E&OE...................................................................................................
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, it was a great result and on behalf of all Australians I congratulate
Steve Waugh and all the members of the Australian team. Shane Warne
on being named man of the match. I had the opportunity of speaking
to Steve Waugh last night just after the game to congratulate him,
it certainly sounded a very excited Australian dressing room and not
surprisingly because to win seven in a row is an astonishing performance.
The team had been written off by some of its critics without any real
prospect of winning the World Cup and I think it's just an outstanding
performance which fills all Australian sports lovers with great pride.
It also, incidentally, caps a great weekend of sport for Australians.
The men's and women's hockey teams were victorious and, of course,
the Wallabies beat Ireland in the Rugby Union Test in Perth. So the
World Cup triumph is a tremendous end to a great sporting weekend
for all Australians.
JOURNALIST:
Mr Howard, will there by any kind of Commonwealth reception to welcome
home the World....
PRIME MINISTER:
I am having a look at that. I am sure that in different ways all Australians
will want to honour the team and I am looking at what will be an appropriate
thing for the Federal Government to do and I am sure the Federal Opposition
as well.
JOURNALIST:
Are you feeling a little bleary eyed yourself?
PRIME MINISTER:
I am feeling a bit bleary eyed. I haven't had a lot of sleep the last
week or 10 days but it's all been in a tremendous cause and last night
was just terrific and a very resounding victory. The contest was not
as tight as the two previous games but the outcome was very gratifying
indeed and the delirious pandemonium that I could hear over the mobile
phone in the Australian dressing room last night was tremendous.
JOURNALIST:
Any individual efforts you would like to single out Prime Minister?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, I think Steven Waugh's century, his 120-odd in the match that
we needed to win to get into the semi-final against South Africa last
Sunday week, I thought that was the innings of the series as far as
Australia was concerned. That was the game that made it really...the
innings that made it really possible for us to end up winning the
World Cup. Without that we would not have beaten South Africa in that
match and therefore would have not got to the semi-final and certainly
not to the final. It was an absolutely World Cup winning innings and
the best one day innings I have seen. There may have been better ones
that I haven't seen but of the ones I have seen there have been none
better.
JOURNALIST:
Are you sympathetic on any staffers who are a bit bleary eyed this
morning?
PRIME MINISTER:
Absolutely. All is forgiven today.
JOURNALIST:
You must be pleased the early finish perhaps has improved Australia's
productivity today?
PRIME MINISTER:
Oh look, I always knew Australians would turn up at work but I always
knew they'd be a bit more tired and I think everybody understands
that. It's all been in a tremendous cause and there's such a feeling
of benevolence and goodwill and gratitude towards the team I think
that will do wonders for productivity.
JOURNALIST:
Can we ask you a couple of quick questions on other issues? Can I
ask, Mr Beazley is saying that the Telstra bonus for Tasmania is a
huge bribe....
PRIME MINISTER:
Oh really, really. I mean, we went to the election with this. What
are they going on about? And why is Mr Beazley against helping the
State that has got the highest unemployment in this country? I mean,
how mean can you get? Tasmania needs a bit of help, Tasmania has got
a very high level of unemployment, doesn't have a lot of industry.
I mean, is Mr Beazley so insensitive that he doesn't understand that?
JOURNALIST:
Are other States missing out to Tasmania...
PRIME MINISTER:
No, they are not missing out because in relation to the other States
they were all very, very generously treated in the first part of the
social bonus. And when you take into account all of the considerations
the Government has to bring to bear on this it's a very fair proposal.
And I just say again that we took this to the people, the people voted
for this, we have a mandate to indeed sell the whole of Telstra let
alone another 16 per cent.
JOURNALIST:
Do you have any indication at this stage about how Senator Colston
may vote?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, I hope that he will see the value of this package for Queensland.
I hope that he will see the educational advantages, things that he
has always been interested in in his time in the Senate. I never take
anything for granted but I am hopeful that we will get the support
of the Senate. But I have learnt from past experience that you don't
really know until the votes are finally cast.
JOURNALIST:
Prime Minister, on tax. There's a suggestion this morning that the
Government's timetable is too pushed, that individuals or the new
Senate could be sworn in at midnight at the end of June and then push
on straight into another....
PRIME MINISTER:
It's all news to me that, I don't know anything about that. Thank
you. [ends]