Fraser bows to pressure for denial

Press, 22 August 1978, Page 8

Fraser bows to pressure for denial

NZPA Canberra The Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser has categorically denied allegations that he asked Finance Minister (Mr Eric Robinson) to cast doubts on his (Robinson’s) evidence to the McGregor Royal Commission. Mr Fraser issued the denial in Canberra yesterday afternoon after conferring with Ministerial colleagues on the allegations, contairied in last week’s edition of the weekly magazine, the "Bulletin.” His refusal until now to answer the allegations led to prolonged Opposition questioning on the matter and serious disquiet in Government ranks over his handling of the affair.

However, observers said that Mr Fraser’s statement yesterday appeared to be in disagreement with evidence Mr Robinson gave to the Royal Commission under oath.

The Royal Commission found that Senator Reg Withers had intervened improperly to change the name of a Queensland electorate. The commission’s finding resulted in Mr Withers’ dismissal by Mr Fraser from the administrative services portfolio and as Government Senate leader.

The row now centres on when Mr Fraser heard about Mr Withers’ intervention in the electorate renaming. Mr Robinson, in sworn evidence to the commission, said that Senator Withers had raised the matter of his intervention before the Prime Minister as early as January 17 this year. The article in the "Bulletin” alleged that Mr Fraser requested Mr Robinson to write him a letter saying that certain evidence the Minister had given to the Royal Commission was not sound because it was based on uncertain memory. Mr Fraser said yesterday that Mr Robinson told him only earlier this month that he had been informed in January of a telephone conversation between Mr Withers and the chief Australian electoral officer, but not of the contents of the conversation.

“I asked Mr Robinson, if he was ure of his recollection, to write me a note,” said Mr Fraser yesterday.

Mr Robinson had decided, however, after re-reading the transcript that a note would not add anything, said Mr Fraser. A draft note which Mr Robinson had made but had not signed or sent was released with Mr Fraser's statement.