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William Morrison interviewed by Mel Pratt for the Mel Pratt collection [sound recording]
Bib ID 719599
Format AudioAudio [sound recording]
Author
Morrison, Bill, 1928-2013, Interviewee
 
Access Conditions Access open for research, personal copies and public use. 
Description 1976 June 29-1976 Oct. 19 
4 tape reels : 1 7/8 ips., mono. ; 5 in. 
Series

Mel Pratt collection.

Summary

William Morrison, politician and diplomat, speaks of his early life in Sydney; Sydney University; the Dept. of Foreign Affairs; Moscow posting; Stalin's death; Kruschev and Bulganin; agriculture; travelling and recreation in Russia; Suez Canal; creation of SEATO; problems in North East Thailand; opium trade; re-establishment of missions with Russia; Kennedy-Nixon election; Eisenhower; dispatches; the CIA; Cuban crisis; changes in the Soviet Union; travelling in Russia; his son's birth at the Polyclinic; Russian doctors; expulsion from Russia; Vietnam war pamphlets; Colombo Plan; Sarawak and Sabah; communists; Ching Peng; problems for the Malaysian government; public servant's role; Whitlam's visit to Malaysia, 1968; his resignation from the Public Service; Alan Eastman; medical programme in Vietnam; his assessment of the Dept. of Foreign Affairs; 1969 election campaign; Labor Party 1969-1972; McMahon's attack on him; 1972 election; Papua New Guinea self-government and independence; P.I.R.; project aid; establishment of an aid agency; Ennor; Science Council green and white papers; ASTEC; CSIRO staff; Crown of Thorns Starfish; consumer protection; U.S. bases; Barnard's resignation; defence of Australia; re-organisation of Defence departments; 1974/75 budget; Liberal vs Labor defence policies; US bases; Omega system; Killen; expenditure and electoral demands; inflation; Whitlam; Khemlani and Cabinet; politicians; Clyde Cameron; his plans for the future.

Biography/History

Bill Morrison was the ALP Federal Parliamentary Member for St George 1969-1975 and 1980-1984. He served as Minister of Defence, Minister for External Territories and Minister for Science in the Labor Government of 1972-1975. Before entering Parliament in 1969 he was a member of the Australian Diplomatic Service.

Notes

Recorded at the Research School of Pacific Studies, Australian National University.

Digital master; National Library of Australia, Oral History and Folklore collection;

Index/Finding Aid Note Transcript (268 p.) 
Subjects Morrison, Bill, - 1928-2013 - Interviews.  |  Politicians - Australia - Interviews.  |  Diplomats - Australia - Interviews.
Other authors/contributors Pratt, Mel, Interviewer

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    Details Collect From
    ORAL TRC 121/81
    Copy: Recording
    Petherick Reading Room (Oral History)
    ORAL TRC 121/81 (transcript)
    Copy: Transcript
    Petherick Reading Room (Oral History)

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    Members of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Maori communities are advised that this catalogue contains names and images of deceased people. All users of the catalogue should also be aware that certain words, terms or descriptions may be culturally sensitive and may be considered inappropriate today, but may have reflected the author's/creator's attitude or that of the period in which they were written.