P'RESS OFFICE TRANSCRIPT THURSDAY, 28 JUNE 1979
PRIME MINISTER AND MR. VINER INTERVIEWED: FOLLOWING PREMIER'S
CONFERENCE MEETING
Prime Minister
We haven't got onto financial matters yet, but we have had a
very good discussion this morning on a range of subjects of
great importance to the Commonwealth and to the States. We spent
a good time discussing the energy statement and the policy documnent
that was issued yesterday. The States and the Commonwealth will
be co-operating very fully on a very wide range of energy mntatters
and establishing special liaison arrangements to make sure that
we all, as actively as possible, are pursuing the policies thatwill
best look after Australia's own energy position.
There are a wide range of matters involved conservation, the
alternative uses of energy. There was a particular appreciation
expressed for the decisions the. Commonwealth has made that will
link up the Bass Strait and Cooper Basin gas fields through Wagga
initially, and then from Wagga to Albury.
In addition, the Commonwealth policy of purcashing gas-fired cars
in future I think is probably likely to be followed by the States.
I was also very glad to see that all the States, where it is
relevant, have indicated that they are prepared to re-examine the
lead content rules and -the emission rules in relation to the third
stage of 27A. Because while one or two Premiers have their problers
in relation to that, -they also recognise that it is within our
capacity by administrative means, to save up to 10 percent of the
fuel that would otherwise be used by Australian motorists.
Against the background of Australia's own fuel position, and againsthe
background of the world supply situation, that 10 percent could11
be a very large amount of fuel.
The Commonwealth will be pursuing with individual States one or
two matters of great importance. In particular with Queensland
the development of the Rundle shale oil deposits. There is the
possibility there of developing processes that will provide as
much fuel oil to Australia as is available from Bass Strait. That's
one of the prospects. Quite clearly there will be a massive
development and the sooner that can begin, the better it will be.
We will be having discussions with the Queensland Government to see
if that matter can be processed more quickly than would otherwise
be the case. / 2
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Prime Minis-ter ( continued)
We also had a very productive discussion on industrial relations
and Ian Viner will say something about that. Contrary to some of
the speculation, and contrary to one or two reported comments over
the-last few days, there is a very ready co-operation with the
Premiers and the Commonwealth to discuss and analyse this particular
matter. Question referral of powers?
Mr. Viner
What all the Premiers have agreed to is that the Ministers for Labour
and the Attorneys-General should look at whether or not there are
any fundamental changes necessary to the industr ial laws of Australia.
The question of referral of powers will be one matter that will be
looked at, but only one of a whole range of things. I think the
Premiers recognise that there are signs of a breakdown of our
industrial relations system in Australia, with troubles in Western
Australia, in N. S. W. in particular, and there are a number of other
widespread stoppages and disputes going on at the present time.
The important thing is that the Premiers recognise that we need to
go back to fundamentals and have a l. ook at our whole industrial
relations system.--both as to law and also as to attitudes; what
are our attitudes towards industrial relations in Australia? That
will involve consultation with the ACT., with employer groups the
Confederation of Australian Industry and of course, with all the
States. We have also agreed that the Ministers and the Attorneys-General
should be in a position to report back to a Premiers Conference later
in the year, by the end of the year.
Question Was there any mention of referral of powers this morning? Did you
sound the States out on that issue?
Mr. Viner-
It was discussed. The question was raised. obviously, some of the
States have misgivings about a referral of power, but none of the
States refused to consider that as a possibility, but as I have said,
as only one part of the examaination of the fundamentals of the system.
Question None of them said it wasn't on?
Mr. Viner
Well, it was only mentioned by some of the Premiers and as part of:
a general package of the sort of thing -that we ought to look at.
We didn't ask them whether -they agreed or didn't agree. / 3
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Question
Would you like to see tougher penal sanctions against strikers?
Mr. Viner
That wasn't raised this morning.
Question When will you be getting down to the Loans Council and the real
business of money?
Prime Minister
Fairly shortly. But these other things are important. They shoulin't
be regarded as unreal business. 000---