TRANSCRIPT OF PRESS CONFERENCE, TOWN\ SVILLE, FRIDAY 19 DECEMBER 1986
Question: Well, you must have had an early Christmas present, Sir, with
the OECD report that's. been issued?
PM: Well, it was very good. We're pleased with it, but not ent irely
surprised, because I've been saying, as has Paul Keating) that
we've had the right policies In place, and we've expressed
Cautious optimism for 1987. I'm pleased that the OECD has
confirmed that. It shois that they expect quite solid growth
rates in 1987.

COR NED A 18 D) ECENR 1906
The Pri. ie Ninister today announced tho appointmznt of
Mr W J : Izrr., G aG a C~ mmissionar oC the Public Sorvico Board. He
will fi?. 2 the vacancy created by tho appointent of N'r G G Glen
as Secr :. cy of the Departzent of Local Governzont and
Adminisz: :-tive Services.
mr Harr; who is 46 years old is a career public servant. He
joined ' 2hc public service in 1959 working for 14 yearc in tlo
Office c the ? ublic Service Board. Subsequently ho Ikas orved at
senior in the Departments of Urban and Regional

EMBARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
LAUNCH OF TENDERS FOR TASMAN-2
OPTICAL FIBRE CABLE PROJECT
CANBERRA 16 DECEMBER 1986
I AM TODAY ANNOUNCING THE START OF A TENDERING PROCESS OF
MAJOR SIGNIFICANCE TO AUSTRALIA. WITH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT,
AUSTRALIA IS SET TO ENTER A NEW FIELD OF HIGH TECHNOLOGY
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
THE PROJECT IS THE TASMAN-2 OPTICAL FIBRE CABLE SYSTEM A
2,500 KILOMETRE SUBMARINE CABLE WHICH WILL INVOLVE CONTRACTS
WORTH, ON PRESENT ESTIMATES, SOME 120 MILLION DOLLARS.

6
FOR MEDIA 15 DECEMBER 1986
GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT NATIONAL ESTATE VALUES IN TASMANIAN
FORESTS The Prime minister, the minister for Primary Industry, Mr
John Kerin, and the Minister for Arts, Heritage and
Environment, Mr Barry Cohen, announced today that the
Government will oppose forestry operations in National
Estate areas of Tasmania until it is satisfied that National
Estate values are protected or there are not feasible
alternatives. This followed Cabinet consideration of Tasmanian forestry
operations today.

E 0 E PROOF ONLY
TRANSCRIPT OF JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE WITH THE MINISTER FOR ARTS,
HERITAGE AND ENVIRONMENT, MR COHEN, AND THE MINISTER FOR PRIMARY
INDUSTRY, MR KERIN MONDAY 15 DECEMBER 1986
PM: The Cabinet has had a lengthy consideration of the question
of protecting National Estate values in Tasmania forests. It's
made a decision that it will oppose forestry operations in
National Estate areas of Tasmania until it can be satisfied that
National Estate values are protected, or that there are not

EMBARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
ROBERTSON/ DOBELL ELECTORATES DINNER
GOSFORD 13 DECEMBER 1986
Federal parliamentary colleagues Barry Cohen and Michael Lee,
Ladies and gentlemen.
Around the middle of next year we will have cause to celebrate
the achievement of a new milestone in this Government's history.
It is probably putting it too high to assert that this milestone
is of international or even national importance. But it is
certainly of considerable significance to the people of Gosford

E 0 E PROOF ONLY
TRANSCRIPT OF INTERVIEW WITH IAN M'cMINN 3AK 11 DECEMBER 1986
MCMINN: Prime Minister, welcome to the program and at the end of
the parliamentary year with the Senate finishing last night I am
wondering whether Christmas has arrived early for the Government.
obviously I am referring today's extraordinary trade figures. How
do you see them?
PM: Well, we have said consistently Ian, that we don't get
overly carried away by any one month's figures but having said
that we, of course, welcome this remarkably low figure of

I'
EXCERPT OF TRANSCRIPT OF INTERVIEW FOR SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
WITH MIKE STEKETEE AND PETER BOWERS 9 December 1986
E 0 E Proof Only
STEKETEE: Is the natural unpopularity that the Treasurer has
suffered, particularly during the difficult economic times,
been aggravated in Paul Keating's case, by the blind spot
over failing to tile his tax return?
PM: The Treasurer has obviously suffered as a result of
that. It is something that he acknowledges that he has
suffered as a result of that. And inevitably, there is some

9 DECEMBER 1986

I shall visit three countries of the Middle East from late January to early February 1987 as part of the overseas program which will take me to Switzerland to deliver the opening address to the Davos Meeting on 29 January. I look forward to visiting Jordan, Israel and Egypt, all of which have warm and friendly relations with Australia.

FOR MEDIA 8 DECEMBER 1986
It is with great pleasure that I sign today the instrument
of ratification by which Australia will become a party to
the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone ( SPNFZ) Treaty the
Treaty of Rarotonga.
The countries of the South Pacific Forum have built upon
existing international treaties to make a new treaty that
will help preserve the South Pacific as it is today free
from nuclear weapons stationed in the countries and
territories of the region; free from nuclear waste dumping;