PM Transcripts

P77/ 194
PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 6 SEPTEMBER 1977
STUDY GROUP ON MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY
The Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, announced today the membership
and terms of reference of a group to undertake a study of the
adjustment problems of the most highly protected Australian
manufacturing industries.
Mr. Fraser had announced on 26 August in a speech to the
Chamber of Manufactures of New South Wales that Sir John
Crawford would be Chairman of the group to conduct the study.
The other members of the group will be Sir Brian Inglis
( Chairman of the Government's Australian Manufacturing Council
and Managing Director of Ford Australia); Mr. R. J. L. Hawke
( President, Australian Council of Trade Unions); and Mr. N. S.
Currie ( Secretary, Department of Industry and Commerce).
The terms of reference for the study will be:
" Undertake a study into the nature and extent of
adjustment problems of Australian manufacturing industries,
with particular reference to the most highly protected
industries arising from changes in the internal and
external environments. Advise on the essential elements
in a long-term policy to deal with these problems having
regard to the implications of the likely patterns of
industries growth and employment prospects, and the
capacity of the economy to sustain changes in the
industrial structure".
The Prime Minister said that Sir John Crawford would be available
to begin this work in late October and it was expected that the
report of the group would be submitted by August 1978.
The Departments of Industry and Commerce and Business and
Consumer Affairs would provide support and secretariat services
for the study and the group has been assured it will have access
to other Departments and institutions to obtain information and
views on the matters under study. The group will determine its
own pi; ocedures but it will be free to seek submissions from public
authorities, interested parties and the public generally if it
wishes. " This study will be of considerable importance to the Government
in helping to further define our long-term policies for implementation
when growth has been restored to satisfactory levels", the
Prime Minister said.