AUST. CAMPAIGN Opposition plans under attack

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33516, 23 April 1974, Page 16

AUST. CAMPAIGN Opposition plans under attack

I Pre»« Aliociarion —Copyrigh:?

SYDNEY, April 22.

The Australian election campaign is heating up with Labour attacks on the Opposition’s first week-end releases of social security policy and a Liberal promise today to slow the growth of the public service.

The week-end promises or stiffer unemployment benefit tests and abolition of the means test were attacked by the Labour Minister of Sociall Security. Mr Bill Hayden, as expense, e and irresponsible. Today the Deputy Opposition Leader. Mr Phillip Lynch, pledged his party to open government and a reduced growth rate for the Commonwealth public service. Mr Lynch promised a Rosal Commission into the management and administration of the service, which he said had too high a growth rate and too many departments.

Speaking in Adelaide, the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister. Mr Lance Barnard, outlined Labour defence plans. Mr Barnard said Labour’s five-year rolling plan envisaged a total of eight thousand million dollars in expenditure on defence between now and 1979. The Defence Minister said

that given the need to control Government spending, and Australia's favourable strategic situation, it would Ibe irresponsible to spend any 1 more. i Mr Barnard said Australia , I was already spending some four million dollars a day on 1 I defence. Opposition spokesmen have 1 charged that the Whitlam 1 Government has allowed the ’ Australian defence effort to j be run down to a dangerously low level. They have nledged to build j up the armed forces again, h