A
FOR PRESS 16 DECEMBER 1977
I have considered the position of the Deputy Leader of the
Liberal Party, the Right Honourable Phillip Lynch, in the
light of his disclosure to me of his family's financial interests
and in particular, their interests in commercial arrangements
entered into in September 1973 whilst he was in Opposition, and
concluded in 1976 after he became Treasurer, concerning land at
Balnarring in Victoria.
I have also taken independent advice from Mr Stephen Charles, Q

-hi
1J. AU8T ALIAPRIME
MINISTER
FOR PRESS 16 DECEMBER 1977
JOINT STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER AND THE PREMIER OF VICTORIA
HOSPITAL PINANCES
We met today to discuss the situation of hospital finances in
Victoria. We agreed that both Governments want a speedy and
sensible solution to the financial problems facing Victorian
hospitals. Officers will meet urgently to prepare a joint report to both
Governments in January.
We agreed that the following principles dhould guide their
considerations: 1. The Commonwealth cmmaitment-to 50-50 sharing of

V 4J~ AUSTRALIA ~ g-
PRIME MINISTER.
FOR PRESS 15 DECEMBER 1977
JOINT COMMONWEALTH/ STATE RVEWOF THE ORD RIVER IRRIGATION AREA
The Prime Minister, Mr Frasez and the Premier of Western Australia,
Sir Charles Court, today announced further details of the joint
Commonwealth/ State review which is to be established to report
to both Governments on the future development of the Ord River
Irrigation Area.
Following discussions between the Prime Minister and the Premier,
agreement has been reached onthe composition of the body to

PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS14 DECEMBER 1977
MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT CARTER
The Prime -Minister has received the following message.
" Dear Malcolm,
Please accept my warmest congratulations on the election
victory of the Liberal/ National Country Party Coalition.
. During the past year I have valued your friendship and counsel.
-T now-rook-forward with pleasure-to-continuing to work together
with you in pursuit of our common goals of economic progress,
peace, and human freedom, goals which the United States and

EMBARGO: 7.00 p. m.
PRIM MUTAINISTE
FOR PRESS 11 DECEMBER 1977
ELECTORATE TALK
I would like to thank the people of Australia for the confidence
they have -shown in my Government. They have shown that
confidence because the Government has operated as a team.
Nobody could have been a better lieutenant than Doug. Anthony, the
Deputy Prime Minister.
. All the members of the team have worked with a common purpose,
a common objective and a common wish -and that is to serve
Australia and overcome-the economic problems that Australia faces,.

1!,, AUISTi{ A IA*
PRIME MiNiSTER
FOR PRESS 9 DECEMBER 1977
STATEMENT TO PRESS CONFERENCE, KIRRIBILLI HOUSE, SYDNEY
This election contest has been hard fought. Opposing policies
and proposals have been argued over in detail across Australia.
People have a clear choice in this election between the
consistent, coherent and responsible policies of the Liberal
National Party Government and Labor's policies.
We have laid the framework for a real advance into the future
in which Australia can be an example to the world. In which

YH A. IA, ,7
PRIME MONISTER
FOR PRESS 8DECEMBER 1977
LIVING STANDARDS
The National Accounts for September which were released last week
include statistics which provide a further illustration of how
Australian living standards have risen since the Government was
elected two years ago.
The National Accounts show that real average earnings were
two to three percent higher in the September quarter than they
were in December 1975.
The previous National Accounts for the June quarter showed that

A U S TZHA I. I A
PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 8 DECEMBER 1977
INTEREST RATES
Mr Whitlam, Mr Hayden and Mr Hurford will not commit themselves
to the Government's present policy of progressively lowering
interest rates through the rest of this financial year
because it is an implicit part of their plan to raise them.
They would simply have no option, given the totality of their
economic proposals. They know this only too well.
The inevitability of higher interest rates under Labor can be

EMBARGO: 8.30 p. m.
FOR PRESS .8TH DECEMBER 1977
HURSTVILLE RALLY
on Saturday, a g reat decision has to be made, a decision about
our future, about the kind of life we want to lead, about the
kind of country we want to pass onto our children.
We must elect a government that meets the real needs, the real
aspirations of the Australian people, that will provide
Australians with the freedom to build the kind of life we
want, that will provide incentives to achieve and fair reward
for initiative, that will create opportunities and productive

FOR PRESS 7 DECEMBER 1977
THE ELECTION CHOICE
People have a clear choice in this election.
Liberal policies of development and confidence our policies
of success or Labor's policies of futility and fear,
their policies of failure?
There's no real choice. Labor's way just won't work.
Australians now have an opportunity to move with the Liberals
into the 1980' s arnd beyond with a new found confidence, a new
spirit, a new sense of security and a new sense of national
purpose. We've done the first stage of the job. Now we're ready to carry thiq