Speech by the Prime Minister of Australia at the International
Press Centre in Brussels on 18 December 1974
I am conscious that my visit to Europe-the first
by an Australian Prime Minister for fifteen
years-coincides with a growing sense of crisis
in international economic affairs. Continuing
high rates of inflation, the threat of emergent
recessionary forces, severe balance of payments
problems for many countries, strains on international
monetary mechanisms and the accentuation
of the problems of the developing countries

TREASURER
PARLIAMENT HOUSE,.
CANBERRA 2600
16 Dscmwt. Af
PRESS STATEMENT
By the Acting Prime Minister, Dr J. F. Cairns
C The Acting Prime Minister, Dr Cairns, this morning conferred
with the Minister for. Manufacturing Industry, Mr Enderby, on
the proposed sackings of G. M. H. workers.
Dr Cairns said later that Mr Enderby was arranging discussions
with the President of the Mr Hawke, trade
unions, and the management of G. M. H.
Dr Cairns said he had received a telegram from G. M. H. managing

TR EAZU I:-P.
PARLIAMENT L; C JSi:
CANI4E RA 26tL
PRESS STATEMENT
by L-he Actinq Prime Minister, Dr. J. F. Cairns
The Food Group Index released today showed a substantial
decline of 1.6 per cent for November ( weighted averagefor
the six capital cities) and is the largest monthly
fall since January 1971.
Falls in the Index occurred in all cities except Perth,
where it rose by 0.5 per cent. The largest fall was
2.8 per cent, in Brisbane.
This is the second consecutive monthly decline and the

PRIME MINISTER PRESS STATEMENT NO. 418
17. December 1974
SYDNEY HARBOUR NATIONAL PARK
The Australian Government has agreed to release to
the New South Wales Government on 1 January l97fapproximately
312 hectares of land including 250 hectares of sydney Harbour
foreshore holdings for the creation of a Sydney Harbour National
Park and 60 hectares for other recreational purposes.
This was announced in a joint statement by the
Prime Minister, Mr Whitlam, and the New South Wales Premier,
Sir Robert Askin, today.

-PRESS STATEbIENT BY DR. J. F. CAIRNS, ACTING PRIME MINISTER
HILIBOURNE DECEM. BER, 17, 1974
There is no need for G. M. H. to threaten the Government, nor
to sack thousands of workers to get action by the Government.
A few weeks ago the Government had, with G. M. H. and all other
sections of the industry, most extensive and constructive
discussions. A National Plan for the automotive industry was the result.
Among othe r things, it provided for the reduction to, and
limitation of, imports to about 20 per cent of the total.

457
AUS l RIA. A IA PRP'SS STATEMENT NO. 417
17 Mecember 1974
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN' S YEAR
The Prime Minister, Mr Whitlam, announced today the
recipients of the first set of grants to be made for special
activities during International Women's Year, 1075.
He stated that he had approved the grants on the
advice of the Australian National Advisory Committee for
International Women's Year. This w,. iuld be the first of a
series of grants to be made for the Year .: ind ref-! ected the
areas of special priority determined by the Committee and set

Belgium Speech by the Prime Minister of Belgium, M. Leo Tindemans, at a
dinner in honour of the Prime Minister of Australia in Brussels on
16 December 1974
I take great pleasure in welcoming you to Belgium
and also in welcoming Mrs Whitlam, the
Minister of State, and the important Australian
Delegation.
While our two countries are geographically
separated by a great distance, this does not
necessarily mean that our political and moral
aims are different. Quite the contrary, our two
countries are fundamentally attached to political

PRIME MINISTER'S PRESS CONFERENCE
COLOMBO 15 DECEMBER 1974
FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF PRIME MINISTER'S PRESS CONFERENCE
HELD AT 0830 HOURS SUNDAY, 15 DECEMBER.
REPORTER: REGARDING THE POLICY OF IMMIGRATION YOU HAVE AT THE MOMENT
IN AUSTRALIA WE SEE THERE IS A KIND OF CURTAILMENT. THERE
IS A KIND OF HUNCH OR SOME PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THE SETTLERS IN
AUSTRALIA, FEEL THAT ALTHOUGH YOU STILL HAVE THIS CURTAILMENT
ON THERE IS A KIND OF PREFERENCE TO SOME OF THE PEOPLE COMING
FROM THE WEST WHICH IS A SORT OF UNDECLARED POLICY OF THE

PRIME MINISTER'S INTERVIEW WITH SRI LANKA BROADCASTING
CORPORATION 15 DECEMBER 1974
PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT: INTERVIEW WITH SRI LANKA
BROADCASTING CORPORATION,
FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S INTERVIEW
WITH SRI LANKA BROADCASTING CORPORATION HELD IN COLOMBO
AT 0815 HOURS SUNDAY 15 DECEMBER 1974.
1. QUESTION: MR PRIME MINISTER, SRI LANKA HAS CLOSE LINKS
WITH AUSTRALIA.
WHAT ARE THE MEASURES THAT BOTH NATIONS COULD TAKE TO
FURTHER STRENGTHEN THESE TIES PARTICULARLY IN THE FIELD OF
ECONOMIC CO-OPERATON?

,,, AUSTKAU( A
PRIME MINISTER PRESS STATEMENT NO. 416
December 1974
NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL ON REHABILITATION
The Prime Minister, Mr Whitlam, said today that a
National Advisory Council on Rehabilitation was being
established to advise the Government on all aspects of its
policies affecting the rehabilitation of the injured and
the handicapped. The Chairman will be Mr Justice C. L. D. Meares,
of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, and the Chairman
of the New South Wales Law Reform Commission.