PRIME MINISTER
TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P. J. KEATING, MP,
DOORSTOP INTERVIEW, RAAF FAIRBAIRN, SEPTEMBER 20,1992.
E OE PROOF COPY
J: ( inaudible).. result in Quecnsland?
PM: Well, let's say I think it's an important result for the Queensland Labor
Party, for Wayne Goss, and I think a bad result for the Liberal Party because they
spent just on a million dollars there, trying to berate the Federal Labor
Government. So there's no comfort for the Liberal Party in this. And, also, their
claim that this is the end of the decade of Labor, I think that's just a bit premature.
J: ( The conservatives) are claiming a swing of about four per cent against
Labor in marginal federal seats.
PM: Well, that's what they're down to. Next thing they'll be down to two and
three per cent swings in municipal wards. I mean, they're flat out finding some
comfort in this, and even that we'd need to analyse. The fact of the matter is, the
Federal Liberal Party spent a lot of money here trying to say that this should be
fought on Federal issues and, basically, I'm afraid, Dr Hewson and Mr Robb have
taken a big loss, a big L. O. S. S.
2/
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1: ( inaudible)
PM: , Well, I'm going to J apan,. and to Singapore and to Cambodia but to
Japan and Singapore, not,-on any initiative or to address particular things but to take
the opportunity of a general discussion about development in the region, about the
bilateral relationship between Australia and Japan, about trade trends generally in
the world, and doing the same thing in Singapore. Now, I'm quite sure Japan has
not been pleased by the remarks of the Leader of the Opposition, but they are a
mature country, they're used to other countries arguing with them about particular
things, and that's why I won't have any problems, I don't think, making it clear that
Labor will maintain a good, working, friendly relationship with Japan and, of
course, absolutely, with Singapore.
J-( inaudible)
PM: Well, I said something about that yesterday. Thk motor industry is arguing
with the stridency of Dr Hewson. The fact is that with zero tariffs they'd basically
be wiped out. The Government's made the right judgment about tariffs, we've
brought tariffs down but not to the point where we won't have an industry.
Thank you.
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