E&OE..........................................
JOURNALIST:
If you could have one special wish for Christmas what would it
be?
PRIME MINISTER:
I would want all Australians to find happiness to find in Christmas
an opportunity for personal renewal and a chance to see their family
and their dearest friends. That's the greatest wish, as Prime
Minister, that I could make for Christmas.
JOURNALIST:
And Christmas - what does it mean to you?
PRIME MINISTER:
It means the same to me as I guess it does for millions of Australians.
It's a time to stop and see one's family and close friends.
To reflect. To think about how lucky we are as a country and also
to think of those in the Australian community who are less fortunate
than most of us and to help them as much as we can.
JOURNALIST:
And where will you be spending your Christmas?
PRIME MINISTER:
In a very traditional way. The family will go to church early in
the morning. We will exchange gifts and we will have lunch and dinner
together with a larger gathering in the evening. It's a very
traditional way to celebrate Christmas but it means a lot to all
of us and we wouldn't want it otherwise.
JOURNALIST:
And yourself - what would you like for Christmas?
PRIME MINISTER:
I don't think of Christmas in a material way, I think of it
as an opportunity of natural renewal, and an occasion, I hope, that
all Australians, together, can derive personal happiness and content
from.
[Ends]