Fed: Beazley says Howard using reconcilation issue to distract

AAP General News (Australia)
04-04-2000
Fed: Beazley says Howard using reconcilation issue to distract

Opposition Leader KIM BEAZLEY has attacked Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD, accusing him
of using the stolen generation issue to detract attention from problems such as the GST.

Mr BEAZLEY's also claimed that Aboriginal Affairs Minister JOHN HERRON didn't write
the government submission, which said there was no such thing as a stolen generation.

Instead, Mr BEAZLEY claims the report was drafted by or approved within the prime minister's
office, as part of his agenda of wedge politics.

Mr BEAZLEY says the prime minister has taken the country's most sensitive issue and
used it to distract from the problems of introducing a GST, its aged care policy and a
government backlash in regional Australia.

Mr HOWARD and Senator HERRON stood defiant yesterday in arguing that the removal of
only 10 per cent of Aboriginal children from their families did not amount to a stolen
generation.

AAP RTV eg/am/dmc

KEYWORD: STOLEN BEAZLEY (CANBERRA)

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