PM Transcripts

~ PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 9 JULY 1978
GIPPSLAND FLOODS
The Prime Minizs= er today announced Commonwealth support for
additional relief measures in respect of the recent flooding
in the Gippsland area of Victoria.
Hr Fraser has advised the Acting Premier of Victoria that the
Commonwealth -as agreed to increasing the loan limit to $ 50,000
where, in add-zion to the usual losses, the affected primary
zroducer also suffered a heavy loss of those structural
inmprovements assistance necessary for the proper conduct
of the farm. : he Commonwealth has also agreed that loans of
this size wo.--d need to have provision for repayment over a
longer period than the norm, and that a maximum period of
years would appear appropriate.
Mr Fraser also said " although we have received no formal
request from the State for support of fencing grants, in this
case I am prepared to say now, that we would agree, if the
Victorian Government requests it, to support such a measure in
respect of the damage by the Gipplsand floods. I have informed
the Acting Premier of this and I await his response".
Mr Fraser went on to say that natural disaster relief and
restoration are signigicant state responsibilities. Traditionally,
the Commonwealth has provided financial assistance to a State
when expenditure on approved measures is beyond the capacity of
the State to meet. Commonwealth/ State agreement on measures is
not intended to limit the range of measures which a State can
implement. The Prime Minister pointed out that " on occasions, some measures
proposed by a State may not appear appropriate from a national
perspective and will therefore not receive Commonwealth support.
This does not mean that the State cannot implement these
measures if it considers them of sufficient priority to warrant
its meeting eir full cost from its own resources."
" Nevertheless, -he Commonwealth, as always, stands ready to help
the States the natural disaster assistance arrangements.
Our prompt respcnse from the outset of the Gipplsand flooding
and present of assistance to Victoria is evidence of our
continuing := zern for Australians affected by natural disasters,"
said Mr 000----