For a safe and prosperous Australia.  The policy of the Democratic Labor Party for the federal elections.  November 26, 1966. delivered by Senator The Hon V.C. Gair. D.L.P.Parliamentary leader.  INTRODUCTION.  The D L.P. enters this election with expectations of a substantial increase. In its vote and its acceptance by the Australian voter as the Party with the right solutions to the major domestic and external problems facing this country. We have prepared a programme of policies which clearly distinguishes us from the DECEPTIVE LIBERAL COUNTRY PARTIES and the DANGEROUS A.L.P. This programme should find support amongst all sections of the community because it is constructive and forward-looking. Our major theme is the economic and social development of Australia, under the protective shield of adequate and realistic defences. WE ARE THE YOUNG PARTY FOR A YOUNG, GO-AHEAD AUSTRALIA. A country with exciting potential, with resources and initiative but also a country situated in a crisis area of the globe. That is why we have given top priority to the preparation of adequate defences and the associated need to assist our non-Communist Asian neighbours.  THE PARTIES.  Our Liberal opponents, under Mr. Holt, are expected to offer you plenty of woolly promises and high-minded intentions, but their record shows them to be SPEECH-MAKERS AND NOT DECISION-TAKERS. Our A.L.P. opponents are LEADERLESS AND CONFUSED, DANGEROUS to the future security of this country and HEAVILY INFLUENCED by un-elected and alien pro-Communist forces. THE D.L.P. IS YOUR REAL ALTERNATIVE IN THIS ELECTION and I am confident that thousands of former Liberal and A.L.P. voters will support us, on this occasion, because we have the policies and determination not found in our opponents.  THE A.L.P.  No fair-minded person can any longer deny that the D.L.P.'s case against the present-day A.L.P, has been fully established. In AUGUST, 1965, the New South Wales State President of the A.L.P., Mr. C. Oliver, said: "Half a dozen Communist-controlled unions are more effective at the Federal level than the N.S.W. A.L.P., which comprises half the Labor movement." In December 1965, the Federal Secretary of the A.L.P., Mr. C. Wyndham, indicated that the men who had beaten him in his attempt to reform the A.L.P. machine were "anti-American," "pro-Communist and "neutralist." In JUNE, 1966, Mr. Jordan, Secretary of the Melbourne Trades Hall Council, stated that he would find it hard to sit on the Victorian A.L.P. Executive with members who "voted here every Trades Hall Council night with members of the Communist Party." In AUGUST of this year Captain Benson was expelled from the A.L.P,, when the Federal Executive of that Party obediently bowed to a Communist demand to "get" Benson. There' are still good Australians in the A.L.P. But the good Australians don't control the A.L.P. They merely give a veneer of respectability to the pro-Communists who run the Party in the interests of their own ideology, and who are ruinously determined to smash Australia's American alliance.  AUSTRALIA'S PROBLEM.  Before I turn to discuss the D.L.P.'s specific policies I want to describe Australia's problem, as the D.L.P. sees it, and to describe the pattern of policy with which we confront that problem. Also, I will demonstrate why a vote for the D.L.P. will hasten the day when that programme can be put into effect.  SIR ROBERT MENZIES.  IN THE SIXTEEN YEARS IN WHICH HE GOVERNED THE COUNTRY SIR ROBERT MENZIES WAS WRONG ABOUT AUSTRALIA. When he left office Australia was defenceless and divided. The "Sydney Morning Herald" said of Sir Robert Menzies: "Sir Robert has made his alliance with the D.L.P. yield much more than their office-giving first preferences. No Party has been more responsible than the D.L.P. for focusing public attention on matters of foreign policy and defence. No one has been more successful than Menzies in making it appear that the Liberals have been the movers and not the moved on these issues. He has given the form, but failed lamentably In achieving the substance."  AS FAR AS THE D.L.P. IS CONCERNED IT IS THE SUBSTANCE WHICH MATTERS, NOT THE SHADOW.  MR. HOLT.  Mr. Holt has tried to create a different "image," but under the new "image" there still lies the old mistaken unreality. It is because when the "chips" are down Mr. Holt is fundamentally as unreal as Sir Robert Menzies that the present Government almost shipwrecked Australia's policy on Vietnam. That policy had to be rescued, as Sir Alan Watt (former head of the Department of External Affairs) pointed out, by bodies like the D.L.P. and the R.S.L.  NOW AND 1975.  What kind of world are we going to face in the ten years between now and 1975? It Is NOW that we must look at this question, not in 1975. It will be too late either for answers or action in ten years time. IT IS ESSENTIAL TO BE RIGHT. BUT IT IS ONLY USEFUL IF WE ARE RIGHT IN TIME.  ALTERNATIVES.  I believe that Australia will face one or two possible situations in the years ahead.  THIS IS THE FIRST SITUATION: WITHIN THE FEW YEARS ENDING IN 1975 EVERY NATION IN SOUTH EAST ASIA AND THAT INCLUDES AUSTRALIA COULD BE CONFRONTED BY THE HORRIFYING REALITY OF COMMUNIST CHINA ARMED WITH NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND DETERMINED TO USE THEM, AT LEAST' TO THE EXTENT OF DIRECT THREATS. This situation cannot be discounted. It is the more dangerous of the two. On 20th August the highly-respected London "Economist" wrote: "Until and unless there is solid evidence that China does not intend to do what Lin Piao (Mao Tse Tung's Chief Aide) says it wants to do, or cannot do it, THE ONLY SAFE ASSUMPTION FOR THE AMERICANS OR ANYBODY ELSE TO MAKE IS THAT THE CHINESE MEAN EVERY WORP THEY SAY. That is where any safe Asia policy starts from." THAT IS WHERE ANY SAFE AUSTRALIAN POLICY STARTS FROM. Now, that situation is a possibility. If it eventuates it can be met, but I believe it is the OTHER situation which faces us today. THAT SITUATION IS THE COUNTRY-BY-COUNTRY COMMUNIST SUBVERSION OF THE AUTHORITY OF NON-COMMUNIST ASIAN STATES.  IMMEDIATE DANGER.  If we do not face, up to this immediate danger, here and now, we won't have the stomach to deal with the greater danger, should it emerge later. Already this immediate danger has forced the Australian Government to send Australian troops overseas. As I speak to you in this hall tonight there are Australian soldiers and airmen in Vietnam, in Borneo (completing the process of withdrawal), in Malaya and in Thailand. It is not unlikely that more will go to other countries. Even now there is talk that Australians withdrawing from Borneo may soon be fighting guerrillas on the border between Thailand and Malaya: The programme of organised murder which Peking has promised throughout South East Asia has begun in Thailand. What has happened on the border between Thailand and Malaya, and in North East Thailand, is likely also to happen in Sarawak and Sabah. The reason I make this prophecy is simple: The Communist underground in Sarawak and Sabah will not stay quiet for long. When it goes into action, even if the Indonesians are eventually withdrawn, our Malaysian allies MAY be compelled to ask that Australians be sent to their assistance. And then, even if Indonesia ultimately assumes sovereignty in this part of Borneo, what real chance is there that its authority will be effective, or beneficial? This is the second situation, but I believe it is the national danger which we face today. What does it demand of us and what are the hard facts of the situation?  THE DEMANDS ON AUSTRALIA.  Vietnam provides us with an indication of what this situation demands. It demands the continuous presence of soldiers, engineers, road-builders, doctors, dentists, teachers. BUT THE FIRST JOB OF PACIFICATION DEMANDS FRONT-LINE SOLDIERS AND THE SOLDIERS ARE NEEDED NOT JUST AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS, THEY ARE NEEDED RIGHT THROUGH TO THE END. If the soldiers are not there the workers in the field of civic reconstruction will be kidnapped-or murdered. For the programme of civil aid we must send doctors, dentists, engineers, builders, teachers. Also, there will have to be persons who know politics, who know Communists and who know what makes and motivates Communists. These men will have to separate the Viet Cong remnant from the villagers and destroy its influence. All of these operations are necessary, and each one must be as complete as we can make it. Military power is necessary, but not enough. MR. WHITLAM'S "BOY SCOUT" VIEW OF THESE SITUATIONS -THAT YOU SEND CIVIC WORKERS, BUT NOT SOLDIERS, AND HOPE THE AMERICANS WILL LOOK AFTER YOUR CIVIC WORKERS - WOULD PROVIDE A ROMAN HOLIDAY FOR THE VIET CONG AND OTHER GUERILLAS. This is the shape of Asia's challenge to Australia and it calls for diversified action. The needs of India, a relatively stable democracy, challenge our programme of international aid and trade. What is the sense of building the future of the wheat industry on China's uncertain and dangerous market when Australian wheat could be the backbone of our aid policies in countries which are our friends? In North East Thailand and Sabah the situation takes a different form Political institutions in those countries have been heavily attacked and weakened. In such cases the needs are civilian and military, but with the emphasis on the civilian activities.  WE CAN HELP.  One form of activity open to us in such countries has already been demonstrated: Twenty Snowy Mountain engineers in three years built a hundred mile of feeder roads and brought half a million Lao peasants into the Thai economy, and partly out of the control of the guerrillas. This cost a few million dollars. Multiply this by twenty, and you will have no problems in Thailand and no problem with the future of the Snowy Mountains Authority. In Vietnam the Communists have stepped-up their attack to the level of full-scale civil war. In such cases the soldiers must go in first to clean the land of the aggressors, so that the civilian workers may build up what the aggressors have destroyed over a period of years.  WHAT RESPONSE DOES ALL THIS DEMAND? IT INVOLVES: INCREASED EXPENDITURE ON DEFENCE AND ECONOMIC AID, THE ALLOTMENT OF HIGHLY-SKILLED PERSONNEL TO DEVELOPMENT WORKS OVERSEAS, A RE-SHAPING OF OUR EXTERNAL ALLIANCES, IF WE DO NOT FACE UP TO THIS CHALLENGE WE WILL SURELY NOT SURVIVE AS A FREE NATION.  This is the real issue of the coming Federal Elections, and it is not only the A.L P.'s policy which is involved. But in any case, what is A.L.P policy? The contradictory and ambiguous statements of A.L.P. spokesmen in the last year have been like a sideshow, but one thing is clear: Should the A.L.P., by some miracle,, achieve the Government benched the ruthless and clear-sighted pro-Communist forces will do their utmost to ensure that the A.L.P. withdraws Australian troops from Vietnam and ignores the real threat of Communism in South East Asia.  THE GOVERNMENT.  It Is the Liberals who are in government and THEIRS IS THE GREATEST FAILURE, since they do not have pressure from Communist-controlled trade unions to account for the flabbiness of THEIR policy. When Sir Robert Menzies was looking backwards towards the British Commonwealth which had ceased to have any military reality, the D.L.P. looked forward to a tighter military alliance with the United States. The D.L.P. is therefore in the best position to say that Mr. Holt's slogan, "All the Way with L.B.J." ought not to sum up the WHOLE direction of future Australian policy. THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE MAKES SENSE ONLY IF IT IS FOUNDED ON A STEADY ATTEMPT TO BUILD UP SELF-RELIANCE IN DEFENCE. On 30th August, on the eve of his visit to London, Mr. Holt said: "I do not think that defence self-reliance will be within our grasp for many years to come. It is in the alliances we have and to which we ourselves make a reasonable contribution that our security lies. I would regard five per cent (of the national income devoted to defence) as a sort of practical working limit IN THE ABSENCE OF SOME TRAUMATIC INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT."  LIMITED OUTLOOK.  This statement is the same sort of thing that Mr. Holt has been saying for some time - that we can't do too much in South East Asia because we have to keep up a high rate of development and maintain our present standard of living at all costs. This was always based on a delusion that Britain would be there to help us. When Britain was needed in 1942 she could not come. Are we going to replace that old, ill-founded belief with another based on the straight, unproved assertion that America will ALWAYS come to our aid, that she will do this even when she does not need to, and that therefore we do not need to establish our own self-reliant strength? IF WE THINK THIS WAY, WE ARE TAKING THE FIRST STEP TO NATIONAL SUICIDE! It is not inconceivable that various situations might arise, preventing the United States from coming to our assistance in a desperate hour. For example: If the Sino-Soviet split was healed and Europe was endangered. This is not beyond the realms of possibility. The 1966 Defence Budget, while it raises defence expenditure from 3.5% to 5% of the Gross National Product, does not give us hope of meeting the real challenge before it is too late. Its monetary expression is deceptive: First, part of it will be paid for under credit arrangements with the U.S. Second, minus these credit arrangements, it is still less than our expenditure at the height of the Korean War. Third, it is based on the assumption of providing 10,000 combat troops. What we require is more like 30,000 combat troops. Mr. Holt speaks of "traumatic experiences" of the future, as the only thing which can justify more than 5% of the Gross National Product being spent on defence. Does he forget the 30th September last year when the Communists were within a couple of steps of taking over Indonesia? The Communists only failed because they didn't murder Nasution and Suharto. It isn't enough to say "Well, Holt IS doing something that Menzies didn't do."  RIGHT IN TIME.  WHAT MATTERS IS NOT ONLY TO BE RIGHT, BUT TO BE RIGHT IN TIME,  No better sign of Liberal flabbiness can be given than their approach to this election. What they should be doing in this election is not to fight a defensive action against Labor's midsummer madness on Vietnam. They ought to be tracing the future of similar situations and telling Australians what they intend to do. But they are too flabby and frightened to lead. This Is Australia's future. We can't bluff our way out of it by refusing,  to look at it. We won't be reprieved simply because frightened politicians - and  sometimes un-Australian politicians - are afraid to tell the people the truth.  D.L.P. VOTE POWERFUL.  IF YOU SUPPORT US BY ADDING TO OUR EXISTING VOTES, YOU BRING THE DAY CLOSER IN WHICH THE D.L.P. IS A PARTNER IN A GOVERNMENT WITH THOSE LABOR MEN WHO WILL HAVE NO TRUCK WITH COMMUNISM, OR A GOVERNMENT IN ITS OWN RIGHT. EVERY VOTE WHICH IS ADDED TO THE D.L.P.'s EXISTING HALF-MILLION WILL BE AN INDICATOR TO THE HOLT GOVERNMENT OF THE TYPE OF POLICY THE MOST FORWARD-LOOKING  AUSTRALIANS WANT. THEY DON'T WANT FLABBINESS, WEAKNESS, LACK OF VISION. EVERY VOTE WHICH THE A.L.P. LOSES WILL BE AN INDICATOR THAT ITS OWN SUPPORTERS WANT AN END TO COMMUNIST INFLUENCE, DIRECTION AND CONTROL. LABOR MEN WANT A LABOR PARTY, NOT A SHADOW COMMUNIST PARTY. EVERY VOTE ADDED TO THE D.L.P.'s EXISTING HALF-MILLION WILL HASTEN THE DAY WHEN THE SOUND ELEMENTS WHO STILL REMAIN IN THE A.L.P. WILL REPUDIATE THE DIRECTION OF THE TYPE OF MEN WHO EXPEL CAPTAIN BENSON AND GIVE PREFERMENT TO DR. CAIRNS. THAT IS WHY A VOTE FOR THE D.L.P. ON 26th NOVEMBER IS THE MOST AUSTRALIAN VOTE ANY AUSTRALIAN CAN CAST. IT IS ALSO THE MOST EFFECTIVE.  FOREIGN POLICY AND DEFENCE.  I have now completed my outline of the D.L.P.'s approach to these elections. So that there will be no confusion or misinterpretation. I want to make two comments before turning to our specific policies and particular proposals.  (a) All social and domestic policies, no matter how just or progressive, are not worth the paper they are written on unless this country has adequate defences and is guided by a realistic foreign policy.  (b) Not all of our policies could be implemented in a short period of time and therefore we give priority to some policies, over other policies. We give first priority to the specific defence, foreign aid and foreign policy recommendations.  SELF-RELIANCE.  IN THE FIELD OF DEFENCE WE SET OURSELVES THE OBJECTIVE OF SELF-RELIANCE. We want to defend this country with allies, if allies are available. We have to be in the position to deter attack if allies are not available.  EXPENDITURE.  We repudiate the Holt concept that 5% of the Gross National Product devoted to defence is a sort of upper working limit. THERE IS NO UPPER LIMIT - SAVE WHAT IS NECESSARY. We pledge ourselves to spend whatever is necessary to give Australia an army of three divisions, sufficient naval and air power to transport whatever sections of these divisions may be needed anywhere In South East Asia, and air power to cover their military operations in the field.  AMERICAN ALLIANCE.  THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE IS THE PIVOT OF OUR FOREIGN POLICY. But every alliance is secondary to self-reliance in defence.  PACIFIC COMMUNITY.  WE WILL WORK HARD TO BUILD A PACIFIC COMMUNITY AS A REGIONAL ALLIANCE OF NON-COMMUNIST ASIAN COUNTRIES, TO CONTAIN THE POWER OF CHINA. A Pacific Community is the political entity through which social, economic c and military aid to the nations of the area can in the first instance be channelled. When this Party pioneered the concept of the Pacific Community in 1961 it was treated with scorn. Today the foremost leaders of the Pacific nations are moving positively in this direction.  MILITARY SERVICE.  The D.L.P. believes that the demand for the services of young Australians overseas - and at home in our own developmental projects - will grow. WE WOULD THEREFORE ABOLISH THE PRESENT INEQUITABLE SYSTEM OF MILITARY SERVICE. IN ITS PLACE WE WOULD ESTABLISH A SYSTEM OF UNIVERSAL SERVICE FOR TWO YEARS FOR EVERY YOUNG MAN. In this period he would be given adequate military training and he would serve his country not only militarily, but in useful civil occupations, whether in the development programme at home, or in the military or economic aid programmes abroad.  NUCLEAR POWER.  THE D.L.P. WOULD PROCEED IMMEDIATELY WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF NUCLEAR REACTORS- FOR PEACEFUL PURPOSES. The building of harbours, the excavation of reservoirs, the de-salination of sea water, are three examples of the ultimate use to which nuclear power may be put for peaceful purposes in a country crying out for development. At the same time, this programme will, as in the case of India, provide Australia with supplies of fissile material, in case all efforts at the limitation of nuclear weapons break down and Australia is compelled to consider their production as a deterrent.  SEPARATE DEFENCE BUDGET.  To clarify the issues for the voters and to force all political parties to stand up and be counted in the defence issue, WE WOULD ESTABLISH A SEPARATE DEFENCE BUDGET, FINANCED BY A SPECIAL CATEGORY OF TAXES.  AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE PRODUCTION.  WHEREVER POSSIBLE WE WILL ENDEAVOUR TO HAVE DEFENCE PRODUCTION CARRIED OUT IN AUSTRALIAN PLANTS. It is obvious however, that some items, because of their technical complexity, cannot be produced locally and must be purchased overseas.  AMEND DEFENCE ACT.  The most complete defence and foreign policy will not command respect so long as Australian citizens are permitted to manifest active disloyalty to Australian soldiers In the field. Therefore the DEFENCE ACT OUGHT TO BE AMENDED TO MAKE IT AN OFFENCE TO GIVE "AID AND COMFORT" TO AN ENEMY AGAINST WHOM AUSTRALIAN TROOPS ARE IN OPERATION, even if, for political reasons, there is no formal declaration of war.  IMPROVEMENTS IN CONDITIONS.  THE D.L.P. BELIEVES THAT THE D.F R.B. (Defence Forces' Retirement Board) ACT IS IN NEED OF EXTENSIVE AMENDMENT.  We propose:  - Pensions should be 75 per cent of rate of pay at time of retirement. Widows' pensions to be 75 per cent of late husband's entitlement.  - Members invalided out for any reason whatsoever (not due to misconduct) should receive a full pension.  The D.L.P. also proposes that all people serving in South East Asia should be covered by a $10,000 LIFE POLICY for the time of their service there. Premiums on existing policies to be paid by the Government for that period.  FOREIGN AID.  In his 1966 Budget Speech the Federal Treasurer claimed that the Government was increasing Foreign Aid by approximately $8 million. But when the figures are analysed it is quite clear that this additional assistance is to go to New Guinea, and not to other Asian countries, like Indonesia, South Vietnam, Thailand, etc. Our assistance to the other countries, apart from Papua-New Guinea, has been reduced.  Regarding Foreign Aid, the D.L.P. proposes:  - The Australian Government's contribution to overseas aid must be increased to 1 per cent of the Gross National Product, including the development of Papua-New Guinea.  - The Commonwealth Government should establish an authority to co-ordinate all aid by Australia to other countries, both Government and private, provided that private organisations shall have the right to define their own programmes.  - An Australian Government-aided or directed Peace Corps, of adequately selected and trained personnel, should be established to provide aid in every field required by a developing country.  - Approved private aid organisations should receive Government subsidies.  - Taxation exemption should be granted to donations to approved private aid organisations.  - The Government should accept responsibility for the social security rights of all personnel of Government and approved private aid organisations who are serving overseas.  - The Federal Government should assist State Governments to provide increased educational and technological facilities to enable more students from underdeveloped countries to attend Universities and other technological Institutions.  - Resources should be made available to encourage better farming methods and the development of secondary industries in developing countries to assist them in creating a balanced economy.  WHEAT.  The large amount of wheat exported to Communist China builds up a dependence on that country as a permanent part of our wheat disposal arrangements. This power in the hands of China will be used against Australia for political purposes.  Therefore, the D.L.P. proposes:  - That greater efforts be made to diversify markets and to find new markets.  - That the Australian Government provide gifts of wheat as some help to nations in difficulties.  - That storage facilities be increased.  - That full information about the terms of our overseas sales of wheat be disclosed and that these essential facts not be withheld from the public view.  - That the Wheat Board be subject to the Government for disposal of the wheat crop by home consumption, assistance to Asian countries, legitimate overseas sales and storage of surpluses.  The A.L.P. attitude on the China Trade is hypocritical. That Party criticises the Government for its trade with China and North Vietnam but when pressed for an answer it states that it would act no differently if in power.  SOCIAL SERVICES.  The Government's complete disregard of social services is strikingly illustrated by the fact that not once between the years 1950-1964 did it increase the rates of child endowment payments. Also, it has not increased Maternity Allowances since 1943. Since 1943, of course, the real value and purchasing power of money has fallen dramatically, but the Government has not taken account of this and updated payments accordingly. In the field of Social Services THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN SIMPLY AN ADMINISTRATOR AND NOT AN INITIATOR. In particular the Government has ignored the unfortunate financial position of thousands of aged persons and family men. THE D.L.P. BELIEVES THAT, IN THE LONG RUN, THERE IS NO ESCAPING THE NEED FOR A CONTRIBUTORY NATIONAL INSURANCE SCHEME TO COVER SICKNESS, ACCIDENT, UNEMPLOYMENT, INVALIDISM, DEATH OF A BREADWINNER AND OLD AGE. THE PAYMENTS COVERED BY THIS SCHEME AND ALL OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE PAYMENTS SHOULD BE DETERMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT TRIBUNAL OF EXPERTS. The adoption of these two proposals would do much to remove the determination of Social Service payments from the auction room of politics, which does not provide the best climate for arriving at equitable social justice. Pending the adoption of these Joint proposals we have more immediate suggestions for reform in this field:  D.L.P. plan:  - Increases in endowment payments for the third child, from $1.50 to $3.00 per week, the payment of $3.50 for the fourth child, and $4.00 for fifth and later children.  - The capitalisation of future child endowment payments, in a lump sum, so as to enable young families to make renovations and building improvements, as operates in New Zealand.  - The introduction of an interest-free marriage loan of $1,000 for all young couples, for a period of ten years; $200 of the loan to be liquidated on the birth of each child.  - Restoration of the real value of Maternity Allowances by increasing the payments to an amount commensurate with the increases in the basic wage since 1943, when the allowances were last increased. We would therefore increase the pay for the first baby from $30 to $95, for the second and third babies from $32 to $100, and for the fourth and later babies from $35 to $105.  - The immediate increase of age and invalid pensions to an amount not less than half the basic wage.  - The immediate liberalisation of the iniquitous Means Test, with the aim of its ultimate abolition; this abolition to take the form of a phasing-out process whereby the application of the Means Test is progressively limited to different age groups until the time is reached when no Means Test is applied.  Betrayed in Senate.  The A.L.P. adopts a completely hypocritical attitude on the question of inadequate Social Services. In May of this year I Introduced in the Senate a Private Member's Bill, on behalf of the D.L.P., to increase Child Endowment payments as outlined earlier in this speech. The A.L.P. Senators even tried unsuccessfully to deny me the courtesy of having this Bill formally introduced into the Senate. Just how sincere are they in their repeated verbal support for increased Social Service payments? Repeatedly in the Senate it has opposed D.L.P. proposals to have all Social Service payments determined by an independent tribunal of experts. The A.L.P. has never offered convincing arguments to support its opposition to these Social Service proposals. The A.L.P.'s hypocrisy is remarkable.  DENTAL HEALTH.  No political party in Australia has ever given an serious thought to the dental health of the nation. THE D.L.P. WILL BRING DOWN LEGISLATION TO THE EFFECT THAT ALL CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF TWELVE WILL HAVE THE COST OF TREATMENT CARRIED OUT BY A QUALIFIED DENTAL PRACTITIONER SUBSIDISED IN THE SAME WAY AS MEDICAL TREATMENT IS SUBSIDISED TODAY.  EDUCATION.  Australia's educational system is facing a new era: the age of nuclear power, automation and electronics. Our future will depend partly on whether we can succeed in educating our people in the new technology and partly on whether as a result of this development in human resources we can contribute more to the economic growth of South East Asia. Orderly progress in education in Australia requires the active support of two systems, the private and public, and two Government authorities, State and Federal. More funds need to be spent on both the private and public sectors and the only real source is the Federal Government. The D.L.P. is in favour of the granting of financial aid for the purpose of assisting all forms of education and that a greater degree of decentralisation of the management of education be encouraged.  TWO PRONGS.  FIRST, WE BELIEVE THAT AN IMMEDIATE ADDITIONAL GRANT OF $100 MILLION BE MADE TO THE STATES, FOR PARTICULAR USE  IN SECONDARY AND TERTIARY EDUCATION IN UTILISING THIS  GRANT, PRIORITIES SHOULD BE GIVEN TO (I.) TEACHER TRAINING AND SALARIES, (II.) EDUCATION RESEARCH, AND (III.) BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT. SECOND, WE RE-AFFIRM OUR SUPPORT FOR THE PAYMENT OF AN ALLOWANCE TO INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS FOR EACH CHILD IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS, THE AMOUNT TO BE EQUIVALENT TO THE AVERAGE COST OF EDUCATING A CHILD IN A CORRESPONDING STATE SCHOOL. The formula suggested for the payment of this allowance will be similar to that used in the payment of Federal Health Benefits. The allowances will be claimed by the parents of the child or children from the Government, but will only have value when credited to the independent school nominated by the parents. This procedure will ensure: (i.) the safeguarding of the fundamental right of the child to assistance; (ii.) freedom of the parent to choose the school to be attended; (iii.) the safeguarding of the independence and proper authority of the school's management. THIRD, WE PLEDGE TO PRESERVE ALL EXISTING FORMS OF ASSISTANCE TO INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS. It should be remembered that for a number of years the D.L.P. was the only political party in Australia to support the principle of financial justice for the independent schools. The other parties only now support this policy through reasons of expediency. The point is that the D.L.P. had a policy of justice to independent schools because we believed in the merit of their claims and were not afraid to publicise the fact.  HOUSING.  There are approximately 90,000 marriages in Australia every year and one of the biggest problems facing the young married couple today is the building of suitable accommodation and the purchase of land. THE D.L.P.'s POLICIES ON THE CAPITALISATION OF CHILD ENDOWMENT PAYMENTS AND THE PROVISION OF AN INTERESTFREE MARRIAGE LOAN ARE TWO SUGGESTIONS DESIGNED TO COPE WITH THIS PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, WE BELIEVE THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S $500 HOUSING GRANT SHOULD BE INCREASED REGULARLY, SO AS TO KEEP PACE WITH INCREASES IN THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS OF HOMES. ALSO, THE D.L.P. BELIEVES THAT THIS GRANT SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO SAVE THROUGH CREDIT UNIONS, because these Credit Unions encourage saving which normally would not have taken place. Our policies on housing can be summarised:  - The capitalisation of Child Endowment payments.  - Interest-free marriage loans.  - Regular upgrading of the existing housing grant.  WAGES AND AUTOMATION.  With the growth of technological change and automation, new and unusual problems are facing the work force. These developments result not only in increased productivity, but give rise to problems in employment. Also, it is becoming increasingly obvious that wages must be related to these productivity increases, rather than to work value. However, the Government has failed to publish a suitable index to measure these changes in productivity, and such an index is necessary before any correlations can be made. The D.L.P. Is concerned at the lack of knowledge and understanding of the likely future developments in technology and the problems raised by the introduction of automation. For that reason WE PROPOSE THE APPOINTMENT OF A NATIONAL COMMISSION TO STUDY TECHNOLOGY, AUTOMATION AND WORKFORCE PROBLEMS. THIS COMMISSION WILL CONSIST OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT, EMPLOYERS' BODIES AND THE TRADE UNIONS. THE D.L.P. ALSO CALLS FOR THE IMMEDIATE PREPARATION AND PUBLICATION OF AN INDEX CAPABLE OF MEASURING OVERALL CHANGES IN PRODUCTIVITY IN THE AUSTRALIAN ECONOMY. This is essential for the wage problem, which has been responsible for so much industrial strife.  DECENTRALISATION.  Australia is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. At the same time, more than 55 percent of our population is concentrated in the six Capital cities and the suburban areas. This is an unhealthy situation from the point of view of defence and overall development. That is why the D.L.P. enthusiastically supports the principle of decentralisation. Indeed, the decentralisation of industry and population and, ultimately, of administration and ownership, is the central theme of all the economic policies of the D.L.P. As the decentralisation of industry must precede the decentralisation of population WE PROPOSE THAT TO ENABLE FIRMS ENGAGED IN COMPETITIVE INDUSTRIES TO SET UP IN COUNTRY AREAS, CERTAIN CHANGES SHOULD BE MADE IN THE METHOD OF COLLECTING GOVERNMENT REVENUE.  THE D.L.P. WOULD REDUCE INCOME AND COMPANY TAX AND INSTITUTE A DECENTRALISATION TAX, TO BE LEVIED AT A FLAT RATE ON INDUSTRIAL SITES. This decentralisation tax would place the provincial industries in a position of taxation advantage which would compensate for the disadvantages of higher transport costs, etc. In addition, THE D.L.P. PROPOSES THAT THE COMMONWEALTH BANK MAKE AVAILABLE LONG-TERM LOANS AT NOMINAL INTEREST RATES TO FINANCE THE MOVING OF EXISTING INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT. THE D.L.P. WILL ALSO PRESS FOR THE PRESENTATION OF REPORTS FROM THE COMMONWEALTH-STATES DECENTRALISATION COMMITTEE, which was established in March 1965, but has so far produced no reports on preparatory research into the problems of decentralisation.  MONOPOLY AND SMALL BUSINESSES.  The D.L.P. firmly supports the principle of private endeavour in the business field, and at the same time we are concerned at any unnecessary displacement of the small-scale business. Small businesses are the biggest business in Australia, over 60 percent of our manufacturing units employ less than ten people. Many of these small businesses are at a disadvantage when faced with competition from the larger chain stores, distributors or manufacturers. We do not accept the proposition that small businesses must eventually go out of existence and that the retailing or manufacturing unit must inevitably become larger and larger. Small businesses should be encouraged by:  - Credit at a low rate of interest by the Commonwealth and State Banks and also by Credit Unions and Co-operative Organisations.  - Increased Government facilities for professional education and training, especially in the form of evening courses.  - Reduction of Income and Company Tax to enable small businesses engaged in competitive industries to set up in country areas (see decentralisation policy).  The many problems met by the owners of small businesses vary from situation to situation. Therefore, THE D.L.P. PROPOSES THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SMALL BUSINESSES AGENCY, to provide advice on these different problems. The Small Businesses Agency will be directed to operate within the D.L.P.'s major policy of decentralisation and it will serve as an organisation which will GUIDE, ENCOURAGE AND ASSIST THE OWNERS OF SMALL BUSINESS. AN ASSOCIATED VOLUNTARY BODY WILL BE ESTABLISHED WHEREBY RETIRED MANAGERS AND EXECUTIVES WILL BE ABLE TO OFFER THE WEALTH OF THEIR PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE.  ECONOMIC POLICY.  The D.L.P. economic policy aims to develop a self-reliant Australian nation of free men and women in full recognition of the State's existence for the benefit of the individual. The keystone of our economic policy is support for the decentralisation of ownership, administration, industry and population, and this policy is spelt out in more detail in another part of the policy speech. However, there are other sections of the D.L.P.'s economic policy which merit particular comment. They are:  - The establishment of a fact-finding commission to study and report on the tariff requirements of industry, by reference to industries available for defence and export, industries which save expenditure on imports, and industries which are not essential.  - The institution of a "usefulness test" on all incoming overseas investment.  - An inquiry into Australian banking, to be carried out along the lines of those undertaken in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada and New Zealand.  The Vernon Committee of Enquiry into the economy made a number of useful suggestions and comments, but these were rudely brushed aside by the Government. THE D.L.P. WILL RE-OPEN DISCUSSION ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE VERNON COMMITTEE.  NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT.  The D.L.P. does not accept Mr. Whitlam's statement that Northern Australia could not have been developed more rapidly. THE D.L.P. BELIEVES THAT THE APPARATUS OF THE SNOWY MOUNTAINS AUTHORITY COULD PROVE A USEFUL FOUNDATION ON WHICH TO BUILD A NEW AUTHORITY TO UNDERTAKE DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS IN THE NORTH AND OTHER AREAS OF AUSTRALIA. The Authority will soon be completing its tasks in the Snowy Mountains area. THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE AUTHORITY SHOULD REMAIN IN COOMA, BECAUSE THE OFFICES, STAFF AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE ESTABLISHED IN THAT TOWN, BUT TEAMS FROM THE NEW AUTHORITY WOULD WORK ON DIFFERENT PROJECTS, THROUGHOUT AUSTRALIA.  THIS NEW AUTHORITY WOULD BE DIRECTED TO DEVOTE PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO PROJECTS IN THE NORTH OF AUSTRALIA. As the Snowy Mountains Authority has obtained special expertise in water matters and as water is a major problem in the North, THE INITIAL PROJECTS COULD BE IN THE AREA OF IRRIGATION, ETC., IN THE NORTH. The D.L.P. condemns the Government for its indecision on the Ord River project. This is a further example of the lack of enthusiasm on the part of the Government for Northern Development. THE D.L.P. WILL STRIVE FOR A CO-ORDINATION OF THE EFFORTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH, QUEENSLAND AND WEST AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENTS IN TRANSPORT, COMMUNICATIONS, HEALTH, EDUCATION, WATER, IRRIGATION, HOUSING AND ASSOCIATED SERVICES, to ensure that there is no obstacle to efficient and prosperous development in this vital area of Australia.  TRANSPORTATION.  In a country like Australia, where road transportation is vitally important for development, servicing and communications, finance for road construction and repair cannot be neglected to an unimportant position. THE D.L.P. BELIEVES THAT THE COMMONWEALTH SHOULD CONTRIBUTE MORE FINANCE TO THE STATES, UNDER THE COMMONWEALTH ROAD ACT, FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION.  THE D.L.P. WILL ALSO INCREASE THE STAFF OF THE COMMONWEALTH BUREAU OF ROADS TO ENABLE IT TO COMPLETE, WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY, ITS STUDY OF THE ROAD SITUATION IN AUSTRALIA.  WATER.  THE D.L.P. PROMISES TO COMPLETE THE PRELIMINARY RESEARCH NECESSARY FOR THE EVOLUTION OF A NATIONAL WATER POLICY. THE D.L.P. WILL ALSO SUPPORT INCREASED RESEARCH INTO DESALINATION PROCESSES.  SUGAR.  The vulnerability of the Australian sugar Industry to a fall in world prices (more particularly when associated with drought conditions) has been shown in the last two years. Consequently, with the expansion to meet world demands involving the expenditure of large amounts of capital, the sugar producers, particularly the new growers, have found themselves in grave financial trouble. The sugar mills likewise have struck real trouble and have had to be assisted. THE BIGGEST SINGLE MARKET FOR OUR SUGAR IS NOW JAPAN. THE D.L.P. WOULD ATTEMPT TO NEGOTIATE A PRICE WITH JAPAN SIMILAR TO THE BRITISH NEGOTIATED PRICE, AND THIS WOULD BRING CONSIDERABLE STABILITY TO THE INDUSTRY.  ARTS INQUIRY.  THE D.L.P. PROPOSES THAT A COMMITTEE BE APPOINTED TO INVESTIGATE THE NEED FOR THE FORMATION OF AN ARTS COUNCIL TO ADVISE THE GOVERNMENT ON SUITABLE FORMS OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO LITERATURE, MUSIC, PAINTING AND THE PERFORMING ARTS.  ABORIGINES. The ultimate objective of D.L.P. policy, regarding aborigines, is to enable all aborigines to develop their full potential as persons, to be accepted as full citizens by the white community and to enable them to enjoy the benefits of the modern way of life, as the fruits of their own work within the white community. In November, 1965, when a Bill was introduced in the Federal Parliament to enable a Referendum to be held to approve of the deleting of Clause 127 from the Constitution, the D.L.P. voted in favour of this Bill. This Referendum was cancelled. THE D.L.P. PLEDGES TO PROCEED WITH THIS REFERENDUM PROPOSAL AND TO GIVE SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO THE PROPOSAL THAT CLAUSE 51, SECTION 24 OF THE CONSTITUTION ALSO BE PUT TO A REFERENDUM. WHEN PROCEEDING WITH THE CANCELLED ABORIGINES' REFERENDUM PROPOSAL WE WILL ALSO CONSIDER ASSOCIATING OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS WITH THE SAME REFERENDUM.  PARLIAMENTARY AND ELECTORAL REFORM.  There are many intelligent Australians who feel that Parliament and our democratic system of representation are being slowly but inevitably submerged by the growing bureaucracy of Government administration. That is why the D.L.P.has formulated a fivepoint policy of electoral and representation reform. Our proposals in this field are:  - The appointment of a Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, or "Ombudsman."  - An investigation of the opportunities of introducing Proportional Representation for elections to the House of Representatives.  - Support for the "nexus" or 2:1 ratio between the memberships of both Houses of the Commonwealth Parliament, and opposition to any increase in the numerical size of either House.  - The formation of Joint Committees in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, to examine closely particular areas of legislation and administration.  The Parliamentary Commissioner or "Ombudsman" is not intended to usurp the traditional role of representation through the elected members of Parliament. Indeed, we believe that there is much value in the recently established British system whereby CASES CAN ONLY BE REFERRED TO THE COMMISSIONER THROUGH A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT. THE COMMISSIONER WILL EXAMINE GRIEVANCES WHICH ARE ALLEGED TO EXIST BETWEEN A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC AND THE COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION. HE WILL REPORT DIRECT TO THE NATIONAL PARLIAMENT.  IMMIGRATION.  There are two vital areas of immigration policy in which the Government has been found wanting and for which the A.L.P. has offered no constructive suggestions or remedies. The first problem concerns the decline in the number of migrants remaining in Australia and the seriousness of this in the light of untapped sources of potential immigrants. The second problem concerns the refusal of the Government to welcome to Australia selected and suitable migrants from non-European countries. Recognising these problems the D.L.P. Proposes:  - To widen the scope of the present migration programme in Great Britain and Europe with added assistance to whole family migration and by providing assisted passages to all migrants with particular appeals to relatives of migrants already here.  - To adopt a more positive approach to the prospects of dramatically increasing the numbers of Americans actually migrating to Australia.  - To welcome from amongst the other nations of Asia, a proportion of new settlers capable of economic and social integration into the Australian community.  - To concede to all temporary residents the immediate right to bring with them their wives, husbands and children.  - To assist approved Australian families desirous of adopting War Orphans from Vietnam who are under five years of age, to bring them here. This assistance to cover arrangements with the Government of Vietnam or with any organisation capable of organising family adoption.  We need a rapid population increase to maintain a high rate of growth and to maintain a claim to our under-populated areas, having regard to the crippling population problems of our Asian neighbours.  CONCLUSION.  In conclusion I want to briefly summarise our approach to the great issues facing Australia.  - The D.L.P. has given priority to foreign affairs, defence and the threat of Communism in South East Asia.  - Without adequate defences, all social and domestic policies are not worth the paper they are written on.  - The D.L.P. believes that Communist China poses a long-term threat to the security of Australia. This fact must be recognised and. plans made accordingly.  - We stand four-square behind the American Alliance and believe that a withdrawal of American power from South East Asia would place Australia in an untenable position.  - The D.L.P. condemns the A.L.P. for its equivocation on defence and foreign affairs and its opposition to the Vietnam commitment.  - The Government deserves strong criticism for its long-standing reluctance to take the people into its confidence and to inform them of the real dangers facing Australia.  - The Government's record on internal measures, particularly policies relating to the family man and the old-age person, is shameful.  - An A.L.P. Government would be disastrous for Australia because it would be a Government not answerable to you, the elector, but to outside, unelected, Communist-influenced bodies.  - The D.L.P. Is the real alternative in this election.  - What is urgently needed is more D.L.P. representatives in Parliament.  - A vote for the D.L.P. will tell the Government that you do not accept its deceptive approach.  - At the same time it will tell the A.L.P. that it can never hope to govern this great country of ours while it equivocates on the important issues of foreign affairs and defence, and while it allows Communist influence to overpower and destroy its structure.  If you want to make this country a prosperous and safe place for your children and their children, then vote for the D.L.P, on 26th November. Give a resounding endorsement to the D.L.P.'s realistic, positive and progressive policies by voting (1) for the D.L.P. candidates. No other vote has more value than a vote for the D.L.P.