BACKGROUND BRIEFING GIVEN BY THE
LEADER OF THE LIBERAL PARTY,
SENATOR GORTON, AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE,
CANBERRA 9TH JANUARY, 1967
SENATOR GORTON: Well, I have no statement to make but perhaps you
have some question.......
Q. Perhaps you can give us the mechanics of the business
tomorrow?
A. I expect to be sworn In as Prime Minister at 2.30 tomorrow
afternoon. I do not propose to make any changes at all in the Ministry
which will carry on in the same way it is carrying on now until after the
Higgins by-election Is concluded.

16 JAHW~
STATEMENT BY SENATOR GORTON ON HIS ELECTION
AS LEADER OF THE LIBERAL PARTY
PAR LIAMENT HOUSE. CANBERRA OTH JANUARY, 196C
I think that you will all realise that this is not really the
occasion for a press conference which would delve quite deeply Into a
number of matters that this is not the appropriate time to deal with.
All I want to say to you and to those who may be looking at
this programme is this. This is quite an awe-inspiring thing, using
awe-inspiring in its true sense, to happen to a man In some ways it

FOR RES EMAB. ARGO: Not to be puiblished
FORPRSS2 4JAN 1966 or broadcast before 4 p. m. on
Friday, 5th January, 1968.
TARIFF CHANGES ON TEXTILES AND SOUYD RECORDERS AND REPRODUCERS
( Statement by the Prime Minister and Minister for Trade
and Industry, Mr. J. Mc~ wen)
The Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry,
Mr. J. McEwen, announced today that the Government has adopted
reports by the Tariff Board on textiles and on sound recorders
and reproducers. Mr. McEwen said the reports on textiles represented the

FOR PRESS: RARPM. No. 4/ 1968
U. S. BALANCE OF PAYMENTS
AUSTRALIA U. S. DISCUSSIONS
JOINT COMMUNIQUE
The Economic Committee of Australian Cabinet and
associated officials met today with the U. S. Under Secretary of State
for Political Affairs, Mr Eugene V. Rostow, and his party. The
discussions continued throughout the day.
Mr Rostow came to Australia as special envoy of
President Johnson for the purpose of explaining and discussing the
short and long-term implications of the United States balance of payments

FOR PRESS 224 JA141968
LIB3RpA" IPM. No. 3 968
ASSISTANCE FOR QUINTUPLETS
Statement by the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon John McEwen
The Federal Government had decided to offer to assist
the Braham family following the birth of their quins, the Prime Minister
( Mr McEwen) said today.
However, the Government would not decide on details
of the assistance until it had conferred with the family to ascertain their
needs. The Government would also confer with the New South
Wales Government in the light of any arrangements the State might be

I iJAN me
FOR PRESS: VLAR PM. No. 2/ 1968
ABANDONMENT OF PORTSEA SEARCH
Statement by the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon John McEwen
The Prime Minister, Mr McEwen, announced today that
the organised search for the late Mr Harold Holt would cease tomorrow
( Friday) following advice given yesterday by the Victorian Government.
The Victorian Government said the Chief Commissioner of
police, after consultation with representatives of other organisations
participating In Portsea Searcil advises that It Is the opinion of all

FOR PRESS: 04N16 ' 8,, A~ fCPM . No. 1/ 1968
UNITED STATES AND BRITISH GOVERNMENT MISSIONS
TO VISIT AUSTRALIA
Statement by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. John McEwen
The Prime Minister, Mr McEwen, announced today that a high
level mission from the United States would arrive in Canberra this week for
talks with the Austral'. an Government on the effects of the balance of payments
programme outlined In President Johnson's message to the United States on
1 Jan uary, 1968. Mr McEwen said the miusion would be led by the Under-Secretary

CL:-10 JAN 1968
Tariff Changes
( Statement by the Prime Minister
and Minister for Trade and Industry
Mr. J. McEwen)
The Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and
Industry, Mr. J. McEwen, today announced a number of
tariff changes which would operate iiarediately.
Mr. McEwen said that the changes would add to
the tariff preferences which Australia accorded to certain
manufactured, semi-manufactured and handicraft products
imported from less-developed countries. They would also
provide, he said, for amendments to special rates for

Emoargoed until 7.45 p. m. on Monday, January 1
New Year Messa.{ e to Australia from the Prime Minister the Rt. lion.
John Mc Ewen
On this first day of the new year I send greetings and my
warm good wishes to all Australians.
For the year ahead we have a clear programme of national
ondeavoj To Mr Harold Holt must go the credit for the constructive
prograLme which lies oefore us.
We enter 1968 with our economic oase secure and strong,
There are proolems serious for some of our rural industries which

nC
FOR RE~ SS -3JAN 1968
NEW ZEALAND BUTTER IN AUSTRALIA
Statement by the Prime Minister and
Minister for Trade and Industry
( Mr. J. McEwen), replying to suggestions
that New Zealand Butter might
be imported into Australia.
Speaking as Minister for Trade and Industry,
Mr. MoEwen said that the New Zealand Prime Minister ( Mr.
Holyoake) had raised with him during talks in Canberra
last week the question of the likelihood of Australia being
unable to fill her full quota of butter for the British