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R E H A M

NETWORKFACETO FACE

Please acknow,lede"FACE TO FACE, SEVEN NETWORK".

when extracting any material

Broadcast Date: 18h May 1997.Interview with the Prime Minister, John Howard

IF NOT RECEIVED IN LEGIBLE FORM PLEASE CONTACT REHAME AUSTRALIACANBERRA ON (61 6) 273 6777 or 0419 418 497

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SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED

NATIONAL SEVEN NETWORK,FACE TO FACE 9.30AM

SUNDAY, MAY 18, 1997

DISCUSSION ON NATIVE TITLE LEGISLATION, THENATIONAL PARTY LEADERSHIP ISSUE, ECONOMIC REFORMAND MEDIA OWNERSHIP. INTERVIEW WITH THE PRIMEMINISTER, JOHN HOWARD.

STAN GRANT PRESENTER:Good morning again. John Howard could be forgiven right now for contemplating

that old saying about not pushing too hard for what you want, because you just

might get it. Certainly the Prime Minister, if he was ever in fact in any doubt, must

now fully appreciate the difficulties of office. Mr Howard would've hoped to have

been out selling his budget, one he trumpeted as a political circuit breaker.

Instead, he's back out on the stumps selling his Wik plan, and still ticking away is the

time bomb of media ownership. Add to that, Pauline Hanson's popularity, high

unemployment and even criticism of his own leadership and you have a picture of

someone perhaps anything but relaxed and comfortable. The Prime Minister joins

us this morning, along with our panel, Seven's Glenn Milne and Anne Davies from

the Sydney Morning Herald.

Prime Minister, good morning to you.

JOHN HOWARD PRIME MINISTER:Good morning Stan, how are you?Rown m&Aztnia Montorin Swvics Pty Ltd ACN 006 369 982Suit S01 Heiy M rwso Buonhaninm Cer. Cay Stre. iDnmwyne NSW 2047 PH 02 98196266 FX 02 9819 6388S7 Rome Pon Melboune. Vicoria 3207 Telekphone 03 9646 6966 Fauirnile 03 9646 628827 Sae Cide DeWd% ACT 2600 OppmitmI HInbtelra Entrwme, PalanmMt Hous Canmbe-Tlephone 06 273 6777 Faaintie 06 273 6888 E mhu*nel ntnfo.cowiu

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E GRANT:

I'm I'm very well thank you. Yesterday you were out at Longreach. I supposeinto the lion's den. You've weren't how... howled down though. What's your

reaction to the response you received?

HOWARD:

I thought it was a very very good meeting. I didn't expect them to stand and cheer

because they've been fed an enormous amount of misinformation by people who, Ithink, are being a little mischievous. It was a first class opportunity for me to getacross the guarantees that the ten point plan gives to Australian pastoralists, and all

in all, I was very pleased about the outcome. I didn't expect them to

overwhelmingly endorse, but I think I made an impression and Tim Fischer and I felt

well pleased after the meeting.

We we had an opportunity of talking to them directly and to give them a lot of

assurances. I was amazed, absolutely amazed, at the level of fear and

misinformation.

GRANT:Well well let's deal deal with that. Because I saw someone last night, a

woman with a couple of children on her hips, saying she didn't know how she was

going to to feed the children in the future.

HOWARD:Well I mean this is this is it. I mean there is

GRANT:Where's that coming from?

Rehale Auxil Mnorm ongServ Pty Ltd ACN 006 369 982Suhke SoI Hry Lwon &Buirna Cent Cay Street. rOnammeyne NSW 2047 PH 02 98196266 FX 02 9819 6388S7 Route Saeet Port Meboume. Victoria 3207 Telephone 03 9646 6966 Facsmile 03 9646 628827 Sat* Circe. Deardn. ACT 2600 Oppostet 1Inh-turtal Entrancv Parlban mt Houe. CanberaTeephoone 06273 6777 Faumile 06273 688 Emil rehalmega@nInfo.ofn.mu

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E HOWARD:

Well I it could be coming from extreme groups who are pedalling this

information and if they are, they they you know they deserve to be to be

criticised and and and exposed because they are those people yesterdaywere decent hard working Australian men and women and if they did have thosegenuine fears, then that is is a terrible condemnation of people who've spread

those sort of lies. Because in no way is anybody's title at risk. In no way can

anybody, even if nothing is done about the Wik decision, can anybody be driven offtheir property. But we are going to do something about the Wik decision.

We're going to wind it right back. Not as far as they might want us to go, but we

are certainly going to wind it back. But can I just say again, nobody can lose their

farm, nobody can lose their pastoral lease. Nobody can be prevented from carrying

out their pastoral activities and an expanded range of primary production activities.

And they can do that without having to get the permission, or the approval of any

Aboriginal native title claimant.

GRANT:Personally, the the fact that you were you were out there on the weekend,

just so soon after the budget, having to to sell the the Wik proposal. Some

have described you as fog bound by the whole the whole Wik issue. I think there

was one headline yesterday describing you as as "nowhere man" because of the

various [indistinct]...

HOWARD:Well I was somewhere yesterday and and I think the whole of Australia know I

was somewhere.

Rehwe A=rzfia Montort Soreka Pey Ltd ACN 006 369 982Suie Sl Hery Lwwon Busteu Cet* ,Cay Stmreet. D mmoyne NSW 2047 PH 02 98196266 FX 029819 638857 Row Sumet Port Melbwin. Vlctoria 3207 Telephone 03 9646 6966 Faunile 03 9646 6288

27 Stat Cida. Deaid ACT 2600 Oppote Mbilntwta Entra vn. PdiJament Hous. CanbaneaTelephone 06 273 6777 Faiftile 06 273 6888 Em. 4mhane*tino.com .u

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I GRANT:

Are you are you fog bound by

HOWARD:

I think I think yesterday actually was a was a good, old fashioned exercise in

face to face politics. I I think political leaders ought to get out of the television

studio, you know, pardon your presence, ought to get out of the television studio a

little more often and actually go and talk to people who are affected by something.

I mean, there were fifteen hundred to two thousand people there yesterday.They'd come from all over north Queensland, some from the Northern Territory,

some from New South Wales, some from Western Australia. They feel deeplyabout this issue. They are entitled to hear from their Prime Minister and Deputy

Prime Minister about it and so far from yesterday's experience discouraging mefrom face to face contact with people, it's actually renewed my belief in the value ofit.

GLENN MILNE SEVEN NETWORK:

I don't think there's any doubt though Prime Minister that some people out there

probably feel that you've been preoccupied with the wrong issues, even thoughWik is obviously a very weighty and important one. Now that you've got the

legislation through the party room, it's going into the Parliament. Will you now back

off selling Wik, or are you still going to continue?

HOWARD:No, I think no, look I'm not going to back off doing anything that's important.

But I think now that it's through the party room, the political interest in it will beless because everybody now knows it's government policy and I'm not going to

change it. And the legislation is being drafted at the present time. I'm going to getKelmn Austra Mwfdt0r Servic. Pty Ltd ACN 006 369 982Suits 501 Hemy L in Bwinm Cerm Cary 'ae Dnrmoyne NSW 2047 PH 02 98196266 FX 029819 638857 Rouse Streer Port Meblun. V"ilXria 3207 Teletphon 03 9646 6966 Famimde 03 9646 628827 Ste Cirete, Oe.Idn, ACT 2600 Opposke KbfttwW Entzc., Pwaillment Houso. CanberaTekqhomn 06 273 6777 Facsimdle 06 273 6888 Emad: elm.egm@Nkiifoxnmau

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E HOWARD CONT/D:

the legislation involve legal representatives of the interest groups in having a

look at the legislation when it's drafted and naturally I'll involve the party in that

process as well.

But we have determined a course, it's a fair course, it's the right course and I'm

going to keep going on it. Obviously, it's not going to be as preoccupying over the

next few weeks as it has over the past few weeks. But this idea that being prime

minister is only about the budget, is only about industrial relations, is only about

cutting things, or about the taxation system, has always been wrong. Getting Wik

right, getting native title right is very important to the long term economic future of

Australia, but it's also important for the social cohesion of the nation.

We have to get the balance right. The pendulum has swung too far in the direction

of Aborigines in the argument. What I'm trying to do is bring it back in the middle,

but I'm not going to push it back over the other side because it needs to be in the

middle, and that's what I think Australians want.

MILNE:

Prime Minister you say that you're very determined on this issue. You won't brook

any changes in the Senate.

HOWARD:

Mmm.

MILNE:

If the Senate does try to substantially amend..

Rahw Auzria Montorinf Swrvku Pty Ltd ACN 006 369 982Swi 501 Henry Lwmon Businms Centu, Cary Screv Dnrmnoynw NSW 2047 PH 0298196266 FX 02 9819 638857 Rouse Seet Port Mlboumne, Vktora 3207 Telephone 03 9646 6966 Fasme 03 9646 6288

27 Stue Orde. Dakin. ACT 2600 Oppasks MInltetbl Entrwne. Parilamnt Home. CnbwmraTelephone 06 273 6777 Facsimile 06 273 6888 EmIil. rhamegxrngtnfo.cofa-u

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E HOWARD:

Yeah.

MILNE:

the Wik legislation. What will you do?

HOWARD:

Well we won't agree with any substantial amendments. I'm not going to have the

plan watered down. I mean, if there are things at the margin that don't make any

difference, of course we'll have a look. But I'm not going to have it watered down.

But what we do is something we'll decide if and when that that that arises.

GRANT:

One of the things that has been raised, a possibility of a a double dissolution on

this iss... issue Are you prepared to go that far?

HOWARD:

Oh look I'm not going to say what we'll do if the Senate were to knock it back. Tim

Fischer and I have had a discussion about that and we've got a very clear view of

what our response might be. But for reasons

GRANT:

Is it some something you can discuss?

HOWARD:

No, Tim and I have discussed it. Of course we have. Tim and I are working

together very closely on this and it was a great great privilege to be on that

platform with him out in Longreach yesterday. He's a terrific deputy leader and he's

done a superb job as Leader of the National Party.Rehame Auraa Monitoir Servie Pty Ltd ACN 006 369 982Suite 501 Henry Lawsn o Bins C Cary Street. Drunmoyne NSW 2047 PH 02 98196266 FX 02 9819 6388S7 Rouse Street Port Melbournx Vicona 3207 Telephone 03 9646 6966 Facimile 03 9646 628827 State Cirde. Deakin. ACT 2600 Opposi Ministrlal Entrncow Parlament Houme CaniberTelephone 06 273 6777 Faclmile06 273 6888 Eoik rehanea@ncinf.com.au

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MILNE:A referendum Prime Minister?

HOWARD:Oh I just Glenn I'm not going to speculate.

GRANT:

But yet you

HOWARD:

Try as you may, we we've given given it a lot of thought and we have a view. I

hope the Senate will agree with what we're putting up. Mr Beazley should agreewith what we're putting up because it cleans up the mess that his formergovernment left us with.

GRANT:You you mentioned Tim Fischer. Of course, the the whole native title issuehas caused great divisions within the National Party. Well come back after thebreak and just deal with that.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

GRANT:Prime Minister John Howard is our guest on Face to Face. Prime Minister, justbefore the break you you mentioned Tim Fischer, you were in Longreach with

him yesterday. Rumblings within the National Party about his leadership, whatwould your message to National Party MPs be to the ones who were trying todestabilise Tim Fischer's leadership?

Rahwme Aer.lia Montortr Services Pry Ltd ACN 006 369 982Suite S0 I Hery Lwsou Buimess Centre Cry Street. Oranoyne NSW 2047 P' 0298196266 FX 029819 638857 Rouas Streit Port Malbourne Vlctoara 3207 Telephone 03 9646 6966 Fuzinie 03 9646 628827 Scae Cird' Deakn ACT 2600 Opposite Minbterl Entran, Patmnt Hotite. CanerwaTkp.a 06 273 6777 Fasimnle 06 273 6888 Em avi r hmegarnuctnfo.omau

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E HOWARD:

Well I think they're crazy. I mean. I I just can't believe we waited for

thirteen years to get into government. We've been in government fourteen months

and these characters are running around talking about leadership. I mean, you've

got to be joking.

GRANT:How seriously do you take them?

HOWARD:

Well I I noted at the end of last week the the absolute anger of the great

majority of the members of the National Party towards a few and I I think his

leadership is very solid. He really has done a great job for the bush and he's done a

terrific job for Australia as a trade minister and he's very highly respected in the

business community.

I noticed when I had that fourteen person business delegation with me in China,

how warmly they spoke of the job that Tim Fischer is doing for Australian

exporters. He's always out there, getting a market, pushing an Australian product.

Now that's his job and anybody who criticises his leadership is is politically stupid

and has no understanding of the absolutely invaluable job that he's doing for

Australia. I think it's just a touch of, what shall we call, autumn madness.

ANNE DAVIES SYDNEY MORNING HERALD:

But hasn't there been a breakdown of trust between yourself and the National

Party organisation over Wik? I mean, how are you going to repair those relations?

Ram Autr~la Monitor Servkc Pty Ltd ACN 006 369 982Suite 50 Hewry Lwwwn Bunes* Cni Cy Saet. Dnvnoyn. NSW 2047 PH 02 98196266 FX 02 9819 6388S7 Rous Sav Port MeIbourmne. V'ctqia 3207 Teephne 03 9646 6966 Facskniq 03 9646 628827 State Cr DOean. ACT 2600 Opposite MbilAtrW Entnwc., Parait Hous. CamrvaTelephone 06 273 6777 Facsimiie 06273 6888 E rea@netnfo.onmu

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E HOWARD:

Well at the end of the day on our side of politics, we talked to the organisation, we

consulted, but we're not instructed by it and it's as simple as that. Now I've I

spent Friday evening with the Federal President of the National Party who's a

pastoralist in Queensland and I've a very good personal relationship with him. He's

a very pleasant individual, Mr MacDonald. We've had a slight difference of policy on

this, but that's part and parcel of the of the process and he indicated to me on

Friday night that he thought the whole idea of the visit to Cloncurry and Longreach

had been very good and that the smaller group we met on Friday night there

was a lot of shifting of opinion during that discussion. Because for the first time I

think they really understood the protections that are in the plan.

But you have these sorts of things along the way. You've got to involve theorganisation. You've got to talk to it. But at the end of the day, the people who

have been voted into office, that's Tim Fischer and myself, have got the authority

and the responsibility to take decisions.

MILNE:

Prime Minister, if we can turn now to the budget.

HOWARD:

Mmm.

MILNE:

One of the most negative reactions seemed to come from, what I would term, one

of your natural constituency groups, the Business Council of Australia. I think Stan

Wallis, the President, said that he didn't think the Government had a great deal of

strategic vision. How did you respond to that?

Pmne AurallaMofrou Sowicw Py Ltd ACN 006 369 982Ste 501 HIenry LawonBuinsnm Camc, Cary StreL Dnmioyn NSW 2047 PH 02 98196266 FX 02 9819 6388S7 Rous Samt Port Melbourme. Victoria 3207 Telephone 03 9646 6966 Faumile 03 9646 6288

27 St Orcdei Di.ACT 2600 Oppmita Mbstwial Entrance. Parufammt Hmoue, CanberaTelephone 06 273 6777 Facimile 06 273 688 EmvA rehwneg&@n.einfcom.*u

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E HOWARD:

Well I was a little puzzled at that, for two reasons. Firstly, all of the things that we

said we were going to do before the election, industrial relations reform, capital

gains tax relief for small business, family tax reform, health insurance rebates, all of

those things have been ticked off. And one of the things the Business Council has

been very strong about is reducing the budget deficit.

I mean, we did inherit a deficit of ten and a half billion, and by the end of our first

term we'll have a surplus of one point six billion. Now that is a spectacularlysuccessful implementation of what the Business Council has been on our back aboutfor a long time. And it's made all the more puzzling to me by the fact that at the

same time as I'm being criticised by the President of the Business Council, that very

same body is asking the Government for spending measures and tax concessions

that would total four to five billion dollars a year.

MILNE:What was this in their pre-budget submission?

HOWARD:No, no in a submission they've put to another government inquiry. They want therestoration of DIFF, they want the restoration of the R&D tax concessions thatwere paired back in the last budget, they want the restoration of the tariffconcession change incidentally DIFF and the tariff concession we promised to do

in our election campaign and they want a four to five per cent tax rebate on

exports.

Now, all of those things in their own right, I suppose have merit, but where's themoney coming from? Now where do you find another four to five billion dollars and

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SEVEN NETWORK UMITD

E HOWARD CONT/D:

isn't it a bit contradictory on the one hand to be saying to the Government, cut

the deficit, but give us a four to five billion dollars extra? Now you you can't, I

mean a government has got to strike a balance, and and where does that

money come from? I mean, we have already cut what people would call middle

class welfare, the HECS charges, the nursing home charges, all of those things that

were implemented in the last budget represented a a heavy targeting of the

government dollar. Now there's a limit beyond which you can't go otherwise you

do start cutting into the genuine social safety net and I've got to strike the balance. I

have obligations to all of the Australian people.

MILNE:

You talk about striking a balance, could we just turn to industrial relations?

HOWARD:

Mmm.

MILNE:lan McFarlane, the Governor of the Reserve Bank said this week that he felt there's

more to be done on labour market deregulation. You're now looking at further

changes to the unfair dismissal laws, do you think there's another raft of changes to

IR legislation coming through? Is that your plan?

HOWARD:

Well I think it's a a I mean, we don't sort of have a a have a bag, a

second wave in the drawer, but it's it's an evolutionary process, you always have

to be looking at further changes. But this debate about IR, we really have to sort of

stop perhaps talking in code. If you're talking about cutting minimum wages, which I

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27 Se Ckre.DOecin. ACT 2600. OppmChta MHhktwr Entrwx*, Pargamrnt HousMe, CarraTelephone 06 273] 6777 Famuinde 06 273 6888 Emnil: rehgaqtidro.cxm.au

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HOWARD CONT/D:I'm not, then people who involve themselves in the debate should say so. They

shouldn't say, well we want further industrial relations reform. If if what youmean is, we should cut the minimum wage in the hope that if the wages bill ofemployers is lower, then they'd be able to employ more people. If you're notmeaning that, we'll you should specify what you what you what you really

do mean.

I think there's a lot of sort of double talk in this whole industrial relations debatebecause most of the major changes, other than getting rid of the minimum wage,we have made. Now I made it dcear before the last election that we were going toguarantee a safety net, as far as the minimum wage was concerned, and that wasthe take-home value of the take-home pay value of the award. Now, I'm notgoing to walk away from that. I'll make other changes. I'll entertain any otherchanges, but that rock solid guarantee that I gave in relation to the take-home payunder the award stays, and I'm not going to compromise that or walk away from it.

GRANT:

Prime Minister if I could just just take take a short break there. We'll comeback after this and deal with the other area of reform that's been called throughoutthe community, taxation reform. Just after this.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

GRANT:Welcome back. Our guest this morning, Prime Minister John Howard. PrimeMinister, before the break we were talking about industrial relations reform. Theother arm of reform, taxation reform, something you've ruled out during this term

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SEVEN NETWORK UMITED

E GRANT CONTID:

of of government, but is it something you'll be looking at further down

down the track, particularly, the issue of a GST?

HOWARD:

Well I wouldn't yet start getting time specific about that, but there's no doubt that

at some stage, sooner or later, we will have to reform the Australian taxation

system.

GRANT:

Does does that include revisiting a GST [indistinct]?

HOWARD:

Well you can't you can't have a reform unless you look at all of the options.

Now, I can't deny that in the twenty or so years that I've been in politics, I I have

been over the years a consistent supporter of tax reform. I think of all of the people

that are, you know, have had a bit of an influence and a bit of a say in Australian

politics over the years, I've been a more consistent supporter of tax reform than

most. And but we made a commitment about this term of government, quite

precise commitment, and I'm I'm obviously very conscious of that and I I

intend to honour that commitment.

But if you if you're saying to me, do I envisage the Australian taxation system

remaining as it is for the next five or ten years, I'd have to say no.

GRANT:The the other area of course of change, a bit more imminent perhaps than

tax change, is in media ownership. Will James Packer get his Christmas wish and

own Fairfax by Christmas?

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E HOWARD:

Well we're having a look at the changes. I mean, this is a very interesting debate.

Everybody's got a view. I think perhaps we ought to have a new ground rule on thisdebate that that journalists who have a very strong personal view in this ought to

declare their positions before they write columns, or ask questions, or give

interviews because there's a lot of I mean, James Packer and and Kerry

Stokes and others are out there openly stating what their view is.

I think it's also fair to say that many working journalists, quite rightly, and I I

don't for a moment contest their right to have a view and to lobby for that point of

view, which many of them are now doing. But I think the public ought to know

where they stand when they make comments on these things and offer opinions

and views. Because it's not just the Packer's and the Stokes' and the Murdoch's

who have a view on this, journalists have a view on it as well. They're entitled to

have those views, but we are entitled to know their views as well as know

[indistinct]...

GRANT:We we actually have someone here who perhaps could be could be affected

DAVIES:

I'm a Fairfax journalist and I have a strong view about it. What is the urgency to

move in this area?

HOWARD:

Your view is what?

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E DAVIES:

Well, I I don't think that we should have further concentration of media

ownership.

HOWARD:You're against any change to the laws?

DAVIES:Ah, I think the law's worked pretty well at the moment.

HOWARD:You you'd like to leave them as they are?

DAVIES:Yeah, well I think it's interesting in the US and the UK, they have cross media laws.

I just wonder what's different about Australia that we feel the need to get rid of our

cross media laws?

HOWARD:

Now, well we haven't taken any decision on it. We are going to examine all of the

options and we're listening to your views as as well as reading your views on it

which and we're listening to the views of other people, including Mr Packer and

Mr Stokes and Mr Murdoch and Mr Price of the of IEL, who's got an interest in

Fairfax. I mean, it's a it's a very very interesting debate and it'll perhaps go on for

a little while longer before we take a decision.

There's a lot of opposition in Australia to a further concentration of foreignownership. I understand the argument about diversity. I think diversity of opinion is

very important and there are some newspapers in Australia that have great diversity

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E HOWARD CONT/D:

of opinion within them. If I could be forgiven for quoting your opposition number

in Sydney and that's the Sydney Daily Telegraph, that paper has an enormous range

of views within its borders. Whereas some other media outlets, like the ABC on

political and social issues, tend to have too narrow a spectrum of views and it's one

of my criticisms of the ABC that it doesn't have a a right wing Phillip Adams, if I

could put it like that. If the ABC had a greater spectrum of views, then I think a lot

of people would feel that it was a a better disbursement of the taxpayer dollar.

But their views tend to be so predictable, you you can almost close your eyes

and say, well I know what the ABC's going to say.

GRANT:

Prime Prime Minister, we'll have to pause there. We'll come back after the

break and perhaps we can ask you questions again [laughs].

HOWARD:

Sure, okay.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

GRANT:Prime Minister, welcome back. A lot of talk about cent... centring around the

media ownership issue, is talked-about deals and that certain people are going to

to make a big killing out of any change to media ownership rules, including Michael

Kroger, reported to be receiving something in the range of a seven million dollar

bonus if the media ownership rules are changed in favour of Kerry Packer. What do

you know about that deal?

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HOWARD:Nothing. I do know

organisation, but if you

he's getting, go and ask

that Michael Kroger has a consultancy with the Packerwant to know how much they're paying him, or how muchKerry Packer or

GRANT:

That that sort of that sort of speculation

HOWARD:

Well hang on, hang on, hang on, hang on. He's an individual.

GRANT:

Also a former heavyweight of the Liberal Party.

HOWARD:

I I I yeah well I know him. He is entitled to make a living like anybody else.

But look, I don't know. Go and ask him. Don't ask me, I I don't run Michael

Kroger's private affairs. I haven't spoken to Michael Kroger for some weeks and

he's got a consultancy, everybody knows that, he's not disguised what it's worth

and so forth, I haven't the faintest idea. I don't know.

GRANT:

There's no no conflict there that he he

HOWARD:

No conflict?

GRANT:

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HOWARD:Well how's that a conflict? I mean, there therefore you're saying GrahamRichardson shouldn't work for Packer, you're saying that somebody's who's had apast political association shouldn't ever come onto this program. I mean, in twentyyears time if I retire from politics and want to become a TV interviewer, you meanto say I can't do that?

GRANT:Well you almost just did a moment ago. [laughs]

HOWARD:Well I'm practising.

MILNE:Prime Minister, interesting to hear that you're not going to be Prime Minister fortwenty five years, but just [laughs] just to revisit the tax issue for a second.

HOWARD:

[laughs] Yeah.

MILNE:Obviously you can't go into the next election foreshadowing a GST or or orexactly spelling out the kind of tax reform that you might get into in the next term.How will you deal with that as a political problem? Is there a structure you've got inmind for

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HOWARD:

Oh it's a long way off, Glenn [indistinct] we're not having an election for

quite a while, I really haven't given it any thought for that [sic]. I was just making the

obvious comment that I don't see the Australian taxation system remaining static

indefinitely, but I'm conscious of what we said before the last election and I'm not

going to walk away from that commitment, and it remains rock solid. But looking

forward, you have to acknowledge that the Australian taxation system is less than

perfect and I don't know how anybody can argue otherwise and I've certainly

always been, in the long term, in favour of quite fundamental change and reform.

But it's a question of of timing, it's a question of explanations, it's a question of

balance.

GRANT:

Prime Minister in parliament you can afford to run over time. Unfortunately in

television, we don't have that we don't have that privilege. Again, thank you very

much for coming in here this morning. Our thanks to the Prime Minister, John

Howard and also to our panel, Seven's Glenn Milne and Anne Davies of the Sydney

Morning Herald.

Our thanks also to you for joining us. Don't forget all today's big stories, Seven

Nightly News at six. I'm Stan Grant, enjoy the rest of your day.

END OF SEGMENT

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