A.N.Z.U.S. ‘destruction’ seen in Hawke actions

Press, 6 March 1985, Page 40

A.N.Z.U.S. ‘destruction’ seen in Hawke actions

By

BRUCE JONES

of AAP Canberra

Unless the Prime Minister, Mr Hawke, stood up to Australian Labour Party factions they would destroy the A.N.Z.U.S. defence treaty, as well as Australia’s involvement with the Western alliance and its influence on disarmament discussions, Australia’s Parliament has been told. The Opposition leader, Mr Andrew Peacock, in an attempt to censure Mr Hawke over the MX missile issue, accused him of treating Australians with contempt by refusing to mediate in the A.N.Z.U.S. dispute between the United States and New Zealand.

He said that Mr Hawke’s claim that Australia’s commitment to the alliance relationship remained undiminished was “self-serving nonsense.” President Reagan and his Secretary of State, Mr George Shultz, had had to use “diplomatic language” to save Mr Hawke’s face, Mr Peacock said. However, Mr Hawke said that Mr Peacock was calling President Reagan and Mr Shultz "liars.” Mr Hawke successfully moved an amendment to the censure motion reaffirming his Government’s firm commitment to the A.N.Z.U.S. alliance. The decision to withdraw permission for Australian facilities to be used to moni-

tor MX missile splashdowns in the Tasman Sea had been a “mutually assumed decision” by the United States and Australia, Mr Hawke said.

He said that in overturning the original decision he ad been responding to concerns that went “well beyond” the Labour Party. The Australian people did not want a bigoted, dogmatic Prime Minister who would not listen to the clearly expressed voice of the people. Mr Peacock rejected the claims, saying Mr Hawke had panicked, thrown principle and the national interest aside, and instead of fighting for Australia had caved in to the Left wing of the A.L.P.