Fresh bid to oust Whitlam Govt

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33985, 28 October 1975, Page 17

Fresh bid to oust Whitlam Govt

fxVew Zealand Press Association—Copyright»

CANBERRA, October 27. Leaders of the Opposition parties in Australia ai planning a renewed attack on the Labour Government over the overseas loans affair, in a further attempt to topple it from power.

The Leader of the Liberal-Country Party coalition Opposition (Mr Malcolm Fraser) called a special meeting of his Shadow Cabinet in Canberra today, to discuss the allegation made by the deposed former Treasurer (Dr James Cairns) that the Prime Minister (Mr Whitlam) was himself involved in the loan negotiations. Mr Fraser intends to ask further questions in Parliament tomorrow, in spite of Mr Whitlam’s statement that he will refuse to answer any questions from Mr Fraser or his deputy, Mr Philip Lynch, on the loans affair because he “cannot trust them.” , Mr Fraser yesterday denounced Mr Whitlam as “a liar.”

It is understood that Mr Whitlam and Dr Cairns have discussed the allegations made by the former Treasurer on television on Friday. Observers in Canberra believe that Mr Fraser will use Dr Cairns’s statement fully in his bid to force a General Election, which Mr Whitlam has refused to call. The Opposition spokesman for foreign affairs, Mr Andrew Peacock, said today that it was only because Labour did not have a majority in the Senate that the de-, bate on the loans affair and other matters could be pursued. “Mr Whitlam showed! last week that he is quite! prepared to use his majority jin the House of Representatives to stifle discussion of jany matters that would i embarrass the Government,” (Mr Peacock said.

The Opposition has on two occasions deferred action on the Government’s Budget bills, thereby denying Mr Whitlam’s Administration

funds to continue to govern, in an attempt to force the nation’s third General Election in three years. Mr Fraser was given an ovation yesterday from 15,000 supporters at the Randwick racecourse, Sydney, where he again challenged Mr Whitlam to go to the polls. It was there that he referred to Dr Cairns’s statement, which, he said, showed clearly that the Prime Minister had lied to the nation. Mr Whitlam travelled to Melbourne yesterday. where he told an enthusiastic miggrant political rally that “the reactionary Fraser Fascists”!

I were trying to frustrate democracy in Australia. The Minister for Science and Consumer Affairs (Mr Clyde Cameron) disclosed at the rally that funds to keep the Australian Meteorology Bureau working were running out, which, he said, must lead to aircraft being grounded and problems for shipping, farmers, and the nation as a whole. The Minister for Social: Security (Senator John Wheeldon) disclosed that investigations had shown that (28 per cent of people receiv(ing unemployment benefits ini • Australia were not entitled! Ito any payment.