EMBAGOEDEMBARGOEDEMAGD
FEDERAL ELECTIONS 1969
POLICY SPEECH
PRESENTED BY THE PRIME MINISTER,
MR. JOHN GORTON
NOT FOR RELEASE BY ANY MEDIA UNTIL 8 P. M.
WEDNESDAY 8 OCTOBER
EMBARGOED. EMBARGOED
INTRODUCTION: A little less than twenty years ago the Australian people
dismissed a Labor Government and installed a Liberal/ Country Party
coalition. They were tired of controls, for the sake of controls. They
were dismayed by unemployment and general strikes. They were frightened
of the doctrinaire socialist approach of a Labor Party strongly influenced
by communist unions. They were sick of stagnation.
So they turned to us who believe the individual is the basis
of the state, and that the state will best progress if the individual is given
the greatest possible amount of freedom and of opportunity to take risks
and to reap rewards. Since that time Australia has progressed at a rate before
undreamt of.
In the last ten years alone our exports have doubled.
Our work force has grown from under four to over five
million and they are fully employed.
There has been, and there continues to be, a spectacular
rate of growth due to a high rate of capital inflow, yet
inflation has been kept in check.
A little less than two years ago, I became the Leader of
the Liberal/ Country Party coalition, at a time when Australia was faced
with new problems and changing situations at home and abroad. And I
report to you that, in less than two years, we have done much.
We have decided that even though Britain withdraws from
our North we shall keep ground, sea and air forces there
as a visible expression of our continuing interest in helping
to preserve that region against possible external attack.
For we believe that to meet our needs at home we must
be prepared to accept insofar as our power allows
our responsibilities abroad. We cannot choose one, and
reject the other. We must try to meet both our
responsibilities or we may meet neither.
In 1968/ 69 our economic growth, at 8. 7 per cent at constant
prices, has been greater than at any previous period in
our history.
Last year dwelling construction reached an all-time record
with 138, 000 commencements and 130, 000 completions. / 2
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* More migrants were brought to Australia than in any previous
year.
* We have removed the financial fear of those faced with long-term
illnesses in hospitals.
* We have increased the basic rates of all social welfare pensions
by unparalleled amounts.
* We have introduced a tapered means test and provided taxation
concessions as an incentive to saving and to thrift.
* We have provided greatly increased sums for education and
have broken through the cobwebbed barrier which previously
prevented us helping the running costs of independent schools.
* We have made known the terms and conditions which we expect
overseas investors to observe when contemplating new
ventures in the development of Australia.
* We have sought to protect Australian-owned companies from
unfair take-over offers.
* We have established an overseas shipping line so that Australian
produce can begin to be carried in Australian ships and so
that we will know what are fair freights to charge Australian
producers.
* We have added half a billion dollars to funds available for roads
and ensured that much of this money will go to alleviate the
urban traffic problems which have been clogging our cities.
I have given a necessarily brief and incomplete account of
our stewardship over the last twenity months. And I am proud that we have
achieved what we have.
As a result:-
* We find ourselves with the respect of the United States, and of
Britain, for not reneging on our responsibilities to stand
ready to counter the threat of communist expansion through
the use of force.
* At home we enjoy that strong, growing and balanced economy
so vital to the achievement of our national destiny.
But the jobs, the development, the growing material strength
essential as a basis for defence and for social welfare all of these depend
on an economy most delicately balanced, on an economy in which we must
take care that the demand for labour and pressure on resources does
not exceed present pressures.
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For if this happens as a result of irresponsible promises
being made and accepted, then all these things will be in jeopardy.
We cannot get something for nothing.
And the result of the Opposition's promises would be either
a great increase in inflation which will hit the wage earner and the pensioner
most severely or an increase in taxation which would hit all Australians.
In the result we would have gained nothing and paid a great price for it.
You see around you the results of what we have done and
the increasing opportunities for greatness because we have done it or
rather because you have done it under the conditions of Government we
have provided. Do not risk this. Do not put it all in jeopardy turning to an
Opposition which still believes in nationalisation, in direction for direction's
sake, which is strongly influenced in at least one state by communist
influenced unions and which makes promises they cannot keep.
I believe there is too much at stake for Australia to risk
a Labor Government still controlled by non-elected outside bodies a
Government which would make us falter in our steps towards greatness.
I turn now to the specific policies we shall follow if you
re-elect us as a Government.
But, I repeat, we must apply these policies against the
background of that responsible economic management of which I have
spoken and against a background not only of our needs as a Government
but also of the needs of the states as Governments.
Our task is to protect Australians against inflation and
increased burdens of income tax. Our task is to continue immigration,
to continue the inflow of development capital, to continue full employment,
to ensure that we do not try to do more than we have the men and resources
to accomplish. This must and will be overriding. Others may make
glittering and irresponsible promises for which you will, in one way or
another, pay. We will not. / 4
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DEFENCE: Adequate defence is the rock on which national security
stands. Without it, debate on internal matters could be academic. Over
the years ahead we shall maintain and increase our defence capacity.
There are more Australians under arms today than ever
before in our history except in time of major war. They are better equipped
and they have greater mobility.
We shall keep the Army up to at least its present strength
of nine battalions. We shall retain National Service training in order to do
it. For it will no-. otherwise be done.
We shall improve the capacity of theAirForce, in fighter,
reconnaissance, and strike aircraft and shall see that aircraft provided frr
Australians to fight in are the best obtainable in the world.
We shall strengthen the 1Mvy with the types of ship the Navy
advise us that they most require including the new light destroyers and
the fast combat support ships asked for by that Service.
We shall progressively increase the sums spent on defence
in the years ahead, for to do less would weaken our own security and invite
the suspicion of our allies both within the region and without.
We have already announced that Learmonth Airfield, in
Western Australia, is to be upgraded to an operational base on the Indian
Ocean. We believe that broad considerations of Australia's
geo-political position and national development point to the conclusion that
naval support facilities in Western Australia will also be required in the
future. Our fleet numbers will increase and we will have to take an
increasing interest in the Indian Ocean as the British withdraw. Therefore
we have decided that we should begin the planned development of a naval
base at Cockburn Sound in Western Australia.
The first step, as recommended in the study made by our
consultants, is the construction of a causeway linking Garden Island
( Garden Island, Western Australia) to the mainland. We shall at once
proceed to the detailed design of this causeway and will begin construction
next financial year. Thereafter the naval facilities will be progressively
installed over a period. 0
Our alliance with the United States under the ANZUS Pact
is vital to our defence. It requires that we should be true allies, that we
should be prepared to give, as well as expect to receive, assistance.
Therefore we shall continue to co-operate with the United States in the
construction of bases, for our joint defence. Bases of value to us both,
in Australia. We shall not sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
until we are sure that it is an effective Treaty, that it provides real
protection to its signatories, and that Australia's security in the future Is
not endangered.
VIETNAM: On Vietnam, we believe that we were right to help the
people of South Vietnam resist aggression. And we believe we are right
to continue to do so.
The immorality in the Vietnam War lies in the aggression
of the North against the South. We do not seek the conquest of North
Vietnam, nor domination of North Vietnam.
What we seek is an opportunity for the people of South
Vietnam to choose the kind of government under which they wish to live.
We believe this to be a proper aim, and that to leave Vietnam before
the South Vietnamese people are assured of this right would be a tragedy
in itself and would hold the seeds of future tragedy.
Should there be developments which result in plans for
continuing reduction of United States forces over a period then we would
expect to be phased in to that programme and would see that we are. But
we will not unilaterally withdraw. To do so would be to abandon an
objective to betray our allies, and, I believe, to imperil our future security.
MALAYSIA / SINGAPORE: Australia cannot fail to be affected by what happens in the
nations in the region to our North.
What affects their security can ultimately affect our security.
We will ther-efore adhere to our decision to maintain in the region of
Malaysia/ Singapore forces of all arms and will maintain in Australia a
capacity for swift additional assistance. / 6
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We willcontinue to support the concept of a regional security
pact in that region in which we will participate.
But we will exert all the influence at our command to prevent
participation by Russia in such an arrangement. We believe that our
security would be threatened by the establishment of any Russian naval
or military bases in that area. We believe that any military alliance or
arrangement between Russia and a country in our region would pose a
threat to ourselves. For we cannot forget Czechoslovakia and Hungary
and other occupied nations, and we believe that Russian communism still
has as its objective the spreading of its system throughout the world. / 7
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TAXATION REFORM:
I turn now to a subject that is of great concern to the
average man. That is income tax.
In recent years many changes have been made to meet
specific needs. These include increases in wives and dependants'
allowances, deductions for education, larger deductions for life
insurance and so on.
But with rapidly rising incomes the existing taxation
structure needs to be reformed.
The operation of the present progressive rate scale has
shifted a growing proportion of the weight of taxation on to
personal income taxpayers, especially wage and salary earners.
A Iarge number of taxpayers in the lower and middle income groups
with incomes ranging from modest levels up to those earned at
executive, administrative and professional levels are involved.
To correct thi s will be a maj or task of great complexity.
We have and are still studying this problem so that beginning in
the next budget we can bring forward speci fic proposals aimed at
improving the system and correcting the inequities which have
developed. As a responsible government we must proceed within
the limits of what is economically feasible at any given time. But
our aim wi 11 be so to reduce personal income tax, over the three
year period beginning with the next budget, that at the end of that
time we will be providing relief, to lower and middle income
earners, of the order of $ 200 million as compared with the amounts
which would be payabl e by them under the present income tax
structure. / 8
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NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
We shall adopt new specific proposals for National
Development. Because lack of water is one of the greatest limitations
on Australia's growth, we shall set aside $ 100 million
over the next five years, to be spent in co-operation with
the Stat es under t he national water resources development
programme, This money will be available for water
conservation including conservation in small dams for
flood prevention and mitigation and for carrying out
surveys of underground water resources.
We shall, during the next Parliament, take Australia into
the atomic age by beginning the construction of an atomic
plant at Jervis Bay, to generate electricity. We believe
that Australia will make increasing use of atomic power in
the years ahead and that the time for this nation to enter
the atomic age has now arrived.
We will embark on developing the Port of Darwin at a cost
which is estimated, together with ancillary services, at
some $ 16 million.
We shall build the Port Augusta/ Whyalla Railway at an
estimated cost of $ 8 million.
We shall build the Port Pirie/ Adelaide Railway, at an
estimated cost of $ 30 to $ 50 million over two years.
/ 9
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-DUCATI ON:
Our direct assistance to education throughout Australia is
great and growing. We are providing science blocks and libraries for
all schools. We are providing $ 10 million a year for secondary technical
schools. We have allocated $ 10 million a year for state-controlled
teacher training colleges, and we are now engaged in a co-operative
study with State Education Departments into the future needs of
education at the school level and this survey covers both state and
independent schools.
When that survey is completed the States and ourselves will
discuss the assistance we should each provide to promote the ftvrther
development of education in all schools. And the survey will include
the provision of in-service training for Australia's primary and
secondary teachers.
There is also a clear need for more educational research, a
need for greater co-operation and co-ordination of effort in particular
fields, and we shall provide $ 250, 000 a year, beginning in the next
budget for this purpose.
We shall introduce, under the control of the Department of
Labour and National Service, vocational training schemes for married
women and single women who have been restricted by domestic
responsibilities but who have now reached a stage where they may wish
to enter employment. And we shall set up a scheme to give vocational training to
workers displaced by technological change who may need training to
convert their existing skills into skills required for alternate service.
And in recent years the government has greatly supported
scientific activity at all levels.
We now intend a new and significant step.
Vie are an island continent and we need a much greater
knowledge and understanding of the biological and physical
recources in and beneath the sea around us.
We shall therefore establish an Institute of Marine Science
at Townsville.
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EDUCATION: PAGE 2
The Institute will have an independent directorate, and
research in the area of the Great Barrier Reef will be one of the first
priorities of the new Institute.
The capital cost is estimated to be of the order of $ 3 million
and we expect that it will become a centre of excellence that will give
Australia the world reputation in marine science which she already
enjoys in the field of astronomy.
SOCIAL WELFARE: I do not believe that there has ever been, in such a concentrated
period, so much done to improve social welfare as has been done by my
government. We promised and we have matched performance to that
promise. We shall continue general improvemait in social welfare as
and when we can responsibly do so, without causing inflation or
increasing tax burden. And we regard increasing the help given to
poor families as of greater importance than abolishing a means test
so pensions can be paid to rich families.
During the next Parliament we shall pay special attention to
the needs of the young family; to the positive rehabilitation of the
handicapped and invalid so that they may return to normal life; to a
more fruitful partnership with voluntary bodies, including both church
and lay bodies, who serve the old, the sick, and the needy.
We shall pay pensions at standard rates instead of at married
rates to aged couples who lose the economics of living together by
reason of failing health for example if one or both of them is in a
nursing home. We shall give capital assistance on a 2 for 1 basis to approved
institutions which give training for the various kinds of handicapped
children the blind, the deaf, the spastic, the crippled and the mentally
retarded. / 11
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SOCIAL WELFARE: PAGE 2
The results already achieved through the aged persons
homes and sheltered workshops encourages us to expand our policy
of partnership with voluntary bodies.
The Meals on % ieels organisation is one of the worthiest
such bodies in the community. In the next budget we will make
available to each separate organisation in the Meals on Wheels
organisation a $ 1 subsidy for every 10 meals served in the past year,
such money to be used for the expansion of their activities, or to be
donated to another Meals on Wheels organisation of their choice.
HEALTH: In health, the removal of financial hardship arising from
illness has had a high priority with us. Today we not only describe
our objectives, we can point to our achievements:
Full hospital benefits for hospital patients who are
chronically ill;
Supplementary nursin-i home benefits for patients needing
and receiving intensive nursing care;
Special benefits for handicapped children under 16;
Medical and hospital benefits, without payment of
contribution, for persons receiving unemployment or
sickness benefit, or for families with incomes below $ 39
a week and for migrants during their first two months in
Australia; Special financial assistance to the States for the development
of co-ordinated programmes cf home care to strengthen home
nursing and home care services, particularly for the frail
aged. All this has been done. It has gone far to eliminate financial
hardship for people with special needs. Only one problem of any
significant size remains in relation to people with lengthy illnesses.
Some people after paying health insurance contributions for many years
find that they are obliged to spend long periods under intensive care in
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HEALTH: PAGE 2
nursing homes as distinct from hospitals.
We shall negotiate with the health insurance funds to arrange
for the payment of increased benefits, properly related to reasonable
nursing home fees, for persons who have been regular contributors
to health insurance funds and who need intensive nursin-1 home care.
At the same time we have been moving to bring in improvements
in the Nhtional Health Scheme so that it will operate more efficiently,
more economically and more satisfctorily for the community as a
whole. Vie have the Nimmo Committee Report which defines the areas
where reforms are needed for example, more economical management
by some of the health funds and a reasonable, orderly policy in the
alloc-ation of reserves. We shall attack and overcome these problems
and will bring about the reforms that are necessary.
WY,-e are well advanced in negotiations with the medical
profe ssion and the health insurance funds so that all patients will be
assured of medical benefits more closely related to doctors' charges.
Commonwealth medical benefits and fund benefits will be
increa Fred so that the difference between the benefit entitl ements and
the common fee charged by doctors will not at any time exceed
even for the most complicated and costly surgical procedures. For
simpler procedures which are less expensive, the difference between
the benefits and doctors' common fees will be very much less.
This is estimated to cost the Commonwealth some $ 16 million.
The successful introduction of these proposals will mean that no
section of the community which is prepared to insure itself need
flear hardship from the cost of medical services.
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HOUSING: The Home Savings Grant Scheme has already benefited
some 153,000 young couples.
Hitherto the grant was only payable if the value of the home,
including land, did not exceed $ 15, 000.
We shall increase this limit and the grant will now be
payable for houses which, including the cost of land, do not exceed
in value $ 17,500.
This amendment will apply to people who contract to buy
or build their houses on or after Monday 27 October 1969.
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IMMIGRATION The factor which prevents Australia doing all that we, and the
State Governments, wish to do is not primarily lack of money or indeed
pressure on materials. It is that we do not have all the manpower we need.
Bringing increasing numbers of migrants to this country, and
providing conditions which induce them to stay here, and to become
Australians, is therefore one of our fundamental tasks.
280,000 settlers have come to Australia since I took office in
January 1968 and in this last year a record 175, 600 arrived.
We shall in the next three years intensify our efforts in this
field. And, internally, we shall take new initiatives.
Because of the importance of the English language to migrants
the Commonwealth, recognising its obligations, is prepared to take the
initiative in promoting, and to accept responsibility for financing:
1. The expansion of existing facilities for the instruction
of adult migrants;
2. The provision of intensive full-time English language
courses for those who must know English in order to
follow occupations for which they have been trained;
3. And, special classes in existing schools for migrant
children of all ages to ensure that they achieve the
education to which their intelligence and natural skills
entitle them.
Further, within our community there are people in need and
unaware of information which could relieve them from worries they need
not endure. Their own knowledge of the range of benefits, services and
assistance available to them is inadequate and we will propose to the States
that grants be made through the municipal authorities to subsidise the
employm ent of suitably experienced people who might provide the
information and the guidance which these migrants need.
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ARTS We believe a nation not only expresses itself through its
material achievements, but also through its participation in, and its
development of, the arts.
The late Prime Minister established the Australian Council for
the Arts and this year we increased by 70 per cent the money available to
foster the development of music, ballet and theatre, in Australia. We
established an Interim Council to inv stigat and report on the establishment
of a National Film and Television Training School.
We believe that it is time Australia developed its own film
industry and we shall, in our next period of government, establish an
Australian Film and Television Development Corporation to administer a
film and television fund which will invest in, and make loans to, film and
television producers for the making of quality films and programmes in
Australia with a significant Australian content, and otherwise to encourage
the production and distribution overseas of A ustralian-made films of high
quality. An amount of $ 1 million will be provided as the initial capital
for the Corporation and supplementary grants will be provided during the
early years of its operation so that the Corporation will have available, at
the beginning of each financial year, one million dollars and amounts
repaid from its investments or advances will be retained by the Corporation
for further development. / 16
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TRADE: Australia has begun to emerge as an industrial nation. More
and more we look to the continued healthy growth of our manufacturing
industries for our strength and our security.
The Government believes it is essential to ensure that its
policies adequately reflect the important role manufacturing industry plays
in the nation's economy.
Industry cannot be expected to achieve the full development of
its efficiencies and skills alone. In today's world, industry needs the
support of effective government policies.
In the life of the next Parliament, we will re-examine present
government activities and policies in this important area with a view to
strengthening the Gov ernm ent's programme of assistance to Australian
industrial creativity and efficiency.
But the development of manufacturing industry ultimately
depends on the protection given to industry in the Australian market against
import competition. Australia must have continued industrial growth to create each
year the new jobs required to sustain a growing population and a dynamic
immigration programme. The Government regards its tariff policy as a vital
factor in providing a firm basis for this industrial growth. The traditional
policy that reasonable and adequate protection should be given to economic
and efficient Australian industries has served this country well and will not
be changed. The Government retains full responsibility for Australian tariff
policy. The Government recognises that in cases involving relatively high
protection the benefits have to be weighed very carefu'jy against the possible
effects on other industries and the community generally. But, the Government
does not accept any pre-determined upper limit to the level of protection
which might be accorded. The decision in each case must be determined
by the Government and by the Government alone in the light of all
circumstances of any particular case. / 17
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PRIMARY INDUSTRY: The Department of Primary Industry which will issue a
supplementary statement is continuing its intensive study of the long-term
problems of rural industries.
The Government has recently had before it special reports on
these questions and in the recent budget speech announced a number of
measures to assist primary producers.
The policy of providing compensation in the case of primary
industries that suffered from British devaluation, in cases where loss is
unavoidable and demonstrable, will be continued in 1970 on the same basis
as it was in this year.
The A pple and Pear Industry has submitted a proposal for a
stabilization scheme; and the Government will give full consideration to
these plans.
SHIPPING AND TRANSPORT:
In the past, the Commonwealth Government has encouraged
several forward-looking transport policies, for example railway standardisation,
the development of beef cattle roads, and container shipping. It will continue
to implement measure s which will lead to the reduction of internal transport
costs. The-problem of traffic cong: estion in the citie-s is on-2 of great
urgency. We have made a significant contribution to easing that congestion
problem through our allocations for urban art-: erial and sub-arterial roads.
But there is a great deal more to be done, espe cially in improving public
transport systams. The populations of the major cities ar. e growing so that by 1981,
Sydney could have C-population of 3.3 million, and M-elbourna 3. 1 million
and with this prospect, it is vital that public transport service2s do not decline.
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SHIPPING AND TRANSPORT Page 2
We will direct attention to this and to shipping and to port
problems. In recent years the shipping industry has undergone major
changes the introduction of roll-on roll-off ships, specialised bulk
carriers and container ships. It is important that the trends towards more
modem ships should be continued because it means lower freights.
The changes in shipping technology have in many cases made
existing port facilities obsolete. There is therefore an urgent need for an
extensive study of port needs and for putting work in hand which will provide
what we need over the next ten years.
We shall do this and we shall set up a Bureau of Transport
Economics, to analyse the costs and economics of transport in Australia,
and, in co-operation with the States, where necessary, will seek to take
measures to reduce such costs. / 19
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On October 25 you will make your choice.
You will choose which defence policy you prefer,
You will choose which foreign affairs approach you prefer.
You will decide whether to continue with that responsible
economic management which has brought us such prosperity, growth and
employment opportunity or whether to accept irresponsible promises for
which you will, in one way or another, pay,
You will choose between growth with stability and our opponents
proposals designed to bring inflation.
You will decide whether our record on social welfare and health
is such that you believe we will make further advances as soon as possible.
You will choose between our proposals to lighten income tax
on the family man and proposals which must prevent such a lightening
and are likely to lead to an increase.
The future is in your hands.
I ask you to consider your choice very carefully.
For Australia's sake I ask you not to put all our present
achievements at risk not to put all the great possibilities for the future
and present at risk.
For Australia's sake I ask you to support the Government on
October
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On October 25 you will make your choice.
You will choose which defence policy you prefer,
You will choose which foreign affairs approach you prefer.
You will decide whether to continue with that responsible
economic management which has brought us such prosperity, growth and
employment opportunity or whether to accept irresponsible promises for
which you will, in one way or another, pay.
You will choose between growth with stability and our opponents
proposals designed to bring inflation.
You will decide whether our record on social welfare and health
is such that you believe we will make further advances as soon as possible.
You will choose between our proposals to lighten income tax
on the family man and proposals which must prevent such a lightening
and are likely to lead to an increase.
The future is in your hands.
I ask you to consider your choice very carefully.
For Australia's sake I ask you not to put all our present
achievements at risk not to put all the great possibilities for the future
and present at risk.
For Australia's sake I ask you to support the Government on
October