PM Transcripts

PRIME MINISTER
PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT OF SEC, GRAFTON RACECOURSE
AUGUST 1990
E OE PROOF ONLY
PM: I don't want this evening to spend any time at length
talking about the most recent situation in the Gulf other than
to say this. I of course repudiate completely the nonsense
that has been spoken by some that the decision which I, on
behalf of the Australian people and after consultation with my
colleagues, announced last Friday was one that followed simply
from a conversation with my friend George Bush. The issue of
a possible Australian involvement in the catastrophe of the
Gulf had arisen earlier in the week as a result of discussions
that commenced in Washington. By the time I spoke with George
Bush last Friday morning I had had the opportunity of thinking
deeply about this issue, of consulting my colleagues. And it
was a decision taken, the most serious decision probably I've
taken in the period as Prime Minister, not at the behest of
the President of the United States, but with a full sense of
the responsibility which I believe I had as leader of this
country, and in the great traditions of Australia, that
Australia should not simply be heard but that Australia should
be seen. When the fundamental values for which tens of
thousands of Australian men and women have died in previous
conflicts, when they were an issue, and the rights and the
freedoms of a small nation were in question, that the voice of
Australia would be heard and that that voice would be backed
by action. It was, as I say, the most serious decision I've
had to take as Prime Minister but in the end it was also an
easy decision because I believe the issues were straight
forward. It is my great hope, my great hope that in the days
that now pass before our three ships arrive in the Gulf area
that good sense will prevail on the part of the leadership in
Iraq, because I can assure you it is my dearest wish that that
should happen and that our men should not be exposed to
danger. Because the welfare of the people of Iraq, the
welfare of the people of the region obviously depends upon
those sensible decisions being taken. The force of Australia
will be used within the context of the United Nations and
elsewhere to attempt to bring about that result, it's quite
clear live been talking about these major changes that
have been occurring in the relations between the super powers
that we have the privilege of living in one-of the most
important and indeed one of the most optimistic periods of the
whole of the post-war period. Because it can be said that
never has there been a more substantial basis for expecting
that the world will be free from the threat of nuclear
annihilation. enda 1.1 amb= 990T8a. ow lutodailuaozc-r= IT-00-GQQT
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