Whitlam firm on office closing

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33095, 9 December 1972, Page 15

Whitlam firm on office closing

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter —CopurightJ CANBERRA, December 8. After only three days in power, the Australian Labour Government faces its first big row—over its intention to close down the unofficial Rhodesian Information Centre in Sydney.

The Liberal Party Premier of New South Wales (Sir Robert Askin) said today that

it was “typical of this bunch of political troglodytes” that the Government had announced the contents of a letter ordering him to close the centre down before he himself had received it

The only way the New South Wales Government would act on a Federal request would be if "it had merit” he said. “If the request has no merit, it will not be approved, and, if pursued, it will be resisted at all levels.”

Yesterday, the director of the centre (Mr Denzil Bradley) said he would be seeking legal advice to help him oppose any attempts to close the office.

‘WHETHER, OR NOT’ But, speaking in Canberra today, the new Prime Minister (Mr Whitlam) said that the Government would close down the centre “whether Sir Robert Askin likes it or not.”

Mr Whitlam said he was determined that Australia would honour its international obligations and the Federal Government would act itself if Sir Robert Askin refused to deregister the organisation. He said the Federal Government had had legal advice which said it could undoubtedly pass legislation to implement its international obligations under United Nations resolutions on sanctions against Rhodesia.

These were adopted in May, 1968, and December, 1970, and require Australia to close offices such as the Rhodesian Information Centre. Among measures the Fed-

eral Government is considering are cutting off the telephone to the centre, refusing it postal deliveries and cutting off its supply of overseas mail, according to official Government sources.