FOR MEDIA SUNDAY, 20 DECEMBER 1981
ELECTORATE TALK
1981 has been a year of achievement and consolidation. The
Government has maintained aid strengthened its-commitment to
the fundamental belief that individual Australians have
the right and must have the freedom to decide for themselves
their own needs and priorities.
This belief was given particular concrete expression t-his year
in the Review of Commonwealth Functions, for from that
review have come decisions aimed at strengthening the role of
individual initiative and private enterprise, as well as achie-ving
a more appropriate balanace of responsibilities between the
Commonwealth and the the states. B3tt in an iniportantsense, -ahe Review
of CoinmonweX th Functions was simply a continuation of the
philosophy and policies the Government has consistently pursued
for six years, which have laid the foundations for a more
prosperous and confident Australia.
In 1980/ 81, the benefits of those policies not only became
more apparent, but were shared by all Australians, and nothing
illustrates this more clearly than the fact that Australian
households received an increase in their real disposable
incomes, after tax of nearly$ 3 billion in 1980/ 81. Economic
success has been achieved across a wide front. While there
are increasing inflationary pressures in the Australian economy,
which are in part a product.. of the economic growth that has been
a* chieved, inflation in the year to September was contained to just
over this is below the level of twelve months ago, and is
still below world levels, although it is becoming more difficult
to maintain our competitive edge. 1981 was also a year in which
the fight against inflation was seen more clearly than ever
before, not as an end in itself, but as a means of achieving
greater investment, more jobs and higher living standards for
all Australians.
The main foundation for our recent outstanding performance
lies in the renewed confidence of business to invest in all
sectors of the Australian economy. For while real ] private
investment in most other industrial countries is flat or
declining, private business investment in Australia rose by
over 21% in real terms in 1980/ 81 the strongcst growth in
three decades. Production and consumer demand have been strong,
and substantial employment growth has been achieved. / 2
2
The development of Australia's abundant resources especially
our oil and non-oil energy resources was accelerated during
1981, and Australia now has a role as one of the few significant
energy suppliers to an energy hungry world, a role which will
be of great value to the world economy, and to ourselves.
Our economic success has not come about by chance. It has
required maintenance of the right policies, policies of sound
and responsible economic management. Moreover the Government
has integrated its promotion of the conditions for economic
growth and prosperity with policies of care and concern for the
needs of people. In the area of social welfare, the Government
will spend over $ 11,300 million this financial year approaching
of total budget outlays.
1981 has seen the Government introduce significant initiatives
in increasing benefits for the handicapped, for veterans and
for families, and the provision of assistance for migrants,
aborigines and young people has continued to receive a high
priority. Under the new health insurance arrangements introduced
this year, there is provision for some three mi] lion needy
Australians to have their health costs met by Government, while those
who can better afford to insure themselves against the cost of
medical and hospital bills have been given an incentive to do
so in the form of a tax rebate.
1981 has also seen other significant legislative achievements.
' rcedan of information legislation has been introduced an the human
Pights Cor. ission has been established. New arrangements have
been established for the major domestic airlines, and there
has been a rationalisation of the method of calculation of air
fares. In accordance with the Government's stated aim of
clamping down on tax avoidance, a number of schemes have been
outlawed by the Parliament, and through carefully constructed
new legislation we have sought to prevent new schemes springing
up to replace them. And in the fulfilment of the Government's
election promise, the Conciliation and Arbitration Act has been
amended to allow unionists to demand secret ballots before taking
industrial action.
Of major importance in 1981 has been the Goverrnment's commitment
to making a meaningful contribution to international affairs,
particularly in our own region. The Commnonwealth Heads of
Government Meeting in Melbourne did much to focus world attention
to those problems facing both the developed-and developing nations.
Our willingness to contribute to the Middle East Peace process
signifies our commitment to the need for a just and lasting
peace in that troubled region.
1981 has presented challenges as well as opportunities to this
nation, and I believe that in grasping the opportunities and
attempting to come to terms with the challenges, the groundwork
has been prepared for further desirable achievments in 1982.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a happy
Christmas and a successful and satisfying 1982.