Keating rejects report on Labor Party coup

Keating rejects report on Labor Party coup

NUSA DUA, Indonesia (Reuter): Australian Prime Minister Paul
Keating on Sunday rejected reports that members of his own Labor
Party were preparing to overthrow him and replace him with his
deputy, Kim Beazley.

"If you blokes take that seriously we could sell you the town
hall clock, and the Sydney Harbor Bridge and a block of flats in
Tasmania all rolled into one," Keating told a news conference
after a question from an Australian journalist.

He was speaking after discussing bilateral relations and trade
issues with Indonesian President Soeharto at a nearby Bail resort
a few hours earlier yesterday morning.

A newspaper report in Australia yesterday said a number of
backbenchers from Keating's own party were plotting to install
Beazley who was perceived as more popular and likely to improve
the party's chances in the next election.

The Sunday Age said a small group of members of parliament had
been trying to persuade caucus members that Labor's chances in
the next election would be improved if Beazley took over from
Keating.

The newspaper said Labor's national president, Barry Jones,
learned of the plot, the first test of Keating's support in
almost four years as leader, in August and told Keating.

Jones told reporters he did not put any weight on the Keating
plot report.

"I regard it as a trivial matter," he said.

The newspaper said it had spoken to 30 Labor figures who had
been asked to consider shifting their support or who knew that
this was occurring.

The report in Melbourne's Sunday Age also was dismissed in
Australia by Beazley and Industrial Relations Minister Laurie
Brereton.

Beazley said on the "Meet the Press" television program: "This
stuff, I don't believe, has any substance. You can dismiss it."

Beazley, the acting prime minister while Keating is on a trip
to Indonesia, said the Labor Party had a united team going into
the next election.

"Paul Keating's position is perfectly secure," he said.

Beazley said Keating was probably Labor's most effective
election campaigner for some time.

Brereton, a long-time ally of Keating, said on the "Sunday"
television program Keating's position in the caucus had never
been stronger.

Brereton also said the next Australian election, due by May,
1996, was a 50-50 bet at this stage and, although Labor trails
the conservative opposition in the opinion polls, he expected a
Labor victory.

Keating, on his fifth trip to Indonesia since becoming prime
minister in December, 1991, must take his ruling Australian Labor
Party to a general election before May next year.

Keating leaves for Australia early today.