PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 7TH DECEMBER 1977
NATIONAL PRESS CLUB, CANBERRA
Australia is a country of great potential, great promise. To
realise that potential, Australians need a Government whose
policies reflect certain basic beliefs which most Australians
share.,-a resolve to develop our great resources of mineral
wealth and human initiative, and thus to see our nation grow;
a willingness to defend Australians' independence against
great concentrations of power, whether they be union, business

Embargoed until 8.00 p. m. . jANSRLA
PRIME MINISTER
ruzI DEtCEMIBER 1977
ESSENDON RALLY
in just three days, the men and women of. Australia will make a
decision about our great country's destiny. The alternatives are
clear. Will you reject Labor's policies of futility and fear.
Will you choose our policies of growth and confidence our policies
of success. Our country is poised to move into the 80s and beyond
with new hope, new spirit and a new sense of security. We are now
a nation of many cultures, many rich traditions a nation to which

FOP PRESS 6 DCX;? 1 O77
Mr W~ i~ tlam seeks to make cheap political point -scoring
from the plight of Australia's unemployed.
His last-ditch panic camnpaign to frighten the electorate about
this issue will backfire.
It will backfire because it will remind Australians that Mr
Whitlam's party increased unemployment by 192,000 in one year.
Mr Whitlam had no responsible answers to the problem when in
Government and, presents no credible solutions in opposition.
He insults the intelligence of Australians by offering the

PRIME MINISTER
tOR PRESS 6TrH DECEME1Dl 77
SYD) NEY OPERA BOUSE RALLY
On Satuzday, Australian man and wom~ en from all walk~ s of life wi
make a decision that will determine the path our great country'
Z: will take for-decades to comne.
The alternatives are clear.. Will you choose our poices of
developument and confidence,' our policiea of ruccess? WAJl~ yoiu
roject Labor'sa policies of futi-lity and fear, their policies
of failure?
Thio election is a tuining point in our mnaturing as a naitio~ n.

F77/ 292
FOR PRESS 6 DECEMBER 1977
The Prime Minister announced today that the Government had
recently received proposals from the Queensland Government
for subsidising the cost of transporting cattle by road from
remote areas in Queensland as a means of assisting beef producers.
It is understood that the proposed subsidy schemes are
supported by the United Graziers' Association of Queensland.
The Queensland Government has been requested to provide further
information relating to the proposals.

FOR PRESS 5 DECEMBER 1977
UNEMPLOYMENT FORECASTS
The unemployment forecast prepared within the Department
of Employment and Industrial Relations leaked to the press
tonight was dated 23 August 1977.
This forecast forms part of an internal confidential Departme-tal
working document which was put together without the complete
knowledge of the backup Budget documents and of important development
since then.
The forecast is therefore outdated and misleading for the
following reasons:
. It does not-take full account of the Budget.

T 3 PRES S .77
Xñ ATYOBB/-ZOLT RALbLY
Yokir choice in this election is clear cut. Do you wawlt our
Policies of: development and Coniidence, our polici~ a of suc~ zests?
Or do you wtant Labor's policies of futility asid fear, thair
policies of failuxe?
our policies are succeeding they are ready to take A~ ustralia
into a new period of prosperity and achievement, ~ r doing
the job ' e were elected to do.
We pzomdsed to reduce inflationi We've broken its back-
Inflation is 5% and falling. WNe promised to exW Labor's

F77/ 289
4AUS RL IA
PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 5 DECEMBER 1977
The opinion polls have panicked Mr. Whitlam into an extraordinary
series of falsehoods on inflation and unemployment.
M r. Whitlam has embarked on a last-ditch panic campaign of
fear and deception.
He shows total disregard for truth and fact, and for the
statements of his own spokesmen.
Mr. Whitlam claims Labor will reduce unemployment by at least
100,000, yet a few days earlier Mr. Hayden claimed Labor would
reduce unemployment by one half of one per cent that is,

I) J4AUSTRALIA L
FOR PRESS5 DECEMBER 1977
The Prime Minister today released the text of an exchange of
messages regarding interest rates between himself and Mr. Wran
( copies attached).
Mr. Fraser drew attention to Mr. Wran's support for the
Government's interest rate policy in contrast to the criticism
by Messrs. Hurford and Hayden.
For example, Mr. Hurford on 12 November 1977 said:
" The drop in interest rates was only temporary..."
And on 14 November 1977 he said:
none of us ( Federal and State Labor Leaders) is going

Embargoed until 7.00 p. m. F77/ 288
AUSALI( A
PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 4 DECEMBER 1977
ELECTORATE TALK
As a principal part of our economic policy the Government is
creating conditions for a fall in interest rates. We believe
it is essential that interest rates fall so that Australia's
economic recovery continues.
It is vital for many reasons. It is vital for the build up of
business investment for the re-equipment of our factories
and for the building of new plant. That will create jobs.