Subjects: Senator Harradine, Care workers, Jeff Kennett, Bob Hawke
E&OE............................................................................................
JOURNALIST:
Senator Harradine has given an indication that there's not enough
in what you're doing with the GST, it's going to require
a lot more than tinkering at the margins?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, Senator Harradine has made a speech. We are going to study that
speech. He has asked a number of questions, he sought a lot of additional
information. As we always do, we will study what he has had to say
and we will answer those questions and we will provide that information.
I haven't read that speech, I've had a report given to me,
but we will analyse very carefully what he has had to say and we'll
respond to the questions that he has raised.
JOURNALIST:
Senator Harradine has said that compensation is not adequate enough
at the moment. How do you respond to that?
PRIME MINISTER:
I'm not going to add to anything I've said. We'll answer
the questions he's raised, we'll deal with the points of
information that he's sought, but you're not going to get
me to give some kind of public analysis of Senator Harradine's
response. I don't operate that way.
JOURNALIST:
Has President Habibie asked you to participate in a unit to go to
East Timor?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, that implies some kind of military involvement and the answer
is clearly no. But what President Habibie did say to me was that in
the UN supervision of the vote to be taken in Timor, he would like
Australia involved. Australia of course wants to take a very constructive
attitude and we will of course discuss that and a number of other
issues when we meet in Bali next Tuesday. The meeting will be next
Tuesday as a result there are a lot of things that will be on the
table but Australia is a friend of Indonesia, we want to help, we
want to express the concern we feel about what is occurring in Timor.
I welcome the steps that have apparently been taken by General Wiranto,
the Indonesian Defence Minister and the clear commitment that Dr Habibie
has again given to the process of consultation and decision making
in East Timor.
JOURNALIST:
Mr Howard, former Prime Minister Bob Hawke said in a speech last night
that East Timor was Kosovo in Australia's backyard.
PRIME MINISTER:
Well I don't make a habit of commenting on every remark made
by former Prime Ministers and I am not going to comment on that one.
I thought the contribution that Mr Evans made in the Australian
this morning was quite relevant.
JOURNALIST:
If we can go back to the GST you've clearly got some horse-trading
to do with Senator Harradine?
PRIME MINISTER:
I don't have anything to add Mr Parry to what I have already
said. We'll have a look at what he said. I am not going to ....
JOURNALIST:
(Inaudible) without going into detail.
PRIME MINISTER:
Well what is the other question.
JOURNALIST:
How do you feel your visit to WA has been?
PRIME MINISTER:
It has been very good. First Prime Minister to go to Kalgoorlie for
18 years, very interesting visit.
JOURNALIST:
Any response to the protestors this morning at the breakfast?
PRIME MINISTER:
No, I have forgotten about them actually.
JOURNALIST:
Jeff Kennett was on the cover of a magazine with a couple of young
girls (inaudible) is that appropriate for a Premier to....?
PRIME MINISTER:
Jeff is very good at running his own PR. I won't be giving him
any public advice. Good luck to him.
JOURNALIST:
Prime Minister I know you are going to get cross at me.
PRIME MINISTER:
I never get cross with you.
JOURNALIST:
Going back to the detail of what Senator Harradine said. You clearly
have a job in front of you to deal with him?
PRIME MINISTER:
I'll analyse that question Geoff and I will send you a letter.
JOURNALIST:
Was Senator Harradine's position a surprise?
PRIME MINISTER:
I ll analyse that one too.
[ends]