PM Transcripts

FOR PRESS 6 NOVENBER 1978
MEETING WITH SIR CHARLES COURT AND MR BJELKE-PETERSEN
The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, and the Premier
of Western Australia, Sir Charles Court, and the Premier of
Queensland, Mr Joh ] jelke-Petersen, today had useful and
productive discussions on mineral export policy. They all
agreed that a resolution of differences between the Commonwealth
and the States was important to maximise investment and trade
opportunities to achieve the maximum advantage for Australia.
Mr Joh Bjelke-Petersen and Sir Charles Court expressed their
disagreement with the Commonwealth's 24 October 1978 announcement
about export price guidelines and procedure.
The meeting acknowledged the Constitutional position of the
Commonwealth Government in respect of export licensing but
Queensland and Western Australia expressed fears of unnecessary
intervention by the Commonwealth.
The Commonwealth expressed the view that in certain marketing
situations the negotiating arm of some Australian companies needed
strengthening and that was the purpose of export controls.
It was agreed that closer cooperation between the Commonwealth and
States is needed in the interests of achieving the maximuim benefit
from resources development consistent with the National Interest.
With this in view as suggested by the Commonwealth, there will
be discussions at Commonwealth/ State Minister and officer levels
to review the guidelines announced on 24 October 1978 and the
method of application to ensure encouragement of trade and investment.
As also indicated by the Commonwealth companies will be closely
involved in discussions.
The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister repeated that the
guidelines were forwarded to the States and the industry as a
draft for discussion.
In the meantime, it was agreed that the States and companies would
be consulted where necessary about the parameters for current
negotiations so that they can prbceed quickly under the present
guidelines pending completion of the review. The Commonwealth was
anxious to avoid a vacuum in negotiations in the immediate future
as it was obvious agreement could not be reached at a single meeting.