SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON. E. G. WHITLAM, M. P.,
TO THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL OF SALARIED
AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, CANBERRA, MONDAY 21 OCTOBER
1974
MY MEETING WITH ACSPA TODAY IS PART OF A CONTINUING PROGRAM
OF VISITS BY MINISTERS AND LABOR MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT TO TRADE
UNION FORUMS>, WITH MY COLLEAGUES I WELCOME EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO
TELL UNIONISTS, EMPLOYEES, WORKERS OF ALL KINDS WHITE COLLAR,
BLUE COLLAR, MEN AND WOMEN ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT'S ACHIEVEMENTS,
ITS PLANS, AND ITS PROBLEMSY WE ARE READY TO DISCUSS FRANKLY
WITH YOU THE ECONOMIC QUESTIONS THAT FACE US AND FACE THE
GOVERNMENTS OF MOST OTHER COMPARABLE COUNTRIES5 SENATOR BISHOP
AND SENATOR WRIEDT HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT THE BUDGET TO THE TRADES
AND LABOR COUNCILS OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA AND TASMANIAV SIMILAR
VISITS BY MINISTERS ARE BEING MADE TO THE NEW SOUTH WALES AND
VICTORIAN COUNCILSx AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH EMPLOYEE
JF3ANISATIONS WE HAVE AGREED THAT MINISTERS WILL ATTEND A
VARI-TY OF'UNION CONFERENCES, TRADES AND LABOR COUNCIL MEETINGS,
FEDERAL STATE EXECUTIVE MEETINGS AND GATHERINGS OF RANK AND
FILE UNION MEMSERSX A HOPE-YOU WILL REGARD MY VISIT TODAY
PLEASURABLE AS IT IS FOR ITS OWN SAKE AS PART OF A BROAD
PROCESS OF DISCUSSION AND CONSULTATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT
AND THE TRADE UNION MOVEMENTA
-2-
SUCH A PROCESS IS VALUABLE TO BOTH OF USX I DOUBT IF
ANY PRIME MINISTER, HOWEVER ELSE HE MAY BE CRITICISED FOR THE
WAY HE SPENDS HIS TIME, GIVES MORE OF IT TO PUBLIC SPEAKING,
TO PRESS CONFERENCES, TO EXPLAINING AND CLARIFYING, I HOPE WITH
SOME SUCCESS, THE POLICIES AND PHILOSOPHIES OF THE GOVERNMENTX
THE SAME IS TRUE OF MY SENIOR MINISTERSX WE ARE COMMITTED TO
OPEN GOVERNMENT, BUT WE RECOGNISE THAT THE SUCCESS OF OUR
POLICIES DEPENDS ON THE FULLEST UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE ARE
DOING. JUST AS IMPORTANT, WE NEED THE VIEWS, THE ADVICE, THE
OPINIONS OF UNIONS AND EMPLOYEES AND THEIR ORGANISATIONS)
WE HAVE YOUR INTERESTS AT HEART AND WE HAVE GREAT INTERESTS
IN COMMONX OUR OBJECTIVES WILL BE ACHIEVED ONLY WITH THE
FULL CO-OPERATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WHOLE LABOR MOVEMENT-
LET ME AT ONCE ACKNOWLEDGE THE VALUABLE SUPPORT THAT MANY WHITE
COLLAR UNIONS'GAVE THE GOVERNMENT AT THE LAST ELECTIONSX FOR
THE FIRST TIME THEY GAVE OPEN SUPPORT TO A POLITICAL PARTY
THE A. L. Px I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR YOUR JUDGMENT AND GOOD
SENSE IN THESE MATTER.
-3-
BEFORE THE ELECTIONS I TOLD THE AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE
FRANKLY THAT WE FACED SEVERE ECONOMIC PROBLEMSK I HAVE
NEVER CONCEALED FROM THE PEOPLE THE NATURE OF THOSE PROBLEMS
OR THE NEED FOR TOUGH MEASURES TO DEAL WITH THEMK IT IS TOO
EARLY TO RELAX OUR EFFORTS. IN THE COMING YEAR WE WILL NEED
e ALL THE VIGILANCE AND DETERMINATION WE CAN SUMMON TO OVERCOME
THOSE PROBLEMS,) WE WILL NEED A GOVERNMENT THAT IS STRONG,
RESOURCEFUL AND HUMANE WE WILL NEED THE CO-OPERATION AND
GOODWILL OF ALL SECTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY, AND ESPECIALLY
OUR OWN SUPPORTERS, THE WORKING PEOPLE WHOSE INTERESTS AND
WELFARE WE HAVE AT HEART: ONLY A LABOR GOVERNMENT A GOVERNMENT
TWICE ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE, A GOVERNMENT THAT POSSESSES THE
DEMONSTRATED CONFIDENCE OF THE PEOPLE, A GOVERNMENT THAT PUTS
THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE ABOVE VESTED INTERESTS AND SECTIONAL
GROUPS CAN LEAD THIS COUNTRY THROUGH A PERIOD OF ECONOMIC
DIFFICULTY THAT AFFLICTS ALL THE WORLD'S DEVELOPED INDUSTRIAL
NATIONS(
JUST AS WE HAVE NEVER CONCEALED THE PROBLEMS, SO WE
HAVE NEVER EXAGGERATED OR DISTORTED THEMK I HAVE FULL
CONFIDENCE IN THE BASIC STRENGTH OF THE ECONOMYK WE HAVE
ONLY TO REMEMBER THE FOUNDATIONS OF THAT STRENGTH RICH
NATURAL RESOURCES, VIGOROUS TRADE, HEALTHY OVERSEAS RESERVES,
A MATURE AND INDUSTRIOUS PEOPLE, A SECURE DEMOCRACY.,-IT IS
TRUE THAT ALL THESE ASSETS CAN BE DEPLETED OR SQUANDERED OR ABUSEDOUR
OPPONENTS AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND IN DIFFERENT WAYS HAVE DONE
JUST THAT. K MY GOVERNMENT WILL PRESERVE AND SAFEGUARD THESE BASIC
ASSETS. WE HAVE EXPANDED OUR TRADE, WE HAVE PROTECTED OUR
RESOURCES FROM FOREIGN EXPLOITATION?( WE ARE' GIVING BETTER AND
BRIGHTER OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR PEOPLE FOR HEALTH, EDUCATION
AND SOCIAL SECURITYe, WE ARE RESISTING THE ATTACKS ON DEMOCRACY
AND IN THE LAST WEEK OR SO YOU HAVE HEARD THESE THREATS'
RAISED YET AGAIN BY RUTHLESS AND EMBITTERED SENATORS AND
AN OPPOSITION DETERMINED TO RUSTRATE THE PECF'.-' S WL..,
SO I REJECT THE HYSTERIA AND DESPAIR OF THE OPFOSIT! ON,,
I ACKNOWLEDGE THE .: FRIOUSNESS OF OUR PROLEMS. AND T4-NEED
S. TESTING AND DIFFICULT SOLUTIONS, UNLIKE OUR OPPO-NTS.
I ,. IEVE OUR PROBLEMS CAN BE LICKED AND WIL: BE LICKEDe
YOU u, HAVE FROM ME OR ANY OF MY MINISTERS A MESSAGE OF
PESSIMISM OR -EFEATK YOU WON T GET PANIC TALK OR DOUB31E TLk,,
YOU'LL GET REALISM, HONic-vAND WHENEVER ACTION IS N EDED,
YOU'LL GET PROM" F AND POSITIVE ACT. Y" K
AS EMPLOYEES THE ISSUE THAT PARTICULARLY CONCERNS YOU IS
UNEMPLOYMENT) THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES YOUR CONCERN AND SHARES
YOUR CONCERN, ON THIS ISSUE I GIVE YOU THREE FIRM AND UNEQUIVOCAL
ASSURANCESK FIRST, WE ADHERE FIRMLY TO OUR GOAL OF FULL EMPLOYMENT
A JOB FOR EVERY AUSTRALIAN MAN'AND WOMAN WHO IS ABLE AND WILLING
TO WORK-SECONDLY, AND FLOWING FROM THAT GOAL, WE WILL NEVER
RESORT TO THE DELIBERATE CREATION OF MASS UNEMPLOYMENT AS A
MEANS OF CHECKING INFLATIONk-THIRDLY, IF UNEMPLYMENT DOES OCCUR
IN THE COMMUNITY DESPITE OUT EFFORTS AND INTENTIONS WE STAND
READY TO CUSHION ITS EFFECTS, TO PROTECT THOSE AFFECTED, TO CARE
FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES, TO ASSIST THEM IN FINDING NEW JOBS
AND IF NECESSARY TRAIN THEM IN NEW JOBSv SO THERE YOU HAVE A
THREE-FOLD COMMITMENT TO THE EMPLOYEES OF THIS COUNTRY
-6-
WHEN EMPLOYEES ARE TEMPTED TO ASK, " WOULD UNEMPLOYMENT
BE LESS UNDER THE LIBERALS?" JUST REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED WHEN
THE LIBERALS WERE IN POWERY UNEMPLOYMENT WAS THEIR PRIME
WEAPON, THEIR CHOSEN INSTRUMENT FOR CHECKING INFLATION AND
INTIMIDATING THE UNION MOVEMENTA. IT WAS THE ONLY WEAPON THEY
UNDERSTOODX THEY CALCULATED THAT THE VICTIMS OF UNEMPLOYMENT
WERE MOST LIKELY TO BE LABOR VOTERS WHO HAD NEVER SUPPORTED A
LIBERAL GOVERNMENT AND WERE THEREFORE UNABLE TO WITHDRAW THEIR
SUPPORTK THEY MADE lEi CALLOUS AND CYNICAL ASSUMPTION THAT
UNEMPLOYMENT WOULDN'T HURT THEMK THEY WERE WRONG IN 1961 AND
THEY WERE WRONG IN 1972k YET THAT WAS THEIR ASSUMPTION ON
EVERY OCCASION WHEN SIGNS OF INFLATION APPEARED THEY ACCEPTED
WITHOUT QUESTION OR HESITATION THE ADVICE THAT MEN BE PUT OUT
OF WORKK YET THE LIBERALS WERE TOTALLY INDIFFERENT TO THE
EFFECTS OF UNEMPLOYMENT ON THE WORKING MAN AND HIS FAMILY AND
ON THE WHOLE-COMMUNITY5 THEY HAD NO PLANS TO ALLEV! ATE UNEMPLOYMENT,
TO PROTECT ITS VICTIMS, TO CREATE NEW JOB OPPr! Ti) NTUN" T-! T'T EJ. UI!
MEN FOR OTHER WORK. WHEN YOU HEAR THE PIOUS CRIES O THE nPPOSITION
ABOUT UNEMPLOYMEi,' TODAY REMEMBER rHOM'U CH WORSE iT :' OULD 3E IF
THEY WERE IN POWER, HOW OFTEN THEY CREA'TD DELIBERATE UNEMPLOVMENT
THElELVES, AND HOW UTTERLY INSENSITIVE THEY ': iRE TC THE PLIGHT
OF IT " TrTIMS.
-7-
IN OUR ECONOMIC POLICIES WE HAVE SHOWN OURSELVES READY
TO TAKE ANY ACTION NEEDED TO MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIESA
AS THE TREASURER SAID WHEN PRESENTING THE BUDGET: " SHOULD THE
NEED ARISE WE STAND READY DURING THE YEAR TO TAKE ACTION ON THE
EXPENDITURE OR REVENUE SIDE OF THE BUDGET TO GIVE A QUICK
STIMULUS TO DEMAND AND EMPLOYMENTk I E HAVE ALREADY DONE SO.
WE HAVE GIVEN EVIDENCE OF THIS READINESSk
THE DEYALUATION OF 25 SEPTEMBER WAS INTENDED TO GIVE
A BOOST TO GENERAL BUSINESS CONFIDENCE AND STIMULATE THE ECONOMYV
OUR GRADUAL EASING OF CREDIT, OUR MEASURES TO BOOST HOUSE
BUILDING, OUR SELECTIVE RESPONSE TO DIFFICULTIES IN THE FOOTWEAR
INDUSTRY ARE ALL EXAMPLES OF FLEXIBLE GOVERNMENT ACTION WITHIN
THE CONTEXT OF AN OVERALL POLICY TO RESTRAIN THE RE-EMERGENCE
OF SPENDINGk THE REGIONAL EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT SCHEME IS
DESIGNED TO IMPROVE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN CERTAIN AREAS
BY ENCOURAGING LOCAL INITIATIVES AND ENLISTING THE SUPPORT OF
RELEVANT LOCAL AUTHORITIES3, THE NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT AND
TRAINING SYSTEM IS PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE JOB TRAINING AND
RETRAINING SCHEMES FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE
OR GOVERNMENT POLICIESK NOTHING OF THIS SORT WAS EVEN CONTEMPLATED
BY OUR PREDECESSORS, DESPITE A CLEAR NEED FOR ITX MANPOWER
POLICIES ARE NOT SOMETHING NEEDED MERELY TO RELIEVE UNEMPLOYMENT*
THEY ARE BASIC TO THE CREATION OF A MORE MODERN, EFFICIENT AND
RESILIENT INDUSTRIAL ECONOMYX
OUR MEASURES CANNOT CURE OUR PROBLEM OVERNIGHT,. IT
WILL TAKE TIME FOR THEIR EFFECTS TO BECOME APPARENT+ PITH
EVERY ECONOMIC DECISION'THERE IS A LAG BETWEEN IMPLEMENTATION,
AND RESULTSk THAT IS WHY I APPEAL TO YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING
AND CO-OPERATIONk REMEMBER THAT NO COUNTRY IN THE WORLD HAS
FOUND A QUICK, EASY SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF MAINTAINING
PROSPERITY WITH FULL EMPLOYMENT AND A LOW LEVEL OF
WE ARE DOING AS WELL AS MANY COUNTRIES IN COPING WITH INFLATION
AND BETTER THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN MAINTAINING EMPLOYMENT. I
DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK WE ARE COMPLACENT ON THAT SCORE PIE
DON'T REGARD-ANY INCREASE IN UNEMPLOYMENT AS ACCEPTABLE FOR A
MOMENTA ONE MAN NEEDLESSLY UNEMPLOYED IS ONE MAN TOO MANYk LAST
YEAR WE CLEANED UP THE MESS OF LIBERAL UNEMPLOYMENT. ' E ARE
STILL COPING . WITH THE INFLATIONARY PRESSURES THEY LEFT BEHINDX
IN THEIR LAST YEAR OF OFFICE THEY SCATTERED THE SEEDS OF INFLATION
FAR AND WIDE OVERHEATING THE ECONOMY, FLOODING US WITH HOT
MONEY IN A DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO BUT OFF ELECTORAL DEFEATX
-9-
TODAY THE FIGURES FOR THE SEPTEMBER CONSUMER PRICE
INDEX WERE RELEASED THEY SHOW AN INCREASE IN THE SEPTEMBER
QUARTER OF 5.4% k SUCH A DISTURBINGLY HIGH RATE OF INFLATION
CANNOT CONTINUE WITHOUT PERMANENT DAMAGE TO OUR ECONOMIC
AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE THERE SHOULD BE NO DOUBT THAT THIS
SEVERE INFLATION WILL CONTINUE IF THERE ARE EXCESSIVE WAGE
CLAIMSk IT IS IN THE INTERESTS OF ALL WORKERS TO RElfRAIN
FROM MAKING UNREASONABLE WAGE DEMANDS, BECAUSE LET ME BE
FRANK, INFLATION COSTS JOBS. INDUSTRIES WHICH MUST COMPETE
WITH IMPORTS WILL BE PRICED OUT OF THE MARKET AND ALL INDUSTRIES
CANNOT PLAN AND INVEST FOR THE FUTURE IN THE UNCERTAIN CLIMATE
WHICH ACCOMPANIES INFLATION OF THIS MAGNITUDEk
THE GOVERNMENT HAS SHOWN THROUGH ITS TAXATION
POLICIES; ITS EXPENDITURE POLICIES AND ITS LEG VLATION ON
PRICES JUSTIFICATION AND RESTRICTIVE TRADE PRACTICES THAT IT
EXPECTS THE PRINCIPAL BURDEN OF RESTRAINT TO FALL ON THOSE
BEST ABLE TO THE LOAD, THAT RESTRAINT IS ALREADY IN
EFFECT AND WE NOW EXPECT THE LABOR MOVEMENT IN ITS IND! JSTRIAL
ING TO RESPOND TO THE GOVERNMENT S CALL aW COOPERATE IN; A
" TY WIDE EFFORT TO STOP INFLATIONk
As THE TREASURER STATED IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH,
THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN EXPLORING A TAX PENALTY MECHANISM
BY WHICH WAGE AND SALARY INCREASES BEYOND AN ESTABLISHED
NORM MIGHT BE EXCLUDED FROM ASSESSABLE COSTS FOR THE
ASSESSMENT OF COMPANY INCOME TAX. I HAVE RELEASED TODAY
A COPY OF A REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY
THE CABINET TO INVESTIGATE THIS MATTERA SUCH A TAX WOULD
CREATE ANOMALIES AND DISTORT MANY ECONOMIC PROCESSES THE
GOVERNMENT WOULD PREFER NOT TO BE FORCED INTO INTRODUCING
SUCH A MEASURE EVEN ON A TEMPORARY BASISA HOWEVER, IF WAGE
SETTLEMENTS CONTINUE AT THE RATE THEY HAVE* IN RECENT MONTHS,
THEN WE HAVE TO FACE THE FACT THAT WHAT IS NOW MERELY AN
OPTION MAY BECOME AN OBLIGATION.
THE PRICE INCREASES REFLECTED IN THE SEPTEMBER
QUARTER FIGURES ARE A REFLECTION OF WAGE INCREASES SOME
MONTHS* AGOV THERE IS STILL A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF COST INFLATION
IN THE ECONOMIC PIPELINEX WAGE CLAIMS IN THE COMING MONTHS
WILL DETERMINE WHETHER THE RATE OF INFLATION WILL BE REDUCEDx.
WE LOOK TO THE COOPERATION OF EMPLOYEES AND THEIR
ORGANISATION IN THIS OBJECTIVEA WE DO SO WITHOUT ATTEMPTING TO
ALLOCATE BLAME FOR THAT IS A FRUITLESS EXERCI-SE5( THE QUESTION
OF WHAT COMES FIRST, WAGE INCREASES OR PRICE INCREASES IS A
CHICKEN AND EGG QUESTIONA WHAT WE MUST DO ISTO BREAK THE
SPIRAL OF INTERACTION BETWEEN WAGES AND PRICESA THE GOVERNMENT
HAS SET THE PRE-CONDITIONS, WITHIN THE LIMITS* OF ITS OWN
CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY, FOR A COMMUNITY EFFORT TO BREAK
THAT SPIRAL, WE MUST NOW PROCEED TO DO SO
i
WE SHALL PRESS FORWARD WITH OUR PROGRAMl IF THERE IS
ONE THING OUR OPPONENTS WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT IS THE ABANDONMENT
OF OUR PROGRAMX IT IS OUR PROGRAM, ABOVE ALL, THAT GIVES MEANING
AND PURPOSE TO THE LABOR GOVERNMENT AND EXPOSES THE COMPLACENCY
AND EMPTINESS OF THE OPPOSITION, WE DON'T ADHERE TO OUR PROGRAM
OUT OF STUBBORNNESS OR SENTIMENTX WE DON'T REGARD IT FOR A
MOMENT AS INCOMPATIBLE WITH A DETERMINED AND RESOURCEFUL
ANTI-INFLATIONARY PROGRAM FAR FROM BEING HOSTILE TO OUR
ANTI-INFLATIONARY POLICIES, OUR PROGRAM IS INTEGRAL TO THEM,
AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE BATTLE TO RESTRAIN INFLATION, TO REMOVE
ITS CAUSES AND PROTECT ITS VICTIMSk YOU, . MR PRESIDENT, HAVE BEEN
GOOD ENOUGH TO ACKNOWLEDGE IN YOUR ADDRESS THE MANY ACHIEVEMENTS
IN THE GOVERNMENT'S RECORD TO DATEk I TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN THEM
BUT WHAT IS THE POINT OF THEM? WHAT IS THE POINT OF BETTER
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, BETTER HEALTH SERVICES, BETTER SOCIAL
SECURITY, BETTER CHILD CARE, BETTER CITIES, BETTER TRANSPORT,
BETTER ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS, BETTER MANPOWER POLICIES, BETTER
AND MORE EFFICIENT METHODS OF ASSISTING OUR RURAL AND MANUFACTURING
INDUSTRIES?
12
CLEARLY ALL THESE ARE GOOD THINGS IN THEMSELVES XTHEY
ARE DESIRABLE FOR THEIR OWN SAKE5TOGETHER, HOWEVER, THEY HELP
CREATE A MORE EFFICIENT, MORE RATIONAL, MORE ORDERLY SOCIETY.
THEY RAISE OUR STANDARD OF LIVING OUR CHANCES OF ENJOYING LIFE
IN WAYS THAT ARE QUITE INDEPENDENT OF OUR INDIVIDUAL INCOMES,
INDEED IN WAYS THAT INDIVIDUAL PRIVATE INCOMES, HOWEVER GREAT
THEY MAY BE, CANNOT OF THEMSELVES ACHIEVEk THEY HELP REDUCE WASTE
AND CUT DOWN COSTS,( THEY HELP SOCIETY MAKE THE MOST OF ITS
AVAILABLE TALENTS AND RESOURCESX THESE THINGS, THEN, ARE PART
OF A TRUE ANTI-INFLATIONARY POLICY BECAUSE THEY GO TO THE ROOTS
OF OUR DIFFICULTIES NO COUNTRY, BECAUSE OF THE REALITIES OF
WORLD TRADE AND CURRENCY MOVEMENTS, CAN ESCAPE INFLATION ALTOGETHER
IF, HOWEVER, WE LOOK AT THE COUNTRIES WHERE INFLATION IS LOWEST,
WE FIND THEY ARE THOSE WITH THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF INDUSTRIAL
EFFICIENCY, THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF SOCIAL SECURITY, THE MOST MODERN
INSTITUTIONS, WHERE EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS AND OTHER SERVICES ARE
NOT BLIGHTED BY CLASS DISTINCTION, SOCIAL UNREST OR GROSS
INEQUALITIES OF INCOMEX a/ 13
13
I DO NOT WANT TO OVERSIMPLIFY THIS PROBLEM UNLIKE
MR SNEDDEN I CANNOT CLAIM TO HAVE A MAGIC CURES I SUGGEST, HOWEVER,
THAT IN THE LONG RUN THERE ARE TWO WAYS OF APPROACHING THE PROBLEM
OF INFLATIONX ONE IS TO BLUDGEON THE ECONOMY INTO SUBMISSION;
TAKE IT OUT ON THE WORKERS THAT IS THE LIBERAL APPROACHV THE
OTHER IS TO REFORM THE BASIC INSTITUTIONS OF A MIXED ECONOMY, TO
MAKE OUR FACTORIES AND SERVICES MORE MODERN AND EFFICIENT, OUR ROADS
AND TRANSPORT SYSTEMS MORE UP-TO-DATE AND BETTER CO-ORDINATED, TO
IMPROVE OUR EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FROM PRE-SCHOOLS TO TECHNICAL
COLLEGES TO UNIVERSITIES, TO MAKE OUR CITI-ES LESS CONGESTED AND
POLLUTED, TO ENSURE FAIR AND HEALTHY COMPETITION IN THE PRIVATE
SECTOR, TO CUT OUT WASTEFUL RESTRICTIVE PRACTICES AND PROTECT THE
CONSUMER, TO REMOVE THE CAUSES OF FEAR AND INSECURITY AND NEEDLESS
INDUSTRIAL UNREST BY GIVING EMPLOYEES A FAIR SHARE OF THE NATION'S
PROSPERITY' THAT IS OUR APPROACHK THAT IS WHAT OUR POLICIES
AIM TO DOK THEY ARE NOT JUST A COLLECTION OF ATTRACTIVE PARTSy
THEIR UNIFYING AND CONSISTENT PRINCIPLE IS SOCIAL REFORM AND
REGENERATION ,/ 14
11-
OUR PROGRAM IS RAISING THE LIVING STANDARDS AND THE
SECURITY OF EVERY AUSTRALIAN.. IT IS AS MUCH A CONTRIBUTION
TO THE WORKERS'I WELFARE AS HIS AGITATION FOR MORE PAYK
THE BUDGET FOR 1974/ 75 ANNOUNCED AN EXPENDITURE ON EDUCATION
OF $ 1,535 MILLION, AN INCREASE OF 78 PER CENT ON THE PREVIOUS
YEARtC, WE ARE SPENDING SEVEN TIMES MORE THAN OUR PREDECESSORS
ON SCHOOLS AND FOUR TIMES MORE ON THE WHOLE FIELD OF EDUCATION
HEALTH EXPENDITURE ROSE By 21 PER CENT IN-1973/ 74 AND WILL RISE
BY 30 PER CENT THIS YEARK OUR EXPENDITURE ON SOCIAL SECURITY
AND lWE.-LFARErc AMOUNTS TO NEARLY A QUARTER OF BUDGET OUTLAYS AND
iS EXPECTED FO REACH $ 3,441 MILLION THIS YEAR, AN INCREASE OF
38.3 PER CENT OVER LAST YEAR, OUTLAYS ON HOUSING ARE SET-TO
REACH A RECORD $ 1401 MILLION THIS YEAR, COMPARED WITH $ 77 MILLION
SPENT BY OUR PREDECESSORS IN THEIR LAST YEAR OF OFF ICE#'
EXPENDITURE ON URBAN IMPROVEMENTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT WILL
AL. MOST REACH $ 1400 MILLION, A THREE-FOLD INCREASE ON LAST YEAR
AND EIGHT TIMES THE AMOUNT SPENT BY OUR PREDECESSORS IN 1972/ 73-
WE HAVE ALSO TAKEN IMPORTANT STEPS IN IMPROVING PUBLIC TRANSPORT,
WATER SUPPLY AND ELECTRICITY, RETRAINING, REGIONAL EMPLOYMENT
AND IN NATIONAL COMPENSATION AND REHABILITATION SCHEMESo(
I DO NOT MEAN BY THIS THAT HIGHER WAGES ARE UNIMPORTANT,
REAL PURCHASING POWER FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF AUSTRALIANS HAS
IMPROVED UNDER A LABOR GOVERNMENT AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SOK
TO THE EXTENT THAT HIGHER INCOMES REPRESENT A REAL GAIN IN
LIVING STANDARDS WE WELCOME EVERY ADVANCE THAT EMPLOYEES CAN
ACHIEVE,( WHAT IS FUTILE, AND WHAT WE MUST CURTAIL, IS THE
EXCESSIVE AND SELF-DEFEATING ESCALATION OF MONEY INCOMES THAT
BRINGS NO IMPROVEMENT IN LIVING STANDARDSX THIS IS WHAT WE
MEAN BY WAGE RESTRAINTA( NATURALLY, WHILE INFLATION PERSISTS
AS A RESULT OF PAST LIBERAL NEGLECT AND IRRESPONSIBILITY AS
WELL AS THE EFFECTS OF WORLDWIDE INFLATION,. WE WANT TO ENSURE
THAT EMPLOYEES' WAGES ARE ADJUSTED ACCORDINGLY,( THE CONCILIATION
AND ARBITRATION COMMISSION WILL NOW DECIDE THE MATTER OF WAGE
INDEXATIONK ( MAY I SAY IN PASSING THAT WE TAKE GREAT
SATISFACTION, AS YOU MUST DO, FROM THE APPOINTMENT OF MR.
BARNEY WILLIAMS, THE SECRETARY OF ACSPA, AS A DEPUTY PRESIDENT
OF THE COMMISSIONX)
-16-
THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECLARED ITS SUPPORT FOR QUARTERLY
., COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS IN THE BELIEF THAT THEY WILL HELP
RESTRAIN A WORTHLESS GROWTH IN MONEY WAGESWITHOUT DEPRIVING
EMPLOYEES OF THE PROGRESSIVE IMPROVEMENT OF REAL EARNINGS MADE
POSSIBLE BY RISING PRODUCTIVITYX WE AGREE WITH ACSPA THAT WAGE
INDEXATION ON ITS OWN CAN NEVER BE SUFFICIENT AS A TOTAL WAGES
POLICY OR AS A GOAL FOR THE TRADE UNION MOVEMENT5 WE SEE IT
SOLELY AS A COUNTER TO THE EFFECTS OF INFLATIONARY PRESSURES ON
INCOMES; WE DO NOT SEE IT AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE BROADER AND
MORE FUNDAMENTAL REVIEW OF WAGES AND SALARIES BASED ON WORK
VALUES, CHANGING CONDITIONS OR PRODUCTIVITYk FOR THAT REASON
WE DO NOT INTEND TO APPLY A PERCENTAGE INDEX TO ALL WAGES AND
SALARIESK WE WILL DO THAT FOR LOWER PAID WORKERS AND MAKE A
FLAT INCREASE FOR THOSE RECEIVING MORE THAN AVERAGE WEEKLY
EARNINGS. IN THIS, QUITE FRANKLY, WE DIFFER FROM THE POLICY OF
ACSPA, WHICH FAVOURS A PERCENTAGE ADJUSTMENT FOR ALL WORKERSX
BECAUSE THE PRINCIPLE AT ISSUE IS IMPORTANT TO BOTH OF US I
SHALL TRY TO EXPLAIN TO YOU WHY WE BELIEVE OUR APPROACH IS THE
FAIRESTI IN THE FIRST PLACE IT CONFORMS WITH ALL HISTORICAL
PRECEDENTSX WHEN QUARTERLY COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE
IN THE PAST, THE INDEX APPLIED ONLY TO THE BASIC WAGE COMPONENT
OF A WORKER'S PAY, NEVER TO HIS MARGIN, PERCENTAGE RISES ACROSS
THE BOARD WERE NEVER MADE, AND IT IS WORTH RECALLING THAT WHEN
EMPLOYEE ORGANISATIONS INCLUDING ACSPA 5' CsSOUGHT RESTORATION
OF CO( ST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS IN THE MID-" ft IT WAS THE FLAT
RATE INCREASE WHICH THEY SUPPORTED
PART OF THE LABOR GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY IS TO
REDISTRIBUTE INCOMES IN FAVOUR OF THE LEAST FORTUNATE AND LOWEST
PAID MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITYW THIS HAS BEEN A CONSISTENT
l THEME OF THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICIESX WE RAISED THE BASIC PENSION
LAST AUGUST BY $ 5 A WEEKX IT WAS THE BIGGEST SINGLE INCREASE EVER.
MADE IN THE PENSION 1E RESTRUCTURED TAX SCALES IN THE BUDGET
IN FAVOUR OF LOWER AND MIDDLE INCOME EARNERSX AS A RESULT, THE
MAJORITY OF LOWER PAID AUSTRALIANS WILL PAY LESS TAXy OUR HOME
MORTGAGE INTEREST DEDUCTIBILITY SCHEME WILL BENEFIT THE LOWER
PAID WORKER MORE THAN THOSE ON HIGHER PAYj IN THESE SITUATIONS,
TO GIVE THE SAME BENEFITS TO EVERYONE IS NOT TO" TREAT ALL PEOPLE.
EQUALLY BUT TO TREAT THE FORTUNATE MORE GENEROUSLY THAN THE RESTk
CONVERSELY, IF WE TRULY BELIEVE IN SOCIAL EQUALITY WE MUST TREAT
THE POOR A GOOD DEAL BETTER THAN THE RESTx THE DEPRIVED IN OUR
SOCIETY ARE NOT DEPRIVED MERELY BY COMPARISON WITH SPECULATORS,
STOCKBROKERS AND BUSINESSMEN4 THEY ARE DEPRIVED BY COMPARISON
WITH OTHER WAGE AND SALARY EARNERS, AND THIS IS A MUCH MORE
IMMEDIATE CAUSE OF THEIR UNRESTX / 18
a
-18-
IPUT IT TO YOU THAT THE HIGHEST PAID WORKERS IN THE
COMMUNITY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WELFARE OF THEIR
LESS FORTUNATE FELLOWS. OUR POLICY ON INDEXATION, LIKE
OUR CAPITAL GAINS TAX AND OUR SURCHARGE ON UNEARNED INCOME.-
IS AN ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISH GREATER EQUITY IN THE TAXATION
AND INCOME SCALES. EQUITY IS WHAT THIS GOVERNMENT IS ALL
ABOUT. IN FIELDS OTHER THAN WAGES THE GoVERNMEN" T HAS ACTED
WHEREVER POSSIBLE TO RAISE STANDARDS AND CONDITIONS OFEMPLOYEES.
FOR THOSE OF YOUR MEMBERS IN THE AUSTRALIAN
PUBLIC SERVICE WE HAVE INTRODUCED A WHOLE RANGE OF NEW
BENEFITS WHICH IN TIME.-WE BELIEVE, WILL* BENEFIT EVERYONE#
WE INTRODUCED FOUR WEEKS' ANNUAL LEAVE, AN ANNUAL LEAVE
LOADING5o MATERNITY AND PATERNITY LEAVE. WE HAVE * EXTENDED'
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO EMPLOYEES WITH THE SERVICE
AND REDUCED THE QUALIFYING PERIOD FOR LONG-SERVICE LEAVE
FROM 15 TO 10 YEARS. WE HAVE ENCOURAGED MORE FLEXIBLE WORKING.
HOURS, REMOVED AGE LIMITS ON ENTRY AND BANNED DISCRIMINATION
AGAIN'ST WOMEN. WE HAVE LIFTED RESTRICTIONS ON FREE SPEECH
AND ABOLISHED THE BONDING SYSTEM. WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED EQUAL
PAY FOR WOMEN A PRINCIPLE. WE SUPPORTED FOR-ALL WOMEN IN THE
WORK FORCE IN ONE OF THE VERY FIRST ACTIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT,
-19.
I COMMEND THE BROAD POLICY OBJECTIVES OF ACSPA. YOUR
PRE--BUDGET SUBMISSIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT AND YOUR SUBMISSION
TO [ IR JUSTICE MOORE'S CONFERENCE WERE WELCOME AND IMPORTANT
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE UNDERSTANDING OF CURRENT ECONOMIC ISSUES.
YOU HAVE DONE MUCH TO INVOLVE WHITE COLLAR', WORKERS IN THE REALITIES
OF INDUSTRIAL NEGOTIATION, TO ADVANEC E THEIR WELFARE AND IMPROVE
THE STATUS OF EMPLOYEES OF ALL KINDS, I VALUE THE SUPPORT AND
CO-OPERATION YOU HAVE SHOWN TO THE GOVERNMENT. WHILE I CAN
UNDERSTAND THE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED, I HOPE THE
CURRENT RENEWED-INITIATIVES TOWARDS THE AFFILIATION OF ACSPA
AND THE ACTU WILL LEAD TO POSITIVE RESULTS. ONE OF THE CONSTANT
OBJECTIVES OF THE LABOR GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN TO BRING ABOUT
THE AMALGAMATION OF UNIONS INTO MORE VIABLE AND EFFICIENT
GROUPINGS. THIS OBJECTIVE; CENTRAL TO OUR AIM OF GREATER
INDUSTRIAL STABILITY AND HARMONY, HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY
FRUSTRATED BY OUR OPPONENTS. I BELIEVE THE PRINCIPLE OF
AMALGAMATION APPLIES WITH EQUAL VALIDITY TO UNION COUNCILS
THE CLOSEST POSSIBLE INSTITUTIONAL LINKS BETWEEN WHITE AND
BLUE COLLAR UNIONS WILL HELP BRING US CLOSER TO THE ACHIEVEMENT
OF OUR COMMON GOALS AND THE CREATION OF A MORE JUST AND
PROSPEROUS SOCIETY FOR ALL AUSTRALIANs,