TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER
THE HON JOHN HOWARD MP
DOORSTOP INTERVIEW, ALICE SPRINGS
17 July 2001
JOURNALIST:
Mr Howard are you prepared to declare victory in Aston?
PRIME MINISTER:
No. All the votes haven’t been counted. I never claim victory until every last vote is counted. You never know what happens with these counts. We were 378 ahead last night. That can change.
JOURNALIST:
The article on the front of The Australian today about Monash Uni and the Brain Gain. More skilled people are coming in from overseas what does that say about Mr Beazley’s Knowledge Nation?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well he’s been caught out again talking Australia down. He’s running around the country saying that everybody’s leaving it because there’s no encouragement for bright people to stay. That’s wrong. We are a very attractive country to young intelligent people and what this report does is to expose another flaw in the argument he’s been using. And once again he’s been caught out trashing Australia’s ability. We ought to back Australia’s ability not trash Australia’s ability.
JOURNALIST:
How do you feel today about the rail link announcement?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well I think it’s a fantastic day for the vision of an integrated, united Australia. This dream has been around for almost 100 years and I’m very proud that the Government I lead has made it possible in cooperation with the Governments of the Northern Territory and South Australia. It will be a great boon for our trade it will be a great boon for tourism and it also makes a valuable contribution to the integrated defence capacity of northern Australia. So it’s a very worthwhile project and a great nation-building project of which all Australians should be very proud.
JOURNALIST:
What do you think of the protest by the local native titleholders?
PRIME MINISTER:
I’m used to protests.
JOURNALIST:Prime Minister, the two business surveys today suggesting confidence is on the way up. Do you see that as a sign the economy is recovering from the GST downturn?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well there was only ever a very temporary interruption with strong growth, largely in one sector, that was the housing sector, and we are recovering from that interruption and I’m optimistic, very optimistic indeed about future growth. Many people think Australia’s economy will grow more strongly next year than the economy of any industrialised nation in the world. But I’m very confident and this is another survey which demonstrates how wrong it was of Mr Beazley and Mr Crean to talk the Australian economy down.
JOURNALIST:
How much weight can you put on these two surveys today? Is it a long term guarantee?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well I don’t just rely on surveys. I rely on actuality and the clear signs are that growth is coming back, employment is still strong, people are investing, interest rates are low, inflation is low, people have got confidence. And these surveys are consistent with that confidence and they go in the face of the doomsday talk of the Labor Party.
JOURNALIST:
Prime Minister, you’re ahead in Aston. Time to pop the champagne cork yet?
PRIME MINISTER:
No. I don’t claim victory until all votes are counted. There are still several thousand votes to come and although the lead is greater now than it was yesterday I won’t breathe easily until every last vote has been counted so I’m not claiming victory yet.
JOURNALIST:
How much confidence do the current trends give you though?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well I’d rather be whatever it is, 480 to 500 ahead than 480 to 500 behind. But look it’s not over yet and I’m simply not prepared to make any premature claims. But I hope Chris Pearce makes it. He’ll be a terrific member if he does.
JOURNALIST:
Mr Howard do you support Grant Tambling [inaudible]?
PRIME MINISTER:
That’s an organisational matter but I can say this, that he’s a very good parliamentary secretary and he’s worked hard for the Territory as a Senator.
END
