FOR PRESS 2* AUGUST 1978
STATEMENT IN RELATION TO
ARTICLE IN THE BULLETIN
I have been reluctant to make this statement, for it is my
wish to protect the confidentiality of discussions between
Ministers. I believe this is absolutely essential to the
working of good government. However, the gross distortions
of fact contained in the Bulletin article, widely repeated
since, demand that this statement be made, and the Minister
for Finance, Mr Robinson, has agreed that I should make it.
I categorically deny that I requested Mr Robinson to cast
doubts on his evidence to the McGregor Royal Commission or
to say that that evidence was not a perfect recollection or
that it was based on uncertain, vague or hazy memory.
The facts of this matter are as follows:
on 7 and 8 August discussions took place between Ministers
concerning the findings of the Royal Commission.,
In the course of these discussions Mr Robinson stated that his
then recollection was that I had been informed on 17 January
of the fact of a telephone coversation between Senator Withers
and the Chief Electoral Officer, but not of the contents of
that conversation.
I asked Mr Robinson, if he was sure of his recollection, to
write me a note.
Mr Robinson thereafter re-read the transcript of his evidence
before the Royal Commission and concluded that in his opinion
a note would not add anything to it.
In these circumstances, when Mr Robinson informed me of this
conclusion I agreed with him that this should be the end of
the matter.
Before re-reading the transcript, Mr Robinson did dictate a draft
note. It was never signed or sent. I saw it for the first
time today. To put this matter to rest, the draft is being
made public and is attached to this statement.
NOTES AS DICTATED BY THE HON. ERIC ROBINSON MP,
ON 8 AUGUST 1978, SYDNEY
DRAFT
My dear" Prime Minister,
I refer to my evidence given to the Royal Commission
regarding a conversation, held on the 17 January between
yourself, Senator Withers and me. My recollection of
that conversation, which took place in your office during
the luncheon adjournment of Cabinet was that during a
discussion lasting approximately 15 minutes, a number of
matters were discussed.
These included my concern about continuing press reports
of allegations made against me regarding re-distribution
by. Mr Cameron. The matter of Mr Cameron' s declaration of
polls' speech and the question of unrest amongst Queensland
Liberal Parliamentarians and suggestions of meetings held
during the Christmas New Year break about alleged electoral
malpractice in Queensland.
During that conversation I recall Senator Withers, amongst
a number of comments made about the general allegations,
making reference to a telephone call that he had made tothe
Chief Electoral Officer, Mr Pearson.
I do not recall any specific detail of that conversation
being offered. In fact I was not aware myself of the specific
content of that telephone call until Mr Pearson gave evidence
at the Royal Commission about Senator Withers' telephone call
to him and the action that he, Mr Pearson, took because of it.-
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