PRESS RELEASE BY DR DOUG EVERINGHAM, M P ,  SHADOW MINISTER

FOR VETERANS AFFAIRS AND THE CAPITAL TERRITORY

Dr Doug Everingham, the Federal Labor front-bencher who has

offered $100.0 to charity if the Horvath hydrogen car gets a

thousandth of its energy from nuclear fusion, has had only

indirect replies. His Premier, Mr Bjelke-Peterson, first

told a reporter he was. delighted with the offer and hoped

Dr Everingham would increase it.

Dr Everingham then offered by certified mail $2000 if

Mr Bj elke-Peterson would deposit $2000 with a bank for charity.

Now a journalist has conveyed to the doctor the Premier's

rejection because he does not gamble, Dr Everingham has made

a third offer.

He will put the money into a company to develop the car, using

any profits he gets in any way approved by the Premier and his

chosen religious adviser. He invites the Premier to make a

similar offer to invest in another promising Australian fuel-

saving engine development if the atomic expert chosen by the

Premier and recognised as competent by Sir Mark Oliphant

declares in favour of the other engine.,

"Since the Premier has made a fortune from mineral and other

investments and members of his party have committed themselves

to invest in the Horvath project, he cannot regard this offer

as a gamble", Dr Everingham said.

"The same conditions apply as in my.previous offers. The

Premier's expert must declare by 5 p.m. on the Friday before

the Australian or Queensland election, that a thousandth of the

Horvaths engine's energy is thermonuclear.

"If the Premier matches my offer, it will be for $2000 not $1000'

CANBERRA

28 August 1980

