EMBARGOED UNTTIL DELIVERY
8 P. M4. PERTH TI1ME 28 SEPTEMBER 1983
THERE ARE CERTAIN RARE OCCASIONS IN A LIFETIME V01CH ARE
MEMORABLE, VALUABLE, AND MOVING,
rOR ME,. THIS IS SUCH AN OCCASION,
I THANK THE UNIVER51TY LABOR CLUB DEEPLY FOR TH! S
INVITATION WHICH ALLOWS ME4 ONCE AGAIN, HERE IN MIY HOME
CITY AND UNIVERSITY, TO ADD MY TRIBUTE TO JOHN CURTIN,
A GREAT LABOR LEADER AND A GREAT AUSTRALIAN.
i BELIEVE DEEPLY THAT JOHN CURTIN'S LEADERSHIP STANDS NOT
ONLY AS A SPLENDID EXAMPLE OF AUSTRALIAN STATESMAINSHIP
AT ALL TIMES AND FOR ALL TIMES. 1UT IT ! S AN EXAMPLE OF
SPECIAL RELEVANCE CONTEMPORaRY RELtVANCE AT THIS
WATERSHED OF OUR NATION S HISTORY.
AT THE NATIQNAL Ecorqomic SUM11, IT CONFERcNCE ON THE 11TH
OF APRIL, QUOTED PART OF A SFEECH MADE IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES BY JOHN CURTIN ON THL 16' nq OF DECEMBER 1941.
I t I
HE SAID: " OUR AUSTRALIAN MODE OF LIFE, OUR CONDITIuONII,' OURs
SEASONS, ALL THAT GO TO MAKE UP TH5 NATURAL
CONDITIONS Or-LIVING, MAI( E US BETTER EQUIP ; ED
( FOR THE PURPOSE OF MEETING THIS CRISIS) ARE
THE P5OPLES OF MANY OTHER COUNTR181ES THE
QUALITATIVE CAPACITY OF OUR POPULATION Ct) P' NATES
IN LARGE MEASURE FOR THE SHORTAGE OF OUR NUM' RS t
li. LIKE EACH OF YOU,, HAVE SEEN THIS COUNTR~ Y AT
WORK, ENGAGED IN PLEASURE., AND EXPERIENCING
ADVERSITY; I HAVE SEr-N IT PAICE GOOD TIM1ES AND C'/ IL
TIMES, BUT I HAVE NEVER KNvN A TIME IN ' XHI' H THE
INHERENT QUALITY OF AUSTRALIA HAS TO BE USED 83
UNSTINTINGLY AS AT THIS HOUR"
ITHEN WENT ON TO SAY:
" DO NOT PRETEND TO COMPARE TH1E SCALE OF THE C ISIS
THROUGH WHICH JOHN CURTIN ISTEERED THIS NATION TO TRIUMPH
WITH OUR TASK TODAY, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THE
ELEMENTS WHICH JOHN CURTTN DEFINED AS THE KCY TO VICTORY
ARE AS RELEVANT IN 193AS THEY WERE IN 1~"
AND THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT WHATrSOEVE/ R T1AT THE OVERRIDING
NEED) AS JOHN CURTIN -SAW ITj WAS TO EFFECT A NATIONAL
RECONCILIATION ANO TO FORGE A NATIONAL CONSENSUS Q
THE PROSECUTION' OP THE WAR EFFORT. p X i.
IT IS NOW SONMET4iMES FOrT N HOW DEEPLY DTVIDED
A NATION AUSTRALIA WAS ON THE EVC OF WORLD WAR 11
POLITICALLYj ECONOM[ CALLY, AND SOCtALLY. IHE EFFECTS
OF THE 6REAT DEPRESSION WERE STILL AT WORKt
CLASS AND SOCIAL DIVISIONS RAN DEEPI THL
DIVIGIONS TN TR4E LABOR IOVEME* INT FOLLO-eltNG THE
SPLIT OF 193 2 tD tY NO -AEANS HEALE,, AND THAT
HEALJNG TASK WAS JOHN CURYMN'S FIRST PM! ORiTY
AFTER NE WON THE LEADERSHIP Im 19356 s r
HE AL SO S4 lW HjA T ThF CONSERVAT IVES
RFPR SENTED,; NOT A FORCE FOR UN" ITY,, BUT FOR DIVIS! ON'-
AND Ht-SAW WITH EQU,: AL CLARITY THAT LABOR At-ONE COULD
BUILD THE BASIS FOR ' CONCILIATION AND CONSENSUS,.
AND HE SAW THAT THERE WAS NO BASIS 5OR HARMONY IN THE
CLIMATE OF ACRIMONY WHICH-HAD BECOME, ENDC-MIC WITHIN THC
CONSERVATIVE PARTIES, AND TO THE EXTENT THEY INrLUENCED
THE NATION, WITHIN THE NATION IrsCLFL
BUT HE ALSO RECOGNISED THAT, IN DEF-AULT OF THlE
POSSIBILITY OF A GrNUiNE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, NEW M'ACHINLERY
WOULD HAVE TO BE ESTA13LISHEID AN D EXISTING MACHINERY
STRENGTHENED IN-ORDER TO HARNESS TO THE NATIONAL EFFORTTH
ENERGIES AND THE TAILENTS AND THlE PATRIOTISM OF ALL
SECTIONS OF THE NATION, LABOR AND NON-LABOR ALIKEj
INCLUDING REPRESENTATIVES OF CONSERVATISM) B~ OTH INSID
AND OUTSIDE THE PARLIAMENIT,
THAT IS WHY, IN OPPOSITION AND GCVERNMENT, HE; P! ACED SUCH
EMPHASIS ON THE ADVISORY WAR COUNC1L. WHOSE ME1N1ERSHIP
INCLVDED SUCH OLE) D POEY AS MENZIE$ s, FADDEN, ANP HUGHES.
FURTHER, ALTHOUGH NO AUSTRALIAN LABOR LFAPER HAD MOR.
INCISIVELYj, MOflE ELOQUENTLY OR FOR SO LONG, EXPOSED THE
GROSS DE5iCIENCIES AND EXPLOITATION OF LAISSEZ-FAIRE
CAPITALISMi, AS IT EXISTED IN THE PRE-WAR DECADES,, 0 1 is/.
CURI-N RECOONISED Til' PARA 10L) NT NEED TO SECUR~ E THE
CO-CPERATIAON OF S$ Q, MADE NO APOLOGY iHATS(. 1EVLU-:
FORi HARNESSING llF ABO'L. I AND LOYALTY OF GREAT CApTrAiNS
01' INDUSTRY LIKE ESSIN4GTON-LEWIS AND W S. ROBINSON, TO
tHE COMMON CAUSE -THE tAUS' OF AUSTRALIA ITSELF.
BUT IN THEf SEARCH FOR ( CON$ ENSU:*( S -AND SOMETIMES' 3, IN THE
STRUGGLE FOR CONSENSUS CUIRTIN NEVER LOST SIGHT OF THE
LIMITS UPON CONSENSUS IN A FRFE AND DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY,
NOk DID HE FAIL 1-O ACKN0' WkLC--GC TrHE LIMITS UPON CONS ENSUs
WITHIN A Fk OPEN ANnT DLMOCRATIC PARTY LIKE THEAUSTRALIAN
LABOR PARTY,
AND INDEED IT MAY B3E SAID THAT, ! N 1' 1E FINAL ANALY81.3SJ
FINES;' T ACHI VP. MLTNl W,, AS THE FORGING OF A CONSENSUS
IN WAR-TIME, WITHOUT IMPAIRING THE FREEDOMS Or THE PARTY
AND THE NATION.
THE RECOGNITION OF THE LIMITS OF~ CONSE~ NSUS 8CCOMES.
EVIDENT, IF ONE STUDIES THE SKI. LL, PERSEVERANCE ANDJr
PERSUASIVENESS WITH WHHICH HE SECURED WITHIN THE LAB3OR PAR~ TY
A CONSENSUS -BUT NONETHELESS A LIMITED CONSENSUS O
THE NEED TO INTRODUCE CONSCRIPTION FOR MILITA-RY SERVICE O~ EL:
IT WAS A STRUGGLE THAT PERHAPS BROKE HIS HEART., BUT
CERTAINLY NEVER HISj SPIRIT, 1 4 1
BUT IF ANYONE IN THu AUISTRALIAN4 LABOR PARTY Or OUTSIDE
IT ASSERTS T1HAT HlIGH-NATIOINAL-OR PARTY INTEREST$ CAN NEYER
ADMIT COMPROMISE, NOCT ON rLJNDA14ENTA. PRINC! PLES. BUT THE
INMPLEMENTATION OF PRINCIPLESJ LET THEM PONDER THE EXAMP-LE
OF JOHN CURTIN,
BI-1-THE~ MO1ST IMPORTANT TRUTH Or-ALL ABOUT CURTIN AND
CURTIN'rS LEADERSHIP, WA3 THAT EVCN IN THE DARKEST AND
M~ OST DEMANDING DAYS Ot-TH4E WAR,. HE NEVEiR LOST SIGHT OF
LABOR tS PEACETIME QB.. ECTIVES AT HOM1E AND A~ kOAD:
DI~ D NOTC SEEK TO USIF TH-E CRISIS OF W'% AR AS AN ALIBI
AGAINST RErORMs
Am) IT 13 A DISTORTED PERCEPTION. OF THE PEFORMANC[-
OF THE CURTIN IABOR GOVERNMENT FROM 19141 TO DIM TO SE
ONLY IN TERMS OF WAR LEADERSHIP,, THE WAR EFFORT, OR
MILITARY SURVIVAL AND MILITARY VICTORY.
TiiE WInER TRUTH IS THAT CURTJN'S WAS A GREAT REFORM LABOR
GOVERNMENTj NOT ONLY FOR ITS OWN ACHIEVEMENTS IN SOCIAL.
RZEFORM, BUT POR rHF FOUNDATIONS I1T LAID FOR THE MASSIVE
PROGRAM OF POST-WAR REHABILITATION AND RECONSTRUCTION, I:' ND E E
THE DEPARTMENT OF POST-WAR IRECONSTRUCTION BECAME THE FOCAL
POINT OF AUJSTRALIA'I S ADMINISTRATIVE TAL. ENT AND DEDICATION
To THE TASK CF 13UILDING A MODERN NATION IN THE POST-WAR YEARS,
CURTIN AND CHIPLEY TOGETHER SET IN TRAIN THE GREAT REFORM1
PROGRAM BY WHICH THE CHIFLEY GOVERNMENT ITSELF
TRANSFORlMED AUSTR~ ALIA, i, & 7
JNTERNATIONALLY, CUI T1 N REfISED THE FUNDAMcbENTAL CPU
WH! Ci HAD OCCURED I N THE BAL/' ANCE OF IFORCES INi THE
AND IN AUSTRALIA I S STRATEOIC SITUATIOW, 1 IN E OF h I
GREATEST ACHIE\ VEMENTS WAS TO FORGE THE RFA_. ATJ0ON'sHiP WITH
THE UNITED STATESj WHIlCH SUBEQUENT GOVERWI* ENTS HAVEc ' EN
AOJ A K,% EYSTONE OF AUSTRALIA I S SECURITY.
IN SHORT, THE WORK OF~ O\' ERCOMrINC THE CRI Sri P R C) FOUV 1
A. S IT WAS., AND THE tlORK OP REBUILDING AIJSTFRALIA., . FHE:
WOR~ K OP Rr; FORMo AND OF PREPARING THE NATION' FOR ~ NA* nA
CHANCES" IN ITS INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS., CONTINLL-. r. SIUDr '; 3Y
OIDE, I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO i DEN . q'iFyS OFf THE CHARACERISTICS
OF CURTIN AND HIS APPM~ ACIN TlO THE l.. EADPER%$ H! P OF OUrk ",, TIC; l
DURING AIN UNPARALLELED CRISIS, Ir-1 CA; NNOT LEAFRH PROm
HIS SHININC EXAMPLE OF VISION,, STEADFAr. TN, S~ AND sR'A: M
THEN WE SHOULD BE JUST TEAR1ING OUT ONE OF THE-IMOST E~
IN OUR HISTO'rRY OUR PARTY'I S ' 111STORY, OUR
NATIONl HISTORY AND FORGETTING THE HARDEERT-LEAR11ED1
LESSON IN OUR AWNL$,
TASKNATIIONAL RECOILAiMI ON
I HAVE TAKEN AS THE CENTRAL TRCME FOR THIS LECIURE,
" AUSTRALIA TH ' d* 1AY AHEAD",
THE COURSE~ ON' WHICHi M1Y GOVERNMI: N-HAS EMBARKED
IS ONE OF REFORM WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF AN ESSENTIAL
CONTINUJITY IN AUSTRA" LIJAN TRADITIONS AND INSTFTUTIONS,
LET ME EMPHIASISE AT THE OUTSET THAT TrHERE 1$ NOTHING
CONSERVATIVE, NEGATIVE. o OR DEPEATis'T IN THIS RECOG. NIITION
OF CERTAIN NECESS$ ARY ELEMENTS OF~ CONTINUITY IN CUR
DE44OCRATIC SYSTEM,
ON THE CONTRARY, PRUDENT RECOGNITION OF WHAT CAN Bi:
PRESERVED AND CONTINUED IS THE BE$ T BASIS FOR AC-HIEVING
THE TRANSITION FROM' A CONSERVATIVE ERA TO AN SERA OF REAL
REFORM AND PROGRESOSJ ANtl THE BEST 5ASIS FOR ENSIURIN~ i THAT%*
OUR~ REFORMS WILL ENDURE, AND WILL THEMSELIVES BL OTI4E
AND MAINTAINED,
AT THE SAME TIME, THE SHEER WEIGHT Or OUIR INHERITANC" E
THE SIZE OF THE DI~ IIULT1ESi NOT ONLY BUT ESPECIALLY,
THE ECONOMIC D) IFPICULTIES WE INHER! TEDi CAN NIEVER BE
OVERSTATED, AND I DO NOT RCErR JUST TO THE LEGACY OF SEVEN YEAR0
OF FRASER AND rRAS RISMo OR TO SPECIPIC MATTERS SUCH AS
THE $ 9.6 BILLION DEFICIT WITH WHICH WE, WEkE CONFRONTED
ON THE DAY WE TOOK OFFICE.
IT GOES FAR I3EY0OND THAT. a IaI
I
IN A VERY REAL SENSE, THE B. ACK;_ oG WqE HAVE IP4HEITEP,,
THlE DEAD WEIGHT WE HAVE TO REMOVE FROM THIS NATIONj
BACK.; NOT MERELY SEVEN YEARS, BUT NEARLY THIRTY--FIVE YEAR$,
TO THE END OF THE CHIFLEY GOVERNMENT IN 19419
IN ALMOST THIRTY-FIVE YEARS, LABOR HAS F0PRjeEJ FIEDCRAL
GOVERNMICNTS FOR LESS THAN FOUR,
THE REMARKABLE RESURGENCE OF LABOR THROUGHOUT AU-STfALIA.,
FEDERAL AND STATE,* CROWNNED SO SPLENDIDLY BY THE ViCTORY
HERE IN FEBRUARY THE HCRALD OF ! Hr-NATIONAL VICTOkY
ON THE 5TH OF MNARCH CANNO4T AT ONCVE CANCEL. OUT THE DEEPLY
ROOTED LEGACY Or THIRTY YEARS AND MORE OF CO* NS~ kVAl'' vtE
HEGEMONY THROUGHOUT AUSTRAtlIAt
THE FIRST PART OF OUR TASK HAS fLELN TO ATTEMPT TO 11RIING
A13OUT CHANGES IN ENTRENCHED ATTITUDES WHICH1 THEMSELVE3,,
IF THEY PERSISTED WOULD PREVENT OR? RETARD THE SUCCE'[ SSFUL;
IMPLEMENTATION OF: THESE MEASIJRES AND POLICIES OF REFORM.
WE HAVE RECOGNI. SED THAT ONLY AN AUSTRALIA UNITED AROUND
GREAT NATIONAL GOALS OF PROVIDING ADPOUATELY FOR ALL
AUSTRAL. IANSi IS CAPABLE OF ECONOM'IC RECOVERY, A
DIV'IDED AUSTRALIA LIKE THE AUSTRALIA OF THF SEVEN YEARS
AND FIVE MONTHS PRECEDING MY GOVERINMENT' S ACCEPTANCE OF
OFrICE ON MARCH 11, IS DESTINED FOR THE SWAMPS AN) D SHALLOWS
OF A STAGNANT ECONOMY,
WE HAVE ALSO REC06, NI SED A ONLY A LABOR GOVERNIMEN-T CAN
IN~ AUSTRALIA -THAT A UNITED AUSTRALIA MUST BE BUILT
AROUND WIDE-LY SHAREFD VA" LUES OF EQUITY AND) FAIPN%$ s
OUR I~~ 1MN TO ORUATER ErQIYY IN THE D! STRIBUTION
OF THE OPPORTUNITILS PROVIDED T0 CITIZENS OF A'L$ IRA[. ii\
STANDS 11N ITS OWNr' RIGHT iN THE FRONT RANK OF OUR
08JECYIVES; BUT IT IS ALSO AN ESSENTIAL PRECOND ITIO N
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SENSE OF NAlT ON! AL ' RU
AND THEREFORE OF NATIONAL ECONOMIC RECO-V F. RY.
NEITHER DO WE LOSE SIGHT OF THE REALI FY TH4AT THE GREAT
GOALS OF EQUITY IN THE DISTrnIRUTION O INCOME AND ~ Wl.
AND OF NATIONAL RECONCILIATIONj WILL iB ~ TJ~ 3L-I THE
ABSENCE OF A STRONG NATIONAL ECONOMY. THUS OUR
EMPHASIS ON SOUND ECONOMIC MANAGUMENT DIRFCTED AT
SUSTAINING GROWTH IN THE VALUi. Or OUR NATIONAL PODIJCTIC! N
OVER LONO PERIODSj IS PARI OtP OU-R PROGRAMME OF EQUITY
AND NATIONAL RECONCIILIATION.
OUR EFFORTS TO BRING AUSTRALIANS TOGLTHERA SHOULD
BE S0EEN ALONGSIDE THE TRADITIONAL LABOR CONCERN FOP EQ1', J! IT-,
AND OUR CONCER"' FOR N'ATIONAL ECONOMIC RECOVERY, EACH
AS AN INTERDEPENDENT PART OF THE ONE GREAT PROGRA!' thlF,
M-y 1979 BOYER LECTURES TOOK AS THEIR THEME:
Ta. F s jiNQE. l--FLa I DO NOT BELIEVE THATI
WAS OVERSTATING THE CASE IN ANY WAYt WHOEN I SAIL) IN THE
THIRD OP THOSE LECTURES: . ill1/ I-
" AUSTRALIA STANDS 1POISED ON THE THRI[ SHOLD OF THE
1980S MiORE DIVID'ID WITHIN ITS': LK MORE UNCERTAIN
OF THF. FU1TURE, NR PRONE TO INTERN'Al CONFL TCTJ
TrHAN A7 ANY' OTHFR" PLRO I1iT IOY"
IN THE LECTUJRES, 1 SOUGHT TO IDENTIP-Y THOSE ASPECTS OF
OUR CONS ITUT 41ONAL. POLI-1-CAL, ECONOMI1C AND 5OCIAL SYSTEml
WHICH CREATED, OR ACCENTUATED.. TH DIVISIONS AND CONrLICT
IN OUR SOCIETY.
THERE CAN BE -ITTLE DOUBT THAT 11-THE L. ATE S;: Vf. ENT! HS,
* rHMR WERE EXCEPTIONAL FACTORS OF A POLITICAL AND INDFED,
PER'SONAL, NATUREj WHICH V4ORYED TO EXACERPBATE THEDV~ ia$
OF THE TIME, I RErER PARTICULARLY TO THE AFT" EkkATH OF THIE
CRISIS OF 1975, CULMI NATING IN THE INFAtIY1 O THE 11TH
OF NOVEMBER, 195 IT IS CLEAR TIHAT THOSE EVCNTS RADICALLY
CHANGED THE PERSPECI'IVES OF A SIGNIFICANT NliMnER OF
AUSTRALIANS, FSPEC1ALLY IN THE LABOR MOVEME'NT, ABOUT THE
NATURE, USEo AND ABUSE OF POWER IN OUR SYSTEM; AND DID
INJECT AN ELEMENT OF CYNICISM INTO THE ATTITUDES OF iMANY
OF THOSE WHO HAD HITHERTO 5EEN FOREMOST IN UPHOLDING
THE SYSTEM.. AND MOST COMKMITYED TO MAKING IT WORK,
INDEED, IT 13 TESTIMONY TO THE BASIC 5STR-ENGTK AND
RESILIENCE OF THE AU$ TRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AND THE
STRENGTH OF ITS CIMTMENT TO PARLIAMiLNTARY DEM~ OCRACY,
THAT IT HAS COME FROM THE DESPAIR Or-1975 TO ITS
PRESENT 3RILLIAINT POSITION IN THE STATES AND THE
N! AT ION, a 91 12/ v
it'
IT DID SO AGAINST BACKGROU~ C ND OF A PERIOD
DURING WHICH ATTITUDEE OF F; Z; YRATION, DESPAIR;
BITTERNESS AND \' INDCT& IVENESS HAD COME TO
CHARACTERISE MUCH OF OUR. NATIONAL LIFE. ACROSS
THE SPE~ CTRUM IN THE FIEILD 05 COMMIONWEALTH-STATE
RELATIONSi IN INDUSTRIAL RE. LATlONSi AND OVUR THE~
WHOLE RANGE OP THE POLITICAL AND SOCIAL PROCCSS S
CONFRONTATION HAD BECOME THE DOMINANT STYLE, Tl-1E,
LINE OF FIRST RESORT,
13EPORE I OUTLINE BRIEPLY THE APPROACH OUR ( GOVERNME. NT
TAKr-N OUR GENERAL ATTIT051S AND SPECIFIC MEASURESS,
TO DMiWNI$ H T3Ha CLIMATE OF CONFRONTATION, I ENTER THIS
QUALIFICATION. ISAID BEFORE THAT JOHN CURTIN
RECOGNISED THE LIMITS ON CONSENSUS, V'LN IN WAR-TIME. v
IN A FREE AND DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY, THE LE. GITtMAT CONFLICT
OF-INTERCSTSi THE OPEN CONTEST BETWEEN COMPEliNG CLAIM
IS NOT ONLY INEVITABLEo BUT INTRINSICALLY YALJAlLe. It1213
i3.
BUT, A$ I SOUOHT ro POINT 00 IN THE BOIF lCThS
AUSTRALIAN SOCIETY, PA RTICULARLY -N RECENT YEAR,
HAS BEEN DAMAGED BY AN EXCE( SS OF iNEGATIVE AND
DEQSTRUCTIVE CONFLICT ANLD DIISIOtN FREQUENTLY;
ARTIFICALLY PROMO0TED FOR SE. EI~ H UP$ S-WH; C! H
IS IN NO SENSE~ CRFATIVF. AND IP~ E CAN ON4L. Y 1-J100 3AICK
THE ACHIE-VEMEMF OF AUSTRALIA S GR , AT POTEN'T. lL,
A PARTICULAR AREA OF COJN2ERN IS THJE POTE. NTIAL DTRII
OF THE ROLE OF THE SENATE., WHICH WAS ESSEfI'TIAILiYlTv UT
TO PROTECT THE RI( 3HTr3 OF STATES., BUT IN PECENT ',' EAR~ S
HAS TOO FREQUENTLY ACTED ON PARS I SAN G P 0Ut, ) S TO0
FRUSTRATE TH POLICIES FOR WHICH THE CGOVFRNM,' ENT PA'-KHA
A MANDATE FROiM THE AUSTRA! IAN P'EOPLE,
AS A GOVERNMENT '.' 4' i-IAT WE HAVE TRIED 70 DO S. TJ SEEK ' TO
IDNTIFY OURSELVF: S. AND., BY THE DI. SSEMIN~ ATIN OF K'NThWLEOD't3E
AND INFORMATTON, TO ASS! ST THE C: lMLjNITujj-y .10 IOENY,
THE-AREAS OF CONF-LICT WHICH ARE IESS3ENTiALLY ARTIFICIAL.
AND TH4E AREAS OF COMMLON INT REST AND "' HAREn PURP'OSE
I N WIHIC H AG RE EME N16 IS ACH I -VAB L E, V1I THO UT ANY S E I-T I Ol
OR GROUP I3EING REQUIRED 7* O SACRIPICE YHI-ER R Al_
INTERESTS OR~ L GMTMATE GOALS.
THE FIRST SIX ! 1THS
ISHALL NOT TAKE YOU lN DETAiL THROU-Gl THE VARIOUS EVENT",
A14D MEWASURES BY ', HICH WE HAVE lsourGHT TrO TAlK', E AUSVTRALIA
ALONG THIS NEW ROADfl m AWilAY FROM' C0NipR0t4rAT1ON ToleAkDi
RECONCILIATION AND CO-0PEflATl1ON,
1iI
THERE AREI CERTAMN CLEAR LA ' lDMA~ lKS -THE PRICE S A ND
ACCORDi THE HATIONAL. ECONOMIC SUMMiT
THE jUNE PREMIERS I CONFERENCEj WHICH AGPEEDlr) FOR H
FIRST Tlf~ lE SINCE THE WAIR. TO A JO,' INT C01MMUNIQUE ON
NATIONAL-ECONOMIC POLICY. THE-ESTABLISHMENT OP Mi1-
ECONOMIC PL-ANNING ADVISORY COUNCILJ AND TH NATImrIAL
WAGE CASE
INDEED, AS TO THE LAST., ' THE DECISION HA1NDED D~' IIBY SIR'
, JOHN MOORE LAST FRIDAYj IT MAY BE SEEN AS ' 3: ETTflN-3 T~ ir-
SEAL ON* A GREAT DEAL OF ALL THE WORK OF THE
SIX MONTHS. i UT ESSErNTIAL TO THE FULFILMENT OF ALL
THAT HAS BEENP ACHIEVED, IS THAT THE SPLRTT OF THE
JiUDGMENT EE ACCEPTED BlY ALL PARTIES, IN PARTICULAR,
THERE SHOULD 8E NO WAC-E CLAIMS OUJTSIDE THE CEN-itRALASED
WAGE SYSTEM WE HAVE NOVI ESTA8LISHED. TH E SU C CE 5 , LJ
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS % UDGMENT, IN COMPANY WIjTH O) UR
OTHER POLICIES! ESTABLISHES A rIRt4 BASE FOR NATrIONAL
ECONOMIC RE-COVFE: Y.
NOW OF COURSE, THE GOAL OF ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND THE
RESTORATION OF GROWTH IS NOT THE EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF
A LABOR GOVERNMENTl. THERE IS PR-E. UMADLY NO GOVERNMEtiT
THE WESTERN WORLD WHICH DOES NOT CLAIM IT AS AN CBUJECT) VE.
WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR A LA5OR GOVERNIMEiNT, FOR THIS,
AUSTRALIAN LA80R GOVERNMENT, ISq T! ff QLAUil X or-THE
RECOVERY -THlE DlEGREE TO WHICH IT CAN BE SUSTAINED
WITHOUT RENEWED INFLATION AN4D THE fQ~ iL. TY OF THE
RECOVERY THE DEGREE TO WHICH IT$ BENEFITS CAN
BE FAIRLY SHARED BY THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
1T N' CY 4 P f2 0 F/'
Ac C0 R D I Fi f A~ r7-F0N: NqK
HAVE F-S A. i
C C DF. I K i pIR ? F~ I 1.
wL Ir! VF'S 0OUCf ; r 0 ' oVOI., J. CM AC; i( l
i lik.
L:. USi S~ i WC I J iC1 Sfld L ; IV it Iu Tr
STA7': K :'. LICCF' L~ C I S 1 NY'
AND L. 0 NFE R Y L
i j C , HAEL v
i C
ES A 3KLI . TH: E C; Y i
SOC~ a~ A'i2 L 1
D 0iNE 1 N I h T/ t E
FE' E CL
NI~ COFS AC C G'D1 -1
SU M1 , i YAND Li: ' CPH LNAoil' AIND CGJ NI. 1
LTA I PAI'
I TF -t'TIS L0Q 1 C. O i, A ) NPFIE1T E
A
-WE HAVwE DIRECTLY A" 1 STE MLYMN RA! O HO
CEP AND By rLXPAND I Nf COVEflNJi'j* E5 CAP ITAL XEDIUR
A A MLATTER PARTICULAR PRIORZITY WqF HAVE DIMIC-T ED
ADDITIONAL WELFARE PAYME NTS3 TO THOSE MOS'T SEVFEREL(
AFFECTED BY THE RECESSi-ONj NOTABLY SING1 E L';' PLOYED
AND PENSIONERS WITH CHI LDREN. BY MAY 19814 wr ~ iL
HAVE INCREA8LI) THE BENEFIT FO THE SINGLE LINEMILOYED
By 2271? ASSISTANCE FOR TH5 CHILDREN OF P NSIOWTRcS
WIl L BE INCREASED By 20% PROM NOVEMB R.
WE. HAVE, THROUJGH MFIDICAR~, IINTRODUCED A FAIF'ER, MEHD
OF FINANCING THE HEALTH BAS: EY ) EO il ABILT. TY TC PAY
WqE HAVr: INCREASED EDUCATf'ON-ALLOWAINCe-S AND PIJNDINUG,
WITH A MORE EOUITADLE DISTRIBUTION OF RESOUPCES
ACCORDING TO NEED,
-WE HAVPE ABOLISHED OR RE! DUCIED ScthiE OF THE MORE BLATANT
HANDOUTS AND TAX INEQUTES THAT WERE INTRODUCED OR
CONDONE~ D BY OUR PREDECLESSORS, ThIS'E iNCI-1DED LrONG
CVERTJU ACT ION ON SVPEFZANNUAT ION TAX"" AT IO AS$ SET
TESTING ON PENSIONSi RESTRICTING ELIGIBILITY FOR
THE OVLR SEVENTIES PENSION TO THOSE AN rAOST NEED.
WE HAVE ALSO TIGHTENLD TAX AV/ OIDANCE L1GISLATICN,,
STRENGTHENED SECTION4 26A, SO AS TO IMPROVE OUR
ABILITY TO TAX CAPITAL GAINS,-AND REDUCED A
NUMSER OF OTHER SECTIONA1. TAX OR SPENDING ( CONCESSIONS.
-WE HAVE REFORMED THE ASSISTANC PROVIDED TO HOME BUYERS
BOTH TO IMPROVE EQUITY AND TO STIMULATE IGHEr ACTIVITY.
-WE HAVE TAKEN FIRM rIRSiT STEPS TO REDRESS THE DISADVA; NTAGED.
STATUS OF SOfAF P AJOk GR~ OUPS OF AUSTRALIANS, TINCLUDIiG
WOMEN THROUGH A RANGE OF MEASURE~ S INCLUD) ING THE S'' EX
DISCRIMINATION SILL.. AND ABORIGIN4ES THROUGH1 NEW
PROGRAMS AND A 28 PER CENT INCRLASE. IN FUNDIN11S FOR
ABOR~ IGINAL AFFAIRS,
17,
A~ LL Or THIS H-A Q DONE THIN THL FRAMEWOR~ K OF~ OU
SEEKING TO ESTAFLISH A SCU\ IA SECURITY SY& V EM WHICH CAN
KET THE REAL NE . DS OF OUR~ PEOPLE ON THE BASIS OP~
JUSTICE AND EQUITY,
THv INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC CRISIS OF, RECENT YEAR'S OR
RATHERJ AN INTER-RELATED SE2IES OF CRI'SES CloQV'-4 FACK
To 1973 HAVE ALTERED, PRE-EXISTING PATTr. RNS ANrD
PROSPECTS. IN A ViAY BEYOND OUR PRE\' IOUS1 EXPER11rNCE,,
DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL CONCERNS NOW iNTEtRLOCK,
WE CAN NO LONOER PUT NATIotNAL POLICIES IAN D
POLICIES IN SE-PARATE COIlARU1EPNTES AN UNDFR~ tTIANZDING
OUR CHANGEDJ ROL2 IN THE WORLD,, ESPECoIALLY IN OUR
REGiON, AND THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES WHICH
SPRING FROM THAT CHANGED ROLE, IS ES$-PtJIAL. TO A PROPER
UNDERSTAND1ING OF OUR PROSPECTS AT HOME,
TiiiS RECOGNITION OF THE L1141AGE BETWEEFN DOMESTIC AND
INTERNATIONAL ISGUES REFLECTED IN THE APPROACH WE lHAVE
BROUGHT TO AUSTRALIA' S INTMRNATIONAL RELAT1ONS IN TllE
PAST SIX MONTHSWE
ARE ALSO VERY MUCH AWARE THAT IN THE CONDUCT OF OUR'
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS IT IS NOT ALWAYS POSSiBLE TO
SEPARATE OUT TH FOREIGN POLICY, DEFENCE AND SECURITYj
AND TRADE ASPECTS. INDEFD THERE ARE ! IORE OCCASIONS
THAN NOT WHEN~ THIS IS THE CASE, ALTHOUGH WE FULLY
RECOGNISi: TH-E LIMITATIONS OF SEEKING TRADE-OFFS
BETWEEN THE VARIOUS ELEMEINTS OF OUR P. ILATERA-RELATIQNS
WITH OTHER COUNTRIEIS.
18,
W HAVE EXPLODE-D TCHE 1MYTH, e % SjlDlUOUSLY PPOPA ATr-DI
BY OUR POLITICAL OPPONENTS, THAT A LABOR GOVRFkN~ T
IS SOMEHOW NOT ABLE TO MA! NTAIN STAB3LE AND PRODUCTIVE
RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STAT -SI jOHN CURIN HAV'E
RIDJICULED SUCH A PROPOSITION, SO DO it
THERE COULD B~ E NO MORE APPROPR~ IATE OCCASION THNr HI
FOR ME TO ASSERT THAT WIE HAVE REAFFIRMED AND % CLAR',; iLr
THAT FUNDAMENTALLY IfYPORTANT REI-ATIONSHIP, PAHSC NEVE;-
BEl N ON A BETTER OR MORE BALANCED FCOTfING TH1AN IS N~
WE HAVE COMPLETED A RCVIEW OF -TH ANZU$ I TREATY. FIRST A
A NATIONAL ACT' ANrj THEN IN ASSOCIAlfION WITH AUS'TFALIA'
ALLIANCE PARTNERS, AS ~ Ii. HAYDEN PUT 11T To TH., iOuS%
OF REPRESENTATIVES ON 15 SEPYr-PIMER:
" THE. REVIEN' HAS LED US TO A OIRM AND UNEQLIIVUCAL
REAFFIR1MATION OF THE ALL. IAtICE A3 FUNDAI-AENTAL TO
AUSTRAIA' S tNATIONAL SECURITY AND FOREIGN AND
DEFENCE POLICJES. I
IN REACHING THIS CONCLUSION, WE IN NO WAY IMPINGIE OlpA
AUSTRALIA'. 1S NDC-P NDENCE OF: ATTITUDE OR ACTION1 OR SUiRF11KDR
OUR BASIC RLSPONSIBILITY TO PULL OUR FULJL WIH 2
OUR OWN SECUPZITY, Oil THE CONTRARY,, WE HAVr-. % LDENTI-lFIED
THE MUTUALITY OF OUR~ BASIC INTERESTS WITH TH* 1E UNITED STAT"
AND AT THE SAMt TIME EM~ PHASISED OUR PREPAREDNES IS AS A CLO'), L
BUT INDEPENDENT FRIEND AND ALLY TO SPEAK OUT AND ACT V1! ERE
NECESSAR~ Y IN SUPPORT OF OUR OWN NATIONAL INTF. RESTS,
j19,
WHiLE DOING THiS Vi HAVE MiADE IT CLEAR TO AUSTRALIA
AND 16HLC REST OP. THE WORLD THAT OUR FUTURE MUST BE
SEEN AS BEING PlEDOMINANTLY WITNi AND DETERMINED BY
EVE-NTS IN, THE R'EGION OF ASIA AND) THE PACIFIC, WEi HAr" VE
ESTABLISHED FIRM AND CONSTRUCTIV5 RELATIONS BETWEEN 0) Ut
GOVERNMENT AND THE ASEAN COu'NTRIl~ SJ CHINA AN4D JA. PAN
tWHILt DEMONSTRATING A CAPACITY FOf", DIAL-OG! UE' WITrH
VIETNAM, WE ARE USING THESE VIRTUALLY UNIQUEfl SETS OF
RELATIONS TO PLAY A ROLE IN ATTEMPTING TO ASSIST THE*-
PROCESS OF A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION Of: THE PROBLEM I-p
INLIOCHINAI
WE HAVE ALSO STR~ ENGTHENED THE BONDS BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND
PAPUA NEW GUINEAo WHILE INCREASING PAPUA NEWq GUINEA'
CAPACITY FOR SELF-RELIANCC IN THE 1ZONGER TERM,
OUR GOVERNMENT HAS GIVEN A NEW D! MENSION TO THE
COMMITMENT TO DISARMAMENTi AND ARMS CONTROL, IN
PARTICULAR Wl. HAVE APPOINTED AN AMBASSADOR WITH 2( A
RESPONSIBIL. ITY IN THIS FIELD AND WqE ARE PRESS 1ING IN
ALL RELEVANT FORUMS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SOUtill
PACIFIC NUCLEAR FREE ZONE IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH
OUR AND. S TREATY COMMITMENTS,
IL HANGING ENUIRONMEAI
IHAVE TRIED), SO FAR, TO BRING TOGiETI. R THLE KEY
ELEMENTS O5 OUR~ GOV RNMENT'I sCONDUCT OVER THE PAST SIX
MONTHlSi BECAUSE WE CANNOY1 SEE WHERC WE ARE GOIING WaITHOU T
SEEING WHERE WE HAVE BEEN;, I ALSO W4ANT TO FLAKE IT
CLEAR TO YOU AND TO THE AUSTRAL-IAN PEOPLE THAT THE
WHOLE RANGE AND TOTALITY OF OUR~ DECISIONS OVER THE
PAST SIX MONTHS L1ACH1DM. O SE 4ARATELY AND EACTh
AS PART OF THE WHOLE-ARE T1ftE FOUNDATIONS ON ' WHICH
WE PROPOSE TO BU) ILD AU; 3TRALIA' S FUTURE INTO THE N'EXT
CENTURY. THEDIFFICULTY 10P SOiME OF THE DECISIONS WE IAAVE HAD TO TAKE_
RF-rLECT NOT MRLY THE TOUGHNESS OF THE-PIROFLE13 WE
INHERITED AND TH-E PROBLEMS AS THEY ' EXIST IN 198 1
JUST AS MUCH~ i THEY REFLECT OUR PERC2P'l'lN OF TH't
DIVFICULTIES, INDEED THE DANGERSi THAI' LIE AHEAD FOR
AUSTRALIAi IF WE DO NOT ACT NOWI-W! 71H FORESLGHY AN"'
COUPAGE TO PICET THEM, VIE DO NOT INTEND, ANY 11iORE
THAN CURTIN DIP, TO PASS ON INSOLUflLE PROBLEMS, TOA
FUTURE GENERATION, JUST 8ECAUSE Wrr HAVE INHERITED SO
MAN~ Y DIFFICULTIES Ff-ROM THE PA$ t9
OUR. CENTRAL TASK., AS WE SEE IT, CAN BE FAIRLY READILY
STATED. AND liHCN I SAY " OUR" TASK, I DO0 NO0T M EA N TE
TASK OF THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT ALONEj TOT 1S A TASK
US ALL, AND THAT TASK IS TO SHAPE AN AUSTRALIA
WHICH WILL. BE PLACED IN THE BEST POSSIBLE POtSITIQII To
GROW ECONOMICALLY IN REAL TERMS, AND SO PLACED TO GIVE
ALL ITS CITIZENS THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES FOR TH1E
FU'LFILMENT OF THEIR NCEDS, FOR 711EIR PERSONAL
DEVELOPMENT AND SELFP-FULFILMENT, IN AN ATMO$, PHERE
OF FREEDOM, SECURITY, TOLERANCE, CO-OPERATION AN'D
GOODWILtL.
To THEGE GREAT CND$ J,, WE MIUST AL2. I UNDERSTAND THAI'
TliF-RE~ LATIVE. LY EASY YEfW~ k( S WHICH ' HAiRAC7ERISED, MOST
OF THE F! FTIES AND SIXTIES AND EARLY SEVENTIES/
ARE BE! 41ND US, THC LOTUS YEARS ARE OVER. IF WE fiAVt,
LEARNE~ D THAT LESSON,. THE HARDSHTPSOFTEPTSEN
YEARS MAY NOT,. PERHAPS, HAVE DEEN ' ENTIRELY WASTED,
THERE MAY _ kE A CERTAIN PARADOX A} 30UT THPE COMPLETENF'; S
OF jOHN CURTIN'S ACHILVCMENT IN SAVING AUSTRALIA ANT)
BUILDING ITS FUTUREs BY HIS OWN SUPREME-ErF~ fORT,, HE NiAY'
HAVE SHIELDED AUSTRALIAN$ FROM A RECO$ NITION OF THE
RLEALITY OF THE PERIL IN WHICH THEY HAD STOOD, 1-1 V1EV E z"
THAT MAY B THIS NATION) Ui'NRAVAGED ON ITS HOME
BY THE WAR ITSELFj BEGAN DURAING THOSE YEARS TO BUILD UP
A MORE DIVERSE ECONOMIC BASE AND) A STRONGER WORKFORCE,
INCLUDINC THE BEGINNING$ OF THE REV1OUTION OF THE
PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN THE INDUSTRIAL WORKFORCE$
THE COMMON STRUGOLE OP THE WAR-TIME YEARS, AND THE COMMON
CONCERN TO MAKE A FREE POSTWAR AUSTRALIA AN EQUITA8LE
SOCIETY WORTHY OF THE SACRIFICES THAT HAD BEEN MAD[' DURING
THE WAR,; PROVIDFP1 A MORAL T ASIS FOR UNPRECED:" NT'r^ D ECONOMIC
GROWTH IN AUSTRAL-IA. THE INNOVATIONS OP THE CURTIN' AND
CHIFLEY GOVERNMENTS 114 ESTABLISHING THE_ AUSTRALIAN WELFARE
STATE AND THE INSTRUMENTS FOR EFFECTIVE NATIONAL 11ACROECONOMIC
POLICY' ALLOWED AUSTRALIA TO BUILD ON THESE HOPES
AND OPPORTUNITIE$, PROVIDING A B3ROAD FRAMEWORK FOJR
MANAGEMENT OF AUSTrRALIA FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES, .22/.
22.
THE DEMOCRATI OF ACC'E. SS TO H I GHER EDUCAT I 01,
AND TO PROFESSIONAL AiND 1MANAGf -IRIAL CCUPATIONS;
REL. EASED HUGE Nf-RGIES FOR PROPELLING AUSTRALIAN
DE\' ELOP11FNT IN THl1*' KJIT POSTWAR PERIOD,
IN TI I-Th'EDIATE POSTWAR YE! ARS, A DEVASTATED WRI NEEIDED,
AND PAID HIGH PRICE$ S FOR,~ OUR P~ RIMARY PRO0DUCTS,
THEN AS THE FRENETIC PACE OP fZECON" TRUICTION IN ' UAPf-TOr-RN
EUROPE AND JAPAN GAVE WAY 10 TNO DECAD~ t3 OF SUSTAINFED
ECONOMIC EXPANSION U-NPARAL.-ELV. D IN THE HISTIORY OF * r'tE
WORLDo I NTEI'NAT IONWL ECONOMI1C COND ITI CNS CONTI Nt. ED
TO EDE HIGHLY FAVOURALL ~ OR~ iNO& OOI
AUJSTRALIA. W~ ITHIN TliF-NEU' FRA! i'~ vQP. K 0-P M0NET ARY AND
FISCAL POLICY SUPPORTED BY TH! E WELFAP\ STATE WIT-H ITS
INCR A$ FD PERSONAL Sr.-CUfl1TY FOR, ALA.. AUSTkALIAN" IS ANDJ IT"
OPF-QSTUNITY FOR GREATER UNITY QF PlR!-' i, WE
RAPID fiXFANS 1. ON OF MANu) PACYfURliNGl AND ? TA I ARY I N-Dus-tlY.
FOR t-104E TIHAN TWO D6 CADES OUR NATION W~ AS ABLE TO PROVID-. E
FULL EM~' PLOYMENT AND INCREASING IREAL FOR~ A RA~ iDLYGROWING
POPULATION-D SPVFE AN OCCASIONAL HJCCIP, ISUCH
AS OCCURRED IN 1960O-61., THESE FEA. TURLS OF OUR ECONW!' Y
CAME TO B8 REGARDED AS PARl OF THE NATURAL ORDER IN
AUSTRALIA, REQ~ UIRING LITTLE EFFORT OR PLANNING.. AND
NO INNOVATION, ON TH PART OF GO\'-RNMENTG OR B1JSI'NESS
OR UNIONS,' A 23/ 1
i
23.
BUT AS I HAVE SAID) TIASE ) DAYS ARE OVER AND 1-UST a E
UND~ l-' STOOD To AE1 OVER i IF WE AR~ E TO HARNESS OUR~ RES3CURCPS
AND OPTIMISE GROWTH. EMPLOYMENT AND THE OPPORIUNITI S FOR
PERSONAL VULFILP* ENT., THIEN 00VLrNMENTS HAVE TO p~ u
FOR IT AND PEOPI. F HAVE" TO WOfRK'OGETHERJFOR IT,
IHE END OF -HE PO$ TWAIR ERA OF iElASY PR~ OSPER ITY I N
AU IYRA41A A' 1* l UCL cr THE VWIfLD DID INOT COME ~ r~ N
WITH THEF IRST OIL SHOCK IN 1973, THE GRAtUAL
OF THE POST AR WORLD RErLC-CTED A N: UMPIR
OFr 5OCIALi ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL-[, HANGES TIHAT
CONTINUi TODAY,
SOME -, A" GNS OF THE CHANGED CIRCtUhSTANCES WERr; P'~[ J R)
THE LATE SIXTIFES.. WITH TENDENCIES rOWADS HIGHER INFLATI1Q"
AND M'ONETARY AND c" CONLOIC INSTABILITY. THERE WERE SIGNS.,
TOOj OF THE CORROSION OF THE POSTWAR t-1O0RAIL LEGACY OF NAT i 0NAL
COHESION AROUND WIDELY SHAkED Gr) ALS OF I. NCRCEASING STA." IhARIm1S
OF LIVING FOR ALL AUSTRALIANS, ACCEEL~ rATED BY THE'
TERRIBLE DIVISIVENESS OF THE WAvR IN VIETNAM.
MVR THE LAST DECADE OR SO; THE OBJECTIVE CONDITIONS
OF WORLD ECONOMIUC PROG RESS HAVE Bt21N CHANGING IN V1Y
THAT HAVE MADE IT' INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO M1AINTAIN*
THE OLD PROSPERITY BY THE OLD 5ORMULAE, IN OUR TRADING
PARTNER$., UNe-3-ABLE CONr) MIC CONDITIONS, GREATLY F DmJCED
AVE~ RAGE RATES OF ECONOMIC CFROWTHi AN4D EPiCTATIONS M* OUT
ECONOMIC GROWT1fk HAVE DIMINISHED OUR OWi-N OPPORTU; NIT! ES
FOR ECONOMIC EXPANSION IN THE POSTWAR PATTERN.
24,.
TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE1' 5 HAS BEEN PRO'% llE-' SING IN W4AYS THAT ARE
CREATING DUAL LAB3OUR MARKETS IN THE ADVANCED INDUISTRIAL
ECONQMIESi INCLUDING A'JSTIIALIA, W1ILE TllE-NE'ri TECHNOLOG1IES
PROVIDE-OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONTINUEDl OVERALL ECONCM:( C GROW4TJ.,
ANT) EMPLOYMENT GROWTH,, AND WHIL. E THEIR EMB~ RACE IS FSSENTIAL
TO BOTH IN THE COMPETITIVE MODERN WORLD,, THEY HAVE GREAT
POTENTIAL FOR INCREASING INEQUALITIES IN THE AUS'TPLIAf,
WORKFORCE AND SOCIETY-LEFT TO THFMSELVES, TrHEY TEN: D TrO
DIVIDE AUSTRALIANS INTO THOSE IN IfPRIMARY" j035, S WITH
HIGH WAGES, JOB SECURIT' AND SATISFACTION, AND OPPOPTUNITIES
FOR PROMOTIOND AND THOSE. IN m SECOND~ ARY I Jo!-S. WIT1H ALL OF
THE OPPOSITE CHARACTERISTICS. LEFT TO THEMSELVES, THE
NEW TE-CH. NOLOGIES WOULD PERMANEN7LY kRE-DUCE THE RCLATIVE
$ TANPING OF LESS ADVANTAGED GROUPS OF AUSTRALLIANS,-
WOMEN PARTICULARL-Y
THE HUGE SHIFT IN THE CENTRE Or GRAVITY OF WORLD DUTIAL
PRODUCTION TOWARDJS THE EAST ASIAN REGION OVER THE PAST T14O
DECADES, AND TOWARDS DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IN THAT REGION
OVER THE PAST DECADE, LIKE THE NEW TECHNOILOGIMS
PROVIDES VAST OPPORTUNITiES POR THE GROWTH 05 PRODUCTION
AND EMPLOYMENT IN AUSTRALIA. BUT AS W~ ITH TH8 NEW
TECHNOLOGIES,, UNCONSTRAINED USE 0OF THESE OPPORTUNITIE$
COULD LEAD TO INCRE2ASED INEQUALITIES WITHIN AUSINRALIA
IN THE ABSENCE 05 DELIBERATE POLICIES TO AVOID THEM, 4 4 125/.
IT HAS TAKEN AUSTRAL. I AiN A LONG TIME TO COMr-" RLHuEND THE
1I'AGNIATUDE OF THE CHI\ NGES WHV'Ci H-AVE B~ EEN ACCUiMULAThWJ,'(
SINCE THE LATE J1,960', o AND PROBAB~ LY BEFORE-, WilICH A'
CUWIINIATED IN THE IOPLD AN'D AUSTRALIAN ECONOMIC OF
RECENT YEARSI BUT THE GROWILNG COMIMUNiTY AWARENESS
THAT FUNDAMENTALLY CHANCED CIRCUMSTANCFS RLQ,. UIRE N"' N
APPROACHES WAS AN IMPORTAINT FAC'tOR BEHIND THE ELFECTI1DN
OF MY GOVERNMENT lN MARCHJt AND THE S,, UCCESS OF THt. NATIONAL
ECONOMIC SUMMIT CO[ NPIERENCE IN APRIL,
IN THE NEW CIRCUMS'TANCES, WE ALL HAVC-ro ' UNDERSTAND TP9-
NEED FOR CHANGES IN WORK PATTERN$ S, IN'DUSTRIAL TUUF,
AND PATTERNS OF TRADE, ANJP WE ALL HAVE TO UINDERSTANl)
THE NEED FOR DELflaERATE MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT TH{ ESE
CHANGES DO NOT REDUCE GR~ OUP~ S OF AUSTRALIANS TVO PERMAN'ENTLY
MARGIINAL POSITIONS IN OiloR 8OC1ETY,
WE CAN ACHI VE THAT KIND OF COMIMU. NITY UNDERSTANrIING -ANUNDERSTANDING
OP THE INIVITABILTTY OP CHANGiE, TNE N[ P-1 TO
ADAPT, AND THE NEED FOR THE COMAMUNITY TO EN3J RE THAT ALL
AUSTRALIANS ARE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM GENERAL ECONOMIC
GROWTH THEN WL-SHALL HAVE ESTABLISHED THE BASIS ' Y WHICH
GOVERNMENTSo BUSINESS, UNIONS AND REPRESENTATIVE GR~ OUPS CAN
CO-OPERATE ON THL WIDE RANGE OF DECISIONS NECESSARY
TO ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVCS OF GROWTH., EMPLOYMENT., AND AN
ENHIANCED QUALITY AND FQUALITY OF L! FE FOR ALL-. i 1 26/.
2s,
p
L
YOU WILL HAVE tNOT" CIED THAT 11W-ONT ~ N ATIONAL COHjL-, iUNj
CO-OPERATION, EOU TY AND CGIN. SULTATIQN ALL GREAT fPRINCIPLES
OF SOCIAL-DEMOCRACY, ARE * rHE ANTITHCFSIS TO THE ECONOs~ iCALLY
LIBERTARIAN APPROACH WHICH HA$ FLOURISHED IN THE STAGNAIIT
DIVID) ED IINDL. TRIAL VIOflLD IN~ RFECENT YEARS.
SUCH AN APPROACH OFF -S NQ SOLUTION TO THE PiROBLEMS OF
MODER~ N Atj3) TFALI. ANY fMOR~ E THAN ITS 1--ARI2ER MANIFESTATION
AS LAISSF4-rAFRE 2AIr~~ OFE. PED SOL~ UTIONS To A
NINETEENTH (-ENTVRY WORLD IN THE TORMIENT OF EARIL
INDUSTRIAL ISATIONt
IT WAS THFE L111ERTARIANISM 0-MR HOWARD AND HIS COLLItAGUES
THAT INVITEI) AUSYi'ALIAN WVtiKLRS ' 1O DO THE 11JEST THEY COULDj
FOR THEMSELVES IN THErA R1 T PLACE IN 1981 AND 1982, A1ND
WHICH GENLkA7TIED TP W', AGE EXP'LOSION THAT IS PART OF THE
CAUSE OF OUR CURR~ ENT PROBLE'MSA IT WAS THE ECONOMIC
LIBERTARIANIoA OF OUR~ PU~~ SR THAT CON50ND A
HU* GE DECLiNE 1N TAXATION MORALITY FkOM THE mID-1970s.,
UNTIL THE S. UDDEN kEALISA71ION IN THE LIFE OF: THE LAST
PARLIAMEN-1T THAT IT THREAENED TH8 STABILITY OF OUR
FISCAL SYSTEM. THE INPOADS OF THESE VALUES SAW THE
GROVITH OF VENALITY' IN THE IrRCFESSIONS IN RE. CEN4T YEARS,
WITH A DAt4AGiNG DECLINE IN THEIR PU13LIC STANDING.',
SOCIAL D'EMOCRAYS HAVE NO REASON TO DE~ NY THE CAPACITry
OF MARKETS TO ALLOCATE RE1' O( UkCES EFFICIENTLY), OR THE
GREAT PRODUCTIVE POW-JER * THAT IS ASSOCIATED WIT'H THIS
2?.
CAPACITY, I SU. No '\/ RTLt_ IN R 31LAT; ON OF ECONO' 1C
ACTIVITY FOR ITS OINN SAKE, AND BELIEVE THAT WHER~ E ji;\ RK TS
ARE WORKINO FEHUCIENITLY THE. Y SHOUL-D BE LEFT TO Do i
J013 UNIESS TH5. RE ARE CLEAR REASONS IN EQUITY FOR
GOVERNME~ NT INTERVENT IONo
BUT IT IS PURE. NAIVETY TO 8EL-IEVE THAT CONTEMIPORARY VERSI(' NS
OF LA1S5EZ-rALf E CAN PROVIDE TH MAIN IDEA AROUND -' ICH
ASUCCESSFUL. 1, ODERN SOCtLETY CAN BE ORGANISED. JSAD
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROGRESS R~ i'L1RE WIDESPREAD AGRa,. r 1ENl
ABOUT BROAD NATIONAL, GOALS, AND 1N TODAY IS ECO-N~ IOY
Atli SOCIETYi MOiRE THAN EVER BEFORE IN THE HISTORY OF HU> NANITY,
THIS SOCIAL COHESION REQLiRES FPECTIVE ACTiol-N By G60vERr41,, T
TO ENSURE THAT ECONOMIC PROGRESS DOE$ NOT LEAVE A LARGE
PARTf OF SOCIETY PERMANENTLY UHIIND,
WHAT I HAVE OUT! LINED TO0 YOU ARE -He. GENERAL PRINCIPLES
THAT HAVE SHAPED OUR APPROACHES AND RESPONSES, AS W ItL A")
SOME OF * rHE IVJEDIAT5-ISSUES WHICH WE HAVE HAD TO FACE
OVER THE PAST IHALF YtrAlI WOULD NOW LIKE TO DEFINE
8RIEFLY SOME Or OUR APPROACHES AND A FEW Or THE MORE
FUNDAMENTAL PR031LEMS THAT THE NATION WILL PACE
OVER THE REMAINDER OF THIS CENTURY,
n
Fl SC AL AN I) i O ITf!, Y P( D2 ' Ai~ T~ STUFF OF S HOIRT-? M
ECONO. MIC%-MANAGEVNT AvW/ uljU iFTSj AND LE'VE'L" I
ECC'NOmIC ACTIVITY FiRQli ' M % EAR4 BUT THEY ARE AT THE.
HEART OF PROGR[ SS TOWARDS L011' 3G-TERM ( 6OALS AS WqELL, BOTH
i3ECAUS~: Sl) STA'-ED P( hlHIS rLASIBLE ONLY iN~ TH-W CO-TE', KT 3-
R~~ A3~ DL; EE Of'-ECONOMIC STA3ILITY, AND ALSO D-AUF HF
ACCUMLLATED EFFECTS 0' DF11CN ON TrAXATION AND EXPENDITUREJ
BUDQ(* ET BY BUDGET OV[ ER LA$ IHAVE A D" ECIA " IVE EFFFC-T
T14E ( UALITY AND EOUALITY O11 ECONO ", I1C GROWTH OVER LONG PERIFDI
~~ T~ 1h NO 1AW YI EYPI1AGTH17T ARIST PANACFA -THE E
THAT TIGHT COFT OTH E W) N EY SlJPPLY ALONE CAN AT L>
INPLATIO1 AND LOW UNEL-9PLOYMENT, VV; ITHOU7 RECOUR', To ; DTHIFR
INSTkUMiflNTS OF E'CONOX. IC POLICY, BUT WtITHIIN THE OVrERALL
PRAmEWORK OF PO~ LClES-DESIGNED ACHIEVE SUSTAiNED
WITH LOW INFLATION UJNOE PINNIF, ~ YT~ ICE AD NcO
ACCOIJ WE SEE A ROLE PORll MOHiTARY TARGETS., SO L: GAS THEY
ARE-APPLIED FLEXIELY TO TARXE ACCOUNT OF CHANGED
CIACUMTANCES lN THE REAL LEICONOiAY,
OUR APPROA1CH IS TO STEADY EXPANSION OF THP i-' ONr'Y
SUPIPLY, AT A RATE VHICH FACILITATES THE MAXIMUtl SUSTAIiNAI. 1L
RATE OF GROvITH IN REAL ECONOfiIC ACTIViTY, WITHOUT FINAN'C! NC;
A\ VAILABLE INFLAiTION. ALREADY Wr_ HAVE ESTABLISHED OUR
CREDENTIALS IN THE FINAI! CIAL MiARiKET'S AS BEING PREPARED
TO TAKE THE DETAILED~ POLICY DECISIONS ON THE EXCHANGE
kATE, BOND SALES AiND Thk-: BUDGET DELW1CIT THAT ARE
NECESSARY FOR OUR APPOAICH * O ' SUCCEED.
r~
IN~ OUR FISCAL POL-ICY, VIE All"' 1.0 Ps-OV1DE AN APPRCPFRIAlE LEVS. L OF
STIMtJLUS TO ECONOMIC ACTIVITy, r; C-NSItSTENTLY WITH THE AVOIDANC'L
o F C0() N T ER PR OD UC T IV PR FS S i 1% F~ ii F IA ilC I AL NI AII K FT
CIATED t117H EXCC-IVFL~ D C. DEF ICITS. IN THft! CURRENT
ClRQUM$ TANCES OF DEEP RECESSIO011, A H IGH LFVEL OF BUDG-ETARY
STJIMULUS IS JUDGED TO DE APPR'JFRIATE A BUDGET DEFICIT
R , Pt q sG NTINc / 43 PER CENT OF UDP, TH. E SECOND) HIGH" iST IN OUR~
POST-VIAR HISTORY, BUT IN FUITURE CIrcUISTfANCES OF INCREASED
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND HIGHER PRIVATF ', c-CTQR DjeMA-, L) Sc ON
FINANCIAL MARKFETS,-WE IWILL TAKE THE STEP$ THAT ARE NECt: SSARY
TO RDUCETh~ DEFII~ hWHILE WE CAN NO LONGER HAVEL THL
CONFIDE14CE OF THE EARL. Y POST-WAR YZARS IN THIE EFFICACY Or
VARAATIOrJS IN THE BIUD. GE11 DE[ FICIT TO MAINTAIN ECONiOM~ IC
ACTIVITY ON A STEADY LPWARD PATHS NWU NEVL RT HCELl -EL IEVU
THAT * VARIATIONS WqIThIt., C1RErULY-JJDGED HI ThJ) Tr
E. CON01-1C STABILITY1
OURS IS A DISCiPLINED AFPROACH TO PUBLIC E~ XPE~ NDITURE A
VCOMMITMEINT TO NEW PROGRAtiNES WHERE THEY ARE NE~ CESSARY,
WITHIlN A HARD FRAMEWOH0R OF EXPENDITURhE PRIORITIES-WtE
SEE THIS AS ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCrESS OF OUR REFORM PR'JGiRAN
THE ExPENDITURE Rftmw, CPMMITEE WKICIH WORKED qQ WELL IN
THE PREPARATION OF THE I'IAY STATEM1ENT AND THE BUDGET, HAS B-ECh~ E
A PERMA14ENT CENTRAL FEATURE OF OUR PECI8ON-AKI. NGS
PROCESSES. 11TS5 TASK iS TO ENSURF. THAT SUB3STANTIAL
LEVELS OF NEW PUBLIC EXPENDITURE ON H-lIH PRIORITY ACTIVITIES
ARE NOT BLCCKEFD BY THE, INERTIA OF SSTABLISHETO PPOGRAMMES,
REFORM OF T'HE TAXATION SY% ; iFE iS Al-. SO GOING TO BE CRUCIA
1T i D ' VELOPMENT OP 1-H2 ' Lt: xBOR GG' ~ MN cTqN
THE AL'S7RALIAN IA~~ 1NSYSYEV HAS ') VELQP ED IN A HAPhAZA rD
WAY ovEFR F4GHT DECADC-Si UNTIL TODAY IT lq AT THE SAME TiMr.'
BOTH it fUJT7AZL AND lNEFFICIFN,~ T SOME CF THE MOPE
STRYGH O~ A~ i Y~ K~ 2ESS~ SWERE REMOVED) THIS YEAR,
FoR THE FUTURL-. YVk! Rf WILL BE A THOROUGH REVI W OF THE
EQUITY AND EFFICIENICY OF Tl'IW TAX SlASE., TO 5E r OLLOWNED
BY PURPOSE'FUL CHIANGE,
, JIDSTA'POLLCY WILl-ilE DIRECTED AT PUTTING AUSTRALIAN
RESOURCES TO THEIR MOST ECCNO. MICALLY PRODUCTIVE USLS, UNLFS3
LS A C-' LEA2 CASE IN FOUITY FOR AN ALTERNATIVE ALIOCATJON
oF Resoupc THIS WILL REQUIRE ACTIVE POLICIES TO CORR. ECT
FA! LU%. RES IN CAPITA!-OR OTHER MARKETS, IT WIlLL ALSO RU2
FACi4iTATION OF 5TRUCT~ imAl. CHANCOE IN THE ECONOMY.? 0
ALLOWI 13% 1! ER USE OF NEW TEQHUONLO($ y OR OPPORTUNITIES FOP
TRADE, AND lN RESPONSE TO HIGH LEVELS OF INVEY$ TIMEiT FRO: QM K" M'
AND ABR~ OAD,
WS -PE(' CY TAT T14E GREAT RU'RAL AND MINING IN-DU$ TRIES WiLLI
PROSPER AND EXPAND. BUT THEY WILL NOT BE I. AROE. EMPLOYERS
OF LABOU~ o ANY MORE THAN THE~ Y HAVE BEEN IN THE RECENT PAST,
IF VIE ARE TO ARREST THE DECLINL OF MANUFACTURING INI) USTRY
AS A SOURCE OF EMPL~ oyHnut, viE muST ACTIVEL-Y DEVELOP IND1DUSTR! s
WHICH HAVE A POTFNTIA!. NOT ONLY TO ' SATISFY LOCAL IREQUIREIMENTS$
13UT TO MEET THE INCREA. MINGLY VAR. IED DEiMAr" NDS OF THE $ TRQi,' Lyt
. GROWING ECONOMIES OF OUR RZGION. WE MUJST ALSO MAKE.
EFFECTIVE USE OF NEVI TE-CHtQLO0GIE$ J VWHFTHER DFV\ ELOPED IN
AusTRALIA OR ABSORBED FROf. 1 ADPOAD),
SO I S8T ING I NDUGOTIi I ES ' J I LL D'CL i INE AND NEW ONES ViU" T BF
~ NCU~ AI ~ fl TH$ PGCL., GOV " NMENT WdILL HAVE A ROLE IN
PRcJVIDINc ASSISTANCLWJ F EX\ AMPLE BY WAY OF ASSISTIN.. G
RESEARCH AND D-rVRL0PX~, NT'l, AND BY tENSJRING THAT THE
BURDEN~ S OF CHANGE WHICH ARE NECESSARY IN THE COM1' lUN IT'I
INTERE. ST, WILL IN PART Dc' BORNE V; THE CO; IM4UNITY I~ iL~ AND
NOT E. ACLUSI\' ELY B3Y CA'PITALt[ AIND1 i'AOUR WHICH AR~ E AT THE~ FArE
OF CW41( GE.
THE BP. T WAY TO MA) IMItE THE POSITIVE SOCIAL EFFECTs OF
NEW TECHNOLOGY; AND TO REDUC5E THE~ NGATJVU IS THROU" H T!
FULL PARTICIPATION 01" ALL. C0NCGRN,-. IN 0 LIBEATIONS ON HOW TH& c-
NEW TECHNOLOGY IS INTOD'UCED, A COMMON 7? KmRAD RUNNING
THROUGH THE EXPZR1IP.. 1C F UP OSE COUN-IRI. S MOST
SUCCE$ SFUL IN HANDLING TH2 INTRODUCTION OF MODERN TCNLGE
HA$ BEEN THE WILI. INGNFSS OF TIHE SOCIAL PARTNERSk OF
GQVERWMENT, UNIONS AND MPLCYERS -TO CONSULT WITH EACH CTHE'
A-r THC-NATIONAL, 4 INDUSTRY AND ENTEFRRIE LEVEL
XNL' TO ANTiCIPATE AN4D RL'OLVE PROBI. Et$ HICH SEEM 1TO rEC-olF
C 0NCP RN. T Hb-INTRODUCTION OF NE1W TECHNOLOGY MUST BE
ACCOMPLISHED IN A MANNER I1HICH EiNSUlRES THAT ALL PARTICIFATE
IN THE LONG TERM B8-NlnP1Ta
ED-VQA-ThLQjj. j ~ DI RKLA i
OUR EDW4ATO. AND. TRAINING3 POC~ eS ARE CRUCIAL TO OUR NATTIC! JS
ABILITY TO BENEFIT FROM THE PROFOUND P. E'/ OL'JTION OF EHNLY
IT MUST BE SAID OF COURSE, THAT OUR PAPkTY AND OUR GOVERNMEN-. T Do
NOT PERCEIVE EDUCATION PJk[ ELY AS A PROCESS OF EQUIPPI'G PEOPLE
FOR EMPLOYMENT, OUR WHOLE PHILOS& OPHY P-WVISAGES rDUCATIoI1,
NOT ONLY AS THE KEY INSTRUMENT TOWARDS ACHIEVING GENUINE
EOIJALITY OF OPPORTUNITY., 8UT A$ A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF THE
PROCESS OP ENABLING EACH PERSON TO DEVEL. OP HIS OR HER
IN IV 1) U/ A\ L I Ty i CREAT V I TY A NT) E N J 0Yil ' PTT OF TH E R I AD
DIVERSITY OF LIFE, iN~ ALL, THE ! NIN'NIF, VARIETY OF HUtAN
NEEDS AND CAPACITIES, NOT LEAST IT OPEll Iltf4EDQs To
ALL THAT RICHNESS TO TFIOS Vfi11 ARE DISADVANTA El~
HAND ICAP PEDi DISABLED, AND NR-LILGD
BUT; THE FIRST TASK OF EDUCATION MUST B3 TO ENCOUJRAGE
A HIGH DECREE OF NUiACY A. N. I) LITERACY,, INCLUDING 114 COL"
MODERN r., A COMPUTER LITERAry. IN ALL AuSTRALIANcs, THIS is
TH CASE WHETHri-OUR~ AIM ISTO PR~ kjPARF CHILDREN FOR F. MPLOYJMjcfT
FOR TH4EIR OWN SAKE) OR FOR ' 11IP. SAKE Ot-ECONQ-M1" l PROOIR!: S
IN AUSTRALIA, OR TO PREPAR8 CHNIL)) REN rO A RICH Llrt'
WITHIN OUR CULTUIRE, OR TO PROM4OTE EQUALITY OF OPPOrkTU" NITY
IN Au$ TRALIA.
IN A RAPIDLY CHANGIN5 ECONOMI4C RNVIROQNMENTl. THE r-NTINE
EDUC; ATIOfl; TRAINING AND RE-TRAINING c5Y$ s[( aM MUST BE PLACE~ D
UNDER CONSTANT REVICVq TO ENSU1RE ITS MAX! M1UM Rxl ,. VA14CE T
THE FREQUIR MENITS OF A CHANGING ECONOMIC ENVIPRN'T~ [ HrEFUTURE
PATTERN OF EMPLOYMENT WILL 3E ONE IN WHICH P 0OPL 1,1 THE
WOJRKFORCE ARE LIKELY TO HOLD SUCCESSIVELY TWO, THREE OR MOR
KINDS OP JOB~ S IN THE COURSE OF THE! R WORKING L!~ aTHE
STRUCTURE AND CONTENT OF THE EDUCA'rIOi TRAINING AND
RE-TRAINING SYSTEMS MUST Be fSHAPED TO TAKZ ACCOUNT OF TIS
FACT, AGAIN, PROPICIENCY IN THE BASIC SKJ. LS VILL BE TH
KEY TO SUCCESS OF INDIVIDUAi. AUSTRALIANSi AND OF AuSTRALltiAS
LY MI
THE GENERAL OUESTION OF EDUCATION AND TkATNING IS CLOOSELY
LINKED) TO THE QUESTION OF UNEIMPLObYMENT ITSELFt
33
THc micsT IMPORTAN! T SXNGL ~ C-G~ tu OR OUR FISCAL iPO% 0LICY,
THE PlICfLS AND 1h'lco!., Es Acco~ qrj tWHICH UND~ ERPIN$ OUjR
POLJCIES AND OUR IN)) USTRI/\ L PCQLICICSi AS IWE-LL AS OUR
EDUCATIONl POLICJIU'Sj IS THE RE DUCT1ON OF UNEM P LYv,-HT, THE
EXPLOSIOnw OF WHICH H-AS BEEN THE MAIN Ym~ o. ort AU T-ILAN
rAILUJRE JN RECENT YEARS.
HOWEVER UNPALATASL-V IT MAY SE, W CAtNOT IREASONABLY E XPECT
IN THE rOR SEEA) 3LE FUTURE,# TO RETURN TO TH E~ X~ X3 OF TH-!
POST-WAR GLNERATI'ON VIHERE THE CONVENTIONAL tlCONOMY PkC'VIDED
FULL EMPLOYMENTj IN THE HISTCORICAL SitN'SE, " Or iv: V Ry( T) 0DY ' H 0
OUHT WORK. WE CANNOTr REDU) CE THE UINPALATAYSILETY HTIS
FACT BY ICNORING IT OR REFUSING TO FACL UPr TO ' ITQ&
OV 03 WHO GREW UPj OR MADE, OUR CAREf% IN A ' T HE
THE D FINITION OF FULL EMPUOYM10IT WAS MOIRE CONVEtNT ONML
VACANC IES THAN CONVENTI ONAL JO-SF-IE, CANNOT ~ TIC~ L~
E XPECY OUR CHILDREN EVEP TO ENJOY THAT EXPERIDXV.
AS A GOVEtRNMENT, WE CAN ANDl W WILL CREATE ( 40-RE J08S Ry
THE EMPL-OYMENT OF A COC. RDINATED RANGE OF IECONOM1C POLICIL
INCLUDING SPECIFIC JOB CRE~ ATION PROGRAMS, TrO LIFY TNr-
6MNRAL LEVEL OF ECONOMiIC ACTIVITY FROM ITS PRE$ 5. NT Dl PRESSED
LEVELS.
BUT GENERAL POILICIES FOR OVERALL [ ECUNDMIC GROWTH MUST NOW
DE SUPPLEMENTED BY TIHE USE' OF PUZLIC RESOU) RCL$ T~ O A. slIST
THE CflEATIOIN OF ALTE. RNATIVE OPPORTUNITIES rO TH5 CONS') RUCTI\ Li
DEVELOPMENT OF TrHE GREAT HIUMAN POTENTIAL EXISTING AM~ t-l' TH1IS
YOUNG GENERATION OF AuSTRALIANS HI BES AND LkRIGTE~ ST
GENERATION WE HAV2. EVER PRDCF-0, EITHER THAT -OR WE ' OIFT
ALON! Ge CON~ TINUING AND CONnONING THE TOTALLY NEGATIVE YL
P. FPRCS3,' NT 4D 13Y T HE DOLE Col. 1EU
WlE SHALL ALSO HAVE TO 5ACE UP TO R DUCIING TH LENGY7 OF -iHv'
WORK[ NO Lli1E OF THE AV~ zERQGrp ALIS7F,/' LiA .4 USATL
IMPACT WILL nE MADE 13Y POLICIES nik. 1 " GNED TO r{ N COURAGE
YOUNG P OPLE TO REMAIN IN THE CDUCA7JON SYSTEM
AND BY OFPER1NG THEM A COMPREK-r'NSIVE YOUTH-POLICY,. kHACH OFFE. RS
THE ALTFRNAIIV'E OF EDUCATION OR A R. ANGE OF EMPLOYMENT OUTS,' DF.
THE CQNVENTIONAL LABIOUR FORCE, PROVIDING OPPORTUNi'TITS FOR
CONSTRUCTIVE COVMNITY WORK, TRArNING AND 5XPRI-1-NCE.
THE PLAIN FACT IS THAT NO GOVERNMZENT IN AuSTRALtA IWILL NOW,
OR IN THE FORESECAP. LE FtITURE, SOLVE THE PROBLEM'l OF
UNEMPLOYMENT SOLELY THRQUIGH THE AVAtLA81-E METHODS OF
INCREASING THE SUPPLY OF in~ s. AT LEAST EQUAL ATTrNw'ior
MUST S PAID TO THE QUFSTION OF REDUCING THEi DE14AND) FOR
~ JOBS BY HELPING TO PROVU). SOCIALLY' CONSTRUCT11Vt'
AL'TERNAT IVES1
.$ QfIALSFCUR I TY S
IH~ fS-6' CON'SID RATIONS LEAD US INTO THE LARGiE. QUESTrON OF
THE FUTURE OF THE SOCIAL SEC. URITY 8YSTEI4l AND ITS V-) JITY
IN OUR FUTURE SOCIETY6 JUST AS WE 14AVE TO TA~ r ACCOUNT
OF THE ECON01, IC REALITIr-S IMPOSE D ON OUR YOUNG~ fR PE. OPLEj SO
WE HAVE TO FAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE ECONOM1IC
FACIN: G THE OLDER G~ dNERATION. WE HAVE TrO PACE Tli FACT THAT W
ARE GOING TO LIVE IN A SOCIZTY WITH AN AG. rNG POPULATION, IT
IS IMPERATIVE,, THEREFORE, THAT W-iE CREATE CONCEPTS AND
MECHAN1SMS GOVERNING OUR SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEMN VwtrCH
WILL ENSURE THAT EXPEN'DITURES ARE MORE CLOSELY RELATE~ D TO
THE REAL NEEDS OF THE PbEQrO I~
PUT BLUNTLY', A SPLALLER PROPORIT IN OF THE~ POPULATION W1L I, S-i
EPLOYMENT AND A~ it TO SUSTAIN THIOSE IN RETIREMEKI( Ar,' R THEEIF.
PR~ ODUCTIVE EMFLOYMEN1, AND THOSEh tWITHOUT ANY iViLOYMKNT AT ALL.
IF WL ARE TO RAISF ( tIGNIFICANTLY THE G NERAL 1.4VEL. OF bLNE511S
TO ALL WHO NEED TNIEhs THEN WE' HAVE ' 4O RMDCE TH-E SPECIAL At,,!
LNNECE8SARY PRIVILr-G,. OF SOME.
THPAT IS A FACT OF LIF8 IN THE~ SE TESOF ( MEAT F-CONM C
DI-FFICULTY. BUT IT WILL RPMAIN A FACT ! NDEr-D, ITS FORCE
WILL INCR~ EASE -AS THE~ NUM11BER OF AuSTRALrANS' PL'rNflMMNT ON
THE PENSION GROW$ AS A PROPORTION OF THOSc-IN TH't' WOKPORCr..
LE. T ME Ble MORE SPEECIFIC ABOUT TkV D'.! MQRAPR! C FACTS. CNEF P T I
KrXT TEN YEARS THE NtUMBF. R OF WORKING-AQE AUSTRALIANS f OR EACH
PERSON OVER 65 WILL DlROP TO ADOUT FivEI. Looti i11G FUqTHL.' i4TO
F~ uTrup;;,, r-lIf" TY YEARS FRO. M NOW T141S NUMBER IS LXPECTF-D TO DROP
TO AB~ OUT THREEi
SO IN TH-I MAY 19 STATMENT AND IN THr-. BUDGET ITSELF W5 SET
IN TRAIN D5CISIONS WHOSE REAL R9SULTS WttLL C0,11 NOT TI-ra"
FINAN4CIAL YEAR OR rEVEN NEXTv BUT WILL 1K-I TO 5EAR F;'"' IT
IN THE \ YEARS AHEAD
IT WOULD BEE TRAGIC IF SHORTSIG4TI-ID CONS ME: RATION OF SHORTTERIM
POLITICAL OR PERSONAL ADVANTAGEr WERE ALLOWED TO RE-TARD
THE REFORM OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE AND TAXATION~ SYSTFYS UPO
WHICH WE HAVE E. MBARill" ED,
I N T ER -G0V E R N PN A1iaF LLTiLQj
THERE CAN BE NO SU$ TAtNED ECONOMI11C AND SOCI'AL PROGR Sb' rN
AuSTRALIA WITHOUT CO-OPEERATIVE NGYE Y1T LIiL.
16,
~ o~ ci m~ END OF~ TH TENTIFE1H CE~ NTURY WITHA
CNS'i I TUJT I ON AND DI V ISi* 01 OF BELt~*~ 4 E N THE
c NhIcWEAL flH IW If 4 STATE S aAS CALLY 1) TEkMI NED
VE PROP0 E TO TA E EVE I: Y OPP OTUN ItTY T0 EF) R M AN11D
MOP,! ENISE THAT C Ol T TUT ION~ BUT llT WOULD B . ESS
THAN REALiSTIC TO BU. iLKb'VE YH1AT THE PATH OF CONSTITUTIONA. L
CAfj, Op !" SE LF.; PROV IDE QUIC i OR READ) Y SO; UT-ONS
TiO THE CO' 0MPLr2 ' SOCI TAU AND E CO04Q1 C PRQIj" LEM$ vi E NOW F A CL
Th! E ELEC's I ON OF: LABOF GOVERNMEN-S TrHRO!,! CH-( OUT AUS)" PAL A
NEVE RTH Wl'LIS S PROV I D ES " ME IAS FOR A M4O R C0,-f) P I' AT 1VE
AND % CONW; TRUCYVIE U$ E 05 THE4 COri! ST iTIT I ON AS AN I NS* flui. ENT
FOR PROGRESS AND REFOR ! A UWNPAR LL. ELED 1M\ THE~ HISTORY
OF FEDERA. TION.
IT SvHOUILD N~ OW BE POSSIBLE r-pO THE r-LECTED GOV' zRNMEN-r$ OF
AUSTRALIA To rd~. VlISEL A PAmT'-RN OF RELATION1SHIPS; IN A cj& TRV'
CF C 0-AT I A ND NS ULT'A T 1ON WH ICH A P. L MO0, ST A T D
TO THE cUP. Ct'k" TANCES CF 01J', TliUi A SET OF RELATION1IP
WHICH MO1RE6 Eric fIE-Y .'! ATC*-' lES TH CAPACITIES AN11
Q Th ~ EPECi~ LE'ELS nF -i0VFRNM,-NT
( INCLUI NG LO CAL' t$ VFVF1T) TAN WE H-AVE EVER KNOWN N
AUSTRALIA, WE' TOOK THIS ; AL TO OUR FIRST PPEMIEN-
37,
CON F REiNCV'E WH1IC~ H ; q-, YCiD ITS AGaiN ON HORT-TERM CN&
POLICY, ESTALIL18110 A tvcl%~ K[ rN PARTY MAKE R ECOMM UNOATT ON'S
ON THE WHOLE STRUCTURFE OkF FEDERAL-STATr, tINAN CI A L RL A T HIS
THE FRO-RAIM li4 HAVE IAFRKr; D 0CU IS NOT ONt"' WE1 CAN HQPL
TO Ptdi ZUG IN ISOLATION FROM THE W! ORLD AFOUND US.
A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TASK rs TO GEVE GREATUJ-', SUPISTANICE
AND OBTAIN Gr~ rcAT5R CC1MUNITY AIARENESS OF OUP LINK'C t[ TH
THE AsiAtPACIFIC REGION, THE FAST E; T-G Row r N REGrON OF Til:
WORLD ECONOMY. Ir IS NOT ENOU~ l-THAT tmpoii-rAINT Sir-CTIONS OF
GOVERN.-MNT, TH BUREAUCRACY, EUSTNSS & ANDI4: N' ACADEvrrc NOFRLt A~?' f
CONSCIOUS THAT AuSTRALIA' S . DESTINY rUS tr-XTTCA.' L. Y A S'OCIATEID WL'h1~
THIS REGIONI
WE C AN NO0 LONGER AFIFORD T'O LOON, DOWN O) N OR PATRONTSZ-P'EOPLES"
WHOSE ACHIEVEMENTG IN E. CONOMIC t EVC',. Q~ MjENT OVER REC EvT1
YEAR~ S HAVE BE. EN AMONG THE M~ OST tMPRES~ iY rIN TH'r WORLD,
kmi ' WITHOUT COMPROMISING OUR OtW-N WE'TE. RN-DERIVPD VALUE SYSIEMd,
WE MUST BE PREPARED TO SHOW GR ATEP% UNDERSTANDING OF NGGHOURING
SOCITIES WHOSE TRADlITION$ AND VALUE APL. ' VERY DiIFFE. RrNT F
0URSj TIJT NO LESS FIRMLY BASP-D, A/ U1TRAt. IA'S EDUCATION SYSTEMl-
AND OUR~ INFORMATION MED[ A RAVE A MA1JOR ROLE TO PLAY' lN
BRINGING THESE REALITfIES TO US,
LQJ~ lislau
THr BROAD OBJECTIVES OF MY G0V~ l,'. NT H~ AVE-ALREADY BEEN
L. 1) DOtWW. ANMD THEY HAV/ E 13, EE RC., l.. CTr) ! N ' rF pOLICIE' 010
OUR Flk' 3 1 SIX M~ ONTHS OF OFFICE,.
THi-eY WILL COIN70NUc-To SHAPE TH D" VLLOPMENT AND
OF NEW POLICIESi IN GENERAL HSEARE TO ACHIEVE IN
AUSTRALIA A STRONGc-R AND KDI! "-OUNJLY-iASED NATIONAI O-M
AND TO EsTrABLISA A F" AIRER AND tlo~ r-QU1TABLE LSOCT[ TY3
EXT0NALLY WE AIM 1-O .$ TREN~ iHTEN OUR LINKS WITH , H AstA/ 1' rF IC
REGI OK; AND TO CONTri1' IBUrE TO REDUCT ION OF rNTERNA-1IO: NAL T ENSI0111s.
AND HOWEVER MUCH W. MAY RECG,,' F Yi4E LIMfl* TAT[ OIN tMFOcva
UPON ON A FEDERAL L. ABOR 60VrERNMLNT N A Vr-HY COMPLFX SYST
HOWEVER MUCH WE MAY RECOGNrSF. THe LrMrTATAIQNS OF o~ uR ECi~ I
EF~ FORTS-ANDl ASPIRATIONS rMPOSiED BY THE IVHRI* TAN Or FAST
GOVE~ RNMENTS,, HOWEVE~ R MUCH~ WE. MNA'Y RECOTNifS-THE L1VI ) A-IftON$
UPON AugTRALIA ITSELF I Y ITS Cft1PAr. ATt'! lLY SMALL -SIZ8 AND
I NFLLJENC~ i WE WILL AT ALL -1[ IMS U ~ E OUR REST EINIW'EAVOV'S TO
IMPROVI'. THE STANDARD AND QUALITY OF Lj" F OF OU; R ANDLTHEE
INTERNATIONAL CAUSE OF PEACEI
YET THOSE BhlDcAV0UR$ MUST AT AiLL. TIMES BE, INFORIIFID BY A
SENSE OF REALISM AND AN OF~ W~ HAAfTl N3Q AC[ 1tLYAB L E
MERE POSTURING IN THE NAME OF P& AC WILL DO NOTHfIN( TO ACHILVE
PEACE), ANY MORL THAN MERE POSTUFRTNG IN THE NAME OF ECONOMIC
GROWTH AND EQUITY V4ILL DO ANYTHI-NG TO AC&{ tVE THESE
. O8JECTIVES FOR OUR NATiON,
THESE ARE THE REALITIr-, 1 i11V ARE TH4r RFJA'rTl'E WHrCH
JOHN C" URTINI MORE~ tELE-VANTLY THAN ANY OTHER AuSTRALtAi'v IN
OUR HISTORY,. ACrNOWEGr-cD AND CONFRONTED IN 1iS JUS$ T
AS WE MUST DO N01-6 fN OUR TIME
WE ARC-HI1S HEIRS. I LET US SThRVK TO B~ E UORTHY OF THAT
SPLENDID INHERITANCF,
3 9
HLf EIFT US AN INHERITA. NCE. OF AN ! A'JSTRALIA SAF-E, STRONG, LINATñ D
F-oR -~ MIT WAS MI _ 5L TO .1T~ tNAll-H B3ETWEEN THE
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY Pn~ . Awf TFALrA, FoR HMN SCRVrCE AND
COMMIMMENT TO THIE ONILE WAS SERtVICE~ / AND COMIMITME1NT FO ThE
o'hIv~ z fORTY YEARS QNj AS HIS PRIVI'LGE. SUCCORon ZN 714
GREAT OFFICE OF LEADER OF THE AuSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY AND
PRIME~ MINISTER. OF AuSTRALIA. A I Do) NOT PINI) IT INECES AIRY TO
REVDSE-' R OUAL I FY HIS ESSENTIAL ASSESSM"--NT OF i4lS ROLtE DUTY,
EITHI. R To THE PARTY OR TO THE NATION, IF WE AUSTRALI-ANS CAN'
APPROACH THET SLNDID EXAMP11E HIE 14AS LEIT Uo$, T104 I B5IV WE
NEED NOT FEAR FOR THE F'JTURP. OF OUR GOV MNr-10T, OUR PARTY,
OR OUR~ NATIONO