PM Transcripts

SECOND READING SPEECH
by
THE PRIE MINISTER. THE RT. HON. R. G. DENZIES
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. CANBERRA, WEDNESDAY. 18TH OCTOBER. 1961
WE-STERN AUSTRALIA ( BEEF CA1TTLE ROADS) BILL, 1961
The purpose of this Bill'is to seek the approval of the Parliament to
a grant of financial aasistance to the State of Western Australia for the
carrying out of certain road and bridge works in the northern part of that
State, connected with the transport by road of beef cattle.
In introducing a similar measure relating to roads in Queensaand I
mentioned the several steps being taken by the Government to assist in the
development of roads across the north of Australia. I referred also to the
importance of general development and expansion of the beef industry, and the
significant role which roads could play. I need not repeat what I then said,
as the remarks have general application to Itestern Australia as well as to
QIueensland and the Northern Territory.
The assistance proposed for Western A-ustralia is a grant of
œ 500, 000 in respect of expenditure by the State in the financial year 1961/ 62
on two specified roads and two specified bridges in the Kimberleys. The four
projects are inter-related in that both roads lead from beef cattle areas to
the meat works and port at Wyndham ( from Nicholson in one case, from HallIs
Creek via Turkey Creek in the other), while the two bridges will allow the
Wyndham-Nicholson road to be taken across the Ord and Dunham Rivers and so
eliminate an existing low level crossing over the Ord, which puts this road out
of commission in times of flood, Incidentally, the bridges ( one of which is to
be superimposed on the Ord River Dam at Bandicoot Bar, which itself is being
constructed with the assistance of Commonwealth funds), and the improved road
between the Ord Dam and Wyndham, will be of great assistance in the development
of the areas opened up for settlement by the Ord project.
When we discussed the question of roads with the Western Australian
Government, we were impressed by the amount of self help in developing
communications in the north being undertaken by the State from its existing
road funds. As I announced at the time we agreed to ossist the State, the
Commorwealth grant is " matching corresponding provisions by Western Australia
in relation to roads in the Kimberleys". This concept is written into the
Bill, which requires the State to undertake to spend not less than œ 500,000
from other sources on road works in the northern part of the State ( d-, fined as
north of 20 degrees of south latitude) during 1961/ 62. I might add that this
is by no means an onerous provision, as the inforrmation provided by the State
indicated that its 1961/ 62 programme of road works included an alloca-tion of
muro than œ lmil-lion to that area, including over Z800,000 in the Kimberleys.
The detailed arrangement is that the Commoriealth will provide 50% of
expenditure on the two bridges in 1961/ 62 ( estimated at œ 320,000, calling for
a Commoriealth contribution of œ 160,000), and the whole of the expenditure,
also in 1961/ 62, on improving the two roads. If the expenditure on the
bridges accords with the estimate, this will mean that Pœ 340,000 is available
for the road works. However, within the agreed limit of œ, 500,000 we have not
specified expenditure limits on either of the two groups.
I might mention also that the availability of the Commorw4ealth grant
will allow the State to release, for other road works in the area, the funds
already allocated in its programme to the two roads, plus half of the amount
allocated to the construction of the two bridges.
Other provisions in the Bill are similar o those in the Queensl~ and
measure, including the power of approvasl of standarcls of design pr
construdtion which the Treasurer may exercie
Western Australia is receiving very substantial assistance from the
Commowealth in its railway plans, which essentially will benefit the southern
part of the State. This measure provides for a considerably smaller but
nevertheless significant, grant of assistance for the development of the beef
cattle industry in the far north.
I commend the Bill to the House.