SPEECH NOTES FOR PRIME 1MINISTER FOR CIVIC RECEPTIOIN, TUMUT,
26 JULY 1975
1, I AM DELIGHTED TO BE HERE TODAY WITH MY WIFE TO
SHARE THE WARMTH AND HOSPITALITY OF TUMUT SHIRE. IT SEEMS
LIKE YESTERDAY THAT WE WERE IN THE AREA TO HELP CELEBRATE
THE TUMUT AND DISTRICT SESQUI-CENTENARY'WHICH EVERYONE
ENJOYED SO MUCH.
SON THE WAY DOWN FROM CANBERRA THIS MORNING I HAD
ANOTHER LOOK AT THE SPECIAL SOUVENIR PROGRAM WHICH WAS
PREPARED LAST YEAR FOR THOSE 150 ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS,
AND IT CONTAINS QUITE FASCINATING INFORMATION ON THE EARLY
YEARS OF SETTLEMENT HERE, ESPECIALLY ON THE PIONEERING
FAMILIES WHOSE TIRELESS EFFORTS FULFILLED THE VISION OF
0 HUME AND HOVELL.
S 2. I WAS ESPECIALLY PLEASED TO READ THE ARTICLE BY
MY OLD AND VERY DEAR FRIEND, THE LATE FRANK GREEN, ON THE
S ORIGINAL BATTLE FOR CANBERRA. MORE THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN
AUSTRALIA, TUMUT FELL AN EARLY VICTIM-TO SENATE OBSTRUCTION.
BUT IT TOOK TIME, AS SENATE OBSTRUCTION ALWAYS DOES. IN
THESE HEADY DAYS OF ENTHUSIASM FOR APPOINTING ROYAL
COMMISSIONS, IT'S INTERESTING TO RECALL THAT AS EARLY AS
1903 A ROYAL COMMISSION WAS APPOINTED TO EXAMINE SITES AT
ALBURY, ARMIDALE, BOMBALA, LAKE GEORGE, ORANGE AND TUMUT
AND TO REPORT ON THEIR SUITABILITY AS POSSIBLE SITES FOR A
NEW NATIONAL CAPITAL. AND TOWARDS THE END OF THAT YEAR, THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DECIDED ON TUMUT, AFTER AN
EXHAUSTIVE AND DOUBTLESS EXHAUSTING VOTE.
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I WAS THAT CLOSE TO BEING ABLE TO LIVE AT THE LODGE, TUMUT.
3. BUT THE SENATE, IN THE WAY SENATES HAVEDECIDED
AGAINST TUMUT AND SUBSTITUTED BOMBALA INSTEAD, THE HOUSE
IN TURN DECLINED TO AGREE TO THE CHANGE AND THE BILL LAPSED,
DOUBLE DISSOLUTIONS WERE A LONG WAY OFF. IN 1904, A BILL
WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE SENATE, NAMING BOMBALA AS THE SITE BUT
WHEN. IT WENT TO THE HOUSE, THE MEMBERS DECIDED AGAINST.
BOMBALA AND SUBSTITUTED DALGETY. AND. PRESUMABLY BECAUSE
NEITHER BOMBALA NOR TUMUT HAD WON, AND HONOUR. WAS VINDICATED,
THE SENATE GRACIOUSLY AGREED TO DALGETY.
THAT IS WHEN THE BATTLE REALLY STARTED OF COURSE
BECAUSE DALGETY WAS OVER 200 MILES AWAY, AND QUITE BEYOND
THE PALE.., THE NEW SOUTH WALES GOVERNMENT OFFERED SITES
ONLY AT TUMUT, LYNDHURST AND YASS AND-CONVINCED MEMBERS
OF THE HOUSE THAT THE 1904 ACT HAD TO BE RECONSIDERED,
4. IT TOOK UNTIL 1908 FOR ANOTHER BILL TO BE INTRODUCED
PROVIDING FOR EXHAUSTIVE BALLOT ON NOMINATED SITES, AND TUMUT
1WAS BACK IN THE RUNNING, ONLY TO BE DEFEATED BY CANBERRA IN
THE END, BUT THE BATTLE CONTINUED IN THE PRESS, IN THE HOPE
THAT THE SENATE WOULD REJECT CANBERRA, PLUS CA CHANGE.
AND THE SENATE SUCCUMBED TO THE PRESS, AS IS ITS WONT, AND
LOOKED LIKED DEADHEATING ON CANBERRA. Sa / 3
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SENATOR lCCOLL SUDDENLY NOMINATED TUMUT, WHICH
WOULD HAVE SECURED CANBERRA'S SELECTION, SO THE DALGETY
SUPPORTERS VOTED FOR TUMUT, RESULTING IN 18 VOTES EACH
FOR CANBERRA AND TUMUT. IN A SECOND BALLOT, SENATOR McCOLL
AS SENATORS SOMETIMES DO CHANGED HIS MIND, DESERTED TUMUT
AND CAME BACK TO CANBERRA,
THE DEAKIN GOVERNMENT WAS TOTTERING AT THE TIME
THAT VOTE WAS TAKEN ON 6 NOVEMBER 1908, AND A WEEK LATER
WENT OUT OF OFFICE,. TO BE REPLACED BY ANDREW FISHER'S LABOR
GOVERNMENT. FISHER AND BILLY HUGHES THOUGhTTHE ARGUMENT
HAD GONE ON LONG ENOUGH, AND PROBABLY SAW NO JOY IN ANY
MORE UNNECESSARY TRIALS OF STRENGTH WITH THE SENATE, EIGHT
DAYS AFTER TAKING OFFICE, PRIME MINISTER FISHER SENT A COPY
OF THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT ACT TO THE NEW SOUTH ' ALES
PREMIER, WHOSE CO-OPERATION WAS IMMEDIATELY FORTHCOMING,
STRANGE, ISN'T IT, THAT LESS THAN TEN YEARS AFTER FEDERATION,
WHEN STATES RIGHTS WAS A VERY GENUINE PREOCCUPATION, A
NEW SOUTH IALES PREMIER SAW FIT TO PUT THE NATIONAL INTEREST
FIRST, REPLYING: " THIS GOVERNMENT IS ANXIOUS TO HAVE THE'LOCATION
OF THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT DETERMINED WITHOUT DELAY
AND WE ARE PREPARED TO CONSIDER IN A LIBERAL
MANNER ANY PROPOSAL OF THE. COMMONWEALTH IN THAT
DIRECTION. To SECURE FINALITY CONCESSIONS MAY
BE NECESSARY. THIS STATE IS NOT LIKELY TO
INSIST ON A RIGID INTERPRETATION OF THE CONSTITUTION
0
AND I FEEL SURE THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH
SWILL RECIPROCATE THE GENEROUS SPIRIT IN WHICH WE
ARE PREPARED TO DEAL WITH THE SUBJECT."
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PEHAPS I SHOULD SEND A COPY OF THAT GRACIOUS MISSIVE TO
MR LEWIS,
6. I CAN'T SAY NOW THAT I REGRET THE DECISION TAKEN
BY OUR PREDECESSORS EIGHT YEARS BEFORE I WAS BORN. TUMUT
IS A MUCH MORE RELAXING PLACE FOR NOT BEING THE FEDERAL
CAPITAL, AND I'M SURE ITS CITIZENS LIVE LONGER. THIS
AFTERNOON I'M TO MEET THREE RESIDENTS TO BE OF BLAKENEY
LODGE. THEIR COMBINED AGES ADD UP-TO 253 YEARS, I'M
SURE THEY RECALL THE CAPITAL CONTROVERSY; I WOULD BE
SURPRISED IF THEY WOULD HAVE WANTED TUMUT TO CHANGE TOO
MUCH IN THE LAST 80 YEARS.
7, ALTHOUGH TUMUT HAS NOT LOST ANY OF ITS CHARM,
IT HAS BEEN CLOSE TO AND AFFECTED BY ONE OF THE GREATEST
ENGINEERING UNDERTAKINGS OF THIS CENTURY, THE SNOWY IMOUNTAINS
O SCHEME. BEGUN BY BEN CHIFLEY'S LABOR GOVERNMENT IN 1949;
THE $ 800 MILLION SCHEME HAS PROVIDED STIMULUS AND EMPLOYMENT.
O IN AND AROUND TUMUT CULMINATING IN THE COMPLETION LAST
FINANCIAL YEAR OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF TUMUT 3, THE LAST AND
SLARGEST OF THE SNOWY PROJECTS. BUT THAT FACT SHOULD NOT BE
THOUGHT OF AS AN ENDING ONLY, RATHER IT IS THE END OF THE
-BEGINNING, BECAUSE TUMUT IS ONE OF THE GATEWAYS TO THE SCHEME
AND TO ALL THE TOURIST AND RECREATION FACILITIES IT HAS OPENED UP,
a
I KNOW THE SHIRE COUNCIL IS ANXIOUS TO PURSUE
NEW EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PEOPLE OF TUMUT, AND
THAT MUCH THOUGHTFUL WORK HAS BEEN DONE IN THIS REGARD,
I HAVE READ WITH INTEREST, FOR EXAMPLE, THE CASE YOU HAVE
PREPARED ON THE POSSIBILITY OF LOCATING A PULP AND PAPER
MILL FOR TUMUT, I UNDERSTAND YOUR RESERVATIONS AS WELL AS
YOUR ASPIRATIONS FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION IN THE AREA, AND
YOUR POSITION IN RELATION TO THE CURRENT CLIMATE FOR RURAL
INDUSTRIES, INEVITABLY AFFECTED AT PRESENT BY WORLD ECONOMIC
-TRENDS. I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING AND, IN MANY CASES TO
RENEWING ACQUAINTANCE WITH COUNCILLORS AND THEIR WIVES WHO
CAN GIVE ME THE MOST UP TO DATE INFORMATION ON THE PROBLEMS
AS WELL AS THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE TUMUT SHIRE.
8, I MUST SAY I AM ALWAYS PLEASED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
. TO DISCUSS THE BROADER ISSUES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AT GRASS ROOTS
LEVEL-I TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN THE FACT THAT MY GOVERNMENT,
THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR GOVERNMENT, HAS GONE OUT OF ITS WAY TO
DEMONSTRATE ITS REAL INTEREST AND CONCERN FOR THE THIRD TIER
OF GOVERNMENT, THE ONE CLOSEST TO THE PEOPLE, THE LEVEL OF
GOVERNMENT MOST IGNORED BY OUR COALITION PREDECESSORS. ONLY
LAST YEAR WE LEGISLATED TO PROVIDE FOR THE ALLOCATION OF
DIRECT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GRANTS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT, DIRECT
GRANTS BASED ON THE CASE ADVANCED IN EACH INSTANCE AT THE
GRANTS COMMISSION HEARINGS, AND, SIGNIFICANTLY, WITH NO
STRI NGS ATTACHED. I BELIEVE TUMUT SHIRE COUNCIL RECEIVED
$ 126,000 LAST YEAR AND I AM QUITE SURE YOU HAVE PUT UP A SOUND
AND PROPER CASE FOR THE NEW FINANCIAL YEAR,
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9. I KNOW THAT TUMUT, LIKE THE REST OF AU'STRALIA,
HAS SUFFERED FROM THE WORLD-WIDE ECONOMIC RECESSION AND
SUBSEQUENT UNEMPLOYMENT.
RED SCHEME GRANTS HAVE GONE SOME WAY TOWARDS
ALLEVIATING IMMEDIATE LOCALISED UNEMPLOYMENT. IN ALL boo
HAS BEEN ALLOCATED TO 26 PROJECTS INVOLVING / 62 JOBS,
MAJOR SHIRE COUNCIL UNDERTAKINGS HAVE INCLUDED ROAD REPAIR
AND MAINTENANCE WORK FOR 20 MEN FOR 16 WEEKS ($ 30,000),
AND $ 24,000 FOR WORK ON REPAIRING AND EXTENDING THE TUMUT
BOYS CLUB HALL, ANOTHER GRANT OF $ 25,400 MEANT 15 WEEKS
WORK FOR 8 MEN EMPLOYED ON RECREATIONAL PROJECTS OF
CONTINUING BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY,
THE NIATIONAL RURAL ADVISORY COUNCIL SET UP BY
SENATOR ' IRIEDT IS KEENLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS OF THE MAN
AND WOMAN ON THE LAND, AND IS CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN A
DETAILED STUDY OF HOW TO ATTRACT YOUNG PEOPLE INTO FARMING,
AS WELL AS LOOKING INTO EMPLOYMENT ALTERNATIVES WHICH WOULD
ENABLE OLDER PEOPLE TO LEAVE THE LAND EARLIER, IF THEY SO
WISH. THE QUESTION OF FARMER CO-OPERATIVES'IS ALSO BEING
STUDIED. ALL THIS WORK TOUCHES ON SOME OF TUMUT'S RURAL
PROBLEMS. ./ 7
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11, THE AUSTRALIAN APPLE AND PEAR CORPORATION SET UP.
LAST SEPTEMBER HAS RECEIVED A GRANT OF $ 200,000 TO FINANCE
MARKET RESEARCH PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCT PROMOTION
ACTIVITIES. IN ADDITION TO SEEKING TO DIVERSIFY EXPORT
MARKETS, THE CORPORATION HAS MOUNTED A 1975 SEASON
PROMOTION CAMPAIGN TO STIMULATE CONSUMER DEMAND FOR APPLES.
WE CAN EXPECT THIS TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON APPLE PRODUCTION HERE
IN THE BATLOW TUMUT AREA. ALTHOUGH FRESH APPLE PRICES INSYDNEY
THIS YEAR HAVE BEEN SLIGHTLY BELOW COMPARABLE 1974
LEVELS, THEY ARE SUBSTANTIALLY ABOVE. COMPARABLE 1973 LEVELS,
O OBVIOUSLY A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
As FAR AS THE FRUIT CANNING INDUSTRY IS CONCERNED,
THE PICTURE IS BRIGHTER, BECAUSE THE 1974/ 75 TOTAL QUANTITY OF
CANNING FRUIT HAS INCREASED BY 12.5 PER CENT, AND PRICES
FOR APRICOTS ARE UP 32 PER CENT, PEACHES ARE UP 36 PER CENT
AND PEARS ARE UP 12 PER CENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THE
INCREASE IN BOTH PRICES AND PRODUCTION INDICATE THAT GROSS
RETURNS TO GROWERS WILL BE UP ON LAST SEASON.
A NEW NATIONAL PANEL OF VEGETABLE GROWERS AND PROCESSORS
OF PEAS AND BEANS HAS RECENTLY BEEN ESTABLISHED TO BRING
PEOPLE TOGETHER TO. DISCUSS THE LONG-TERM FUTURE OF THE
INDUSTRY AND CONTRACT CONDITIONS. STANDARDISATION OF CONTRACTS,
PRICE RELATIVITIES, PRODUCTION AND MARKETING WILL ALL BE-.
DISCUSSED BY ThE PANEL WITH OBVIOUS BENEFIT TO PRODUCERS IN
THIS AREA.
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12. ALTHOUGH THE FOREST INDUSTRIES AT TUMUT, AS
ELSEWHERE IN AUSTRALIA, ARE AT PRESENT SOMEWHAT DEPRESSED AS
A RESULT OF SOME DOWNTURN IN THE BUILDING INDUSTRY, THE
FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ASSURES ME THAT THE
SLONG TERM FUTURE OF THOSE INDUSTRIES IN THE TUMUT REGION IS.
S CONSIDERED TO BE QUITE BRIGHT.
W BEEF PRODUCERS CAN TAKE HEART FROM THE FACT THAT
WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO DEVELOP MEAT MARKETS
AND REDUCE ARTIFICIAL TRADE BARRIERS, You MAY RECALL THAT.
S. IN APRIL THIS YEAR, SENATOR WRIEDT ANNOUNCED AN AUSTRALIAN
GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTION OF $ 19,6 MILLION TO MATCH THE STATES IN
CARRY-ON FINANCE FOR AUSTRALIAN BEEF PRODUCERS. THIS IS
AVAILABLE TO FARMERS AT L PER CENT INTEREST WITH NO INTEREST
ON CAPITAL PAYMENTS FOR THE FIRST TWELVE MONTHS, AND OF
b COURSE IT WILL BE A GREAT HELP TO VERY MANY PEOPLE, BUT
CE'RTAINLY IN THE SHORT TERM BEEF PRODUCERS ARE GOING THROUGH
A DIFFICULT PERIOD.
13. BUT, LIKE THOSE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WHO OVER SEVENTY YEARS AGO EXPRESSED THE-IR BELIEF IN TUMUT,
I AM CONVINCED THAT THE LONG-TERM FUTURE OF TUMUT IS EXCELLENT.
I THINK YOU ALL FOR THE MARBLE GIFT WHICH WILL REMIND ME OF
YOUR KINDNESS AND HOSPITALITY TODAY IN TUMUT.