PM Transcripts

FOR PRESSW P-IAs No 12f/ 1972
COMMONWEULTH FINAUC TAL ASSISTANCE
FOR WEST ATYSTRALIAN STATE SHIPPI-N( SEIRVICP TO DARWIN
Statement by the Prime 14Minister, the-Rt Hon. William lIcMahon, CPS 1PP
The Comiionwealth has agreed to provide an interest-free
non-re payable canita3. grant of r milion to the Western Australian
Government for the purchase of a shin to service the D) arwin trade.
T7he romronileath accepts this nrovision of assistance
as a special case justified by tb-: imortance of the Darwin trade to
lWestern Australia, and by the importance to the Northern Territory of
tra4 3 arrangements 1ith Western Australian sunpliers. The trade has
been built up over sorme yiars and encouraged byv the former Wcqtern
Australian Coverrnment. If this trarie were to cease, it would be
replaced in the n-orth by imnorts, and erplryment in VTeTstern Australian
industries, suchi as the ti~ mber Aidustry of the qouth--West, would
suffer. The orovision of the grant w3ill enisure the continuance
of' the regular eekly srip! inq service to Darorj. n. Te new ship will
permriit -more efficient ope: ations and the continuation of the service
will holn to restrain increases in transoortation costs to the
N~ cthern Territory which might oth. erwise occur.
CANBERR 9 March 1P72