FOR PRESS: PM No. 34/ 1971
MURRAY BY-ELECTION
Comment bythe Prime Minister, Mr. William McMahon
Voting in the Murray By-Election demonstrated strong
support for the Government Parties. The Country Party and the
Liberal Party secured about 63 percent of the total formal vote,
Congratulations to Mr. Bruce Lloyd on retaining the
seat for the Country Party.
The Liberal Party candidate, Mr. Bill Hunter, did well
in obtaining over 20 percent of the vote in the Liberals' first campaign

FOR PRESS: PM No. 33/ 1971
NEW HIGH COMMISSIONER TO NEW ZEALAND
The Prime Minister, The Rt. Hon. William McMahon, today
announced the appointment of Senator the Honourable Dame Annabelle
Rankin D. B. E. as the new Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand.
Mr. McMahon said " As Foreign Minister, I had had discussions
with Dame Annabelle about the possibility of her accepting a diplomatic
appointment. She then informed me that she would be interested in a diplomatic
post should a suitable one become vacant.

FOR PRESS: PM No. 32/ 1971
PREMIERS' CONFERENCE AND
AUSTRALIAN LOAN COUNCIL
Statement by the Prime Minister, Mr. William McMahon
Arrangements have now been completed with the State
Premiers for meetings of the Premiers' Conference and the
Australian Loan Council to be held at Canberra on Monday
April. The Parliament will not now sit on 5 April.
CANBERRA 18 March 1971

FOR PRESS: PM No. 31/ 1971
PERMANENT HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF THEVC RE IDE O THCOU IL
Statement b the Prime Minister, Mr. William McMahon
On 12 March 1971 I announced that His Excellency the
Governor-General in Council had established two new Departments of
State and abolished two existing Departments.
One of the two new Departments is the Department of
the Vice-President of the Executive Council.
His Excellency has today approved of the appointment
of Sir Lenox Hewitt as The Secretary to the Department of the

PRESS) RAD! O AND TV INTER VIEW GIVEN BY THE
PRIME MINISTER, MR WILLIAM MCMAHON AT
LIBERAL PARTY HEADQUARTERS, CANBERRA 12 MARCH 1971
Q. Prime Minister, can you confirm any rumours or
speculation about Ministebal appointments, for example Mr Fairbairn
as Foreign Minister?
PM: I can't confirm anything yet because I have not
made up my mind. I can't say that I cannot, but you will this
afternoon be getting a statement on administrative changes that is,
the changes in the structure of Departments. There will be the

FCR PRESS: PM No. 30/ 1971
DEATH OF FRANK CLUNE
Message from the Prime Minister
The Prime Minister, Mr. William McMahon today
sent the following message to Mrs. Thelma Clune
" My wife and I offer you and your family our
sincerest sympathy on the loss of your husband.
As a personal friend and a writer who gave
so much pleasure to countless Australians, the
name of Frank Clune will long be remembered
with affection.
I well remember the inscription on the first
of his books he sent to me.
CANBERRA 12 March 1971

FOR PRESS: PM No. 29/ 1071 NEW ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS

Statement by the Prime Minister, Mr. William McMahon.

His Excellency the Governor-General in Council has today established two new Departments of State and abolished two existing Departments.

The two new Departments are:

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

The Department of the Vice-President of the Executive Council.

NEW PRIME MINIST'ER
PRESS, RADIO AND TV CONFERENCE GIVEN BY THE
LEADER CF THE LIBERAL PAKW-T-7( 4R. WILLIAMFIMcMAHON
CANBERRA 10OMARCH 1971
MR. McMAHON: There is not much I want to say to you other than that today
the Party has had a vote, voting for the Prime Ministership, an~ d they decided
they wanted a new election for the Leader of the Liberal Party. The vote was
taken and I have been declared the Leader of the Party and I consulted with
Mr. Gorton about taking over from himr. The vote was also taken for the Deputy

FOR PRESS: PM No. 28' 1971
MINISTERIAL ARRANGEMENTS
Statement bythe Prime Minister, Mr. William McMahon
This afternoon, His Excellency the Governor-General
received Mr. John Gorton at Government House and accepted his
resignation as Prime Minister.
Mr. Gorton recommended that I should be appointed as
Prime Minister. Subsequently I was sworn in by His Excellency. On my
recommendation, Mr. Gorton was appointed as Minister for Defence.
Other Ministers retain their portfolios until . I have