. JAU5T1( ALA_,
FOR PRESS 23 OCTOBER 1978
ADDRESS AT
ASEAN TRADE FAIR
I ama delighted to be here today to open the ASEAN Trade Fair,
and to see so many representatives from ASEAN countries.
The idea of a Fair to promote further the development of
economic co-operation between Australia and ASEAN was first
suggested in discussions I had with the ASEAN Heads of Government
in Kuala Lumpur in August 1977. It is a tribute to everyone
involved that the idea has been transformed into such an impressive

PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 22 OCTOBER 1978
ELECTORATE TALK
shortly, the Primary Industry Bank of Australia will begin
processing its first applications from farmers for long term
loans. The establishment of the bank fulfills a pledge by the Government
to cater for the special credit needs of rural Australia.
Access to long term capital on suitable terms had become a
serious problem for the family farm. With the commercial market
unable to meet this need a new and unique insitituion was

IN'] ERVIEW WITH ' THE PRIIMIE MIISTIER AND SIR GiARLES ( flURI PER'IH, 21 OCTOBER 1978
PRDbE MIS15TER: . very useful discussion. We have been assessing where
we see Australia and Western Australia moving as we get into the
1980' s. The meeting that will held the Loan Council in only
a few days time now about infra-structure financing proposals is
going to be a very historic meeting between the Premiers and the
Commonwealth because it is going to make it possible for the States
to borrow overseas in a way which will assist major resource projects and

PRIVU3 MINISTER'S INTERVIEW~ WITH RADIO 6PR -PERTH -20 OCTOBNR 197
QUES~ TION
.4ban on Jews entering Damascus?
PRIM~ E MINISTER., Well, it is very good news of course, because
we can't really condone a situation in which there is discrimination
against any section of the Australian people. Through the ages
there has been, fromi time to time, with differing severity,
discrimination against the Jewish people. Many Jews came to
Australia a long which ago, because this is a land, I believe,

AUST R A
PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 20 OCTOBER 1978
The Prime Minister today welcomed the assurances that the
Government had received from the Government of Syria, that
restrictions on Australian passengers of the Jewish faith
transitting through Damascus airport are no longer applicable.
These assurances had been given following representations by
the Australian Government, which had been very concerned about
reports that QANTAS was acceding to Syrian regulations that
prohibited people of Jewish faith, of any nationality, travelling

PRIME MINISTER 17 October 1978
APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN, PUBLIC SERVICE
BOARD
The Prime Minister announced today that Mr R. W. Cole would
be appointed as Chairman of the Public Service Board to
succeed Mr K. C. O. Shann, C. B. E. whose retirement was
announced earlier.
Mr Cole is presently Secretary, Department of Finance, He is
a former Australian Statistician and Director of the
Bureau of Transport Economcis, and has held various senior
posts in the Commonwealth Treasury.
Mr Cole will take up his appointment on 2 November.

PRIME MINISTER.
FOR PRESS 17 OCTOBER 1978
ELECTION OF POPE JOHN PAUL II
The Prime Minister has sent the following cable to His Holiness
Pope John Paul II:
" Your Holiness,
I would like to express my congratulations
on behalf of the Australian Government and people
on the occasion of your election as Pope.
You come to this high office at a time when
mankind seeks the spiritual and moral strength
and leadership which your predecessors have given.
Your own experience and background are unique in

PRESS OFFICE TRANSCRIPT 16 OCTOBER, 1978 ( U7~
INTERVIEW ON MIKE WALSH SHOW
CHANNEL 10 SYDNEY, 16.8.78
Walsh: Good to see you again. It's about 12 months since you last
did our programme and in that time I think not a day has gone
by in my life without someone saying to me,' as Malcolm Fraser
said, life wasn't meant to be easy'. Do you ever regret
saying that? It's become the great quote of all time I think.
Prime Minister:
I don't think so because it is a fact of life. If people want
to do things well it's not easy, it's hard. You've got to

PRESS OFFICE TRANSCRIPT
PRIME MINISTER AT EMAIL LTD. 16 October 1978
signify any personal moves by you to become more involved
perhaps in the youth unemployment problem?
PRIME MINISTER:
I think the Government has been very much involved in the
problems of youth and youth unemployment right throughout.
This isn't by any means the first visit I've made--the first to an
apprenticeship school in Sydney--but in Melbourne to an experimental
programme for unemployed youth which is catering for a different

EHBARGO: 7.00 p. m.
FOR PRESS 15 OCTOBER 1978
ELECTORATE TALK
A sad and deplorable situation was exposed during this past
week in the Parliament by the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs,
Ian Viner. For some months now, the Cononwealth Government
has been engaged in patient negotiations with the Northern
Land Council, an elected body representing a large section of the
Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory.
The negotiations have been related to the social and environmental
impact of uranium development in the Northern Territory.