EMBARGO: 8.30 PM
SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER, MR E. G, WHITL4M, QC, M, P,,
TO TH! E ' NATIONAL RURAL PRESS CLUB DINNER, AT THE LAKESIDE
INTERNATIONAL HOTEL, CANBER. RA
4I JULY 13/ 4
ON THE 14 DECEMBER LAST YEAR I WROTE TO DR STUART
HARRIS AND ESTABLISHED A WORKING GROUP ON RURAL POLICY IN
AUSTRALIA, IN THAT LETTER I SAID:
" I ENVISAGE THAT YOUR GREEN PAPER WILL BE
PUBLISHED WITH THE AUTHORITY OF THE AUSTRALIAN
GOVERNMENT BUT WITHOUT FORMAL APPROVAL.
IN THAT FORM I HOPE IT WILL PROVIDE A BASIS
FOR WIDESPREAD DIALOGUE IN THE PARLIAMENT,
IN RURAL ORGANISATIONS AND IN THE COMMUNITY
GENERALLY. I
THE DIALOGUE TO WHICH I THEN REFERRED HAS NOW
BEGUN. IAM GRATEFUL, MR CHAIRMAN4 FOR THE OPPORTUNITY YOUR
INVITATION HAS GIVEN ME TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT DIALOGUE.
4
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AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE
HAS BEEN CREATED BY SENATOR KEN WRIEDT, WHO WILL NOW MORE
APPROPRIATELY BE KNOWN AS THE MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE,
HIs INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT AND THE FARMING COMMUNITY WAS THE
CONVENING OF THE RURAL FORUM, THE FIRST OCCASION ON WHICH
ANY GOVERNMENT HAS INVITED ALL MULTI-PURPOSE FARMING
ORGANISATIONS TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEMS OF THE INDUSTRY WITH
GOVERNMENT, THIS FORUM WILL NOW BE AN ANNUAL EVENT, I AM
PLEASED THE SECOND MEETING TO BE HELD TOMORROW HAS BEFORE
IT SO WIDE-RANGING AND CONSTRUCTIVE A DOCUMENT AS THE
GREEN PAPER ON RURAL POLICY,
FEW OF MY MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENTS HAVE GIVEN
ME AS MUCH REAL SATISFACTION AS THAT OF SENATOR KEN WRIEDT,
HIS SINCERITY, ABILITY AND COMMITMENT HAVE RECEIVED
CONGRATULATIONS FROM MANY QUARTERS, I UNDERSTAND THAT HE
NOW KNOWS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CORRIEDALE AND A
MERINO: INDEED, WHEN IT COMES TO HAVING AN EFFECTIVE
MINISTER, I BELIEVE TO COIN A PHRASE YOU HAVE NEVER
HAD IT SO GOOD, ,/ 3
-3-
THE GREEN PAPER WHICH WILL BE DISCUSSED AT THE
RURAL FORUM TOMORROW IS THE FIRST COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT
OF AUSTRALIAN RURAL POLICY FOR OVER 20 YEARS. I BELIEVE
THAT ALL OF US WHETHER IN GOVERNMENT OR IN RURAL INDUSTRY,
ARE INDEBTED TO THE MEMBERS OF THIS WORKING GROUP AND WILL
REMAIN SO INDEBTED FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. THE REPORT
IS INDEED A SENSITIVE AND INTELLIGENT DISCUSSION OF THE
PROBLEMS FACED BY RURAL INDUSTRIES AND OF THE PRINCIPLES
WHICH SHOULD GUIDE GOVERNMENT ACTION IN MEETING THOSE
PROBLEMS. BEARING IN MIND THE VERY SHORT TIME IN WHICH
THIS REPORT WAS WRITTEN THE JOB DONE BY THE PEOPLE INVOLVED
IS TRULY QUITE EXTRAORDINARY.
THE OBJECTIVE OF THE GOVERNMENT IN REQUESTING A
GREEN PAPER INDICATES OUR GENERAL APPROACH TO THE MAKING
OF DECISIONS IN THE RURAL SECTOR AND INDEED FOR OTHER
INDUSTRIES. IT SHOWS THE WAY A LABOR GOVERNMENT WILL MAKE
DECISIONS AFTER FULL PUBLIC ENQUIRY AND FREE PUBLIC DEBATE.
WE HAVE ESTABLISHED THE INDUSTRIES ASSISTANCE COMMISSION,
WHICH IS THE FIRST INDEPENDENT BODY TO INQUIRE INTO, ASSESS
AND REPORT UPON ALL REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE. AS YOU WOULD
BE AWARE, THE REPORTS OF THE COMMISSION ARE NOW GENERALLY
PUBLISHED BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT MAKES ITS DECISION SO THAT
MEANINGFUL PUBLIC DEBATE CAN OCCUR. i ,/ 4
-4IPERHAPS
EVEN MORE THAN OTHER SECTORS I BELIEVE
THAT THE IMAGE OF RURAL INDUSTRIES HAS SUFFERED BY THE
ARROGANT ATTITUDES OF SOME POLITICANS, AND, IF I MAY BE
PERMITTED A SOMEWHAT PARTISAN NOTE, OF ONE PARTICULAR
POLITICAL PARTY, THEY OFTEN MAKE THE ASSUMPTION THAT
RURAL INDUSTRIES HAVE A RIGHT TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE
WITHOUT PUBLIC INQUIRY AND JUSTIFICATION, THE PROCESS OF
DECISION-MAKING OF THE LABOR GOVERNMENT EXEMPLIFIED IN
THE NEW ROLE OF THE INDUSTRIES ASSISTANCE COMMISSION
AND IN THE PUBLICATION OF THIS GREEN PAPER WILL ASSIST
IN BREAKING DOWN THE BELIEF OFTEN THE MISCONCEPTION
OF MANY URBAN RESIDENTS THAT RURAL INDUSTRIES RECEIVE
UNFAIR PRIVILEGES AT THE TAXPAYERS' EXPENSE.
THE AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE ARE CAPABLE OF JUDGING
WHETHER OR NOT A GOOD CASE FOR ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN
PRESENTED AND AS TAXPAYERS THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO RECEIVE
IT. THE REPRESENTATIVES OF RURAL INDUSTRIES HAVE IN THE
PAST UNDERESTIMATED THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATING THE
AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR PROBLEMS AND OF CONVINCING
THEM WHENEVER REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE ARE MADE. THE
PUBLICATION OF THIS GREEN PAPER WILL GO A LONG WAY IN
EDUCATING THE BROADER PUBLIC, INCLUDING ECONOMISTS, ABOUT
SOME OF THE SPECIAL PROBLEMS FACING RURAL INDUSTRY, PROBLEMS
WHICH INVOLVE GOVERNMENT POLICY. 1 11/ 5
WHILST I WOULD NOT PURPORT TO SUMMARISE THE GREEN
PAPER ITSELF I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT SOME ASPECTS OF THE
REPORT WHICH I BELIEVE TO BE OF PARTICULAR SIGNIFICANCE.
FIRST IS THE MANNER IN WHICH THE REPORT EMPHASISES THAT A
NATIONAL RURAL POLICY IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF A NATIONAL
ECONOMIC POLICY AND THAT IT MUST BE JUDGED IN TERMS OF ITS
CONTRIBUTION TO NATIONAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL OBJECTIVES.
MANY OF THE REPORT'S MORE SPECIFIC COMMENTS ARE IN FACT
CONCERNED WITH THESE BROADER NATIONAL OBJECTIVES. MUCH OF
ITS VALUE DERIVES FROM ITS ASSESSMENT OF PARTICULAR PROBLEMS
AND PROPOSALS MEASURED BY THE STANDARD OF NATIONAL GOALS OF
EFFICIENCY, OF WELFARE AND OF EQUALITY.
ONE SUCH CONSIDERATION WHICH THE WORKING GROUP
IDENTIFIES IS THE INTERESTS OF CONSUMERS. THE REPORT NOTES
" THE POSITION OF THE CONSUMER IS PROPERLY BEING GIVEN
GREATER CONSIDERATION THAN IN THE PAST". THIS PERSPECTIVE
WILL ENHANCE THE VALUE OF THIS REPORT IN PROMOTING A WIDER
UNDERSTANDING OF RURAL POLICIES. THE WORKING GROUP
CORRECTLY NOTES THAT THE QUITE ABSURD RESTRICTIONS UPON
MARGARINE HAVE ADVERSELY AFFECTED " THE IMAGE" OF ALL RURAL
PRODUCERS. MANY URBAN RESIDENTS WHO ARE AWARE OF THESE
RESTRICTIONS WOULD REGARD THEM AS TYPICAL RATHER THAN AS
THE ABERRATION THEY IN FACT ARE. IF IN OUR DELIBERATIONS
WE CONTINUE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE INTERESTS OF CONSUMERS,
AS THE REPORT RECOMMENDS, THEN I BELIEVE WE WILL ENSURE THE
BROAD ACCEPTABILITY OF THE DECISIONS WHICH WE MAKE. is 1/ 6
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THE GREEN PAPER CORRECTLY IDENTIFIES THE MARKET
AS THE MOST EFFECTIVE METHOD OF ALLOCATING PRODUCTIVE
SOURCES IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR. IT ALSO RECOGNISES
HOWEVER, THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS A PROPER ROLE TO
INTERVENE IN THE OPERATION OF THE MARKET, PARTLY TO IMPROVE
THE MANNER IN WHICH THE MARKET OPERATES AND PARTLY TO
COMPENSATE FOR ITS, AT TIMES, HARSH CONSEQUENCES. IN
MANY OF THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISIONS I BELIEVE IT IS TRUE
THAT WE HAVE ACCEPTED THE PRIMACY OF THE MARKET TO A GREATER
EXTENT THAN SOME THOUGHT OR FEARED POSSIBLE. IT IS
USEFUL TO HAVE THE BASIC PRINCIPLE EMPHASISED IN THE MANNER
THAT IT HAS BEEN BY THE WORKING GROUP,
I WOULD NOW LIKE TO DISCUSS SOME OF THE PRINCIPLES
OUTLINED IN THE REPORT.
ONE OF THE OUTSTANDING ANALYSES IN THIS DOCUMENT
IS THE DISCUSSION OF UNCERTAINTY AND INSTABILITY IN RURAL
INDUSTRY. THE RESEARCH UNDERTAKEN FOR THE WORKING GROUP
SHOWS THAT FLUCTUATIONS IN BOTH PRICE AND OUTPUT ARE
TYPICALLY GREATER FOR AGRICULTURE THAN FOR OTHER INDUSTRIES.
A SURVEY CONDUCTED FOR THE WORKING GROUP BY THE COMMISSIONER
FOR TAXATION SHOWED THAT OVER 40 PER CENT HAD FLUCTUATIONS OF
PER CENT OR MORE IN THEIR YEAR-TO-YEAR INCOMES COMPARED
WITH NO MORE THAN 23 PER CENT FOR OTHER BUSINESS AND
1/ PER CENT FOR WAGE EARNERS. I
-7-
IN CASE SOME OF YOU MAY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A
NEW REVELATION FOR ME MAY I QUOTE FROM A SPEECH I DELIVERED
AT A DINNER FOR THE AUSTRALIAN FARMERS' FEDERATION IN
OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR. I SAID THEN, " THE CHIEF CHARACTERISTIC
OF YOUR INDUSTRY, WHATEVER GOVERNMENT IS IN POWER, IS ITS
VULNERABILITY. MORE THAN ANY OTHER SECTOR OF THE ECONOMY YOU
ARE SUBJECT TO UNPREDICTABLE AND IMPONDERABLE CIRCUMSTANCES.
YOU ARE AT THE MERCY OF THE SEASONS, AT THE MERCY OF WORLD
CURRENCY RELIGNMENTS, OF FLUCTUATING INTERNATIONAL MARKETS,
GLUTS AND SHORTAGES.", THE DETAILED TREATMENT OF THIS MOST
SIGNIFICANT ASPECT OF RURAL INDUSTRY PRESENTED IN THE GREEN
PAPER WILL SURELY PROVE TO BE ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT
PRACTICAL MATTERS FLOWING FROM OUR CONSIDERATION OF THE REPORT.
I AM SURE THAT IT WILL BE A FEATURE OF YOUR DISCUSSIONS TOMORROW.
THE REPORT DISCUSSES THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN
PROVIDING PROTECTIVE SERVICES FOR THE INDUSTRY SUCH AS
QUARANTINE, RESEARCH AND EXTENSION AND IN IMPROVING THE
BARGAINING POWER OF INDIVIDUAL PRODUCERS THROUGH MARKETING
SCHEMES AND THE PROMOTION OF CO-OPERATIVES. FURTHER, THE
REPORT CORRECTLY IDENTIFIES THE SPECIAL ROLE A GOVERNMENT HAS
IN ASSISTING OUR AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES TO ADJUST TO ECONOMIC
CHANGES. WE HAVE RECENTLY RECObNISED THE PROBLEMS OF STRUCTURAL
ADJUSTMENT IN OTHER INDUSTRIES AS REQUIRING COMPREHENSIVE
GOVERNMENT ATTENTION AND HAVE MADE SPECIAL PROVISION FOR COUNTRY
TOWNS WHICH DEPEND TO A SIGNIFICANT EXTENT ON A SINGLE FIRM.
THE COMMENTS IN THE GREEN PAPER WILL ASSIST US IN THE FURTHER
DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS. ./ 8
ONE SECTION OF THE REPORT HAS RECEIVED RELATIVELY
LITTLE ATTENTION TO DATE. IT IS THE CHAPTER CONCERNING THE
WELFARE OF RURAL PEOPLE, THE WORKING GROUP ACKNOWLEDGES THE
BREVITY OF ITS EXAMINATION OF THE PROVISION OF COMMUNITY SERVICES
IN RURAL AREAS. THE REPORT ASSISTS US IN MOVING AWAY FROM
WHAT MIGHT BE TERMED AN INCOMES MENTALITY. So MANY OF THE NEEDS
OF OUR CITIZENS AND THE PROVISION OF ADEQUATE SERVICES MUST
DEPEND ON BROAD COMMUNITY ACTION AND THAT MEANS GOVERNMENT
ACTION. THE CONCERN OF THE WORKING GROUP TO EXPAND THE SCOPE
AND VARIETY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE TO LIVE
IN RURAL AREAS WILL AFFECT THE GOVERNMENT'S CONSIDERATION OF
THE MORE DETAILED REPORTS WE SHALL RECEIVE ON POVERTY,
EDUCATION, HEALTH AND THE PROVISION OF WELFARE SERVICES.
I TRUST THIS ASPECT OF THE REPORT WILL NOT BE LOST IN YOUR
CONSIDERATION OF WHAT SOME WOULD REGARD AS THE MORE PRACTICAL
ASPECTS OF RURAL POLICY.
IT WOULD BE REMISS OF ME NOT TO MAKE SOME COMMENT ON
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE GREEN PAPER AND THE MANY DECISIONS
WE HAVE ALREADY TAKEN IN RELATION TO RURAL POLICY. PERHAPS I
SHOULD BEGIN BY ACCEPTING THE COMMENTS IN THE GREEN PAPER ON
THE DIFFICULTY OF COMMUNICATION WITH PEOPLE IN RURAL AREAS.
THIS DIFFICULTY IS OF COURSE ACCENTUATED IN THE HEAT OF AN
ELECTION CAMPAIGN. I NOW COME TO SPEAK TO YOU AT THE ONLY TIME
WHEN A POLITICIAN CAN AFFORD TO BE BIPARTISAN IMMEDIATELY AFTER
AN ELECTION. I BELIEVE THAT MUCH OF THE CRITICISM AND INDEED
VILIFICATION OF THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN UNWARRANTED. MUCH HAS
BEEN POLITICALLY MOTIVATED AND I HAVE BEEN IN POLITICS TOO LONG
NOT TO ACCEPT THAT AS PART OF THE GAME. NEVERTHELESS THE PUBLICATION
OF THIS GREEN PAPER ENABLES US TO PLACE THE GOVERNMENT'S PAST
DECISIONS IN THEIR PROPER PERSPECTIVE.
THE WORKING GROUP MAKES FREQUENT REFERENCE TO
CONCESSIONS AND SUBSIDIES WHICH ARE OF GREATEST ADVANTAGE TO THE
MORE WEALTHY PRIMARY PRODUCERS. MANY OF THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISIONS
WHICH HAVE BEEN MOST SEVERELY CRITICISED RELATED TO CONCESSIONS
AND SUBSIDIES OF THIS NATURE. THEY HAD BEEN INTRODUCED AT A TIME
WHEN THE PREOCCUPATION OF THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT WAS TO
INCREASE PRODUCTION TO EARN FOREIGN EXCHANGE. THAT TIME HAS
PASSED. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE IGNORE THE VITAL IMPORTANCE
OF ECONOMICALLY HEALTHY AND EFFICIENT INDUSTRIES, INDUSTRIES
WHICH DESPITE ALL THE ATTENTION GIVEN TO MINERAL DEVELOPMENT
STILL PROVIDE OVER HALF OF OUR EXPORTS, IT SIMPLY MEANS THAT
IT NO LONGER PAYS US AS A NATION TO DEVELOP FARMS MORE RAPIDLY
THAN IT WOULD PAY YOU YOURSELVES TO DEVELOP THEM. POLICIES OF
THIS KIND ONLY EXACERBATE THE PROBLEMS OF MATCHING SUPPLY AND
DEMAND. I AM ACUTELY CONSCIOUS OF THE FACT THAT MANY OF THE
GOVERNMENT'S POSITIVE POLICIES DO NOT HAVE THE SAME OBVIOUS
IMPACT ON THE FARMER AS HAS THE WITHDRAWAL OF SOME CONCESSIONS.
ONE EXAMPLE IS OUR DECISION TO ESTABLISH AN ANIMAL HEALTH
LABORATORY TO PROTECT OUR LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY FROM FOOT AND MOUTH
AND OTHER EXOTIC DISEASES. IT WILL COST $ 56 MILLION
APPROXIMATELY THE ANNUAL COST OF THE SUPERPHOSPHATE BOUNTY
YET THE BENEFITS TO RURAL PRODUCERS WILL BE INFINITELY GREATER.
THEY MAY NOT BE REFLECTED IN TERMS OF MONEY IN THE POCKET, BUT
THE INTRODUCTION OF THE DISEASES WHICH THE LABORATORY IS DESIGNED
TO PREVENT WOULD WIPE OUT $ 2,000 MILLION IN EXPORT TRADE
OVERNIGHT,
ANOTHER CLEAR EXAMPLE OF THE WAY THE GOVERNMENT'S
POLICIES HAVE ASSISTED PRIMARY PRODUCERS INDIRECTLY IS THE
TARIFF CUT, THE VALUE OF THIS IS HIGHLIGHTED BY THE GREEN
PAPER'S ADOPTION OF A TARIFF COMPENSATION ARGUMENT FOR RURAL
CONCESSIONS. I NOTE WITH SOME PLEASURE THE EXTREMELY FAVOURABLE
COMMENTS MADE BY THE WORKING GROUP ON THE GOVERNMENT'S EXCHANGE
RATE AND TARIFF POLICIES, THE VALUE OF THE TARIFF CUT IS LESS
TANGIBLE, LESS IMMEDIATE AND LESS DIRECT THAN THE CONCESSIONS
WHICH WE HAVE REMOVED, I SUPPOSE THAT WE ALL COME TO BELIEVE
THAT WE DESERVE WHAT WE ARE USED TO RECEIVING, CIRCUMSTANCES
CHANGE AND PRIORITIES CHANGE: A GOVERNMENT IS NOT BEING
" ANTI-RURAL" IF IT RECOGNISES THAT,
IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE NOW TO ASSESS THAT OTHER REPORT
WHICH HAS RECEIVED SO MUCH ATTENTION IN RURAL AREAS, THE
REPORT OF THE COOMBS TASK FORCE, THAT REPORT REPRESENTED A
CLEARING OF THE DECKS TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE GOVERNMENT'S OWN
PRIORITIES AND TO GET RID OF THE ACCUMULATED DEADWOOD OF YEARS
OF AD HOC DECISION-MAKING, WHAT THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT SEEKS
IS A NATIONAL RURAL POLICY BASED ON SUSTAINABLE PRINCIPLES, PRINCIPLES
THAT ALL AUSTRALIANS CAN ACCEPT, THE GREEN PAPER PROVIDES US
WITH SUCH A SET OF PRINCIPLES, ITS CONVENOR, DR STUART HARRIS,
WAS, I SHOULD NOTE IN PASSING, A MEMBER OF THE COOMBS TASK FORCE,
HE HAS PRODUCED A DOCUMENT WHICH I BELIEVE WILL PLACE AUSTRALIAN
RURAL POLICY ON A MORE SOUND, MORE ACCEPTABLE AND MORE PERMANENT
BASIS, THAT BASIS IS NOT INCONSISTENT WITH THE APPROACH ADOPTED
BY THE EARLIER TASK FORCE OF WHICH HE WAS A MEMBER, , Il
I SHOULD PERHAPS REFER TO TWO ITEMS UPON WHICH THE
COOMBS TASK FORCE REPORTED BUT UPON WHICH THE GOVERNMENT DECIDED
NOT TO ACT, DROUGHT BONDS AND THE AVERAGING PROVISIONS OF THE
INCOME TAX LEGISLATION, THE GREEN PAPER REPEATS MANY OF THE
CRITICISMS OF THE AVERAGING PROVISIONS, IT RECOGNISES, HOWEVER,
AS THE GOVERNMENT DID, THAT THEY ARE AMONGST THE FEW EXISTING
MEASURES DIRECTLY ALLEVIATING THE PROBLEM OF INCOME INSTABILITY
FOR PRIMARY PRODUCERS, NOT A SUBSIDY BUT A RECOGNITION OF THE
SPECIAL DIFFICULTIES OF RURAL PRODUCTION, THE GOVERNMENT WILL
NOW CONSIDER THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE GREEN PAPER WHICH SEEK
TO REFORM AND SYSTEMATISE OUR TREATMENT OF THIS PECULIAR
CHARACTERISTIC OF YOUR INDUSTRY,
IN THIS RESPECT MAY I MAKE ONE ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATION
FOR DEBATE, THE GREEN PAPER NOTES THAT, GENERALLY SPEAKING,
ALL RISK CROP INSURANCE IS NOT AVAILABLE IN AUSTRALIA, THE RECENT
FLOODS IN SOME PARTS OF OUR COUNTRY HAVE EMPHASISED THIS GAP,
AS YOU WOULD BE AWARE, WE INTEND TO ESTABLISH AN AUSTRALIAN
GOVERNMENT INSURANCE OFFICE, PERHAPS YOU COULD CONSIDER IN
YOUR DELIBERATIONS TOMORROW WHETHER THIS NEW INSTITUTION SHOULD
ESTABLISH A FACILITY OF THE KIND DISCUSSED IN THE REPORT,
THE ARGUMENT IS OFTEN ADVANCED THAT PEOPLE IN RURAL
AREAS SUFFER FROM SEVERE COST OF LIVING DISADVANTAGES FOR WHICH
THEY SHOULD RECEIVE COMPENSATION, OUR POLICIES ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS
CHARGES AND ON THE PETROLEUM PRICE SUBSIDY SCHEME HAVE BEEN
CRITICISED FROM THIS POINT OF VIEW, I THEREFORE READ WITH
PARTICULAR INTEREST THE COMMENTS ON THIS MATTER IN THE GREEN PAPER,
THE WORKING GROUP STATES THAT THE ARGUMENT THAT PEOPLE IN RURAL
AREAS SUFFER COST OF LIVING DISABILITIES IS NOT PROVEN, THEY
HIGHLIGHT THE VALUE IN TERMS OF LIVING STANDARDS OF THE LOWER LAND
PRICES AND THE % M4L= ER NEFD FOR FXPENDITURE ON TRAVEL_ TO AND F WORK,
12.
THE REAL DISABILITY LIES IN THE AREAS OF PUBLIC
SERVICES, THE GOVERNMENT'S APPROACH HAS RECOGNISED THIS FACTS
ONE OF OUR EARLIEST DECISIONS WAS TO ESTABLISH THE SPECIAL
ALLOWANCES FOR ISOLATED CHILDREN. I DO NOT NEED TO REPEAT THE
HIGH PRIORITY THAT THE GOVERNMENT ATTACHES TO EDUCATION, WE ARE
DETERMINED TO SEE THAT INEQUALITIES IN OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM ARE
ABOLISHED INCLUDING INEQUALITIES WHICH ARISE FROM GEOGRAPHICAL
CONSIDERATIONS. THERE ARE, OF COURSE, OTHER PUBLIC SERVICES WHICH
REQUIRE HEAVY SUBSIDIES, IT IS A BASIC QUESTION OF PRIORITIES TO
DECIDE WHICH SHOULD BE SUBSIDISED, THE SUBSTANTIAL LOSSES ON
RURAL PASSENGER SERVICES OF STATE RAILWAYS CAN IMPOSE INTOLERABLE
BURDENS ON GOVERNMENT FINANCES. WE HAVE FACED DECISIONS ON SUCH
PRIORITIES. THE RURAL CRITICS OF THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD KNOW
THAT IT COSTS UP TO $ 20,000 PER CONNECTION TO PROVIDE AUTOMATIC
TELEPHONE SERVICES IN AREAS WITH LESS THAN 200 TELEPHONES, TEN
TIMES MORE THAN IN THE CAPITAL CITIES. YET OUR MUCH CRITICISED
DECISION TO INCREASE TELEPHONE RENTALS FOR NON-METROPOLITAN
SUBSCRIBERS WILL REDUCE THE OPERATING LOSSES OF $ 100 MILLION IN
19/ 1-72 ON COUNTRY POSTAL AND TELECOMMUNICATION CHARGES BY ABOUT
$ 18 MILLION PER ANNUM. THIS DECISION SHOULD BE CONTRASTED WITH
THE ISOLATED CHILDREN ALLOWANCES. WE ARE A GOVERNMENT COMMITTED
TO IMPROVEMENTS IN HEALTH, EDUCATION AND WELFARE. THIS IS A
MATTER OF PRIORITIES; IT IS NOT A MATTER OF ANTI-RURAL BIAS,
PEOPLE MAY CRITICISE OUR PRIORITIES, THAT IS THEIR RIGHT, As
LONG AS THE DEBATE ABOUT OUR ATTITUDE TO RURAL COMMUNITIES IS
CONDUCTED IN THOSE TERMS I WILL BE HAPPY TO PUT OUR CASE. ,/ 13
13,
NOTHING HOWEVER, EXASPERATES ME MORE THAN THE BASELESS
ACCUSATION THAT LABOR IS AN ANTI-RURAL PARTY OR THAT I AM
PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH THE CITIES, LABOR IS NEITHER AN URBAN
NOR A RURAL PARTY, WE ARE A NATIONAL PARTY GUIDED BY NATIONAL
CONSIDERATIONS, OF COURSE WE MUST BE CONCERNED WITH THE PLACES
WHERE MOST AUSTRALIANS LIVE, PARTICULARLY AS THE GENERAL ISSUE
OF THE CITIES HAD BEEN IGNORED IN AUSTRALIAN POLITICS UNTIL WE
MADE IT AN ISSUE, THAT DOES NOT DETRACT FROM MY CONCERN, OR
MY PARTY'S CONCERN, FOR THE PROBLEMS AND NEEDS OF RURAL COMMUNITIES,
NOW THAT THE ELECTION IS OVER, LET US STOP THESE
BASELESS ACCUSATIONS, LET US RENEW THE DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE
GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE WHOM YOU REPRESENT, I COULD NOT
THINK OF A MORE PROPER BASIS FOR THIS DIALOGUE THAN THE
EXCELLENT GREEN PAPER WHICH YOU WILL DISCUSS TOMORROW,
L W