PRIME MINISTER
TRANSCRIPT OF LIVE CROSS TO IAN LESLIE, CHANNEL 10 NEWS,
SYDNEY, 6 MARCH 1990
E 0 E PROOF ONLY
LESLIE: Mr Hawke, the greenies have said a Hawke victory
would be better for Australia than a Peacock win. How
good is that news?
PM: Well, it's good news, but it's deserved news, Ian,
because as I said the other night, the facts are that on
every major decision we've made to save the Franklin, to
stop logging in Daintree, to stop mining in Kakadu, to
save the tall forests of Tasmania, they are our decisions
every one of them bitterl~ y opposed by the coalition.
So I'm glad of the news. I think it's deserved news.
LESLIE: In real terms though, can you quantify the
greenies endorsement. What does it mean?
PH~: No, I'd, I'd be misleading your viewers if I tried
to put a figure on it. All I can say is this. It is a
fact that support for environmental candidates has
obviously increased in this country as it has, I think,
in every country in the world. Their vote will be up and
to the extent that their preferences go to us, and
solidly to us, that must be an advantage. I can't put a
figure on it Ian.
LESLIE: Would you say now that already you've won the
election? PM: No I, that would be cocky and undeserved and
improper for me to say that. All I can say is that what
I've tried to do from the start of the campaign, Ian, is
to campaign on issues, on facts and where I make
promises, to fund them. And I think talking about issues
and funding my promises is working for us..
LESLIE: If, as a result of the greenies endorsement,
people might say that Bob Hawke has won the election on
the back of the greenies, not his own merit. That's what
people might say. what would you say to that?
PM: Well I'd say that it would be unfounded. People
have the opportunity of knowing that we have created
record employment in this country, record economic
2
growth, that we are restructuring the economy, making it
more competitive. we are getting into school and
getting them educated and trained, that I've taken the
lead in international issues environmentally, like the
Antarctic, creating an Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation
Council, taking the lead in Cambodia, taking the lead in
chemical weapons. So internationally and domestically
it's been a forward looking Government and we have a
funded plan for the future. We're not relying on the
past, Inn, we have a funded plan for the future. So
we'll get a great deal on our own merit, but 1, I thank
those who are directly environmentally concerned that
they have faced up to the truth, Ian, that if their real
concern is the environment, then it's their second
preference that counts because the environmental
candidates won't form the Government. It's do you want
Labor, whose done all the things for the environment or
the Liberals and National Party who have opposed every
decision. If they were in, the Daintree would been
logged, Kakadu been mined, the Franklin wouldn't be
running free. So
LESLIE: Mr Hawke, one quick question, you've said that
you're not feeling over-confident, not feeling too cocky,
at all in this election campaign have you ever felt a
moment of fright that you might lose, lose this race?
PM: No 1 haven't really, Ian. Simply historically I
think the Australian people have usually got their
Federal vote right and it would be, in my judgement, a
terrible mistake for the future of Australia if you were
to give government to people who can't govern themselves.
If they can't govern themselves, they uan't govern the
country and I, I've never thought that when the chips
were down they'd do that, Ian.
.0 LESLIE: Mr Hawke, we'll have to leave it there. Thank
you very much for joining us.
PM; Thank you very much indeed, Ian.
ends