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P.M.'s PRESS CONFERENCE
Warning that passports
could be recalled
Any Australian citizen
in Rhodesia who was
promoting the policies of
the Rhodesian regime
would have his passport
recalled, the Prime Min
ister, Mr Whitlam, said
yesterday.
Mr Whitlani had been
asked at his weekly press
conference:
What is the attitude by
your Government lo efforts
by Rhodesia to recruit
migrants from Australia?
And what would be the posi
tion of Australian passport
holders who accepted an
offer of an assisted passage
to Rhodesia?
PM: We are obliged under
United Nations Security
Council resolutions to do
nothing to support that re
gime or facilitate movements
into or out of Rhodesia. As
you know anv Australian
citizen who is promoting the
policies of the Rhodesian re
gime would have his passport
recalled.
I don't say there are r.ot
persons in Rhodesia in pos
session of Australian pass
ports who are not performing
functions which have no rela
tion to the policies of the te
gime. But if a person with an
Australian passport were pro
moting the policies of the re
gime. that would be an abuse
of the passport and it would
be recalled.
Q: How?
PM: Well, there have been
passports recalled, as you
know.
Q: Yes, but how would
you do it if they were liv
ing in Rhodesia?
PM: If they didn't obey,
you couldn't go and get it. It
would be .cancelled at the
first place it was presented
outside Rhodesia. I don't
suppose there's much vru
can do about people who
stay in Rhodesia. A passport
is supposed to facilitate
movement. Any attempt to
use it for that purpose would
result in its cancellation.
Q: When the Hi§h Court
handed down its majority de
cision on the Rhodesia n
Centre you did suggest >ou
would ask the Postmasfer
General to draft new legisla
tion. Has there been any ac
tion on this?
PM: There has been no
submission on this since I
said that. 1 think we will be
doing so. but there has been
no submission.
As you will appreciate
there is a very great deal of
legislation which we will be
considering. It looks as if we
will be introducing almost
200 Bills this year, which is
easily the largest number and
I think the most substantial
body of legislation that the
Australian Parliament has
ever considered. There are
some pieces of legislation
which you will appreciate
have to be done quite quick
ly.
Reversal of two TV roles
The Prime Minister in
dulged in a little light
hearted banter with the
TVs 'Federal File' team,
Michael Schildberger and
Alan Reid, who were con
cerned with the incomes
referendum.
Q: Sckildbcraer, Kir Prime
Miaifter.. •
PM: No, the matter rose
earlier. Mr Reid. I insist on
you asking the first question
. . Im tired of this
procedure where Michael
Schildberger asks the
question* and you later make
a comment. You must have
the question yourself first.
Q: In the ALP platform
the Federal Parliament
riiouid have mprone power.
Arc jou suiting ALP wjppur
len within the trade-union
moTcmeat to cupport the in
come* referendum rather
than adhere to the viewpoint
of the trade-union novenent
at enunciated, by Mr Hawlte?
PM: The party's attitude
was determined and pub
lished on Saturday week after
the meeting of the Federal
Executive in Adelaide. I
would hope that most mem
ber* of the party and suppor
ter* of the party would heed
the party's wishes in this re
gard. Mr Schildberger,, any
comment?
Q: Do yoo have any
sympathy for Mr Hawke'a
opposition to the Income*
refereadm...?
►Ms Not much.
Q: ... or do you go to
the other extreme and cob
ttder Mr Hawk* disloyal?
# PMr No, of course he's en
titled to come to his own de
cision and to get support for
it if he can. I think he is
wrong but he would accept
the same right on my part to
come to a conclusion and
leek support for it
Edited excerpts from
the press conference
given yesterday by
the Prime Minister,
Mr Whitlam.
$