PRESS STATEMENT NO. 412
12 December 1974
WORKING PARTIES ON THE ECONOMY
The Prime Minister, Mr Whitlam, said today the
Australian Government has still not received assurances from
all States that they would co-operate in implementing
joint economic measures, particularly in relation to prices.
Mr Whitlam was commenting on a report that the
South Australian Premier, Mr Dunstan, had claimed that the
Australian Government had ignored offers-by the States to hand
over their powers on prices to the Prices Justification
Tribunal. Mr Whitlam also denied that there had been any
breakdown on the Australian Government's part in implementing
recommendations of joint Commonwealth/ State working parties
on prospective joint economic action. I
He said only two State Governments Tasmania and
South Australia had said they would co-operate fully with
the Australian Government on strengthening the powers of the
Prices Justification Tribunal.
He had written to the Premiers as long ago as
16 September. So far Queensland had not replied at all,
Victoria had not yet indicated its attitude and New South
Wales and Western Australia had said they wanted a special
Premiers'm Conference but did not say if they accepted the
proposal. Mr Whitlam said the Australian Government had dealt
promptly with the report from working parties dealing with
various aspects of inflation. The working parties were concerned
with action to limit wage increases; the multiplicity of wage
fixing tribunals; tax penalties on companies granting excessive
wage increases; State legislation to support the jurisdiction
of the Prices Justification Tribunal; Government tendering
procedures; and on control of restrictive trade practices.
2
The working parties had been commissioned by the
Premiers' Conference on 13 August.
The Australian Government was anxious to get State
approval for the transfer of powers recommended by these
groups of Australian and State Government officials, Mr. Whitlam
said.
CANBERRA, A. C. T.