSURED MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE
PEOPLE'S HOUSE, SHOULD RUN THE FULL TERM FOR WHICH IT
WAS ELECTEDX TRUE, HE QUALIFIES THIS SOMEWHAT BY CURIOUS
REFERENCES TO CATCHING ME WITH MY PANTS DOWNX I'M SURE I
DON'T KNOW WHAT HE MEANSX
THE PEOPLE ARE ENTITLED TO INSIST THAT MR FRASER
STICKS TO HIS ORIGINAL UNDERTAKING HIS FIRST PROMISE. AS
LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION THAT THE DECISION THE PEOPLE
MADE LAST MAY WILL BE ADHERED TOx AFTER ALL, IT IS MY
PREROGATIVE AS PRIME MINISTER TO ADVISE THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL
WHEN, AND ON WHAT GROUNDS, AN ELECTION WILL BE CALLEDx
4
IF I WERE ABSORBED IN THE BATTLE OF PARLIAMENTARY AND
ELECTORAL TACTICS I COULD CALL ONE NOW,( I HAVE EVERY
GROUNDJ FOR ITx I ALREADY HAVE THE GROUNDS FOR A DOUBLE
DISSOLUTION I COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE. PRESENT
DISARRAY OF THE LIBERAL PARTY& I COULD BE AS-FULLY
JUSTIFIED IN THAT COURSE AS SIR ROBERT MENZIES WAS IN 1955,
BARELY A YEAR AFTER THE 1954 ELECTIONSA I FORBEARA THE
SMASHING ADVANTAGE WE WOULD HAVE COULD NOT JUSTIFY THE
DAMAGE YET ANOTHER INTERRUPTION A SUSPENSIOR OF THE PROPER
BUSINESS OF GOVERNMENT FOR THREE OR FOUR MONTHS WOULD DOA
WHAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IS WHETHER MR FRASER WAS REALLY
STATING A PRINCIPLE OR AN EXPEDIENTA. FOR IN HIS SITUATION
IT IS CERTAINLY NO SACRIFICE ON HIS PART TO ABJURE AN EARLY
ELECTIONx, THE REAL TEST OF HIS CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES
IS YET TO COMEX
AND OF COURSE ALL HIS REAL TESTS ARE YET TO COME,
FOR A MAN WHO HAS BEEN IN PARLIAMENT 20 YEARS, MR FRASER
IS CURIOUSLY UNKNOWN. A THERE IS NOBODY SO PROMINENT IN
PUBLIC LIFE WHOSE STANCE ON THE WIDER RANGE OF ISSUES IS
SUCH AN ENIGMAL ONLY JOHN GORTON CLAIMS TO KNOW WHAT HE
REALLY STANDS FOR$ e
BUT HIS CRUCIAL TESTS IN THI IMMEDIATE FUTURE ARE
THESE:-HIS ATTITUDE TO SENATE OBSTRUCTION
HIS RELATIONS WITH THE COUNTRY PARTY
( REDISTRIBUTION)
HIS ATTITUDE TO THE IRRESPONSIBILITY
AND SOCIAL SABOTAGE OF THE ANTI-LABOR
STATES. ( VIC, CHALLENGE MEDIBANK)
THESE THREE MATTERS ARE CLOSELY CONNECTEDK AFTER
ALL, ONE OF THE FUSES WHICH SET OFF LAST WEEK'S EXPLOSION
WAS MR ANTHONY'S THREAT TO BLOCK MEDIBANK IN THE SENATE
AND THE REFUSAL OF THE ANTI-LABOR STATES TO CO-OPERATE IN
MAKING MEDIBANK WORK RAISES A GREAT NATIONAL ISSUE WHICH,
HAD WE BEEN FORCED INTO IT, WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PERFECTLY
PREPARED TO FIGHT ON FOR THE FOURTH TIMEX
MR FRASER HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT MEDIBANK IS THE LAW
OF THE LAND AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS THE RIGHT TO BE ABLE
TO APPLY THE LAW AND COMPLY WITH ITA BUT HIS GESTURE IS
MEANINGLESS UNLESS HE IS PREPARED TO USE HIS INFLUENCE ON
HIS COLLEAGUES IN THE NON-LABOR STATES TO GET THEM TO STOP
SHILLY-SHALLYING AND TO STOP PLAYING AR) UND WITH THE HEALTH
AND WELL-BEING OF THE AUSTRALIAN PEOPLEX a
THE VICTORIAN PREMIER AND THE VICTORIAN MINISTER
FOR HEALTH, MR SCANLAN, NOW PLEAD FOR MORE TIMES
WHAT ARE THE FACTS?
THERE WERE INITIAL MEETINGS BETWEEN BILL HAYDEN AND
THE VICTORIAN HEALTH MINISTER ON MEDIBANK IN OCTOBER AND
NOVEMBER 1973. y,
I WROTE TO MR HlAMER ON 15 AUGUST, 1974 SETTING OUT
OUR PROPOSALS)( SAID:
" NOW THAT THE HEALTH INSURANCE ACT HAS BEEN PASSED
BY THE AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENT, I AM NOW IN A POSITION* TO
PUT TO YOUR GOVERNMENT A FIRM PROPOSAL FOR AN AGREEMENT
WITH my GOVERNMENT CONCERNING THE PROVISION OF HOSPITAL
SERVICES AND THE FINANCING OF PUBLIC HOSPITAL OPERATING COSTSA
THE OBJECTIVES OF THE AGREEMENTS WILL BE TO'
ENSURE THAT EVERY PERSON HAS ACCESS TO COMPREHENSIVE HOSPITAL
CARE, INCLUDING MEDICAL TREATMENT, PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE
IN STANDARD BEDS OF PUBLIC HOSPITALS IN A WAY THAT WILL NOT
PLACE ANY IMPEDIMENT IN THE WAY OF PERSONS BEING ABLE TO
SEEK PRIVATE TREATMENT-IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS, IF. THEY SO WISHX
_ F_
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" to Tills END, TI1E TI:. a1; () 17 [ HiE AGREIMEIIf S WILL VISUALISE
TIlE REMOVAL, WHERE APPLICABLE, OF MEANS TESTS WHICH
DECIDE ELIGIBILITY FOR ADMISSION TO STANDARD BED PUBLIC
HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION AND TREATMENT; ABOLITION OF STANDARD
WARD FEES; THE PROVISION OF FREE MEDICAL SERVICES TO
HOSPITAL PATIENTS; THE METHOD OF PAYMENT OF DOCTORS
PROVIDING MEDICAL SERVICES TO HOSPITAL PATIENTS AND THE
SETTING OF SPECIFIED FEES TO BE CHARGED FOR CERTAIN CATEGORIES
OF INPATIENTSI " FOR ITS PART, THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT WILL UNDERTAKE
TO MAKE PAYMENTS TO BOTH INDIVIDUAL HOSPITALS AND STATE PUBLIC
HOSPITAL AUTHORITIES WHICH WOULD AMOUNT TO 50% OF THE NET
OPERATING COSTS OF THE PUBLIC HOSPITALS IN THE STATES"
I RECEIVED AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT4 ON 5 SEPTEMBER BILL
HAYDEN WROTE TO MR SCANLAN SETTING OUT THE MATTERS TO BE
SORTED OUT AT THE OFFICIAL LEVELf,
ON 2 DECEMBER I WROTE AGAIN TO MR HAMER SEEKING AN
EARLY DECLARATION OF THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE,(
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ON 12 DECEMBER MY DEPARTMENT RECEIVED AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE PREMIER'S DEPARTMENT(
AND ON FRIDAY ( 21 MARCH 1975) I AT LAST RECEIVED A
REPLY FROM MR HAMER SAYING,'" MR SCANLAN IS SEEKING EARLY
DISCUSSIONS WITH MR HAYDEN TO CLARIFY THE OUTSTANDING ISSUES.",
THAT'S HOW HAMER MAKES THINGS HAPPEN& 9/,
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WE ARE ALSO ENTITLED TO KNOW MR FRASER'S ATTITUDE
TO THE POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF THE VICTORIAN CHALLENGE IN
THE HIGH COURT TO THE VALIDITY OF THE AUSTRALIAN ASSISTANCE
PLANX THERE ARE 57 PROGRAMS IMPERILED BY THIS CHALLENGE
SOME OF THEM INITIATED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF WHICH MR FRASER
WAS A MEMBERK THE POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS CHALLENGE
IS THAT IT IS ONE OF THE MANIFESTATIONS OF THE VERY RAPID
SHIFT TO THE RIGHT, THE SHIFT TOWARDS REACTION WHICH IS
TAKING PLACE IN THE LIBERAL PARTY, NOT LEAST HERE IN VICTORIAK
MR FRASER'S STANCE ON THIS MATTER NOT JUST THE CHALLENGE
BUT ON ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR WEAKENING THE NATION'S WELFARE
SYSTEM WILL BE A CRITICAL TEST ABOUT WHERE HE REALLY
WANTS TO TAKE HIS PARTYK
JUST AS CRUCIAL FOR TIE FUTURE ( O THE LIBERAL PARTY
WILL BE MR FRASER'S ATTITUDE TO OUR FIGHT FOR EOUAL
ELECTORATES THAT TIIE VOTE OF EACH AUSTRALIAN WILL HAVE
EQUAL WORTH WHEREVER HE OR SHE LIVES.
ONE OF THE REAL SIGNIFICANT RESULTS OF LAST FRIDAY'S
DECISION WAS TO REDUCE TO ALMOST NOTHING THE REPRESENTATION
OF METROPOLITAN ELECTORATES AT THE LEADERSHIP LEVEL OF THE
COALITION IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. OF THE FOUR
ONLY MR LYNCH NOW REPRESENTS SUCH AN AREA. So I DON'T SEE
MUCH REASON TO MODIFY THE STATEMENT THAT METROPOLITAN
REPRESENTATION THE EFFECTIVE VOICE OF AREAS TYPICAL OF
WHERE MOST AUSTRALIANS LIVE HAS BEEN REDUCED TO ALMOST
NOTHING. 11/
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MR SNEDDEN LEIT OFFICE ON FRIDAY AND HE DID IT
WITH ADMIRABLE GRACE SAYING THAT THE LIBERAL PARTY " HAD
ENTERED A NEW ERA", t THERE IS CERTAINLY A FAIR AMOUNT OF
AMBIGUITY IN THAT MR GORTON OBVIOUSLY AGREES THAT IT IS
A NEW ERA FOR THE LIBERAL PARTY AND IT IS ONE'IN WHICH HE
DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE PART, WHATEVER IT MEANS FOR WHAT IS
LEFT OF THE LIBERAL PARTY, IT DOES MEAN FOR THE LABOR
GOVERNMENT AND THE LABOR PARTY AT ALL LEVELS, A GOOD
OPPORTUNITY TO GET ON WITH THE JOB FOR WHICH WE HAVE BEEN
TWICE ELECTED, TO GET ON WITH THE BUSINESS OF IMPLEMENTING
THE PROGRAM WHICH THE PEOPLE HAVE TWICE ENDORSED AND TO
CONTINUE THE JOB OF DEVELOPING FURTHER POLICIES TO ENSURE
YET ANOTHER TRIUMPH FOR OUR CAUSE AT THE NEXT ELECTIONSV