PRESS STATEMENT NO. 563
23 September 1975
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
The non-Labor parties are demonstrating once
again their 4contempt for the democratic system by boycotting
the Constitutional Convention which opens in Melbourne
tomorrow. The cynicism and hypocrisy of the Opposition is
all the more extraordinary because they have chosen the
opening day of the Convention to release details of their
so-called policy on federalism. The Liberal and National
Country Party leaders, Federal and State, will be in

QUESTIONS. FROM TH. E. HOBART PRESS. CLUB LUNCHEON
22 SEPTEMBER 1975
Bowers Mr Fraser's been maindenishly coy about whether or not
he intended to catch you with your trousers down as he
so charmingly put it. Can you say with precision what
you'd do if the Opposition blocks Supply in the
Senate next month?
P. M. Well, there are various options and I wouldn't at this
stage specify which one I at this stage find most
attractive. But all I need to say is it's been
assumed that if an Upper House rejects a Budget or

S HOBART PRESS CLUB
22 SEPTEMBER 19751
OPENING STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER N C
Mr President, Ladies and Gentlemen.
Thank you for giving me an opportunity again, directly
and personally, and in these hospitable surroundings, to speak
to the representatives of the Tasmanian Press. There's
one particular point I want to make to you today: that is
that the Australian Government is determined to remove the
handicap of isolation which Tasmania suffers as Australia's
only island State. Of necessity this is a long-term aim. it

a EMBARGO: AS DELIVERED ON
' THIS WEEK'
21 SEPTEMBER 1975
INTERVIEW WITH THE PRIME MINISTER ON HSV7' s
" THIS WEEK" PROGRAM. RE-PLAY SUNDAY
21 SEPTEMBER 1975
QUESTION: A lot of speculation about whether there's going to
be an election before the Labor Government ends its term in
1977. If an election is held bef9re May next year, what would
your reaction be to that? Would you welcome it?
PRIME MINISTER: I think there ought to be an election for the
House of Representatives at the end of the proper term, that is~,

Embargo: 5 pmS1
PRIME MINISTER's WEEKLY BROADCAST
THE RIGHT TO GOVERN
Sunday 21 September 1975
Once again the press has been full of noisy
speculation about the Opposition rejecting the Budget and
somehow forcing another election. It is important to put
an end to this talk because it is ill-founded and damaging
damaging to the whole process of good government and
administration, damaging to the stability and confidence
of the entire community. I noti'ce Mr Fraser was quoted as
the other day that a bit of uncertainty about elections

) 4WUtRLIA PRESS STATEMENT NO. 562
19 September 1975
OFFICIAL CAR TRANSPORT
The Prime Minister has announced that as part of
its deliberations on the Budget and in keeping with its
desire to cut costs wherever practical, the Government
has decided to restrict the use of official bar transport.
A number of measures have already been taken and
further measures are in hand to achieve this objective.
Rules governing the use of official transport
were last reviewed by the Rt. Hon. J. McEwen as Acting
Prime Minister in April 1966.

PRESS STATEMENT NO. 561
EMBARGO: 12 midnight 19 September 1975
VISIT BY THE PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA
Th%, Prime Minister announced today that the Right
Honourable Tun Haji Abdul Razak bin Datuk Hussein, Prime
Minister of Malaysia, is to visit Australia from Wednesday
October to Wednesday 22 October 1975. He will be
accompanied by his wife, Toh Puan Hajjah Rahah.
Tun Razak and his wife are due to arrive at
Canberra from Sydne9 at 12 noon on 15 October and to
leave for Adelaide at 00 p. m. on Friday 17 October.

Press Statement No. 560

The Prime Minister and Acting Minister for Foreign Affiars, Mr E. G. Whitlam, announced today that the Australian Government will make a cash contribution of $ 100,000 to the International Committee of the Red Cross ( ICRC) appeal for
humanitarian assistance to the victims of the recent fighting in Portuguese Timor.

EMBARGO LEm ue
ADDRESS BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON. E. G. WHITLAM, M. P
AT THE PAPUA NEW GUINEA INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATIONS,
PORT MORESBY, 16 SEPTEMBER 1975
This is a day that will live in history.
There can never be a more important day in a
nation's history, than its birthday. But the significance
of this day in the broad sweep of history goes beyond even
that for Papua New Guinea, for Australia, for our region
and for the Commonwealth of Nations around the world.
Today Australia, herself once a group of colonies,

EMpmBTAuGeOda: y6P RESS STATEMENT NO. 559
EMpmBTAuGedOa: y616 September 1975
AUSTRALIAN INDEPENDENCE GIFT TO PAPUA NEW GUINEA
* The Prime Minister, Mr Whitlam, announced this
evening that the gift from the Australian Government and
people to ma'rk the occasion of Papua New Guinea'ss
independence would take the form of a national library
building and~ associated books and equipment. Mr Whitlam,
who formally conveyed advice to this effect to the Papua
New Guinea Government at a ceremony in Port Moresby this