PM Transcripts

FOR PRESS 7 FEBRUARY 1978
URBAN PUBLIC TRANSPORT
The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, gave details today of new Government
initiatives in the urban public transport area. The new initiative,
which provides for a non-repayable grant to the States of
million a year over the next five ye ars will commence from
1 July 1978.
The Prime Minister said that he had written to all State Premiers
informing them that the Commonwealth assistance programme will
provide grants equal to two-thirds of the approved cost of projects.
Cities-eligible for assistance under the new scheme are -those with
a population of no less than 40,000.
Legislation will be enacted during the Autumn Sittings to give
effect to new arrangements which substantially reduce Commonwealth
involveme ' nt in the implementation phase of the programme-and..
which will pro * vide greater flexibility to the States inith-e ordering
of expenditure. The legislation will contain provisions allocating
an annual minimum entitlement to each State, which in total will be
million a year. Allocations to States from the balance of
million will be determined annually in accordance with
needs as reflected in States? submissions.
The Prime Minister added that the new programme initiative by the
Commonwealth would make a substantial contribution to the
upgrading of urban public transport in Australia.
The Commonwealth Minister for Transport will shortly be seeking
from State Transport Ministers initial programme submissions
within the guidelines of the new scheme.