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Press Release for Queensland
24 May 1975
EMPLOYMENT IN QUEENSLAND
The Prime Minister, Mr Whitlam, predicted today that
-the employment situation in Queensland would soon improve.
He said traditionally, Queensland had higher unemployment than
other States, but the present rate was unacceptably severe.
He said legislation introduced last Wednesday would
enable Queensland beef producers to obtain carry-on finance
at 3k per cent interest.
The Australian Government would make available
million for this purpose in Queensland, matching the State
Government's contribution.
Mr Whitlam said the re-opening of the market for
beef in Japan was another reason for greater confidence.
Employment activity in the beef industry would accelerate as
the Japanese market expanded.
He said the sugar industry had enjoyed a recordbreaking
year and this would improve the economic climate
in many areas of Queensland, producing more jobs.
The Prime Minister said that while unemployment
remained at its present level thoere would be no cut-backs in
relief funds provided by the Australian Government to Queensland.
lie said Queensland had received more money from the RED scheme
than any other State but N. S. W.
The Australian Government had provided $ 29.5 million
for 955 projects in Queensland. Total cost of the project was
$ 33.5 million and 9,893 unemployed workers had found jobs
under the scheme.
Mr Whitlam said he was concerned by reports of
anomalies and inefficiency in the RED scheme. He said it was
up to local authorities and other sponsors to ensure the
proposals they submitted were sensible and useful projects.
The Australian Government did not plan individual projects but
only approved those submitted to it by the local sponsors.
Money was allocated to areas with the highest unemployment.
It was disturbing that the State Government's own unemployment
relief scheme was discriminating against these areas because they
were receiving RED grants.
Mr Whitlam also appealed to the State Government to
maintain its own employment levels. He said there should be no
basis for talk of lay offs from State Government departments.
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The State Treasurer Sir Gordon Chalk had made a most
thorough assessment of Queensland's needs prior to the Premiers
Conference on 14 February. The Queensland Government had received
$ 47.5 million all it asked for, and more specifically to
maintain its own employment levels, and re-employ people
who had been laid off.
If lay-offs were now being predicted again it meant
either that Sir Gordon Chalk had miscalculated his needs or
that the funds had been used inefficiently.
BRISBANE.