TRANSCRIPT OF DOORSTOP, OLYMPIC STADIUM, SEOUL
1 FEBRUARY 1989
E 0 E P ROOF ONLY
JOURNALIST: What does it feel like being in the Olympic
Stadium? PM: It's a great thrill particularly . with the reproduction
up there of the Australian team's involvement and the
highlights they have just shown of Duncan Armstrong's
great swim. I can understand the sense of pride of the
Koreans too in their achievement here of creating these
facilities. Truly, it's truly marvellous.
JOURNALIST: What is your message for Melbourne out of
this? What have you learnt?
PM:--I have learnt that Korea has set a standard of excellence
which is going to be hard to match and so if we get thegames,
and I hope we do, then they must come and learn
from Korea. It's a great credit to them.
JOURNALIST: Have the Koreans given you any hints about
how Melbourne can get the bid successfully?
PM: Well I have had a bit of a discussion with President
Roh about this and I think that they will be helpful.
JOURNALIST: Can Melbourne afford these resources and
facilities Prime Minister?
PM: It is not just a question of Melbourne
JOURNALIST: Can Australia?
PM: Yes of course we can because they're not just something
for the moment, as it were, of the Olympics. They are
something that will provide a lasting facility as we
learnt from 1956.
JOURNALIST: When you say that the Koreans might help
Australia, in what way are you talking about?
PM: The President has indicated that they have learnt
a lot in the process of actually getting the games and
then of going about the task of building the facilities.
He was very positive about his attitude to us. He
acknowledged the sentimental favouritism, if you like,
of Greece which we understand but it doesn't mean
that that will be the outcome. I think we can look forward
to a great deal of assistance from Korea.
JOURNALIST: Are there any specific plans already or
are they still some way off?
PM: No, nothing specific we talked about, but I certainly
got the impression that a very considerable amount of
help would be forthcoming from that quarter.
JOURNALIST: Were there any hints for lobbying the
International Olympic Committee?
PM: Now if I talked about that they wouldn't remain
useful would they.
JOURNALIST: Mr Hawke, since yesterday's press conference
have you had any discussions with the ACTU leadership
on the issue of the CPI?
PM: No. not since then. As I said, I had my briefing
with the ministers before I left and they know what my
thinking is on this and I am sure that they will be handling
it correctly.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, three of the main banks
have said this morning that housing interest rates will
be up by the end of this week. Is that a disappointment
to you?
PM: Well, we'll see. Yes it would be if it goes up
much higher. But I said what I think about the stance
of monetary policy and the Treasurer and I have the same
view about that. But, as I said, what happens in the
market is in a sense for the market. But we are not
in a position at this stage of tightening monetary policy
ourselves. JOURNALIST: So you wouldn't expect the Reserve Bank
to validate market increases next week?
PM: No, that is not in my anticipation at this stage.
I have left Australia now and as I have said, I had the
meeting with the ministers and I have confidence in them
that in all areas of relevant policy they will be making
the right decisions.
ends I