Pressure on Hawke

Press, 25 July 1984, Page 10

Pressure on Hawke

NZPA-AAP Sydney The Australian Prime Minister, Mr Bob Hawke, faces 20 questions on what is being called the “Paddington Bear affair” as the Opposition renewed calls yesterday for the sacking of the Special Minister of State, Mr Mick Young. The Opposition Leader, Mr Andrew Peacock, said that Mr Hawke must either sack Mr Young or come out of his “bunker” and answer his 20 questions on the matter. The Deputy Opposition Leader, Mr John Howard, in a separate but co-ordinated

attack, said that,Mr Young had used a drug-runner’s defence in trying to explain the incorrect Customs declaration. The affair began when Mr Young admitted that'he had brought unaccompanied luggage back to Australia and that a Customs inspection had found the bags contained dutiable items he had failed to declare. He has since paid the duty required on the goods for his wife and sister-in-law, which include a toy Paddington Bear. One of the questions asks if Mr Young had made false representations about the

luggage to the Australian High Commission in London. Mr Peacock asked why Mr Hawke had kept quiet on the matter for 2% weeks and why had he done nothing to discipline Mr Young. /■ He asked for the release of all the documents on the case so that the Opposition could judge Mr Young’s behaviour for itself. “Many other citizens would not be getting the sort of treatment as Mr Young. Other citizens would be facing punitive action in the courts of law and not having their jobs protected,” he said.