COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
SPEECH BY
The Rt Hon. J. G. GORTON, M. P.
ON
REDUCTIONS IN COMMONWEALTH
GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE
Ministerial Statement
[ From the ' Parliamentary Debates', 16 February 19711
Mr GORTON ( Higgins-Prime Minister)
by leave-Mr Speaker, I recently spoke
to the nation on the state of the economy
and on the likely inflationary effects of the
Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration
Commission's award of a 6 per cent
increase in wages and salaries. I said then
that in order to decide what action should

YOUNG-LBERALCONVENTION,
CANBERRA, ACT FEBRUARY 1971
Speech by the Prime Minister, Mr. John Gorton
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for giving me the opportunity-of making a short
apetoch , nt the beginning of the Convention.
It is greatly hea rtening to a Party to see 200 delegates of Young Liberal
organisations from all over Australia coming here to Canberra to discuss those matters
which they feel are of importance to the Party now, and which they believe will be of
importance to the Party in the future. They are matters which, in the short term

FOR PRESS PM. No. 20/ 1971
NEW SOUTH WALES ELECTIONS
Comment bythe Prime Minister, Mr John Gorton
It will be some days before the picture in New South
Wales is entirely clear, but there is every indication that the
Liberal/ Country Party Government has been returned for a third
term of office, The Liberal/ Country Party administration has provided
six years of stable and progressive government and my congratulations
to Mr Askin on what would appear to be his new mandate.
I look forward to continuing to work closely with Mr

FOR PRESS: PM No. 19/ 1971
TALKS WITH AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATICiI
Statement by the Prime Mijister,_ Mr John Gortor
The Minister for Health and I today had a useful
discussion with representatives of the A. M. A.
The Government made its position clear and the
representatives of the A. M. A. are now going to have further
consultations with their members.
CANBERRA 12 February 1971

FOR PRESS: PM No. 18/ 1971
WAGE RESTRAINT TELEGRAM FROM VICTORIAN
The Prime Minister, Mr. Gorton, today received the following
telegram from the Executive Board of the Victorian Automobile Chamber
of Commerce " FOR URGENT ATTENTION EXECUTIVE BOARD VICTORIAN
AUTOMOBILE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE COMMENDS YOUR
CALL FOR WAGE AND PRICE RESTRAINT IN THE NATIONAL
INTEREST IN ORDER TO AVOID HARMFUL EFFECTS OF
COSTPUSH INFLATION NOW THREATENING AUSTRALIAN
ECONOMY STOP VACC LARGEST TRADE ORGANISATION OF
ITS TYPE IN AUSTRALIA WITH SOME 5000 PROPRIETORS

FOR PRESS: PM No. 17/ 1971
MEETING WITH FINANCE CONFER] ENCE
Statement by the Prime Minister,. Mr. John Gorton
The Prime M1iister, Treasurer and the Governor of
the Reserve Bank today met with representatives of the
Australian Finance Conference.
The object of the meeting was to discuss ways by
which the Finance Companies and the Government could
co-operate should it be necessary to a-ct in the future against
possible inflationary consumer demand.
Consumer demand is not at present significantly
contributing to increased prices.

FOR PRESS PM. -No. 16/ 1071
ECONOMIC CONSULTATIONS
Statemnentb th e P rime Minister, Mr John Gorton
Ministers met today with representatives of
industry and commerce and the consultations will continue tomorrow.
Today's discussions were with representatives of
national organisations in three separate groups representing primary
industry, manufacturing industry and commerce. Discussions will
be held tomorrow with the Export Development Council, the
Manufacturing Industries Advisory Council and the Australian Council

FOR PRESS: PM No. 15/ 1971
MR EGGLETON'S APPOINTMENT TO THE
COMMONWEALTH SECRETARIAT
Statement by the Prime Minister, _ Mr. Iohn Gorton
The appointment of my Press Secretary, 1Dfr. Tony
Eggleton, as Director of Information for the Commonwealth is
announced today.
At the request of Mr. Arnold Smith, the Commonwealth
Secretary-General, I have agreed to release Mr. Eggleton to
fill this significant post with the Commonwealth Secretariat in
London. Mr. Eggleton is his sixth year as Press Secretary

FOR PRESS P. M. No. 1971
PROPOSED INCREASE IN DOCTORS' FEES
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, MR. JOHN GORTON
Dr. Forbes announced last night that he was concerned at the size
of the fee increases recommended by the State Branche s of the Australian
Medical Association. He also stated that he could not accept their recommended increases
as reasonable. Speaking for the Government I now say that we are more than
concerned at the size of the increases. We are appalled that in the

FOR. PRESS: PM 13/ 1971
FLOODAID FOR NEW OUTH WALES
Statement I y the Prime Minister, Mr. lohn Gorton
The Prime Minister announced today that, following discusscions held
between Commonwealth and State officials at the request of the New South Wales
Premier, the Commonwealth Government stood ready to provide additional assistance
to the New South Wales Government in financing relief measures required as a result
of the major flooding in the State.
The Commonwealth Government has already made available the services