03 jtifr

PRIME MINISTER

TRANSCRIPT -  PRESS CONFERENCEi SEOUL -  6 FEBRUARY 1984 AT SHILLA   HOTEL ' '

E AND 0 E -  PROOF ONLY

JOURNALIST : CAN WE DEAL WITH THIS GMH THING AND THE REACTION TO THAT . . .  ARE YOU SURPRISED AT THE LEVEL OF THE REACTION THAT HAS   OCCURRED SO FAR FROM NOT ONLY FROM THE OPPOSITION BUT ALSO FROM THE   TRADE UNIONS.

P .N .s  I  AM A LITTLE SURPRISED AT THE WAY WHAT I ' V E  SAID HAS BEEN

PRESENTED. AND I  THINK YOU'' APPRECIATE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION   I  NEED TO GIVE A FAIRLY EXTENSIVE ANSWER AND I  HOPE IN DOING THAT   THAT I ' L L  MEET ALL THE CONSIDERATIONS THAT MAY BE IN YOUR MINDS.

THE FIRST POINT THAT I  WOULD MAKE IS  THAT IT  COMES AS A LITTLE

SURPRISING TO ME THAT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SOME SUGGESTION GIVEN   MY BACKGROUND AND HISTORY THAT WHAT I  WOULD BE ABOUT IS  THE   DESTRUCTION OF JOBS. IN ALL OF MY PUBLIC COMMITMENT, IN THE ACTU   AND SINCE I ' V E  BEEN IN PARLIAMENT, IS  TOWARDS THE CREATION   OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. AND PERHAPS MOST SPECIFICALLY I  CAN

PICK UP MY SURPRISE AT THE MISUNDERSTANDING BY JUST LOOKING AT THE   STEEL INDUSTRY. Ã¢ÂÂ

IN.THE  REPORTING AND REACTION THERE HAS BEEN SOME REFERENCE TO THE   LOSS OF JOBS IN THE STEEL INDUSTRY. NOW LET'S REMEMBER THE FACTS. THE FACTS ARE THAT WHEN MY GOVERNMENT CAME TO OFFICE WE WERE

CONFRONTED AS YOU ALL KJ^OW AND AS THE AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITY KNOWS   WITH THE DISTINCT LIKELIHOOD THAT AUSTRALIA COULD FACE THE   DISAPPEARANCE OF ITS STEEL INDUSTRY. THAT WAS AN OPTION WHICH   WAS SERIOUSLY BEING CONTEMPLATED. I  SAID ON BEHALF OF THE LABOR   MOVEMENT THAT THAT WAS A CONTEMPLATION WHICH WAS NOT TO BE CANVASSED.   AND WAS ONE THAT WE WOULD NOT PUT UP WITH AT ALL.

POSITIVELY ON BEHALF OF THE LABOR MOVEMENT THAT WE WOULD‘ IN FACT, WE IN A RELATIVELY SHORT TIME OF BEING IN GOVERNMENT, BRING IN A   STEEL INDUSTRY PLAN FOR THE SPECIFIC PURPOSES OF ENSURING THAT   AUSTRALIA WOULD RETAIN A HEALTHY AND VIABLE AND COMPETITIVE STEEL

INDUSTRY. AND IN FACT THAT IS  WHAT'S HAPPENED. IT  IS A MATTER I

BELIEVE OF UNIVERSAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT AS A RESULT OF THE PLANNING   CONSULTATIVELY THAT WE UNDERTOOK THAT WE SAVED THE AUSTRALIAN STEEL   INDUSTRY AND WE SAVED THOUSANDS OF JOBS IN SAVING THE STEEL INDUSTRY.

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NOW I T ' S  I N S T R U C T I V E ,  I  S UGGES T , TO RECALL JUST WHAT WE D I D .

WE CALLED THE COMPANY,  WE CALLED THE UNI ONS AND WE CALLED THE   GOVERNMENTS TOGETHER.  AND TOGETHER WE SET ABOUT WORKI NG OUT WHAT   SORTS OF D E C I S I O N S  NEEDED TO 3E MADE I N  THE L I G H T  OF CURRENT AND   FORESEEABLE CI RCUMSTANCES TO A C H I E V E  THE RESULT OF S A V I N G  THE

I N D U S T R Y  AND S A V I N G  EMPLOYMENT.  THAT WAS NOT RUSHED I N T O  BUT I N   THE R E S U L T ,  OUT OF ALL THAT C O N S U L T A T I O N ,  WE HAV E ,  AS I  S A Y ,  SAVED   THE I N D U S T R Y  AND SAVED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS D I R E C T L Y  AND   I N D I R E C T L Y . AND THAT WAS DONE I N  A WAY. WHI CH I N V OL VE D  AN I N P U T   FROM THE COMPANY,  A COMMI TMENT TO HUNDREDS OF M I L L I O N S  OF DOLLARS

I N  NEW I N V E S T M E N T ,  A COMMI TMENT ON THE PART OF THE U N I O N S  TO ADOPT   NEW WORK P R A C T I C E S  TO I MPROVE P R O D U C T I V I T Y  AND A COMMI TMENT OF THE   GOVERNMENT TO A FORM OF A S S I S T A N C E  WHI CH WOULD MEAN THAT DOWN THE   L I N E  USERS OF ST EEL  WOULD BE PROTECTED.  TO BE P R E C I S E  THE BOUNTY   FORM OF A S S I S T A N C E  WAS I NCORPORATED I N T O  THE PLAN.

NOW WHEN YOU HAVE THAT EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE HAVE I N  FACT DONE I N  THE   S T E E L  I N D U S T R Y  WHI CH SAVED THE I N D U S T R Y  AND SAVED TENS OF THOUSANDS   OF JOBS D I R E C T L Y  AND I N D I R E C T L Y  YOU CAN PERHAPS UNDERSTAND THAT SO   FAR AS I  FEEL TO SEE REFERENCE TO PLANNI NG I N V O L V I N G  A LOSS OF JOBS

I N  THE STEEL I N D U S T R Y ,  WHAT WE WERE ABOUT WAS I N V O L V I N G  C O N S U L T A T I V E ,   C O - O P E R A T I V E  P L A N N I N G - T O  SAVE JOBS AND TO SAVE THEM I N T O  THE F U T U R E .

S I M I L A R L Y  I N  REGARD TO THE CAR I NDUS T RY  WHAT I  AM S A Y I N G  AND WHAT   THE GOVERNMENT WI L L  BE ABOUT W I L L  BE TO FACE UP TO THE FACT THAT WE   ALL KNOW THAT THE TASK HAS SEEN A D I M I N U T I O N ,  A S I G N I F I C A N T   D I M I N U T I O N ,  OF EMPLOYMENT W I T H I N  THE MOTOR V E H I C L E   MANUFACTURI NG I N D U S T R Y  I N  A U S T R A L I A .  THAT HAS HAPPENED.  I T ' S   HAPPENED I N  THE S I T U A T I O N  WHERE THERE HASNT BEEN S U F F I C I E N T

CONS T RUC T I V E  CONSUL T AT I ON BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND THE I N D U S T R Y . AND I  REMI ND YOU THAT WHEN I  TALK ABOUT I N D U S T R Y  I  TALK ABOUT NOT   ONLY EMPLOYERS,  BUT I  TALK ABOUT THE WORKERS AND T H E I R   R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S  I N  THE I N D U S T R Y .  AND SO WE WI L L  BE AS FAR AS THAT

I N D U S T R Y  I S  CONCERNED ADOPTI NG THE SAME SORT OF PROCESS OF   CONSUL T AT I ON TO TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT THROUGH CONSUL T AT I ON AND   PL ANNI NG WE CAN SEE THE EMERGENCE OF A TRULY V I A B L E  I N D U S T R Y  I N   A U S T R A L I A .  .

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER P O I N T S  I  WANT TO MAKE,  BUT I  SHOULD MAKE   T H I S  P O I N T * T O  YOU THAT THERE HAS BEEN,  AS YOU WOULD A P P R E C I A T E  I   T H I N K  BECAUSE Y O U ' V E  HEARD WHAT I  S A I D  I N  OSAKA AND WHAT I  S A I D  I N   J A P A N ,  I  T H I N K  YOU MORE THAN PERHAPS ANYONE WOULD A P P R E C I A T E  THAT   THERE HAS BEEN A DEGREE OF MI SUNDE RS T AN DI NG AS TO WHAT I ' V E  S A I D .

WHEN I ' M  OVERSEAS REPRESENTI NG A U S T R A L I A  I  AM NOT GOI NG TO TAKE   UP MY T I M E  GOI NG I N T O  A D E T A I L E D  RESPONSE TO P O L I T I C A L  ATTACKS OR   M I S R E P R E S E N T A T I O N S  THAT OCCUR AT HOME WHI LE I ' M  AWAY. I  CAN ASSURE   EVERYBODY W I T H I N  A U S T R A L I A  THAT WHEN I  RETURN I  W I L L  P I C K  UP THE MORE   GROTESQUE OF THOSE M I S R E P R E S E N T A T I O N S .  LET ME MAKE ONE P O I N T  THAT

I  T H I N K  I S  VERY S I G N I F I C A N T .  THERE HAS BEEN SOME SUGGEST I ON MADE   THAT I  HAVE COME OVERSEAS TO MAKE THESE ST AT EMENT S.  NOW I  T H I N K  ALL   OF YOU HERE KNOW THAT THAT I S  A GAI N A GROTESQUE M I S R E P R E S E N T A T I O N . I F  YOU LOOK AT THE SPEECH I  MADE I N  SYDNEY ON I D  NOVEMBER OF LAST

YEAR TO THE SYDNEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE I N  RESPECT OF THE AUTOMOBI LE   I NDUS T RY  YOU WI L L  SEE THAT I  S A I D  THERE P R E C I S E L Y  THE SORTS OF T H I N G S   THAT I ' V E  TALKED ABOUT I N  J AP AN.  AND I NDEED NOT ONLY I N  THAT SPEECH   BUT I N  A NUMBER OF SPEECHES THAT I ' V E  MADE S I N C E  I ' V E  BEEN PRI ME   M I N I S T E R .  I  HAVE G I V E N  THE SAME SORT OF THRUST THAT I  HAVE G I V E N  I N

J A P A N .  AS I  SAY AS FAR AS THE P O L I T I C S  OF ALL THAT M I S R E P R E S E N T A T I O N

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I S  CONCERNED I  AM L OOKI NG FORWARD GREATLY TO P I C K I N G  UP THAT DEBATE   WHEN I  GO BACK TO A U S T R A L I A ,  BECAUSE T H A T ' S  THE PROPER L O C A T I O N  TO   UNDERTAKE THAT DE B A T E .  WH I L E  I ' M  OVERSEAS I ' M  HERE R E P R E S E N T I N G  THE   I N T E R E S T S  OF A U S T R A L I A N S  AND L OOKI NG TO THE F UTURE I N T E R E S T S  OF OUR

COUNTRY.  L ET  ME E M P H A S I S E  THE P O I N T  THAT I  A G A I N  KNOW AL L  OF YOU   UNDERSTOOD THAT I  WENT OUT OF MY WAY TO MAKE I N  MY SPEECHES I N  JAPAN   ON THE S UBJ ECT  -  I N  SPEECHES AND I N  CONV E RS AT I ON S  WI T H  YOU P R I V A T E L Y   -  YOU KNOW THAT AT ALL P O I N T S  I  HAVE GONE OUT OF MY WAY TO E M P H A S I S E

THESE T H I N G S .  F I R S T L Y ,  THAT N O T H I N G  I S  GOI NG TO BE DONE BY   AUTONOMOUS GOVERNMENT F I A T ,  THAT WHAT WE ARE ABOUT I S  THE PROCESS OF   C O N S U L T A T I O N  AND I N  THE PROCESSES OF C O N S U L T A T I O N  OF MY GOVERNMENT I N   L E S S  THAN A YEAR I N  O F F I C E  STANDS OUT D R A MA T I C A L L Y  AS B E I N G   S UCCESSF UL  AND AS B E I N G  A COMMI T T E D UND E R T A K I N G AND THEY CONTRAST   STARKLY W I T H  THE V I R T U A L  LACK OF C O N S U L T A T I O N  WHI CH HAS CHA R A C T E R I S E D   GOVERNMENT P O L I C Y  MAKI NG I N  THE P A S T .

S EC ON D L Y ,  A G A I N  AS I  S A I D  I N  THE SPEECHES AND AS I ' V E  S A I D  I N

P R I V A T E  CONVERS AT I ON S  WI T H  MANY OF YOU,  AT ALL P O I N T S  WHAT WE ARE   L OOKI NG AT I S  THE MEDI UM TO LONGER TERM -  WE ARE NOT GOI N G TO BE   MAKI NG D E C I S I O N S  TODAY OR TOMORROW ABOUT A P A R T I C U L A R  I N D U S T R Y  OR   ABOUT THE OVERALL STRUCTURE OF I N D U S T R Y .  WHAT W E ' V E  GOT TO BE

CONCERNED ABOUT I S  H A V I N G  A C O N S U L T A T I V E  PROCESS,  F U L L Y  I N V O L V I N G   GOVERNMENT AND BOTH S I D E S  OF I N D U S T R Y  AND WHERE R E L E V A N T ,  OF COURSE,   THE ST AT E  GOVERNMENTS,  SO THAT TOGETHER WE CAN ADDRESS OURSEL VES TO   THE FUNDAMENTALL Y I MP ORT ANT  Q U E S T I O N  OF HOW THROUGH THE MEDI UM AND   LONGER TERM WE ARE GOI NG TO I N C R E A S E  JOB O P P O R T U N I T I E S  I N   A U S T R A L I A  AND I T  W I L L  BE S E L F - D E F E A T I N G  I F  I N  FACT WE WERE TO PROCEED

I N  ANY OTHER WAY.

WHAT I ' V E  BEEN T R Y I N G  TO CONVEY WELL BEFORE I  L E F T  A U S T R A L I A  AND G I V E   ADDED E M P H A S I S  TO I N  JAPAf t  AND HERE I S  THAT WE DO L I V E  I N  A REGI ON   OF D Y N A M I C ,  R A P I D  GROWTH AND THAT WE CANNOT I S O L A T E  OURSEL VES FROM   THAT F A C T .  AND THE U N I Q U E  R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y  OF GOVERNMENTS I N  A U S T R A L I A

I N  1 9 8 4  AND THROUGH THE 1 9 8 0 ' S I S  TO MAKE THOSE D E C I S I O N S  I N   C O N S U L T A T I ON  WI T H  THE GREAT EL EMENT S OF OUR S O C I E T Y  WHI CH ARE GOI NG   TO ENSURE THAT WE,  AS 1 SAY AND I ' V E  S A I D  BEFORE -  I ' V E  USED

THE PHRASE- THROUGH ' E N M E S H I N G '  OURSELVES WI T H  T H I S  DY NAMI C REGI ON   CAN GET FOR OURSELVES I N  A U S T R A L I A  THE GREATEST B E N E F I T  OF THE   DYNAMI SM OF THE R E G I O N .  AND THAT W I L L  MEAN WHEN S U C C E S S F U L L Y  DONE   AND SUCCE S S F UL L Y  DO I T  WE W I L L ,  THROUGH C O N S U L T A T I O N ,  THAT W I L L  MEAN   NOT JOB LOSSES I N  ANY AGGREGATE S E N S E ,  I T  W I L L  MEAN THROUGH T I M E

THE C E R T A I N T Y  OF C RE AT I NG MORE JOB O P P O R T U N I T I E S  FOR A U S T R A L I A N S . AND WHAT WE MUST DO,  AND AGA I N  THE THEME THAT I ' V E  BEEN T R Y I N G  TO   E M P H A S I S E  TO YOU AS AGAI N 1 HAVE I N  I NUMMERABLE SPEECHES I N   A U S T R A L I A ,  I S  TO P O I N T  OUT THAT WHEN Y O U ' R E  T A L K I N G  ABOUT T H I S  YOU

CANT TALK ABOUT I N D U S T R Y  ADJ USTMENT I N  I S O L A T I O N ,  Y O U ' V E   GOT TO SEE I T  AS PART OF A WHOLE,  A WHOLE WHI CH I N C L U D E S  P O L I C I E S ,   D I R E C T E D  TO AN A P P R O P R I A T E  MACROECONOMI C S T R U C T U R E ,  P O L I C I E S  D I R E C T E D   TO AN A P P R O P R I A T E  E D U C A T I ON  STRUCTURE -  SO THAT WE W I L L  HAVE A

RELEVANT AND A P P R O P R I A T E L Y  T R A I N E D  AND F L E X I B L E  WORKFORCE WHI CH   W I L L  BE ABLE TO ADJUST TO THE CHANGES WHI CH OUR CHANGI NG WORLD W I L L   DEMAND OF U S .

XT WILL ALSO REQUIRE APPROPRIATE INVESTMENT P O L I C I E S ,  I T  WILL REQUIRE  APPROPRIATE TRAINING AND RETRAINING P O L I C I E S .  NOW I  REPEAT, AS  AGAIN I  THINK EVERYONE OF YOU I N  TH IS  ROOM KNOWS, THE  WHOLE OF MY PUBLIC RECORD W IT HI N THE TRADE UNIONS MOVEMENT AND

IN PARLIAMENT HAS BEEN DIRECTED TOWARDS THE ISSUE OF HOW DO  WE MAKE SURE THAT WE GET AWAY FROM THE AD-HOCERY OF THE PAST  WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN ADEQUATE I N  THOSE DAYS OF THE LUCKY COUNTRY

SYNDROME WHEN PERHAPS PLANNING AND CONSULTATION WASNT NECESSARY. TO GET AWAY FROM THAT TOWARDS AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE DELIBERATELY  WILL BE CREATING JOBS AND CREATING MORE SA TISFYING JOBS AND DOING  I T  WIT HIN  AN AUSTRALIAN ECONOMY WHICH MAXIMISES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR  ALL AUSTRALIANS TO GET THE BENEFIT OF BEING PART OF TH IS  DYNAMIC  REGION. Â·

BUTCH, THAT HAS TAKEN SOME TIME TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, BUT I  HOPE  I ' V E  GONE TO THE RANGE OF ISSUES WHICH I  THINK ARE RELEVANT. I

JUST CONCLUDE ON THE POINT THAT. I ' M  NOT GOING TO DEAL WITH PARTICULAR  CONTRIBUTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY MY P O LITI CA L OPPONENTS I N  THE  LAST DAY OR SO. BUT I  REPEAT I  GREATLY LOOK FORWARD TO PICKING THEM  UP WHEN I  GET BACK TO AUSTRALIA.

JOURNALIST! PRIME M I N I S T E R ,  YOUR PREDECESSOR, H I S  GOVERNMENT ALSO  BELIEVED I N  LOWERING PROTECTION LEVELS AND RATIONALISING AUSTRALIAN  INDUSTRY, YET HE DEMONSTRABLY FAILED IN THAT. WHY WOULD YOU  SUCCEED.

P . M . :  WELL THE POINTS I ' D  MAKE ABOUT THAT. MAY I  JUST MAKE

JUST A VERY BRIEF PREPARATORY POINT THAT AS YOU KNOW I  HAVEN'S  INDULGED SINCE I ' V E  BEEN I N  OFFICE IN THE BUSINESS OF GOING ABOUT  BAGGING MY PREDECESSOR, HE SPEAKS FOR HIMSELF I N  A SENSE. BUT I  DO MAKE T H IS  FIRS T POINT THAT THE SORT OF THINGS THAT MY

PREDECESSOR WAS TALKING ABOUT ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE WAS A GRAND  SCALE ABOUT THE WORLD WINDING BACK PROTECTION AND AT THE SAME TIME  I N  AUSTRALIA BEING I N  A P OSIT ION  WHERE NOTHING WAS DONE THAT WAS I N  ANY SENSE CONSISTENT WITH OR RELEVANT TO THAT GRAND SORT OF APPROACH.  NOW I  SAY THIS THAT WE HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE MODEST I N  OUR APPROACH  YOU WILL RECALL THAT THE TWO THINGS THAT I  HAVE SAID I N  MY

INTERNATION PROJECTION ON T H IS  I S S U E .  FI RS TLY  TO WELCOME THE CALL  THAT HAS BEEN MADE BY OTHERS, PRIMARILY BY PRIME MINIS TER NAKASONE  AND SPECIAL U . S .  TRADE ""REPRESENTATIVE BOCH WHO HAVE CALLED FOR A NEW  MTN ROUND. THE F I R S T  THING I ' V E  DONE I S  TO WELCOME THAT CALL AND  SUPPORT I T  BECAUSE I  BELIEVE THAT FOR A GREAT TRADING NATION L IK E  AUSTRALIA I T  I S  ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL THAT WE FREE UP THE

INTERNATIONAL TRADING SYSTEM.

SECONDLY, THE S P E C I F I C  I N I T I A T I V E ,  I F  YOU L I K E ,  WITH WHICH I ' V E  BEEN

ASSOCIATED I S  TO SAY I N  THAT CONTEXT WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN  I D E N T I F Y  AS PART OF THE REGI ON A REGIONAL INTEREST I N  THE APPROACH  THAT OUGHT TO BE ADOPTED TO SUCH AN MTN ROUND I F  I T  I S  TO

EVENTUATE. AND SO I  HAVE SENT ROUND MY REPRESENTATIVES I N  ADVANCE  OF THIS TR IP  TO TALK WITH THE COUNTRIES I N  THE REGION. WE'VE GOT

A VERY P O S I T I V E  RESPONSE TO THAT AND SO FAR ON MY OWN V I S I T  TO THE  TWO COUNTRIES THAT I ' V E  V I S I T E D  -  JAPAN AND KOREA -  I  CAN SAY THAT  THERE I S  A VERY WARM AND P O S I T I V E  RESPONSE. I  BELIEVE WE'LL GET  THE SAME RESPONSE I N  THE COUNTRIES THAT WE'RE S T I L L  TO GO TO. AND THEN FOLLOWING MY V I S I T  THEN I  BELIEVE WE'LL BE AT A

RELATIVELY EARLY STAGE I N  THE POSITION FOR OUR O F F IC IA L S  THEN TO  MEET WITH THE COUNTRIES OF T H IS  REGION SO THAT WE CAN REALLY THEN  GET DOWN TO S P E C I F I C  ISSUES THAT WILL BE OF INTEREST TO  AUSTRALIA AND THE COUNTRIES OF OUR REGION TO PUT ON THE AGENDA OF  SUCH AN MTN ROUND. SO I  THINK THERE YOU HAVE A VERY CLEAR

DI S T I N C T I O N  BETWEEN THE BROAD APPROACH, I F  YOU L I K E ,  A QUITE  UNREALISTIC APPROACH OF MY PREDECESSOR, AND A VERY S P E C I F I C  WAY I N  WHICH WE'VE GONE ABOUT I T .

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THE SECOND P O I N T  THAT 1 WOULD MAKE TO D I S T I N G U I S H  OUR GOVERNMENT   FROM THE PRE VI OUS  GOVERNMENT I S  THAT WE RECOGNI SE THAT YOU CANT TALK   ABOUT THESE I S S U E S  OF A U S T R A L I A ' S  R E L A T I O N S H I P  WI T H THE REST OF THE   WORLD I N  THE TRADI NG CONTEXT AS THOUGH THAT I S  ONE I S S U E .  I ' V E

T R I E D  TO MAKE THE P O I N T  THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A TOTALLY   I N T E GRAT E D APPROACH TO THESE T H I N G S  I F  Y OU' RE  GOI NG TO MAKE I T  WORK   W I T H I N  A U S T R A L I A  I N  P O L I T I C A L  AND I N  ECONOMI C TERMS.  I N  OTHER WORDS   WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE STRUCTURE OF OUR I N D U S T R Y ,  WE HAVE TO TALK   ABOUT OUR MACROECONOMI C P O L I C I E S ,  WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT OUR   EDCUAT I ON P O L I C I E S  I N  A WAY WHI CH OUT OF CONSULTAT I ON WI T H  ALL THE

RELEVANT ELEMENTS MEANS THAT WE CAN GET A DEGREE OF P U B L I C   UNDERSTANDI NG AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE NEED FOR CHANGE CAN NEVER   BE I MPOSED BY GOVERNMENTS FROM ON T OP.  THE ROLE AND THE F U N C T I O N  OF   GOVERNMENT,  AND A CONCERNED GOVERNMENT,  I S  I F  YOU L I K E  TO EXPOSE THE   FACTS OF THE WORLD TO THE P E OP L E .  WE STARTED TO DO THAT I N  THE   SUMMI T AND WE WERE PROFOUNDLY SUCCE S S F UL .  AS FAR AS OUR   A U S T R A L I A N  S I T U A T I O N  I S  CONCERNED.  WE STARTED THERE THE PROCESS OF

P U T T I N G  THE A U S T R A L I A N  ECONOMI C S I T U A T I O N  I N T O  A WORLD CONTEXT AND   WE W I L L  CONTI NUE TO E X P L A I N ,  TO CONSULT,  SO THAT THE A U S T R A L I A N   ELECTORATE WI L L  UNDERSTAND THAT I F  FOR OUR CHI L DR EN AND T H E I R   CHI L DR EN WE' RE GOI NG TO HAVE THE SORT OF ECONOMY WHI CH OFFERS THE   BEST O P P O R T U N I T I E S  FOR GROWTH AND FOR EMPLOYMENT,  THAT CHANGES WI L L   HAVE TO OCCUR OUT OF C O N S U L T A T I O N .  AND THAT WHAT Y O U ' R E  DO I N

REGARD TO THE STRUCTURE OF I N D U S T R Y  OR T A R I F F S  I S  BUT A PART OF A   WHOLE AND THAT I S  A B A S I C  D I S T I N C T I O N  I N  OUR APPROACH TO THAT OF   OUR PREDECESSORS.

J O U R N A L I S T :  MR HAWKE ARE YOU C L A I M I N G  THAT THERE WONT EVEN BE ANY SHORT TERM JOB LOSS AS THE ECONOMY RESTRUCTURES UNDER THE NEW   PROPOSALS.

P . M !  NO,  I M  NOT S A Y I N G  T H A T . I  REFERRED TO THE STEEL I N D U S T R Y  -

THAT THERE WERE JOB LOSSES H I S T O R I C A L L Y .  BUT WHAT I  S A I D  I S  THAT   I F  YOU APPROACH THE S I T U A T I O N  S E N S I B L Y  THAT YOU CAN ARREST VERY OFTEN   BY STRUCTURAL ADJ US T ME NT S ,  YOU CAN ARREST THE PROCESS OF JOB L OSS. YOU DONT HAVE TO T H I N K  OF ADJUSTMENTS AS B E I N G A S S OC I A T E D  WI T H  JOB   L O S S .  I T  MEANS THAT WHAT WE D I D  I N  THE STEEL I N D U S T R Y  SHOWS THAT   S E N S I B L E  ADJUSTMENT PROCESSES,  C O NS UL T AT I V E L Y  UNDERTAKEN,  CAN BE   AS S OC I A T ED  WI TH THE S A L V A T I O N  OF J OBS.

I F  YOU LOOK AT THE E X P E R I E N C E  OF J AP AN,  THERE I S  A COUNTRY WHI CH   RI GHT  THROUGH THE PER I OD OF R E C E S S I O N ,  HAS M A I N T A I N E D  AMONGST THE   LOWEST L E V E L S  OF UNEMPLOYMENT I N  THE WORLD. AND THAT HASNT MEANT   I HA I AT ! I M E S  I N  1 HE J APANESE E XP E R I E N C E  THERE HASNT BEEN JOB CHANGE   Al l U JOB 1RANSFER -  P ART I CUL A R E N T E R P R I S E  OR PART OF THE   E N T E R P R I S E  MAY CEASE TO BE THE MOST PRODUCTI VE WAY OF DOI NG T H I N G S   BUT THE WHOLE APPROACH I S  TO MAKE SUE THAT THROUGH OVERALL PROCESSES   OF CONSULTAT I ON AND UNDERSTANDI NG AND RESTRUCTURI NG THAT I N  NET TERMS

YOU SAVE J O B S .  UT I T  I S  THE H E I G H T  OF I R R E S P O N S I B L I T Y  I F  WE' RE

T A L K I N G  ABOUT THE PROFOUND SORT OF T H I N GS  THAT WE ARE,  THE FUTURE   OF A U S T R A L I A  I N  T H I S  R A P I D L Y  CHANGI NG WORLD, THE H E I G H T  OF F O L L Y ,

TO TRY AND UNDERSTAND THAT BY S A Y I N G ,  OH WELL I F  YOU ADOPT T H I S   APPROACH DOES I T  MEAN THAT A A PART I CUL AR P O I N T  THERE MAY BE A LOSS   OF JOB AND THE NEED FOR R E T R A I N I N G  AND E D U C A T I O N .  OF COURSE I T  MAY   MEAN T H A T .  BUT WHAT Y O U ' V E  GOT LOOK AT I S  THE AGGREGATE.  ARE

YOU GOI NG TO BY ADOPTI NG T H I S  OVERALL APPROACH I NCREASE THROUGH   T I M E  THE O P P O R T U N I T I E S  FOR EMPLOYMENT.  FUNDAMENTALLY WE ' V E  GOT TO   R E A L I S E  WE ARE A COUNTRY OF 15 1 / 2  M I L L I O N  PEOPLE,  15 1 / 2  M I L L I O N

PEOPLE I N  A WORLD OF 4 . 7  B I L L I O N ,  AND I N  A REGI ON OF HUNDREDS OF

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M I L L I O N S  OF PEOPLE I N  A DYNAMIC GROWTH S I T U A T I O N .  NOW THE I MPERATI VE   FOR GOVERNMENT I N  AUSTRALIA I S  TO UNDERSTAND THOSE FACTS AND I N   DI SCUSSION WITH AND I N  FULL CONSULTATION WITHÂ· AND NOT BY I M P O S I T I O N   I S  TO ALL US TO WORK TOGETHER TO SEE HOW WE ARE GOING TO GET THE   BEST ADVANTAGE FOR AUSTRALIA OF THE DYNAMISM OF THAT REGION. NOW

T H A T ' S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN BY S I T T I N G  BACK AND S A YI NG.  OH WELL WE   DONT HAVE TO THI NK ABOUT T H I S .  WE DONT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT I T .  WE   DO HAVE TO. NOT SEE I T  AS A GREAT PROOBLEM, WE'VE GOT TO. SEE I T  AS   A CHALLENGE WITH GREAT O P PO R T U N I T I E S .  AND TH AT ' S WHAT WE'RE ABOUT.

JOURNALI ST: MR HAWKE YOU STRESSED THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE MIDDLE AND LONG TERM AND THAT W I T H I N  A COUPLE OF MONTHS THE   GOVERNMENT MAY BE LOOKING AT THE FUTURE OF THE CAR INDUSTRY FROM 1 9 8 5   ON. HOW DO THOSE TWO THINGS F I T  TOGETHER. AND SECONDLY. YOU'VE   ALREADY HAD F A I RL Y  EXTENSI VE CONSULTATIONS I N  THE CAR

INDUSTRY THROUGH THE CAR INDUSTRY COUNCIL . . .  HOW FAR DO YOU SEE   THE CAR INDUSTRY AS HAVING ALREADY GONE I N  THAT CONSULTATIVE   PROCESS AS BROADENING A NEED FOR FURTHER CONSULTATIONS.

P . M . : YES. OF COURSE THERE WILL BE NEED FOR MUCH MORE CONSULTATION. YOU MAY HAVE INFERRED FROM SOME EARLIER COMMENTS THAT  I  WAS EXPRESSING DI SSA TI SFA CT IO N WITH WHAT HAD HAPPENED I N  THE D I S Â­ CUSSIONS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE. I T ' S NOT REALLY MY P O S I T I O N . I  KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE THAT WERE INVOLVED I N  THOSE DISCUSSIONS WENT  I N  I T  WITH THE BEST WILL AND I T  WAS PROBABLY IN EVITA BLE THAT  THEY WERE NOT OF THEMSELVES GOING TO BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH ANSWERS  THAT WERE ACCEPTABLE TO EVERYONE -  EVEN TO ALL THE COMPONENTS (WHEN  I  SAY COMPONENTS I N  THAT SENSE I ' M  USING THE WORD COMPONENTS  OF THE INDUSTRY) BECAUSE SOME OF THEM HAD COMPETING INTERESTS. SOME COMPANIES OBVIOUSLY HAD A DIFFERENT INTEREST TO OTHER  MANUFACTURING COMPANIES AND SO ON.

SO OBVIOUSLY MORE WORK HAS TO BE DONE AND THAT WILL BE DONE. I  BELIEVE THAT OUT OF THOSE PROCESSES WE WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE I N  198 5  TO A POSITION WHICH WILL MORE ACCEPTABLE TO THE INDUSTRY AND THE  COMMUNITY.

BUT I  WANT TO REPEAT wÂ£ ARE NOT GOING TO BE S I T T I N G  DOWN AND SAYING  WELL LOOK, WE' VE GIVEN YOU THE OPPORTUNITY FOR TALK , NOW THE  GOVERNMENT'S GOING TO IMPOSE SOMETHING ON YOU. THATS NOT THE WAY  WE OPERATE.

JOURNALIST: SO WILL THE DECISION ITS EL F BE DEFERRED T O . . .

P. M: WELL THE E X IS TI N G  PLAN TAKES US THROUGH 1 9 8 4 .  I T ' S NOW

FEBRAURY OF 1 9 8 4 .  THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME FOR MUCH MORE DISCUSSION  AND THAT WILL TAKE PLACE. .

