IFkU{ I~ i OFFICE TRANSCRIPTMODY MAC 31 98
INTERVIEW WITH PETER HARVEY ~ 72
Question: PriLme Minister, do you think the demonstration against you was organised?
Prime Minister:
Yes, it had to be organised, you wouldn'It have had that many people there
if it-wasn't.
Question: By whom?
Prime Minister:
Well, it is very hard to know, I think. I have asked for a report
which I haven't yet had to date, but the Fitzroy City Council passed
a resolution some days ago, deploring the fact that I had been asked
to open this old people's nursing home. One of the councillors has
clearly been making speeches saying he expects a large number of people
to attend, that he couldn't guarantee that it would be peaceful.
Mr Innes and other Labor Party people boycotted the opening which is
most unusual for an apolitical function of that kind. Mr Innes had
originally accepted, but then he withdrew, as I understand, around
about the time the council passed its resolution.
Question: For anybody who has seen the television news tape of the demonstration,
it is pretty obvious it was more than your ordinary, run of the mill
demo which I think you would expect and take in good part. It struck
me as being fairly savage. How did affect you?
Prime Minister:
Well, it was savage, and I think it was very dif ficult for the police
who I believe did a very good job in the circum! tances. People had
not been * expecting a noisy demonstration,' or a violent one, and
be-cause of that, what was to be an outdoor ceremony, was transferred
so that it took place inside the church. But there was enormous distress
caused to the aged and the elderly, the patients in this particular
nursing home-who suddenly found the environment in which they were
living turned into a most disruptive one with noise and abuse and
missiles being hurled. I understand that the whole of the area looked
a shambles this morning as a result of this and as a result of the
activities yesterday. I don't understand that mentality of people
who want to turn the opening of a nursing home into something of this
kind because, the Commonwealth is spending, or has committed, well
over $ 400 million. Money has been spent over the last few years, the
programme goes on over the next two or three. These nursing homes
have been built'all over the country, homes for elderly people. It is
the first such home in Fitzroy. We have done it, this Government has
provided it because of our concern, and I would have thought it something
that everyone would want to applaud.
Question: Ycu are concerned about the elderly folk. Do you think now there is
an obligation on you to avoid situations like that? MONDAY, MARCH 31 1980
-2-
Prime Minister:
No, I don't. I really don't you can't have the circumstance in which
a Prime Minister gets driven off a university campus or out of certain
suburbs. We can't have a country in which Prime Ministers can only
wa]. k in certain parts. As Prime Minister, I represent everyone, no
matter where they come from, the Government's task is to govern for
the whole country, not just for those who voted Liberal, or those who
who might be regarded as our supporters. This is one country. This
is one nation, and while I will be looking at my programme to see
in what places Tamie should or shouldn't come with me, I'm never going
to not go into a certain place because somebody like this particular
city council might pass a resolution, or somebody else might organise
a demonstration. I don't think the people of Australia would want me
to. I don't think they would expect that of their Prime Minister.