PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS P o53/ lP72
ECONOPJ.' C CONSULTA. TIONS
Statement by the Prime ~ n is ter
The Pt Hon. Uili. Hcanr. kT ,7
The annual economi~ c co-nsultations 12etween ilinisters
and representatives of industry and commerce h ave been held
in Canlerra and Sydney over the past three days
These consultations, now' comn1eted, ,, ere most
informative and useful, and gave T.. inisters valuable insight
into the concerns arnd o-iinions o4 the various key rna~ onal
organizations parti cipatir.
~ inisters m~ et th'e renrez.-entatives of national
organizations concerned vwith major areas of the economy
primary industry, maz' ufacturinq iridustryi cor-=. erce and mining.
As well, t--hey had discussions with tne Advisory
Councils on manufacturing industry and excort developm~ ent,
arnd. with re-oresentatives of the T.' isItralian Co,) uncil of Trade
Unions. A, list of the organizations particirating in the
consultations is attached.
The rarticipatin n rganizati. ons put before the
Covern~ ment particular r.. atters of concern to their industries
at present, and~ qave thE-. ir vwson slanificart matters
affecting -the econory goner:-1ly. " Iiristers found it esnecially
helPful to have assessirents from organ_ 4z at ions of the presen~ t
state of their iridustrie-s and the cooy and the outlook as
thc-y see it for the eriod a-lie.-d.
The consultations were eoJ~ arlier this ye. ar than
in the oast. Thne '-' ovcrnment will Soon be commuencing its
detailed oreparations for t> 2' 1072-73 Budact, and it is
particularly valuable for ,, in 4. sters to have had at this early
stage the viecws of orqanizaticn: representing a vc-ry wi, 71z:
cross section of ustralials oconorl" ic life. / 2.
0 The ' overnment finds that these annual consultations
are increasingly useful and beneficial. They serve to aid
and guide the Government during the formulation of its
economic policies, especially in a situation where the
economy and its management is becoming more and more complex
each year as Australia develops.
These discussions have given the representatives
from various segments of Australian industry and commerce an
opportunity not only to acquaint inisters with their views
on the economy and to respond to questioning but have also
given them an opportunity to hear from Ministers the policies
of the Government. The Government was most appreciative of the time and
energy that the various representatives and organizations spent
in Preparing detailed submissions and found the frank and open
discussions invaluable.
SYDNEY 2 June 1972
FCONOM IC CONS UlTAT I 0! TS
PARTICIPAI\ TNGOP(' ANIZATIONS
PrimaryIndustry Group,,
Australian Farmers' Federation
Australian ; 1oolqrowers' and Graziers' Council
Australian 1, Jool and M!. eat Producers I Federation
Austral-Lan W~ heatarowers ' Federation
Manufacturing Industr. y Cr -oupz
Thie Associated Chambers of 1. anufacturers of
Au str ali a
The National Building and Construction Council
, Tnc Federal CP-tamber of Automotive. Industries
Comperce Group-.
The Associated Chiaie-rs~ f -CoTrrce-of--Australia
Australian.. 3larrkers I -As-sociation
ustxralian Co~ unc4I -cr Retailers
-Australian M ining IndustryCouncil.
Marfac'arna hdut'r-esA~ visorv Council.
-E3Mcrrt Develonent--C0omcil-
T. ustralian Counci-L-of Trades' Unions