PM Transcripts

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i* 3, AUSTRALIA & L PRESS STATEMENT NO. 390
28 November 1974
PRICES JUSTIFICATION TRIBUNAL
PRICES OF IMPORTED GOODS
The Prime Minister, Mr Whitlan, announced today
that the Prices Justification Tribunal had begun to conduct
field surveys to check the prices of imported goods on
sale at retail stores.
Mr Whitlam~ said that these prices would be checked
back against the landed prices of goods. These figures
would be supplied by the Department of Customs and Excise.
Where appropriate, discussions would be held with
the companies concerned in relation to any markups considered
to be excessive. Mr Whitlam. said that the membership and staff of
the Tribunal were being expanded to provide for these
operations. A new retail branch had been established, he
said, and a member with specific responsibilities in the
retail area would commence duty on 2 January 1975. In
the meantime, work was going ahead in this area.
Mr Whitlam. recalled that in his Second Reading Speech
on the Prices Justification Bill he had said:
" The Tribunal will employ additional powers,
particularly, but not exclusively, in actively enquiring
into and reporting upon both retail prices and the prices of
imported goods. For these purposes, we shall provide a
modest expansion of the Tribunal's staff and will ensure
that the Tribunal is backed by the collaboration of other
departments and agencies. Steps have already been taken to
this end in conjunction with the Department of Overseas
Trade, the Department of Customs and Excise and the
Australian Bureau of Statistics."
CANBERRA. A. C. T.