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McMahon backs
Hawke rule
MELBOURNE: It could be five
years before the Federal Opposition had
a hope of regaining government, former
Liberal Prime Minister, Sir William
McMahon, said yesterday.
It would be important for Australia's
economic recovery that Mr Hawke was
re-elected at the next election, he said.
Mr Hawke was doing remarkably well.
"I have to say I believe that for some
time it would be very difficult for us in
the Federal Liberal Party to believe
that we would be able to displace him
at an election," he said. "Certainly at
the next election he would be needed in
Australia to ensure that the foundations
were built up very strongly and that
internationally we were able to compete
in the market."
It would take four to five years for
the Liberal Party "to put ourselves
there as real opponents to the Labor
Party and with real hopes of victory."
The most important factor in
economic management was the Govern
ment's ability to exercise control over
union wage demands.
He said earlier, in an ABC radio
interview, "I believe that the one who
can do best in ensuring the foundations
of the economic and financial system of
Australia is Bob Hawke."
Hawke's approval now 70pc. — Page
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