FOR PRESS 20 MARCH 1978
ADDRESS AT AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL ANIMAL HEALTH LABORATORY
GEELONG
I am delighted to be with you today. Senator Webster has
given you an excellent outline of the purpose of the Australian
National Animal Health Laboratory. For my part, I feel very
strongly that today marks a significant.-milestone in the history
of Australia's livestock industries indeed of Australia itself.
Since our nation was founded, livestock industries have played
a major role in the development and maintenance of
Australia's well-being. The CSIRO, since its beginning, has
contributed markedly to the welfare of Australia and its vital
export industries.
Last financial year exports of Australian livestock products
were valued at more than $ 2,500 million. This project the
most advanced of its kind in the world is tangible evidence
of the Commonwealth Government's commitment to protect and
enhance the well-being of Australia's primary industries.
The start of construction of the Australian National Animal
Health Laboratory also speaks, in tangible form, of the
Government's continuing commitment to the CSIRO as the nation's
leading scientific organisation. The decision to provide
$ 83 million for this project was not taken lightly. In
providing funds, we were conscious of several major factors-.
Firstly, the dependence Australia hs on primary industries for
almost half of our export income; secondly, the vulnerable
position of livestock industries from the introduction of
exotic diseases to Australia. If a disease such as foot and
mouth were to become established in Australia, apart from the
direct costs of eradication measures, the loss in export trade
to overseas markets would be close to $ 50 a month. Such
a loss would reverberate throughout the entire Australian economy.
The Government, in building this facility, is taking a major step
to minimise such losses. Unfortunately, the risks of such diseases
entering the country are increasing with greater international
movement of people, livestock and livestock products. 2
In recent years, three exotic diseases affecting horses
have been detected in Australia. Emergency action was required
to prevent devastation of the poultry industry by fowl plague
and a strain of buletongue was discovered in Northern Australia.
The Government's commitment to the construction of the Australian
National Animal Health Laboratory forms part of our overall
policy of protecting and enhancing the welfare of Australia's
primary industries, industries that are vital to our economic future
as a nation. During the last three years the Government has
initiated a range of measures aimed at improving the viability
of rural industries and the communities dependent on them.
These measures include: increased funding for local governments
and rural roads; the introduction of the investment allowance;
assistance for the States for drought relief programmes;
the establishment of income equalisation deposits and soon of
the Australian Rural Bank; extension of rural reconstruction
loans; funding of the Australian Plague Locust Commission;
acceleration of brucellosis and toberculosis eradication
in cattle $ 38 million has been provided for this during the
past two years; our continuing supportof the -reserve price for the
Australian wool clip; the continuing international negotiatioms
which have led to improved access for primary products
to the United States and Japan.
For Australia's hard-pressed beef industry, the Government has
introduced specific measures such as the Commonwealth Beef
Industry incentive Payments Scheme. Already $ 45 million has been
paid direct to producers under this Scheme. In addition, we
have allocated $ 28 million over the past two years for carry-on
loans for beef producers an allocation that is being matched
dollar-for-dollar by State Governments.
The construction of this Laboratory forms part of the
Government's overall policy for the protection and development of
Australia's primary industries. I am pleased to be with you
today at the beginning of construction of the Australian National
Animal Health Farm.