Subjects: Royal Easter Show; GST; Olympic Games
E&OE...
LAWS:
Prime Minister, good morning and welcome.
PRIME MINISTER:
Thank you, I've just ducked out to buy some show bags.
LAWS:
You've been in the agricultural area?
PRIME MINISTER:
Yes, I have . . . the beef cattle, and some of the merinos and I am going
off to have lunch with the beef cattle people. They're actually doing
fairly well at the moment.
LAWS:
Yes, thank God.
PRIME MINISTER:
Thank heavens, they deserve it because they were being knocked around
for a long time . . .
LAWS:
They sure were.
PRIME MINISTER:
The Asian downturn knocked them around, but that's come back and
we've got quite good markets in Japan and Korea and we sometimes
forget that we have made some progress in getting access to some of these
markets over recent years and that's very good news for the bush.
LAWS:
We should be talking about this instead of the GST?
PRIME MINISTER:
Oh well I don't mind, you talk about anything you like. It is coming
soon and it will be good for all of us.
LAWS:
Well, I am convinced . . .
PRIME MINISTER:
We'll have lower personal tax.
LAWS:
Well you know my opinion about the GST.
PRIME MINISTER:
I do.
LAWS:
I think it will be good for all of us. But there's a bit of misunderstanding
and I suppose until it comes in we won't be able to . . .
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, I think the mood of the public now as they know it's coming
in a few weeks time, and I don't think they're listening too
much to the political exchanges about it, they will make their own minds
up in their normal, commonsense way after the first of July. And I think
for most people some things will go up a bit in price, some will come
down and some will remain the same and everybody will have tax cuts, so
I think that's good.
LAWS:
I think I must say that they're all terrified of the thought of
Kim Beazley becoming Prime Minister and rolling back the GST . . .
PRIME MINISTER:
Well . . .
LAWS:
How you roll it back I don't know.
PRIME MINISTER:
Well look, once we get this in, the idea of then going through all of
this again to change it in whole or in part is just crazy and I think
most Australians will take that view.
LAWS:
I agree with you absolutely. Now, how come you're visiting the agricultural
places and you haven't got your hat on?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well . . .
LAWS:
Your good Akubra.
PRIME MINISTER:
Well I decided not to wear it today, it didn't seem to sit, doesn't
seem to suit my business suit and I am going on to something else that
doesn't need an Akubra. But it is a glorious Autumn day.
LAWS:
It's a wonderful day.
PRIME MINISTER:
Yes, it's perfect.
LAWS:
And this complex is absolutely superb.
PRIME MINISTER:
The, all of the people who are involved in the exhibits and the demonstrations
are all telling me that the space and people who have gone to similar
facilities around the world claim it's better than any they've
been to. So it's a real credit to the RAS and everybody else associated
with it.
LAWS:
And I have very little doubt despite the incompetence in many areas of
SOCOG that we will put on the best Olympic Games in the history of the
games.
PRIME MINISTER:
Sydney will do it on its ear.
LAWS:
Absolutely.
PRIME MINISTER:
Sydney has a great capacity to adapt and Australians, everybody will
be very happy and positive and they'll forget all the negative things
when the games come along and it will be a great showcasing of our country
and it will really make you very proud to be an Australian when those
games are on.
LAWS:
I agree with you again, absolutely. Good to see you Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER:
Thanks John.
LAWS:
Thank you very much for your time.
PRIME MINISTER:
Nice of you to have me. Cheers.
[ends]