PM Transcripts

Press Statement No. 81
2 May 1973
SOUTH AU STRALIAN RAILWAYS
( Joint Statement by the Prime Minister, the Honourable
E. G. Whitlam, M. and the Premier of South
Australia, the Honourable D. Dunstan, M. L. A.)
Talks are about to begin on the transfer to
the Australian Government of responsibility for the
South Australian Railways, excluding suburban services.
This was announced today in a joint statement
by the Prime Minister, Mr. Whitlam and the Premier of
South Australia, Mr. Dunstan.
Their statement said:
" Our two Governments have today agreed to begin
discussions with a view to devising a mutually
satisfactory basis for the transfer.
Agreement has been reached on the composition
of a joint Federal/ State committee to begin immediate
investigation on this matter.
At the same time the Governments have agreed
that the present employees of South Australian
Railways be given an unequivocal guarantee that,
irrespective of the final decision on the
responsibilities to be transferred, they will be
employed in either the State or Commonwealth services.
We consider this to be a matter of basic
principle fundamental to the negotiations."
The Commonwealth/ State committee which has been
appointed will report jointly to the Federal minister
for Transport, Mr. C. K. Jones, and the S. A. Minister of
Transport, Mr. G. Virgo. It will be supported, as
necessary, by specialist sub-committees. A standing
sub-committee will be established to report on Conditions
of Employment for South Australian Railways employees.
This sub-committee will include a senior officer of the
South Australian Trades and Labour Council.
CANBERRA, A. C. T.