P.M. orders secret files on protesters

Press, 1 September 1977, Page 9

P.M. orders secret files on protesters

Canberra

\ustralian police and security officers ha\e been ordered to compile dossiers on anti-uraninm demonstrators involved in a v iolent protest against the Prime Minister, (Mr Malcolm Fraser) last week.

Security sources in Canberra said that the reports were ordered by Mr Fraser himself after angry scenes at the University of New South Wales in Sydney last Friday when he was splashed with water and had missiles thrown at him. The sources said Mr Fraser had ordered a number of reports on demonstrators since taking office nearly two years ago. The Government is expecting a continuing series of demonstrations over its decision to give the green light for the mining and export of uranium, and the information being compiled by police and security officers will identify groups •nd individuals concerned. Mr Fraser and some other senior Ministers believe the

demonstrations could benefit I the Government in an election with an electoral backI lash against the Labour Party. The report for the Prime . Minister will detail how I quickly -the demonstrators can move from city to city for a demonstration and is expected to also reveal how the\ are being funded. However, the Prime Minister is determined not to give in to the demonstrators and has instructed his bodyguards not to move him too quickly through demonstrating crowds. This instruction is be-1 lieved to have concerned the police, who believe demonstrators could be provoked* further if the Prime Minister* is seen to be moving too slowly.