PRIME MINISTER
TRANSCRIPT OF DOORSTOP PARLIAMENT HOUSE, TUESDAY 1 APRIL 1986
E 0 E PROOF ONLY
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister when will Cabinet make a decision on
the star wars research......
PM: When we get a submission on it.
JOURNALIST: What's your view?
PM: I haven't got a view until we get the submission.
JOURNALIST: Do you agree with John Button?
PM: You heard what I said.
JOURNALIST: Should Senator Button have made the comments that he
did? PM: We don't try and impose curfews on people, like that. I
think that it was just a very brief observation he made and the
matter will be properly considered when it comes before Cabinet.
It's been some time, as you know, since we had the letter from
Secretary of Defence Weinberger. We're not in any great hurry
about this matter and we're certainly not going to be cascaded
into a decision because of one observation.
JOURNALIST: What do you think is the possibility of Australian
companies becoming involved in star wars research?
PM: I've got no comment to make on the matter before Cabinet's
considered it.
JOURNALIST: What's your view of Gerry Hand's comment that it
looks like the MX issue all over again?
PM:: I've got no comment on Gerry's comment.
JOURNALIST: Will Caucus be consulted before or after the Cabinet
decision, Mr Hawke?
PM: The normal processes will be followed. I don't think
there's anything to worry about.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister do you agree with the thrust of the
statements in the EPAC report?
PM: About the need for expenditure restraint, I think we've been
on that particular platform before they were.
JOURNALIST: Sir, are you worried about Mr Howe's comments at the
broad left conference.
PM: No not particularly. I haven't had the opportunity of
reading the full text of what he had to say. I'd like to have a
look at that.
JOURNALIST: Are you worried about your ministers criticising
Government policy
PM: Well as Mr Howe is reported as saying, he wasn't attacking
the Government, or criticising the Government and so if he says
that I guess he means it.
JOURNALIST: Do you believe that?
PM: Well I couldn't imagine he'd say something he didn't
believe. JOURNALIST: It's not because it's April the first then?
PM: No, no. I'm fully conscious of the date Laurie.
JOURNALIST: Should Mr Howe be so outspoken, do you think?
PM: Well as I say I'd like to have a look at his text. I think
he's entitled to me reading the full text before I make any
observations on the basis of newspaper reports. Not that you
people don't always get it 100 per cent accurate.
JOURNALIST: He made the speech last Friday.
PM: Yes, well you may have a different sense of priorities for
the use of my time than I have.
JOURNALIST: Do you expect to give Mr Weinberger a final decision
in relation to the invitation next week?
PM: I don't know. I wouldn't expect that our timing will be
determined by his presence. It will be determined by the time
which the ministers involved need to take in considering this
matter. JOURNALIST: Prime minister are you going to revert to ! the idea
of having a weekly press conference?
PM: I'm at your disposal. You know that. It was there. You
didn't always want it every week. I don't think we need, as much
as we enjoy one another's company, necessarily to meet every
week. JOURNALIST: I think we enjoy yours more than you enjoy ours.
PM: Well you see you might be wrong again. I think you're all
lovely. Well most of you.
JOURNALIST: Would it be better for you to have a weekly press
conference, rather than for us to doorstop you?
PM: Well it's really up to you. I'm your humble servant, just
whichever way you'd like it.
JOURNALIST: Well it takes up a lot of our time if we have to
doorstop you. It would be very helpful if you had a weekly
press conference.
PM: Does it? It's nice in weather like this though isn't it?
JOURNALIST: Oh not too bad. Do you think perhaps you could
revert to that?
PM: Well we'll see.
ends I