PRIME MINISTER WEDNESDAY 12 MARCH 1980
From the Press Office SUMMARY OF 12.30 NEWS
The NSW petrol dispute has spread to Victoria where service stations
are to close this afternoon and reopen with rationing tomorrow.
The action follows a vote by tanker drivers in Melbourne this
morning to go on strike for 48 hours in support of their colleagues
in NSW. The men decided that aircraft refuellers in Melbourne
would stay on the job. I~ n Canberra talks aimed at ending the
dispute have been continuing but there's been no word of any
progress. There was another brief session before Sir John Moore
before the parties broke for private talks. Duncan Fairweather
reports on this morning's developments. As happened last night
the special conference before Sir John Moore lasted barely half an
hour. Sir John had to sit on another case. oil company and union
representatives then shifted to a conference room in the Canberra
Workers Club where they spent the morning trying to thrash out a
solution.' Again both sides are refusing to comment on what
proposals are before them. The parties are expected to report back
to Sir John Moore after 1 pm but delegates to the conference expect
that negotiations may continue on into the afternoon.
In South Australia the State Government has introduced a motor fuel
rationing bill at a special parliamentary sitting today. The bill
provides fines of up to $ 10,000 for people failing to comply with
regulations for the supply or distribution of rationed motor fuel.
Gaol fines are also provided for profiteering in rationed fuel.
Mr. Tonkin said the bill had been introduced because there was a
possibility of motor fuel being disrupted by an industrial dispute.
It could be late this afternoon before any decision is made on
extending the NSW petrol dispute in Queensland. A spokesman for the
State Branch of the TWU said the union was waiting to hear the
results of the conference iti Canberra.
The National Farmers Federation says it is prepared to operate
outside the law if necessary to honour Australia's wool export
commitments. At the same time the Federation has condemned the
Federal Government for what it calls its spineless and timid
attitude to the wave of industrial disputes sweeping Australia.
Mr. Eckersley said the Labor Opposition was just as weak and its
excuses for trade union actions, conducted under the guise of
unsatisfactory industrial legislation were despicable. He said
wool g rowers did not want physical confrontation with union but they
would not stand by and see their industry destroyed. He said every
effort would be made to operate within the law but if the Government
could not give the necessary backing then consideration would have
to be given to operating outside the law something which was
constantly being done by the trade unions.
The head of a leading Italian fashion house says world demand for
Australian wool will decline if supplies are disrupted by
industrial action such as the present Storemen and Packers dispute.
The Italian manufacturer said Australia was in danger of losing
some of its overseas markets because of the continuing shortages
of supply.
In the Queensland Mr. Tom Burns has announced he'll accept the
position of President of the Interim Administrative Committee
being set up by the National Executive of the Labor Party. Mr.
Burns has indicated that the State Opposition leader Mr. Casey
will also accept a position on the committee. Mr. Burns said.
today his decision had been made after discussions with Queensland
Caucus members. He had earlier refused the job. Mr. Burns said
everyone had to accept that federal intervention had happened.
Papua New Guinea's interim cabinet is having its first meeting in
Port Moresby today. The full cabinet of 20 or so ministers will
be sworn in tomorrow. Sean Dorney reports from Port Moresby.
Mr. Peacock said today he did not expect the change of government
in Port Moresby to affect Australia. Mr. Peacock said Mr. Somare
and Sir Julius Chan had similar views on the special relationship
between Australia and Papua New Guinea. ABC reporter Kevin Balkan
asked Mr. Peacock if he expected to see any significant change in
Papua New Guinea's foreign relations and the administration of
Sir Julius Chan.
Mr. Peacock
I know because I've heard already that he believes the relationship
with Australia is so important there will be no change in the
immediate sense at all and tliat's what I would expect.
Question
Where do you think these changes will take place?
Mr. Peacock
Well now that will be for Sir Julius to determine. It's not for
us to impose our views on him early in the peace. Papua New
Guinea is independent in the real sense of the word and Sir Julius
Chan will be giving leadership as he sees it.
Mr. Peacock said he did not think the change of government would
effect Australian investment in Papua New Guinea.
The deposed Shah of Iran is said to be seriously ill again. A New
York physician who examined him in Panama last week said he was
suffering from an inflamed spleen and required what he described as
a hazardous operation to have it removed. He was also suffering
from anaemia and other blood problems. A statement released by
the Shah's spokesman in New York said arrangements were being made
for the operation but he declined to say where it would take place.
American newspapers have reported that the Carter administration
officials have been informed of the Shah's condition but would not
permit him to come back to the US for the operation.
Following the withdrdfal of t-he UN Commission from Iran, Mr. Vance
is to meet Mr. Waldheim in New York to discuss what should be done
next to try to free the hostages. Geoff McMullen reports from
Washington. The people of Queensland have been assured that gold mining in the
streets can be prevented. The Minister for Nines has power under
the Mining Act to ban projects in the public interests.
Reports of an attempted coup in Pakistan last week have been denied
by the Government of President Zia. 000---