Undar e-cargo until 7.00 p. m. 5.3.77 3HA 6 Iarch
3YB 10 March
j, AUS. iAI lA L
PRME i N ST R
FOR PESS 6 MARCH 1977
ELECTORATE TALK
I want -0 -: refly talk with you about the Federal Government's
cormmite= n r o enhancing the position of Australians as individuals.
The Goverr= e-nt has made a number of significant and often little
noticed reforms to improve the position of individual men and
women. Although the attention of the public and the media has
generally focused on economic matters, our reforms in these areas
are of equal importance to this Government.
We have a basic commitment to creating the kind of situation where
Australians can realise their own capacities and potential to the
full. Our approach differs greatly from our political opponents.
We seek to increase the capacity of people to make their own
decisions to choose. We do not seek to increase thepower of
Government. We seek to give meaningful and effective assistance
to the disadvantaged in the community and not just to throw
money at a problem and hope for some instant solution. Society
simply does not work that way. In the final analysis, it is
individual people who require help and care.
Our record in these matters stands up well under scrutiny. Let us
first look at the question of civil liberty. We have acted on a
number of fronts. A Human Rights Commission will be established
by 1 July this year. Its broad purpose is to promote individual
richts and to make sure that our laws are in line with the United
Nations international covenant on civil and political rights.
We will introduce a Freedom of Information Bill that will give as
a basic and fundamental right access to certain categories of
Government information. It is designed to loosen up the flow of
information from Government to the people.
The Federal Government has also decided to implement the report
of the Law Reform Commission on criminal investigation. This is a
particularly important advance in civil liberties for people
detained for questioning or arrested and charged with a federal
criminal offence.
The Gover--e t is currently negotiating with the States so that
legal aid is provided in the most effective manner possible. We
believe to be a fundamental right. In these times of budgetary
restrair.-, -he funds we made available to this serviced increased by
nearly cS -l -on. / Abori cinal
2
Abori ina Land RP-ghts legislation to the Northern Territory has been
passed a most si--ificant advance for the aborigi nal people. Our
predecessors spoke about Aboriginal Land Rights, but we acted.
There have also ee references to the Law Reform Commission on the
protection of pri-vac; the law of defamation; and investigation into
the possibil ity f plying aboriginal customary law in criminal matters
to aborigines livincg nthe traditional manner.
All in all, this is an impressive list that demonstrates our commitment
to maintaining _--redom and dignity of the individual. It also
demonstrates, of = zcuse, our capacity to act effectively in carrying
out our policies.
Let me now talk about our approach and our actions in assisting the
disadvantaged. As I mentioned earlier, we are determined to provide
assistance to those most in need in a way that does not make people
more dependent on government. Our wish is to make people more independer
to enhance their self-respect and dignity, and not to destroy it. We
realise that quite often Government bureaucracies are unable to provide
the kind of personal aid necessary. We therefore place great emphasis
on the work of voluntary organisations. There is no doubt that they can
bring a personal and highly effective approach to the formidable task of
dispensing social welfare programmes. They frequently become aware of
the need for assistance long before a Government Department itself. That
is one important reason why we want close association with voluntary
organisations so we can quickly know of emerging needs and changes in
direction that may be required. Our actions in this area reflect our
commitment. The indexation of pensions, for instance, automatically retains their
real value. The family allowance scheme is of incalculable benefit to
300,000 Australian familities who got virtually no benefit from the old
system of tax deductions merely because their incomes were too low.
There has been a re-orientation of child care programmes to give childre.
of working mothers and single parent children adequate care. In this
often controversial area, what we are seeking to do is simply provide
the circumstances in which children are properly cared for. Also,
Senator Guilfoyle, as Minister for Social Security, has been reviewing
the administration of her Department to improve its capacity to assist
individuals. We have set up a committee of experts from various Governm-
Departments that provide over-the-counter service to see if improvements
can be made in the effectiveness of this service. This is not a critici:
of public servants, but a genuine desire to make sure that welfare
services are dispensed with the greatest possible degree of concern
and sensitivity.
The Government has also initiated two significant experimental programme.
within migrant communities. Migrant resource centres have been set up i-
Sydney and Melbourne to see if we can get a more effective contact with
migrants and can get a better delivery of Government services to migrant.
I emphasise the programmes are experimental, but I believe they are well
worth while and I am sure we will learn much from them.
Our Housing Vouzher experiment scheme that enables people eligible for
assistance to chccse their own housing is another example of our conce
for individual freedom and choice. Throughout this year, the Governmen
will continue = sly this approach to individual liberty and to those
in need. We wi~ continue to seek to enhance the potential of
Australians as rec. le.