PRIME MINISTER
TRANSCRIPT OF INTERVIEW WITH PAUL MURPHY, TONIGHT, SBS TV,
26 JULY 1989
E 0 E PROOF ONLY
MURPHY: Can I begin by asking you what does the agenda
which you've outlined today mean for ethnic communities in
Broadmeadows, Cabramatta, Whyalla, Darwin, wherever they
happen to live in this country?
PM: It means these things. Firstly, a recognition now, I
think, not just from the Government, but forcefully in front
of the whole Australian people about the fact that every
person in this country, irrespective of race, colour, creed,
religion is entitled to a fair go, to access to the services
of Government and to develop their particular talents.
That's up there now in the boldest of letters. It is a
Government commitment. It will become an Australian
reality. Secondly, it means in practical terms the
expenditure of a considerable amount of money in these areas
which will be of importance to those people firstly, to
greatly enhance the recognition of qualifications that these
people have brought to Australia, whether they be trades
qualifications or professional qualifications. There's been
a laxness in the past, over a very long period of time, in
recognising those qualifications and so people haven't been
able to get the sort of employment, which would both give
them the greater satisfaction and which would make the
greatest economic contribution to this country. Secondly,
in terms of the teaching of the English language, a very,
very significant enhancement of expenditures there some
million which will mean that there is going to be a
greater opportunity for those people to acquire the English
language which will mean that they will be better placed in
their working environment as well as in their general social
environment. In terms of the SBS, there's going to be an
extension of the SBS to very large parts of Australia where
there is meeting a criteria of large populations of at least
100,000 and some significant ethnic contribution. In the
area of courts, for instance, if they have any troubles
where directly or indirectly they are involved we're going
to be looking at the question of ensuring that there is a
better provision of interpreters in the courts. So, in
these quite practical ways, in their workplace, in their
language, in their rights, their access to the services of
Government will mean a great improvement for them all.
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MURPHY: So, very much an economic skew and particularly, as
you say, in the workplace. I mean, people needn't fear any
longer that lack of, say, English as a second language will
discriminate against them in employment terms.
PM: We will do everything we can in cooperation with the
States, with employers, our own expenditures to see that
they are given every opportunity to accelerate the
acquisition of English as their language. But while you say
yes, it does have an economic thrust, and in that sense
there's a benefit to every single Australian, every
Australian irrespective of their background, is going to be
beter off if all Australians have the maximum chance of
using their talents. But it's not just an economic thrust.
I mean, very much social justice as well. We're going to
ensure that the programs of Government and the services of
Government are conducted in a way and made available in a
way that no person will feel ill at ease or unable to take
advantage of them because of their cultural or racial
background. MURPHY: Prime Minister, as you know there are always cynics
and critics. The extension of the service of SBS
television. It's been suggested this morning that that
favours Labor marginal seats. Is that valid?
PM: Well, I expect and intend to do very well at the next
election, winning seats from the Opposition, but even in my
wildest dreams I don't expect to take out Darling Downs
centred on Toowoomba. I mean, that's even a bit beyond me,
but it's getting an SBS extension.
MURPHY: In terms of timing, there was the environment
statement last week, now this multicultural agenda. Does
that give us any indication of election timing?
PM: None at all. I mean, the fact is, as was indicated
today, that I initiated these processes before the last
election in April of 1987 when I had the first meeting of
the Advisory Council on Multicultural Affairs. I said ' what
I want to see for this country', nothing to do with election
timing...., ' what I want to see for this country is a
National Agenda for a multicultural Australia. Get to work
on it and produce for me the work which will enable us to
get that going by the middle of 1989'. So that was the
timetable back then and they have done magnificent work. I
thank them for it.
MURPHY: In ' 86, of course, you were forced to make they
were tough economic times as we are going through now you
had to make cuts in certain multicultural areas, English as
a second language. But does this represent now, this
agenda, really a volte face on that?
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PM: Not a volte face. I mean, I think that our friends,
our fellow Australians, who have come to us from overseas in
the ethnic communities, they would have been disadvantaged,
I believe, if there had been a perception that in the tough
times when we had to cut back on a whole lot of things, that
if they hadn't had to have some share of that restraint and
they overwhelmingly understood that. But now we've restored
that before this agenda statement today. The agenda
statement today represents a very significant increase in
the expenditure of funds in that area because it's very
important. It's not only, as I say, important for those who
need to acquire English in an accelerated way, it's
important for them, but the whole community, every single
Australian benefits if our economy is going to be operating
more efficiently because people are able to operate within
it more efficiently. The estimate is that it's costing us
hundreds, literally hundreds of millions of dollars per
annum because of the absence of English proficiency in a
fair part of the workforce.
MURPHY: Is Cabinet totally behind this agenda?
PM: Yes, yes.
MURPHY: There have been reports that some of your drier,
more harder-headed Ministers think ' why throw money at a
particular segment of the community during tough economic
times'? PM: No, they're totally behind the concept. Always when
you're formulating policy and allocating amounts of money
and if you have a collection of Ministers, some mightn't do
it in terms of the actual amounts in precisely the same way.
I think the amounts are right.
MURPHY: One part of the agenda is that you may have a
multiculturalism act. There may be legislation
PM: Yes.
MURPHY: You're examining that?
PM: Yes.
MURPHY: Of course we know the survey recently put out of
the distressing reality of racial discrimination which is
still in this community. Can you actually legislate against
such a thing?
PM: Well, let me just make these points about it. What
I've said is that I think the concept of an act makes sense,
but I want to have a great deal of consultation in the
community about it. If we can develop not an absolute
consensus, but a wide degree of understanding of the
benefits of this, it'll make sense. You can't legislate
( PM cont): away prejudice. That's a long educative process
and that's why we're going to be having this three year
program, a community program, to try and eliminate or
drastically reduce those things. The idea in an act would
be to define both the ambit and the limits of
multiculturalism, probably to include within it the fact of
English as a national language. Maybe also of provisions
against racial vilification. Now those things are
significant.
MURPHY: You could be looking at those things?
PM: Yes, I believe so but I want the community come along
and understand that these things will make for a better
community.
MURPHY: Yes. on that matter of prejudice, do you think
there is the threat of the backlash amongst, if you like,
old Australians? Do you think the whole concept of
multiculturalism still sadly is just not understood by the
majority of this population?
PM: No, I think the majority understand it. But it is
true, it would be just stupid, Paul, to ignore the fact that
there is prejudice out there and ignorance. But I was so
thrilled, for instance, today to hear a man like Sir
William Keys, widely respected ex-President, National
President of the RSL, taking that issue head on saying the
attitudes of the past, founded in a different society when
percent were of Anglo-Celtic background, now less than
percent. He said the world is different, Australia is
different, the region is different, the world is different.
We've got to face up to those facts. The worst thing, I
mean, I say this to any of your listeners, your viewers, who
have some of that prejudice if you want to do the worst
possible thing for your kids, it is to refuse to recognise
the fact that we are a multicultural society, that we are
part of a region which is going to determine our future
economic welfare. If we act in a way both internally and in
our relations with others in a way which assumes that one
colour is better than another or we are superior to someone
else because of the hue of our skin, then that's the worst
thing you can do for your kids because you'll condemn them
to a significantly lesser economic future. I
MURPHY: Prime Minister, you've already said that you're
extending SBS. Would you like to see ads on SBS?
PM: Well I don't think it's a question of what I'd like to
see. What we're going to do is to a) provide legislation to
give a distinct, unique legislative background and identity
and justification for SBS. Secondly, we're going to provide
a charter. Now, I'm not going to lay down that charter,
we're going to have community consultation. Now if out of
( PM cont): those processes they want to be more definite
about sponsorship possibilities, then that's up to them.
I'm not going to try and impose it. It is the fact of
course that now, as you know, SBS can have some sponsorship
and I understand in that way they're going to get the world
cup.
MURPHY: Indeed.
PM: So, the concept of sponsorship is there. It's how
people may want to develop it.
MURPHY: Will it always stay it's own entity or could it be
amalgamated in the future with the ABC?
PM: No, we've been there, had that discussion and the point
of the legislation to give it's distinctive legislation its
own charter is to put that fear to rest.
MURPHY: Alright Prime Minister. Before I let you go I'd be
delinquent if I didn't ask you about the CPI figures. Up by
2.4 to 7.6 so far, well above the Treasurer's prediction.
Have you misjudged just how strong this economy is?
PM: But remember, the Treasurer's prediction for what the
annual rate was made before the floods. I mean, every
commentator expected and understood that the June quarter
figure would be affected by the impact of the floods on food
prices. So, I mean, there are lots of things that I can,
with Paul Keating, that we can control and regulate, but
really that's a bit difficult.
MURPHY: Beyond you.
S PM: Yes.
MURPHY: But, well, is it a good result? I mean, are you
heartened by this
PM: Well, you can never be heartened by it but knowing that
the explanation of it, then I can understand it. Obviously
I wish we hadn't had the floods, both for the adverse impact
it had on people at the time and the impact it's had on
prices. But my belief is that we've got the essential
settings right. I mean we've got a wages policy, a
wages-tax trade-off which will mean that the underlying rate
of inflation will be coming down.
MURPHY: It doesn't indicate, does it that consumer demand
is even stronger than you and your colleagues thought?
PM:. No, no. It doesn't indicate that at all.
MURPHY: OK, Prime minister, many thanks indeed for speaking
to us.
ends