TNAG-2613-FCO40-3804-International-support-from-Australia-and-New-Zealand-regardi-1992 — Page 4

unclear but they should not derail economic progress. Pre- Christmas elections had been ruled out. Mr Keating was no gambler and liked to set the agenda for himself. (Once the Opposition had started to predict pre-Christmas dates, this therefore made them unlikely). Probable timing was now late March/early April or mid-May. The polls showed Opposition support falling off.

CC: Mr Appleyard

Mr Hum

Mr Masefield

Mr Hewitt, SEAD

Mr Ricketts, HKD

Mr Davies, FED

Mr Thomas, SPD

Mr Jones Parry, ECD/E

PS/Mr Goodlad

18 November 1992