Aust, takes new apartheid line

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34087, 26 February 1976, Page 9

Aust, takes new apartheid line

(N.Z. Press Assn—Copyright) CANBERRA.

The Australian Government will not prevent its sportinjj teams or individuals from competing in South Africa, said the Foreign Minister, Mr Andrew Peacock.

But Mr Peacock said the Government would prevent teams selected on a racial basis from South Africa competing in Australia.

He said South African sporting teams should be given transit facilities in Australia if on the way to compete in other countries. This is a direct change of policy from the previous Labour Government, under Mr Gough Whitlam.

Asked whether South African sporting teams would be allowed to compete in Australia, Mr Peacock said each case would be judged on its merits.

“As the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) has previously indicated on at least two occasions, we would apply the test of selection on a proper multi-racial basis and we would weigh it up on a case bv case basis. “I think there is an important distinction to be drawn between the Government’s responsibility to grant or refuse right of entry to teams and individuals wishing to visit Australia and its obligations in respect of Australians wishing to compete in sporting events in other countries,” he said. The Minister said his Government had views which were strongly opposed to apartheid. “Not only in government but in sport. But I do not beJieve it is right to impose views on individuals if you subscribe to the view that Australians ought to be free to travel around the world if they wish.

“We would hope they would take into account what we are saying.”