AUS A&
FOR PRESS 14 MAY 1978
ELECTORATE TALK
The barbaric murder of former Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro
condemned by free people and freedom loving people tnroughout
the world serves as an ugly reminder ot the modern threat
to democracy.
The kidnapping and assassination came at a time when Aldo Moro
had been seeking a consensus throughout the Italian community.
He sought nothing more than the unification of his people
and his nation. The murder of Moro was not just the murder of
one man it was another serious attack aimed directly at
the heart of democracy.
The evil of terrorism in any form must be opposed with all the
vigour at the command of governments everywhere. Free countries
need to reinforce each other in making sure that opportunities
available to terrorists are shut out.
It is clear that political terrorism will remain with us, and
may come to pose even more serious threats to our open society,
our values and our way of life.
Terrorism comes in many forms. There are people who resort to
terror to obtain money or the release of prisoners, or as a
means of bringing about violent and revolutionary change in
society. This kind of terrorist seeks to discredit legitimate
governments by using terror to destroy the consensus between
government and people on which open societies depend.
The terrorist rejects the right of others to hold contrary views:
rejects the rule of law and rejects the values of tolerance
and democracy.
The terrorist is without scruple. He is an extremist, ready to use
any means, and impervious to criticism or restraint. The
terrorist believes no-one is entitled to personal security,
personal liberty or any other form of civil right.
The Australian Government's views on terrorism have been firmly
stated. They are made without qualification, without quibble.
We will not appease those elements in the community who conspire
by acts of terrorism to deny our people their rights, self-respect
and dignity. We will not succumb to the tyranny of self-app~ ointed
minorities who seek to inflict their will on the great majority
of our people by intimidation, violence and terrorism. We will
not permit Australia to be used as a haven for terrorist groups
to plan and conduct operations abroad.
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Australia is actively playing an international role to
help combat the evil of terrorism. We are a party to all
major international conventions to combat terrorism. We
support the International Atomic Energy Agency's proposal
for a Convention aimed at strengthening measures against
any crimes involving nuclear material or facilities.
We are supporting the proposal by the Federal Republic of
Germany for an international convention on the taking of
hostages, and at the Commonwealth Heads of Government
Regional Meeting in Sydney, the twelve heads of government
agreed to collaborate more closely to counter terrorism
in our region.
There can be no compromise with terrorism. There can be no
deals, but there can be great resistance.
There is no more potent deterrent to terrorist activities
than the wholehearted and concerted effort by individual citizens
to help the government any government in its irrevocable
opposition to terrorists and all their evil works.
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