AUS T R A L I Ai" L!
iit
FOR PRESS 26 FEBRUARY 1979
Address at the Antarctic Base, Kingston, Tasmania
It gives me great pleasure to be in Kingston today.
This complex, for the Antarctic Division of the Department of
Science and the Environment, will establish this Commonwealth
activity in Tasmania.
The Government decided to locate the Antarctic Division here
because Hobart is the closest Australian capital city to the
Antarctic, and the logical springboard for our scientific
interest there. The Government's decision is consistent with
recommendations of the 1977 Callaghan Report which led to
decisions to provide help for Tasmania such as freight
equalisation. The. Government-has also begun other initiatives
to help industry and employment conditions in Tasmania.
The contract for this building has been let with a company,
Watts Construction Division, which has been long established
in Hobart, and the project will assist many local industries
and professional consultants. In addition, of course, the
estabilishment of this Division at Kingston will give a
substantial boost to the area's shopping tuade, housing
industry and general amenities. The buildings to be constructed
on this site will include an administration section, laboratories,
display and conference areas, and stores and workship buildings.
Every effort will be made to blend the buildings into the
surroundings. In particular the height of the buildings has
been restricted to two stories. And special provision has also
been made for an historical display area, open to the public,
where exhibits associated with Australia's long involvement
in the Antarctic area will be displayed.
Australians have been associated with the history of Antarctica
since Lelast c~ ntury. A Tasmanian scientist Louis Bernacchi
was a member of the first expedition to Winter in the Antarctic in
in 18. In 1911 Si-r Douglas Mawson led an Australasian scientific
expedit.-ion to the Antarctic, departing from Hobart, and he returned
to the Antarctic with a second expedition in 1929-31.
In 1947 the Antarctic Division was set up to support Australian
activities in Antarctica including our three Antarctic stations. / 2
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The work of our scientists in Antarctica helps us understand
the potential resources of the region, the last great unexplored
land mass of the world. In Antarctica, our biologists,
physicists, glaciologists, geologists, meteorologists
and cartographers are pursuing work of major scientific
importance. Their investigations into the Antarctic and its
resources will deepen our understanding of the environment
of Antarctica, and will develop our knowledge of, to name a
few areas, climate, the w.-eather, geological mapping, glaciology,
wildlife and marine life.
To ensure Australia conducts an effective and balanced programme
of research in Antarctica, the Government recently established an
Antarctic Research Policy Advisory Committee ( ARPAC). I am pleased
to announce that Professor Caro, the Vice-Chancellor of the University
of Tasmania, has consented to be Chiarman of this Body. The
Committee has the task of advising the Government within six months
on the organisation and priorities for scientific and technological
research in the Antarctic.
The Government is also considering a submission by the University
of Tasmania which proposes a national post-graduate centre
in marine science and Antarctic science. The University of
Tasmania and the Antarctic Division already work together on
cosmic ray research. The proposal by the Tasmanian University
will also be considered by ARPAC.
Ladies and gentlemen, as you know, Tasmania has a strong Liberal
conti-ngent in the Federal Parliament. With two M11inisters)
Kevin Newman and Ray Groom and with a group of enthusiastic
backbenchers Tasmania' s interests are ably represented.
We recognise the unique problems faced by Tasmania and the need
for special initiatives to cope with Tasmania's situation. In
this regard I should mention that the Commonwealth has given
substantial financial assistance to the Mount Lyell Mining
and Railway Company. Since August 1977 the company received
a net $ 3.3 million from the Commonwealth in interest free
loans. These funds ensured that the mine would remain in
operation and saved hundreds of jobs.
Today the wisdom of the Commonwealth's decision to help the mine
has been borne out by the recovery in copper prices. The
price of copper is now at its highest level since 1974, and
on the basis of these trends the company may not need further
assistance in 1979.
We have commenced a programme of rehabilitation and development
of the Tasmanian railways. And in this year's budget we
provided an amount of $ 26 million for the Tasmanian Freight
Equalisation Scheme, encouraging trade and keeping down prices
in Tasmania.
Overall, the Commonwealth Government's economic policies are
putting Australia and Tasmania on the path to recovery. We are
encouraged by the signs of economic progress in consumer confidence, 3
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in rising production, in investment and new resource projects.
In July I shall be opening a $ 30 million expansion of pulp-making
facilities at APPI41s Burnie Mill, an encouraging new development
for northern Tasmania, which I believe is based to a large degree
on frieght equalisation.
Employment opportunities have been growing too slowly in Tasmania,
but the latest statistics show some early signs of recovery.
Overtime worked in Tasmania reached an average of 2.6 hours in
December rising consistently over the first half of the current
financial year. In the December quarter total employment increased
by in Tasmania, a little above the growth Australia-wide of
These are tentative early indications, but they are encouraginc
To help the unemployed, the Tasmanian branch of the Commonwealth
Employment Service commenced on 22 January, 1979 a special drive
to identify vacant job opportunities, entitled " Job Search 1979".
In the month following this drive vacancies rose by 18%, and
I am sure this will prove an example of the importance of the
co-operation between the community and Government.
In assessing our economic prospects we should not forget that
for Tasmania, as for the rest of Australia, the revival of our
rural industries and rising commodity prices should make 1979
the best year for a number of years.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Commonwealth Government looks forward
to seeing the Antarctic Division operating in its new location.
This project is one of my Government's most important current
initiatives for Tasmania. It will play its part in helping
recovery in Tasmania. In developing Australian scientific
research and knowledge of the Antarctic continent, I am sure
that the work of the Division will be of major importance
to Australia.
It gives me great pleasure to lay this foundation stone at the
commencement 0of construction of the Headquarters of the Antarctic
Division.