FOR PRESS EMBARGO: Not for publication
or broadcast before
9 31st May, 1967
TIEXT OF SPEECH BY THE ACTING PRIME MINISTER AND 1 3 JUN 1967
MINISTER FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, ' S
MR. JOHN~ McEVTEN, SA
AT THE EXPORT DEVELOPIOTIET COUNCIL DINNEKR,
HOTEL CANBERRA, 31ST MfAY, 1967
I recall when E. D. C. was established in 1958 to advise
the Government on the expansion of our expnrt trade. The thought
in my mind, which had the support s~ f the Gcvernment, was to invite
a number of highly experienced, highly respected and highly
competent people from the commercial world to join with a few
similarly experienced officials of the Gove rnm ent Service.
It is fortunate for the country that those who were
invited to join what became known as the Export Development Council
readily accepted the call to serve the country and establish this
Council under the Chairmanship of the late Sir John Allison.
Now, nine years later, no one would query a claim that
it has been a most valuable adjunct both to government and to
business. The Council has been fortunate in its Chairmen. First,
Sir John, then the late Sir Alfred Armstrong, and now Dave McGrath.
As exports expand, benefits should flow to those who
invest in, and to those who work in, the export industries. This
is essential. However, on the establishment of this Council, the
basic motive in my mind was more profound than that.
The majf'r cbjective was to generate for the nation aexcha~ nge
bigger earning of foreign exchange. Adequate resources of foreign/
are an essential to national growth.
With my official advisers and my Cabinet colleagues, I
join in working for the fast growth of this country, a growth
built upon sound foundations. I see growth sound growth
providing a widening level of prosperity, an assurance ' qf job
availability, and with these the basis upon which a great and
continuing migration programme can be confidently embarked upon.
Earnings from export represent the most natural generation of
holdings of foreign currency. Without sufficient foreign exchange,
no great plans for national growth could be carried through.
It was as a Council concerning itself with the earning of
more foreign exchange through export that the Council was seen as
essential to the grand plan of fast, sound, national growth. It has
a long record of devoted service and a long record of successful
achievement. While the political government of the country can, and
should, plan for growth, both the industrial growth itself and the
earning of foreign exchange through export is predominantly in the
field of private enterprise, not of government. So what we sought
to create was a sense of partnership, the reality of partnership
between the Government and its senior officials and those in private
enterprise who have brought their wealth of experience and knowledge
and imagination into the partnership.
To bring big business so closely into association with the
admiinistrative side of government, both at the political and at the
official level, is the perfect setting to facilitate log-rolling by
vested interests. From the outset we all understood that the Export
Development Council was never tn be a facility for the promotion of
private interests, individually or collectively, through contact with
the Government. There are many things in connection with this Council of
which we may all feel proad. High on the list of these things I
would put the fact that there has never been an instance of the
Council, its committees, or its individual members ever attempting
to influence the Government at any level for purposes of individual
profit. In view of the close association of so many people with
government at high level and with those in government whose policy
and administrative acts bear upon the profitability of business,
this is something of which you can be proud.
Impartiality has been the keynote of E. D. C's. advice.
This is quite a record. I am sure it will be sustained.
We have big dreams of growth. To make these dreams come
true, we have big practical requirements.
I remember saying when addressing an Export Convention
in 1960 that those competent to make the calculation had satisfied
me that Australia needed to lift its earnings through export to a
higher level of œ 250 million a year within the next five years. To
all who heard me quote this figure, or at least most who heard me,
the figure sounded dramatically high, but to many it sounded
ridiculously high. But, having estimated our need, government and
private enterprise went to work to step up our income. The end
result was that at the end of five years our export earnings had
increased by an annual rate, not of œ 250 million a year, but a rate
of œ 500 million a year.
You would not wish me to say that all of this is
attributable to the work of the Exprt Development Council. Of
course it isn't. But the Council has a long record of identifying
the things that should be done, could be done, by government or by
business to improve our export record.
The Government has now for many years regularly invited
those whom you choose from amongst yur members to come to the
Cabinet room and give the Government ynur advice twice a year.
Policies that the Council has proposed have been adopted by the
Government and have to a large extent produced the results in
business which were forecast.
This leads me to say " Thank you"; and leads mc. furthr
to. say YOUR WORK IS NOT DONE.
Australia's need + o increase its foreign exchange arning....
is as great to--day as it has ever been. What you have donc is tn
prove that a group such as those who -ompose this Council can make
a very valuable contribution to the sound growth of the nation.
This, I believe, must produce a very satisfying feeling in all whn
have. served on E. D. C.
Dramati c things are happening these days in Australia in
the mineral fields,. Expansion of lead and zinc production, a moder".
industrial nation now self-aufficiont in copper and with a surplus
for export. The formerly depressed coal industry transformed into a
bright setting. New production of tin and the revelation of our
immense resources of bauxite, of iron ore, of natural gas, and now
of nickel; a new confidence in oil! These are splendid discoveries
and splendid developments.
Australians P. we a Lot to all cf those who have contributed.
There are those who believe that our problem of earning
sufficient foreign exchange need no longer bp a worry, that the
metals will solve it,, True, minerals will become much more imprrtant
foreign exchange earners. E. D. C's. estimate of Australia's oxpnrt
needs of $ 5,000 million by the mid-1970' s means an increase of
about $ 2,300 million over our current level f exports. Minerals
will fill only a part of this gap.
However, let me put this issue of foreign exchange earnings
in its proper perspective. Foreign exchange is a form of money. We
will not be a great ationL through merely being a rich nation.
Our objective, if you rmnember, was fast, sound, national
growth. That is, millions more people, millions more jobs, hundreds
of thousands more factories and farms. The objective of earning
foreign exchange was not an end in itself. It was a means towards
making possible that kind of national growth.
As I see it, while the minerals are exported as such, or
upgraded into metals, we will undoubtedly earn much exchange, but
that alone will not create jobs by the hundreds of thousands or
great industry. The kind of industries that you have been concerning
yourselves with to a large extent, the farm industries, the manufacturing
industries, will continue to provide the greatest basis for
wealth production. Alcng with the tertiary industries, they will
alsn prmvide the basis for job creation.
Let us salute the -owth of the minerals industries, but
not take this devel] npment as grounds for sitting back.
I have spoken on othor -' ccasirns our option to choose
the comfort of stagnation. For my part, and I am sure for ynur part,
we would all prefer to sufi the discomfort of growing pains, so
that we may leave a nation greater and stronger than wher' we found
it. I give you the Toast
" THE SPIRIT OF SERVICE TO THE NATION"
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