Sir Robert questions ban

Press, 21 April 1986, Page 4

Sir Robert questions ban

PA Hamilton A ban by Australia on All Blacks playing in South Africa would be in breach of the Gleneagles Agreement, according to the former Prime Minister, Sir Robert Muldoon. Speaking at a meeting in Hamilton on Friday evening, Sir Robert, the Opposition’s spokesman on foreign affairs, said a ban suggested by the Australian Prime Minister, Mr Hawke, was not necessary under the Gleneagles Agreement, signed by New Zealand and Australia.

“That is not in accordance with the Gleneagles Agreement,” he said. “It

never required anybody to ban anything.”

If Mr Hawke banned all the Australian sports people who had played in South Africa there would not be much sport in Australia.

Sir Robert, however, also had some praise for Mr Hawke.

“He had more guts than our lot when it came to A.N.Z.U.5.,” he said. “At least he was prepared to stand up to the Left wing of the Labour Party and the trade unions.

“Unfortunately our Prime Minister did not have the courage to stand up to his Left wing on A.N.Z.U.5.,” he said.