PM Transcripts

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FOR PRESS 28 OCTOBER 1977
LIVESTOCK MARKETING
The Prime Minister today announced that he had telexed the
Premiers of all States seeking their cooperation with the
Commonwealth in a full and urgent review of ways in which
present livestock marketing systems could be improved.
He referred to three special areas where possible improvements
should be examined as a matter of urgency:
SThe control of anti-competitive practices such as
collusion and lot splitting in livestock auctioning.
SThe introduction of a weight and grade selling system
for cattle.
SThe introduction of price stabilisation arrangements,
probably of a buffer fund character.
The Prime Minister stressed that with the present difficulties
facing beef producers it wasimperative that the Commonwealth
and States cooperated in giving the highest priority to
the examination of these potentially promising avenues of
reform in livestock marketing.