PM Transcripts

SOUTH AUSTRALIANELECTION
Statement by the Acting Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. J. D.
Anthony M. P.
Counting so far in South Australia of the votes cast
in the State Election yesterday provides little comfort for
the Labor Party.
Although there has been a swing back from the vote
given to the Liberal Party in 1979, the Liberals, led by
Mr. Tonkin, have clearly attracted an increased core of
support from which they will be able to mount a strong
challenge to Labor at the next poll.
The election was fought very much on South Australian
issues, as senior Labor figures have ack~ nowledged. I have
no doubt that attempts will be made by the Labor Party at
Federal level to take credit for the result. It is clear,
however, that. South Australians have rejected Mr. Hayden's
attempts to turn the poll into a test of the policies of the
Commonwealth Government.
Mr. Tonkin has acknowledged that on present indications,
he will not be able to form a Government. I very much regret
that, because under his leadership for the past three years a
new economic framnework has been constructed in South Australia
which would never have been possible in the previous years of
Labor Government.
That framework has protected the State from the worst
of many of the economic problems facing the world and Australia.
Unless it is damaged by Mr. Bannon and his colleagues, it is a
framework on which a stronger and more prosperous South Australia
can be built. I believe Mr. Tonkin and all members of his
Government deserve the thanks of South Australians for
this achievement.
Canberra 7 November 1982 V