Fraser ‘chose wrong time’

Press, 7 March 1983, Page 1

Fraser ‘chose wrong time’

PA Wellington The defeated Australian Government chose the wrong time to call an election and went to the people on an issue that was not credible, said the Prime Minister, Mr Muldoon, yesterday. The ousted leader, Mr Fraser, also had the “misfortune” of striking Mr Bob Hawke as an opponent instead of Mr Bill Hayden, Mr Muldoon told NZPA.

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Lange, also referred to Mr Fraser’s reasons for calling the election and said the electorate had rejected opportunism and cynicism. Mr Fraser had asked for a double dissolution of Parliament because he said he could not get bills passed,

but then said during the election campaign that he did not want the measures anyway, Mr Lange said. Mr Fraser’s attempts to use union links with Labour during the election had also misfired, Mr Lange said. Mr Muldoon said that in talks with his Cabinet colleagues, he had predicted that Mr Fraser’s coalition would lose Saturday’s election. The change in government would have very little effect on New Zealand, Mr Muldoon said. “I expect us to have a very good working relationship with the new Australian Govermpent,” he said.

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