PR, I 3 1~ I ON I
FOR PRESS 25 FEBRUARY 1979
ELECTORATE TALK
After three years of policies directed at overcoming inflation
and rebuilding the economy, the signs of progress are clear.
There is little doubt that 1979 is the year in which the
fruits of our endeavours will become apparent.
official figures provide increasing grounds for optimism.
Consumer demand is encouraging, production has strengthened,
private investment is growing strongly, investment in plant
and machinery is much above last year, while the outlook for

AUSTKALIA,, Ij
t6Z
FOR PRESS i 23 FEBRUARY 1979
Attached is Mr Robinson's letter of resignation and the Prime
Minister's acceptance of it.
PRIME MENI STER ISt~.~
V. N
* QF~ F

AP'j L t Ir. n S PZ
. ACT MCT
ec icray Pr. imhe Hin. i:;.~ r
' In wxtincj j to . info. ra yoi) of 1m y c.' iTL-f; ( l Y-COi
Cabinet. I Din rJOI.-t able to ive yon thi! it~ cthWL. Y13j):;
expect of a minter.
Yo~ urs sincerely
BrSL L. Robinson
II Ct'A.,-iUA. M SNT 14.0 U
raHiA AC'I 2 ij
: I;
. J~

PR~ ESS OFFICE TRANSCRIPT 2 ERAY17
MR. NIXON INTERVIEWED: MINISTERIAL TRAVEL
FROM ABC'S " NATIONWIDE" ( 23/ 2/ 79)
There was a short debate in the Parliament tonight on, as it was
put, the extravagant costs of Ministerial travel. A lot of
mud was thrown by the Opposition, but the Government could hardly
complain they were equally eager to employ the same tactics
when they had the opportunity.
Shadow Transport Minister, Mr. Peter Morris, the man who threw
the mud today, is in Canberra with Richard Carlton, together

PRI IME MINISTER 22 FEBRUAItY 1979 1 e C
From the Press Office
SUMkLAkRY OF ABC'S 7: 00 PM TELEVISION NEWS
In major statement to Parliament today, the Prime Minister
expressed the Government's concern that the fighting in
Vietnam might spread. Mr. Fraser said although China had
indicated it would act with prudence, there must be no
underestimation of the serious danger posed to the region
and the world by the present conflict. Mr. Fraser interviewed.
The Leader of the Opposition gave his view of the

PRIME MINISTER 22 FEBRUARY 1979
From the Press Office
SUMMARY OF ABC'S
After surviving the rigours of the Queensland electoral
redistribution affair, Federal Minister for Finance, Mr. Eric
Robinson, stunned Parliament last night by resignina.
No reasons have been given. Is understood Mr. Robinson told
Party colleagues he could not longer qive the Prime Minister
his unqualified suoport. Report from Geoff Duncan: " Behind
the scenes all has not been well and the Fraser-Robinson
relationship has deteriorated to its present finale. According

ni-c
PRIWE M4INISTER 22 FEBRUARY 1979
from the Press Office
Summary of ABC õ " Newsvoice".
A Vietnamese deputy foreign minister has told newsmen in
Hanoi that the Chinese are gearing up for a bigger attack.
Vietnam is reported to have acknowledged the loss of Lao Cai, a
provincial capital which fell to the Chinese on Tuesday.
Since capturing Lao Cai, the Chinese have pushed another
8 kilometers down the Red River towards Hanoi, 28 kilometers
inside Vietnam.
On the eastern fronts, heavy Chinese attacks threaten the

PRESSOFFICETRANSCRIPT_ 22 FEBRUARY 1979
INTERVIEW WITH NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF METAL TRADES
INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, MR. KEN FRY
FROM ABC'S " NEWSVOICE", 22/ 2/ 79
National Director of the Metal Trades Industry Association
is speaking about the reasons behind the increased
confidence:
MR. FRY:
I think the major thing is the very excellent improvement
in the reduction in the rate of inflation. I think, with
inflation down around it restores confidence of
the businessman considerably. That's not to say we don't

PRESS OFFICE TRANSCRIPT 22 FEBRUARY, 1979
INTERVIEW WITH SENATOR SUSAN RYAN: BENEFITS OF
DOMESTIC SATELLITE
2 2/ 2/ 7 9
Senator Ryan:
Well the Government's being very irresponsible about this
whole proposal. They are allowing country people to believe
that all sorts of communications services, telephone, education
over the air, medical services, will be a part of the
proposal when in fact they are not. They are things that
could happen if the Government was prepared to spend money
on them. To date, of course, the Government's main

PRESS OFFICE TRANSCRIPT 2 ERAY17
MR. HAYDEN INTERVIEWED ON INDO-CHINA SITUATION
FROM ABC'S 7: 00 PM TELEVISION NEWS
Mr. Hayden:
It's quite clear that there has been a marked deterioration
in the situation there. There are chilling prospects if
this escalation were to get out of hand. I won't qo into
the details unless you want me to. But Australians don't
have to be alarmed in terms of them being directly implicated
but we do have to be concerned because we do have
responsibilities as part of the world brotherhood of mankind.

PRIME MINISTER 22 FEBRUARY 1979
From the Press Office
SUMMARY OF ABC'S 7: 45_ AMNEWS_
In a sudden and dramatic move last night, the Minister for
Finance, Mr. Robinson, resigned from the Ministry. No reason
was given by Mr. Robinson or the Prime Minister.
Duncan Fairweather reports Mr. Robinson's resignation came
without warning: According to those close to Mr. Robinson
he had become increasingly disenchanted with Mr. Fraser's
leadership. They explained this was probably brought to a
head when the Prime Minister apparently agreed with