I U AMl1' 9 67
LIRAPi
ADDRESS BY THE ACTING PRII, MINISTER AND ,5INISTER FOR
TRADE AND IITDTJSTRY 17R. JOHN McEWEN, AT THE
AUSTRALIAL'N CEREMOINY FOR THE OPENING OF THE
SOUTH-EAST ASIA COTIUVIONWEALTH CABLE
( SEACOHI), SYDINEY, M,, ARCH,
1967
IndexPa ge
Begun in 1958
Close to Asia
Aid to Others
World Co-operation
New Experience
ADDRESS BY THE ACTITG PRIE MINISTER AND MINISTER FOR
TRADE AND INDUSTRY MR. JOHN McEVIEN, AT THE
AUSTRALIAN CEREI: ONT FOR THE OPENING
OF THE SOUTH-EAST ASIA COIO7VEALTH
CABLE ( SEACOM) SYDNEY, MARCH,
1967
Thank you, Mr. Hulme. It is an honour to be here
today at the making of telecommunications history.
I offer my sincere congratulations, and I am sure
I can add the congratulations of the Australian people, to all
who have made this possible.
We have today the culmination of a great co-operative
ent erpris e. Here is the end res; Jlt of a tremendous amount of
energy and enthusiasm, foresight and vision, scientific and
technical expertise, and organisational skills.
It is a wonderful thing to know that Australia has
been a major partner in this, under the expert guidance of my
colleague, Mr. Hulme.
I know that Australian enterprise has joined with the
Government and made a very big contribution to this great project.
I am told that Australia has supplied more than half
the materials used for the SEACOM cable as well as an appreciable
amount of equipment for the cable stations.
Our manufacturing industries have supplied a
substantial amount of the telecomiunications equipment.
In these days it is easy to take for granted the
miracles of modern technology.
I know from my own work in the Trade field the
tremendous importance of good communications.
As Acting Prime Minister, and as the responsible
Minister for Australia's international trade I suppose I am as
big a customer as anyone for overseas communication services.
Communication services are an essential tool of
my office. It makes all the difference to have a service which
is speedy, safe, reliable, and efficient!
BEGUN IN_ 1953 There is an interesting connection between today's
ceremony and a conference which I attended at Montreal in 1958.
This was a Commonwealth Trade and Economic Conference,
attended by M. inisterial delegations from all Commonwealth countries.
I was there as leader of the Australian delegation.
The Conference was reviewing the part the Commonwealth
had played in fostering economic prosperity, both for Commonwealth
members, and the world as a whole.
Against this background we were looking to see what more
could be done towards these goals.
One of the more concrete proposals the Conference had
before it was a recommendation of the Commo-nwealth Telecommunications
Board that an around-the-world coaxial telephone cable
might eventually link all Commonwealth countries.
It had only recently become technically possible to
provide such a cable.
There were still at that time many details to be
worked out. Both, technical problems, and financial questions, had
to be resolved.
* 3.
Irecall with mnuch satisfaction that this Conference
of Commonwealth 1iinisters, in consultation with their Governments,
decided there and then, that Commonwealth countries would join,
to proceed with this visionary plan.
A way would be found to bring the concept to a reality.
One of the rewards of high Government office is to
have a hand in great new plans, and see them come to fruition.
It is immensely satisfying to be here today at the
opening of the Asian link of the Commonwealth Cable a tanigble
result of a decision taken at that Conference where I spoke for
Australia almost 9 years ago.
From that point my former colleague, Sir Charles
Davidson, took up the running.
CLOSE TO ASIA In the intervening years Australia has grown towards
a closer and closer association in the Asian region.
Our traditional ties with Britain and Europe are
strong. They have withstood the strain of geographic isolation
for nearly 2 centuries.
Just as the shrinking of distances in the modern
world is rapidly reducing our isolation from Europe, so it is
bringing our near neighbours nearer.
Geography has put us close to Asia. The course of
events both in Europe and Asia has sharpened our awareness of
the fact. Our trade and commerce with Asia have been growing
steadily.
.4.
Today, a third of Australia's total exports go to
Asian markets. In 1958, when vie first discussed the possibility
of this cable, the figure was less than a quarter.
Trade and Conmerce will be helped greatly by the faster
and more effective communications which the SEACOI cable will
provide. We have long had close ties with our Conmonwealth
partners in Asia and the Pacific.
The Prime 1, iinister has emphasi7. ed the importance
that the Government attaches to Asian affairs in his statements
and by his personal visits to Asian countries.
As you know, the Prime Mtinister is at present on a
round of official visits, to some of the Asian countries which
have special significance to Australia, and with which he has not
previously had personal contact as Prime 1 Jinister.
AID TO OTHERS In world affairs generally, Australia is playing a
bi[--er role. We recognise the gigantic problems faced by the
developing countries. We have shown ourselves willing to carry a growing
responsibility internationally helping the advancement of the
less-developed countries of the world, and participating
especially in the economic development of the Asian region.
For example, the United Nations Conference on
Trade and Development is seeking ways of iiiproving the trade
earnings, and hence the income, of the less-developed countries.
In 1966, Australia led the world by granting
concessions in the Australian tariff to products of these developing
countries. Australia has become a member of the Development
Assistance Committee, a world " club" of major donor countries in
international aid.
Our performance in official economic aid is recognized
as high by any standard.
And it is constantly improving in contrast to the
performance of many other donor countries.
Currently we stand about 4th among all the nations of
the world, in terms of the proportion of our national income which
we devote to international aid.
Ely colleague, Tir. Hasluck, is at present overseas to
attend a meeting of the United Nations' Economic Commission, for
Asia and the Far East.
Australia's full and active membership of this
organisation gives formal recognition of our place in Asian development.
Wie are participating fully in new Asian economic
organisations such as the Asian Industrial Development Council,
and the Asian Development Bank.
Wie know the important role that industrialization can
and must play as it has in our own country in creating jobs,
diversifying exports, and raising living standards.
We will shortly be exploring with Australian industry
the ways and means by which Australia can help the Asian Industrial
Development Council in its objective of fostering joint industrial
undertakings in Asia.
.6.
WORLD CO-OPERATION There are many forces at work in the world today
many facilities and organisations bringing together the peoples
of the world in closer co-operation.
In them, we play our due part, and even beyond.
It is oftenn'aid that the greatest successes of the
United Nations, have been achieved by its commnunity activities in
such fields as technical, scientific, and educational co-operation.
Some of the broader international efforts break down
through the sheer weight of complexity and conflicting interests.
However, a lot can be achieved by more limited, but
practical measures, towards specific objectives.
Technical training, training in trade promotion techniques
technical assistance with agriculture and industry, education and
medical facilities. These are some of the scores of fields in which there
have been concrete and effective advances in international co-operation
and assistance. The International Telecommunications Union had its
origins a little more than a century ago.
From its very beginnings, telecommunications broke
new ground in international co-operation.
Certainly, nothing contributes more to mutual.
understanding and help between nations than the breaking down of
physical barriers by modern advances in transport and communicationo.
.7.
NEW~ EPERIENCE Today we stand at the threshold of a new experience
in communication. One result will be that the lives of millions of people
in Asia will becox.-e involved with our lives as never before.
We set our' course to the future to dedicate this new,
technical, achievement to the goal of the betterment of all the
people who live along its path.
For Australia this new development in communications
comes at a time which is crucial for the future of our own country
and our relationship with Asia.
I have mentioned various unfolding decisions of government
directed towards our association with the countries of Asia, but
in addition we have been adjusting to the political evolution of
our neighbours in Asia.
We will press on with our policies, so that Australia
may further a continuing vigorous and independent relationship
with Asia. We are, as it were, a bridge between 2 ancient cultures
and ways of life European and Asian.
From our shoreso will flow modern concepts of science
and technology, To us will come the enrichment of Asia's cultural
and social aspirations. We have our great achievement of today this new
telecommunications era.
Let us also direct ourselves today, and in all our
tomorrows, in this region of A" sia and the Pacific, to peace,
friendship and plenty.