FOR P: CSS / 4 x
4z 3D No. 33/ 1967
AID FOR TASAHIIA
The Priam3 inister, Mr. Holt said today that there
had been further discussion in the course of the visit to
Canberra of Mr. Reece of the arrangements to apply to relief of
hardship from the Tasmanian bushfires and mattcrs of
rehabilitation. The Treasurer, Ir. Hc'Mahon and Mr. Howson, the
Commonwealth's Liaison inister for purposes connected with
bushfire assistance had participated in the talks between the
Prime Mlinister and Mr. Reece.
The Commonwealth proposed thact special assistance
should be given to Tasmania in order to restore as quickly as
possible the economy of the State and to relieve the hardship
and suffering of those affected.
Mr. Howson had made two visits to Tasmania and had
held discussions with the Premier. In addition, Commonwealth
and State officers had conferred continuously on all aspects.
Mr. Holt said he and Mr. Reece were now able to state that they
had reached agreement on the basic principles of a program-me of
relief and rehabilitation. The Commonwealth had undertaken to provide
substantial support to the State for the measures Mr. Reece
proposed to introduce. These measures would be such as the
State considered to be necessary to meet the emergency and the
hardship which had been experienced in various sectors of the
economy. The State would consult with the Commonwealth about
its proposed measures of assistance to confirm their
acceptability for the purposes of the Commonwealth's financial
undertaking to the State.
As in the case of the help given to New South Wales
and Queensland for relief of the drought, the Commonwealth's
overall financial assistance to the State of Tasmiania would be
provided partly by way of loan and partly by way of grant.
Mr. Holt praised the generous and ready response to
the Governor's Appeal Fund from every corner of Australia and
overseas. This would go a long way towards relieving personal
hardship and distress. Mr. Reece had said that he hoped it
would be possible to provide many of the families made homeless
with some basic furniture and other essential household
requisites. Mr. Holt said he and the Premier reaffirmed the
basic principles already announced late last week concerning
assistance for housing. It was intended to provide housing up
to Housing Department standards with need as the first criterion.
The two Governments were now looking closely at the
problems of primary producers and people in business. They
had suffered not only an immediate loss of income but also a
loss of capital. It was not yet possible to lay down the basis
of assistance, but efforts would be made to enable those
affected to be rehabilitated in their own area.
2
There were some particular problems facing primary
producers, especially those concerned with replacing fencing
and stock. These were being considered. There would be
special discussions about these between Commonwealth and State
officers as soon as possible.
The Commonwealth recognises that the loss of assets
to the State, such as schools, bridges and powerlines would
also need to be considered. Its approach would be to ensure
that these assets would be reinstated without the State
incurring an onerous debt burden, or the necessity to make
replacement at the expense of the State's ordinary works
programme. The Premier, for his part, paid a warm tribute to
the help and attitude of the Commonwealth, and expressed his
personal thanks to the Prime Minister, the Federal Treasurer
and 1ir. Howson.
CA bRRA.
" Ft h February, 1967.