JAUSiX AIAAg
PRIME MINISTER PRESS STATEMENT NO. 159
December 1973
ANNUAL LEAVE
The Australian Government has decided to introduce
legislation to provide for the payment of an annual leave loading
to all its employees of the Australian Government. I
The legislation which will be introduced to the Parliament
next year will provide for the payment of a loading of an amount
equal to average weekly earnings of all adult male wage and salary
earners as disclosed by the Statistician for the September quarter

EMBARGO: 6. pni 7/ 12/ 73
1_, AL! SiHAXL L
PRIME MINISTER PRESS STATEMENT NO. 157
7 DECEMBER 1973
GRANTS TO FILM MAKERS, ETC.
The Chairman of the Film and Television Board of the
Australian Council for the Arts, Mr Phillip Adamis, announced
today that the Prime Minister had approved grants totalling
$ 102,660 to a variety of film and television artists.
These include grants for two projects dealing with
aborigines, a grant to enable inmates of Parramatta gaol to
study script writing and one to help revive a publication

PRIME MINISTER PRESS STATEMENT NO. 156
DECEMBER 1973
VISIT TO AUSTRALIA BY THE FEDERAL GERMAN CHANCELLOR
The Prime Minister, Mr Whitlam, announced today that the
Federal German Chancellor, Herr Willy Brandt, had accepted his
invitation to visit Australia. A date for the visit would be
decided next year. I
Mr Whitlam said that a visit to Australia by Herr Brandt
would give the greatest pleasure to the Australian Government
and people. It would bring particular satisfaction to the
large and important German-born community in Australia and to the

PRIME MINISTER'S PRESS CONFERENCE
PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA
TUESDAY 4 DECEMBER 1973
QUESTION: Prime Minister, the Director of General Motors yesterday
said that his company believed that Australian equity in General
Motors Australia would reduce the quality of its product. Would you
agree that this policy of not allowing Australian equity conflicts
with the thrust of the Government's policy. Why have previous
Governments refused General Motors Corporation of America permission
to sell shares in Australia? Will you reverse this policy if equity

SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINIISTER
MR, E. G. WHITLAM, MP.,
AT THE UNVEILING OF THE EUREKA FLAG,
BALLARAT FINE ART GALLERY,
BALLARAT, 3 DECEMBER
1973
NO DOUBT MY OPPONENTS WOULD SAY THAT THE CHIEF LESSON
OF EUREKA IS A SIMPLE ONE: THE GOVERNMENT WAS NO MORE POPULAR
WITH MINING INTERESTS IN THE MID-NINETEENTH CENTURY THAN THE
PRESEN4T GOVERNMENT IS TODAY. NEVERTHELESS, I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT
IT AN AUSPICIOUS COINCIDENCE THAT THE ELECTION OF THE FIRST
NATIONAL LABOR GOVERNM4ENT FOR 23 YEARS SHOULD HAVE OCCURRED,

EMBARGO': 7.15 p. m.
Monday 3rd December 73
INTERVIEW BY MIKE WILLESEE ON " CURRENT AFFAIR" WITH THE PRIME
MINISTER, MR E. G. WHITLAM, CANBERRA,
MONDAY, 3RD DECEMBER, 1973
WILLESEE: Welcome to " Current Affair" and on the occasion of
the first birthday of the first Labor Government in 23 years we
are privileged to welcome to a " Current Affair" the Prime Minister,
Mr Whitlam. Mr Whitlam, it's not unusual on these occasions to
talk about the worst mistake that you may have made or the
Government may have made....

TEXT OF TELEGRAM SENT TO ALL PREMIERS
BY THE PRIME MINISTER 3/ 12/ 73
My dear Premier, You will remember that on 30th May last I tabled the'
report by the Interim Committee for the Australian Schools Commission
and that on 12th June I cabled you that my Government had decided
to accept the educational programs and financial recommendations of
the Committee for 1974 and 1975. Although the consequential legislation
was passed by the House of Representatives there is some doubt whether
it will be passed by the Senate this year.

THE FIRST YEAR
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER
THE HON. E. G. TWHITLAM, Q. C. M. P.,
ON THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE LABOR GOVERNMENT'S
FIRST YEAR OF OFFICE
( With summaries and tabulations of
legislation, reports, inquiries
and decisions.)
2 DECEMBER 1973

A A Mt
PRIME MINISTER PRESS STATEMENT NO. 155
2 December 1973
DEATH OF DAVID BENGUIRON
The Prime Minister, Mr. E. G. Whitlam, M. P.,
today sent the following telegram to:
" MRS GOLDA MEIR,
PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL
I WISH TO EXTEND MY PROFOUND SYMPATHY TO THE
GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF ISRAEL ON THE DEATH
OF MR. DAVID BENGUIRON. MR. BENGUIRON WILL
BE REMEMBERED AS THE FIRST PRIME MINISTER OF
THE RESTORED STATE OF ISRAEL, AND AS ONE OF
THE OUTSTANDING DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF OUR
GENERATION GOUGH WHITLAM"
CANBERRA, A. C. T.

PRESS STATEMENT NO. 154
November 1973
PAPUA NEW GUINEA SELF-GOVERNMENT
The Prime Minister, Mr Whitlam, sent the following
telegram to Mr Somare to mark his country's transition to
self-government. " Tomorrow 1 December 1973 marks an historic day in the
development of Papua New Guinea when it takes its rightful place
as a self-governing country.
On behalf of the Government an all Australians I send
you, your Government and the people of Papua New Guinea our best
wishes for your future national development and prosperity.