PM Transcripts

7'
PRIME MINISTER 31 May 1974
Press Statement No. 253
TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE AUTHORITY REPORT MUSHROOMS
The Prime Minister today released the report of the
Temporary Assistance Authority on Mushrooms.
on 8 March 1974, Mr Whitlam asked the Temporary Assistance
Authority whether it is necessary that urgent action be taken to
protect the Australian industry producing mushrooms and prepared
or preserved mushrooms in relation to the importation of mushrooms
in various forms.
In accordance with provisions of the Industries Assistance
Commission Act, the Authority reported on 5 April 1974 that he
considered no urgent action is necessary to protect the Australian
industry in relation to the importation of mushrooms of a kind
covered by the reference. Government action on the report had to
be held over pending the outcome of the elections.
The Prime Minister said the Government noted the comments
made by the Authority, particularly his comments that the nature
and extent of competition between the traditional Australian pack
of mushrooms in butter sauce and imported button mushrooms in brine
is far from clear; that an oversupply of locally canned mushrooms
had developed during 1972/ 73; that events since July 1973 cannot
be attributed wholly or mainly to competition from imports; and
that the increasing quantities of imported button mushrooms in
brine are catering for a demand in many ways distinct from the
demand for the Australian mushrooms in butter sauce.
Mr Whitlam. assured the industry that the Departments of
Primary Industry and Secondary Industry, together with other
interested departments would closely monitor the situation to see
whether any changed circumstances merited further action by the
Government. Mr Whitlam recalled that the question of long-term
assistance for the Australian mushrooms growing and processing
industry was referred to the Industries Assistance Commission at the
same time as the reference was sent to the Temporary Assistance
Authority. Because of problems in the industry which had been
brought to his attention, the Prime Minister shid that he was writing
to the Chairman of the Commission asking him to accord priority to
this inquiry.
CANBERRA. A. C. T