MFr O ITERV wrXT RICHAMEL H TE, 7.30 RPO, 7
1EB! 1990
a a 0 3 PROOF OMLY
HATH: Priame Xinister, thanks for your time.
Pm: Pleasure Michael.
EATH: You've come to Perth at more than an interesting
political time. From your point of view and from sitting
in Canberra, how urgent it is that the current crisis in the
State be resolved?
PX: Well once the crisis has moved, once it's clear that
the question of leadership is on the table then it's in
everyone's interests, the State Party, the federal Party and
I believe the community of Western Australia that it be
solved quickly and I respect the rapidity with which it is
going to be solved I understand that Peter Dowding has
called a meeting for next Monday, the decision will be made
then. That's good.
HEATH: Speculation's been going on for a couple of days now
though. If you had one message for your colleagues, what
would it be here?
PM: The only message is the one I've given, to resolve it
on Monday.
HEATH: Do you know Carmen Lawrence at all?
PM: Yes, I know her reasonably well. I've had the
opportunity of speaking for her in her campaigns and she
impresses me as a capable, no-nonsense sort of person. I
don't want to go into any more details because I'm not here
intervening in this issue. It is a matter, as I've said,
for the State Parliamentary Labor Party.
HEATH: But in the past though you've given ringing
endorsements to both Brian Burke and Peter DoMwding. Would
Caruf Lawrence make a good leader?
PRIME MINISTER
PM: I believe she would.
HEATH: Better than Peter Dowd~ ing?
PN: I can't -it's not appropriate while there's, still an
issue between them to go to that.
HUATH: What about in terms of your election timing? Given
what's happened, are you inclined to if there were a
change at the top to let things settle down in the State
to perhaps help you along federally?
PX: Not I don't think that would make any difference. That
wouldn't cause me to prolong or shorten the decision and
the decision hasn't been taken yet. I'm still thinkinq
about it.
HUATH: But still the disillusion in the State is still
quite strong. it wouldn't be a factor at all?
PX: Well let se make this point of it. You talkt about
disillusion. I have a such greater faith in the
intelligence of the West Australian electorate. I don't
think West Australians are masochists. It would be an~ act
of masochism to impose upon themselves the abolition of
Miedicare, a frightful health seas, a worse education system,
a waes explosion. All those things necessarily would
follow fro, a Peacock Government. Now what you are really
implying in your question is that the Vest Australians are
so silly, so unintelligent, so masochistic, that they're
going to inflict a hurt upon themselves to kick a West
Australian State Government in the tail. Now I'm a West
Australian,, my background, this is where I grew up. I just
don't think West Australians are that silly.
HUATH: Youtve got nine seats here. Are you going to keep
then All?
PX: Yes, I've said this morning I think so but I have to
make point that theres been a redistribution and that
redistribution of course makes the seat of Allen Blanchard's
the more a very difficult one. So that's in a different
category. I hope because he's a very good member that
we can hold it. But nominally you have to put that into a
category. But in regard to rest, I believe we will hold
them and I hope we can Moore too.
METN.* You've got senior Ministers in trouble.
PM: Well that's your Judgement because you are saying that
in respect of aome polling that has been done some time
before where there wasn't the question really in the minds
of the electorate about who do you want now to govern
h. Australia. You are saying that on that polling some time
ago they are in trouble. Veil I'm not being complacent or
cocky about it. I simply say that I have faith in the goood
sense of the West Australian electorate
REATH: In't it also true that your own research is telling
you at th~ e moment that you're still on a knife edge even
if you go nov your victory is a few seats only.
PM: Well, if you thought I was going to reveal what our
research shows, you're an optimist. Let me say this, that
our people are in the field now. 1,' l1 be getting the
research in the near future. It is some time since we've
done our own polling some time. The only recent, very,
very recent research that has been given to as is in~ regard
to a Queensland seat and may I say it looks pretty good.
HEATU: So you can't say how confident you're going to be,
by how much you're going to win?
PU: No, I would say that I would hope to at least hold the
majority that veove got.
HEATH: Do you think it might be decided in the West?
PK: Well, if you say that it mean. the results elsewhere
are irrelevant. I mean the results in every state will be
important-I think that we will win seats in Queenslan4. I
think we'll win seats in Tasmania and I feel reasonably
confident about Victoria, and certainly about New South
Wales and by the time the election's9 held I feel confident
about Western Australia. I meon every state will be
significant.
HEATH: What are you going to tell the voters about interest
rates during the campaign?
PK: I will simply say theme things, Michael. We haven't
had then high because I'm a sadist or a masochist. They've
been tight in the context of tight fiscal policy and tight
wages policy. And they've been tight because as a country
we have been consuming more than we're producing and
theref ore we've been importing more than we can pay for and
that Uas been running up an unsustainable external current
account. And therefore interest rates have been high, that
policy has worked, they are coming of f. That's what I's
saying. HIM'S: And your Treasurer at that same time has been saying
while they'll come off, they'll remain high, comparatively
high, for some time. What are you going to tell me about
that?
PM: Well, he is not wrong when he says that. They will
remain comparatively high to some countries because we
still, an a country, have to get capital from overseas,
there is some differential there, but the rates are coming
down. Now, in the end you've got to ask yourself the
question. Are You dealing with a mug electorate or a
sophisticated electorate?
HULTH: Whatever Senator Button'-1s comments about the
leadership, do you acknrowledge that you're going to have a
problen persuading people that Xr Keating is prepared to
wait a full term before he gets in.
PH: No, because Senator Button doesn't kinow what he's
talking about simple as that. I said in a pros
confereztc earlier today that Senator Button'sa comments were
just gratuitous and incorrect.
HEMS: But won't you still have to persuade electors that's
the case?
PM1: Nog no because
MLTH: You don't consider you're vulnerable on it?
PH: Nog of course I don't. I simply believe that the
electorate will believe me rather than some assuzption that
a talkative Senator has expressed.
ends
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