QUEENSLAND BROADCAST NO. 12
ACHIEVEMENTS
SUNDAY 8 JUNE 1975
THIS WEEK WE CONCLUDED A BUSY AND PRODUCTIVE
SESSION OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WE'VE SAT
FOR 432 HOURS SO FAR THIS YEAR THAT'S JUST THREE
TIMES THE SITTING HOURS OF THE QUEENSLAND LEGISLATIVE
ASSEMBLY THIS YEAR. So I THOUGHT TONIGHT I'D TELL YOU
SOMETHING OF WHAT WE ACHIEVED IN THAT PERIOD. YOU
HEAR AND READ SO MUCH IN THE MEDIA_. f4E. SE DAYS ABOUT..
CRISES AND SPLITS '. ANDI PROBLEMS-IN CANBERRA -MOST
C. I
OF IT PRETTY FANCIFUL-AND HIGHLY COLOURED STUFF
THAT IT'S EASY TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE SURE, STEADY
PROGRESS YCUR GO'VERN! MENT IS MAKING TOWARDS A BETTER
AND FAIRER AUSTRALIA. FOR ALL THE DISTRACTIONS AND.
DiVERSIONS WE HAVE FACED IN PARLIAMENT AND OUTSIDE,
FOR ALL THE PROPAGANDA OF OUR OPPONENTS FOR ALL
THE OBSTRUCTION OF THE STATE GOVERNMENTS, AND
VESTED INTERESTS, FOR ALL THE DENIGRATION OF THE PRESS,
THIS HAS BEEN A PERIOD OF GREAT AND POSITIVE ACHIEVEMENT
BY THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT. I ASK YOU TO KEEP THOSE
ACHIEVEMENTS IN MIND, TO KEEP THE RECORD IN PERSPECTIVE,
-TO REFLECT ON THE BASIC STRENGTH AND PROSPERITY OF
THE NATION, THE UNDERLYING STRENGTH OF THE ECONOMY,
THE REAL GAINS WE ARE MAKING IN SOCIAL REFORM AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND IN THE LIVING STANDARDS OF THE
AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE. ./ 2
S I Itr
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WE BEGAN THE YEAR IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE
DARWIN CYCLONE THE GREATEST NATURAL DISASTER
AUSTRALIA HAS KNOWN, IT WAS FOLLOWED BY A SECOND
CALAMITY IN HOBART INVOLVING APPALLING SOCIAL
DISRUPTION AND LOSS OF LIFE. THE GOVERNMENT'S
RESPONSE TO THESE CALAMITIES WAS PROMPT AND
-GENEROUS. IN PARLIAMENT ON THURSDAY I PAID
TRIBUTE TO THE NATURAL DISASTERS ORGANISATION
FOR ITS HANDLING OF THE DARWIN CRISIS, AND TO THE
DARWIN PEOPLE THEMSELVES FOR THEIR FORTITUDE AND
UNDAUNTED SPIRIT, YOU WILL REMEMBER THAT THE
GOVERNMENT IMMEDIATELY ESTABLISHED A DARWIN
RECONSTRUCTION COMMISSION AND ENTRUSTED IT WITH
THE MASSIVE TASK OF REBUILDING THE CITY. WE AGREED
TO ESTABLISH A JOINT TASMAN BRIDGE RESTORATION
COMMISSION, WE HAVE COMMITTED MORE THAN $ 58 MILLION
TO THE DARWIN RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM AND AN INITIAL
GRANT OF $ 6 MILLION FOR HOBART.
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IDON'T NEED TO TELL YOU THAT IN TIMES OF
ECONOMIC DIFFICULTY, DISASTERS OF THIS KIND PLACE
UNPRECEDENTED DEMANDS ON THE NATION'S MATERIAL
AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES. As IN ALL OTHER
COMPARABLE COUNTRIES, OUR ECONOMIC PROBLEMS ARE
STILL WITH US, STILL IWE CAN TAKE HEART FROM THE
SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT ALREADY APPARENT IN THE
ECONOMY.-OF COURSE IT.' S NO TIME FOR COMPLACENCY;
THERE IS STILL A NEED FOR STEADY JUDGMENT AND A
CALM, RATIONAL-APPROACH TO OUR DIFFICULTIES.
BUT THERE IS GOOD REASON TO BELIEVE THAT ECONOMIC
RECOVERY IS UNDERWAY. CONSUMER CONFIDENCE,
REFLECTED IN RISING RETAIL SALES AND HIGHER
DISPOSABLE INCOMES, HAS SHOWN SIGNIFICANT GAINS.
PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN THE BASIC AREAS OF THE
ECONOMY* IS RISING, UNEMPLOYMENT. CONTINUES TO FALL.
THE IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS THAT THE
GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES HAVE P UT MO NEY IN THE POCKETS
OF AUSTRALIAZ& ORDINARY PEOPLE ARE MORE PROSPEROUS
TODAY THAN THEY HAVE EVER BEEN. WHENEVER YOU HEAR
CRITICISM OF THE GOVERNMENT' S POLICIES REMEMBER
THIS: THE AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE HAVE NEVER BEEN
BETTER OFF -BETTER OFF IN THE MONEY THEY HAVE TO
SPEND, BETTER OFF IN THEIR REAL INCOMES, BETTER OFF
IN THE RANGE OF SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
TO THEM FROM THIS GOVERNMENT'S PROGRAMS. SINCE
DECEMBER 1972 INCOMES OF WAGE AND SALARY EARNERS
HAVE GORWN MUCH FASTER THAN THE COST OF LIVING, / 14
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AVERAGE MINIMUM WEEKLY AWARD RATES FOR MEN HAV/ E
INCREASED BY' 53 PERCENT; FOR WOMEN BY NO L ESS
THAN 75 PERCENT. REAL AVERAGE W4EEKLY EARNINGS
AFTER TAX FOR ALL WAGE AND SALARY EARNERS HAVE
INCREASED By 7.3 PERCENT SINCE THIS GOVERNMENT
CAME TO OFFICE*. IN ADDITIO'N*, WE HAVE TACKLED
THE GREAT AND DIFFICULT PROBLEM OF WAGE
INDEXATION. IN ITS HISTORIC JUDGMENT FIVE WEEKS
AGO THE CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION COMMISSION
ACCEPTED THE GOVERNMENT'S CASE FOR A RESTORATION
OF QUARTERLY COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS. WITH
REASON AND GOODWILL WE CAN MADE INDEXATION
WORK WORK TO SAFEGUARD REAL INCOMES, WORK TO
CURB INFLATION. WE HAVE SEEN THIS YEAR A NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS BROUGHT TO FRUITION. WE HAVE
SEEN THE CREATION OF MEDIBANK, A GREAT PIONEERING
REFORM WHICH THE RELUCTANT STATES HAVE BEEN DRIVEN
TO ACCEPT, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY WILL BENEFIT FROM
IT, AND ABOVE ALL THAT THE PEOPLE WILL BENEFIT.
WHAT A LESSON OUR OPPONENTS HAVE LEARNED FROM
MEDIBANK AFTER ALL THE OBSTRUCTION IN THE PARLIAMENT.*
AFTER ALL THE ATTEMPTS TO DELAY THE MEDIBANK BILLS.-
THE ANTI-LABOR STATES ARE NOW SEE'KING TO JOIN THE
SCHEME, AND IF THEIR ADVERTISEMENTS CAN BE
BELIEVED, EVEN TAKING SOME OF THE CREDIT FOR IT. o
ONE OF THE THEMES OF ALL OUR REFORMS HAS
BEEN TO ASSERT THE PRINCIPLE OF COMPETITIONFREE
AND FAIR COMPETITION IN A MIXED ECONOMY,
PRODUCTIVE COMPETITION BETWEEN PRIVATE AND
PUBLIC ENTERPRISE. I WE HAVE SEEN THE BENEFITS
OF SUCH COMPETITION IN THE AIRLINES AND THE
BANKS, WE SHALL EXTEND IT TO OTHER FIELDS.
WE HAVE PASSED LEGISLATION IN THE HOU SE OF
REPRESENTATIVES TO ESTABLISH AN AUSTRALIAN
GOVERNMENT INSURANCE CORPORATION. IT WILL PROVIDE
THE WIDEST POSSIBLE COVER FOR HOMES AT THE LOWEST
POSSIBLE PREMIUMS AND OFFER A WIDE RANGE OF
INSURANCE SERVICES. WE HAVE DEVELOPED AND EXTENDED OUR
LEGAL AID SERVICE AND THIS WEEK WE INTRODUCED
LEGISLATION TO ESTABLISH THE SERVICE IN PERMANENT
FORM, SIX REGIONAL OFFICES OF TH E AUSTRALIAN LEGAL
AID OFFICE HAVE BEEN OPENED THIS YEAR AND MORE THAN
60,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HELPED. WE HAVE SET UP
AN AUSTRALIAN HOUSING CORPORATION TO TAKE ACTION
IN AREAS WHERE THE EXISTING HOUSING SYSTEM IS UNABLE
TO MEET EXISTING HOUSING NEEDS; ALREADY THIS YEAR WE
HAVE FUNDED THE CONSTRUCTION BY STATE HOUSING
AUTHORITIES OF 13,580 HOMES FOR LOW-INCOME EARNERS
5,000 MORE THAN WERE BUILT LAST FINANCIAL YEAR. THEN
AGAIN/ WE ' yVE PASSED LEGISLATION IT WENT THROUGH
PARLIAMENT ON WEDNESDAY, BUT I DOUBT IF IT GOT
MUCH PROMINENCE IN THE MEDIA -WE'IVE PASSED LEGISLATION
TO ESTABLISH A CHILDREN'S COMMISSION, A BODY TO
ADMINISTER A WHOLE RANGE OF SPECIAL SERVICES FOR CHILDREN,
INCLUDING PRE-SCHOOLDAY CARE AND HOLIDAY SERVICES.
SOME 165,000 CHILDREN HAVE ALREADY BEEN CATERED FOR UNDER
THIS PROGRAM. So THESE AREN'T JUST PIPEDREAMS
THEY ARE LIVING, WORKING PROJECTS, ALREADY
HELPING AUSTRALIANS AND THEIR FAMILIES,
ANOTHER AREA OF OUTSTANDING PROGRESS THIS
YEAR HAS BEEN RAILWAYS, MORE THAN ANY OF ITS
PREDECESSORS, MY GOVERNMENT HAS RECOGNISED
THE NEED FOR A NATIONAL APPROACH TO RAILWAYS. WE
ARE BUILDING THE NEW LINES NEEDED TO LINK EVERY
MAINLAND CAPITAL, AS WELL AS ALICE SPRINGS, TO THE
STANDARD GAUGE, WE HAVE REACHED AGREEMENT WITH
SOUTH AUSTRALIA AND TASMANIA TO TAKE OVER
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR RAILWAYS, WE HAVE CREATED
THEAUSTRALIAN NATIONAL RAILWAYS TO BRING THESE
TRANSFERRED STATE RAILWAYS AND THE OLD
COMMONWEALTH RAILWAYS TOGETHER INTO A SINGLE SYSTEM,
EQUIPPED WITH THE VERY LATEST ROLLING STOCK, AND
TO HELP THE STATES IMPROVE THEIR OWN RAILWAYS, WE
ARE LEASIN6 TO THEM BRAND-NEW WAGONS AND OTHER
VEHICLES. ALL THIS WILL HELP DEVELOP A TRULY MODERN,
EFFICIENT, NATIONAL RAIL SYSTEM. ,1,/ 7
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THE OPPOSITION LIKE TO TELL YOU THAT THEY ARE
BEHAVING MORE RESPONSIBLY THESE DAYS THAN WHEN
MR SNEDDEN WAS THEIR LEADER., CERTAINLY THEY
HAVE BEEN LESS ROWDY AND DISORDERLY IN THE
CHAMBER, BUT BEHIND THEIR FACADE OF RESPONSIBILITY THE
OLD CAMAPIGN OF OBSTRUCTION HAS CONTINUED,
LISTEN TO ALL THE THINGS THEY'VE CONTINUED TO BLOCK
IN THE SENATE OUR BILL TO MODERNISE AND SIMPLIFY
THE ELECTORAL LAWS, OUR BILLS TO ABOLISH APPEALS
TO THE PRIVY COUNCIL, TO ESTABLISH A SUPERIOR
COURT OF AUSTRALIA, TO DEAL WITH LURKS AND
MALPRACTICE IN THE SECURITIES INDUSTRY, TO ESTABLISH
A GOVERNMENT PURCHASING COMMISSION, TO PROVIDE
SIMULTANEOUS ELECTIONS FOR THE SENATE AND
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND OF COURSE, THE
CAMPAIGN OF OBSTRUCTION HAS BEEN PURSUED BEYOND
THIS PARLIAMENT, IN THE COURTS AND IN THE STATES,
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I LEAVE YOU TO JUDGE THE OPPOSITION TACTICS
FOR YOURSELVES. THEY WON'T DETER US FROM OUR
GOALS, THE PAST SIX MONTHS HAVE SHOWN WHAT A
DETERMINED GOVERNMENT CAN ACHIEVE IN THE FACE
OF CONTINUING OBSTRUCTION, THIS WEEK, WITH THE
CHANGES I HAVE MADE IN OUR MINISTERIAL TEAM, I
BELIEVE WE HAVE AN EVEN STRONGER GOVERNMENT
A GOVERNMENT THAT WILL GET ON WITH THE JOB THE
PEOPLE ELECTED US TO DO, DESPITE OUR DIFFICULTIES
IN THE SENATE, DESPITE THE ECONOMIC PROBLEMS WITH
WHICH EVERY NATION HAS TO CONTEND, WE HAVE
BROUGHT NEW AND PERMANENT REFORMS TO THE
STATUTE BOOKS; WE HAVE ENHANCED AUSTRALIA'S
STANDING IN THE WORLD,; WE HAVE PRODUCED A
SOCIETY WHICH HAS NEVER ENJOYED GREAT INDIVIDUAL
PROSPERITY, GREATER OPPORTUNITIES, GREATER
PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE.