MR HUGH MORGAN
MANAGING DIRECTOR,
WESTERN MINING CORP.

Mr Morgan, thanks for joining us.

Pleasure.

You’ve entered the Mabo debate this week.

Well I had to. I…

No you didn’t.

No I didn’t, but I was addressing a group of intellectuals and I…

No you weren’t.

No I wasn’t. I was talking to the RSL but I thought I’d make the point that this decision by the High Court has put at risk the entire economic and political future of the country…

No it hasn’t.

No of course it hasn’t, but the judges haven’t even thought about it properly.

Yes they have.

Yes of course they have but I tell you what, all property titles right across this whole country have been devalued as a result of this Mabo decision.

No they haven’t.

Well, no, perhaps not devalued but…

Not in a monetary sense.

Not in the rather narrow and confining sense purely of money, no…

Not in any other sense either.

Have we got any people from the mining industry here?

You said Mr Keating’s handling of this issue had led to increasing racial tension and resentment?

Yes I did.

What did you mean by that?

I don’t know where that came from. It just came out. I wondered about that at the time.

Is it true?

Is it true?

Isn’t he saying he’s trying to do the opposite?

I wouldn’t believe the Prime Minister if I were you.

Why not?

He wants you to subscribe to the views of the guilt industry.

What’s the guilt industry?

I’ve got no idea. I imagine they make…

Mirrors.

Rather ornate mirrors, yes.

Big doors.

Very large portals, yes, with a filigree top.

You had some things to say about Aboriginal history?

Oh dear, did I?

Yes, you said that most of the Aboriginal deaths after white settlement were from disease rather than from systematic genocide and massacres.

Oh, did I? That’s a bit embarrassing.

Where did the diseases come from?

Yes. Spot the deliberate mistake. Did I say anything sensible?

You sat down well at the end.

This is ridiculous. I’ve got to stop doing this sort of thing.

Thank you very much.

Straight home from work from now on.

Yes, wait for the big hooter and then…

Off home, yes, and straight into the cot, I think.