FOR MEDIA MONDAY 7 APRIL 1980
INQUIRY INTO ELECTRICITY AND THE SHARING
OF POWER RESOURCES IN S. E. AUSTRALIA
The Prime Minister announced today that Sir David Zeidler, who
has recently retired as Chairman and Managing Director of ICI
Australia Ltd. had accepted an appointment as Chairman of the
Committee of Inquiry into Electricity Generation and the
Sharing of Power Resources in South-East Australia.
The Committee of Inquiry will also comprise representatives of
the Commonwealth and each of the participating States of New
South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria.
TheI uiys main function is to examine the feasibility of
a strongly integrated electricity supply grid in South-East
Australia and the requirement location and type of new power
stations to supply such an interconnected system. The terms of
reference of the Incuiry are attached.
The Inquiry, which is to be based in Melbourne, is expectedI tc
take at Least one year to complete its final report to the
particinz ting Governments.
The PrL7e Minister cOnsidered it timely that in view of-the
uncertain world energy situation and the increasing overseas
interest in establishing energy intensive mineral processing
industries in Australia utilising our competitiveiy priced coal-(
based electricity, the Commonwealth should co2operate with the
four States in an examination of electricity supply from a
national view point. It is a concrete example of the Government's
concern to ensure that Australia's domestic economy and future
commercial opportunities would not be limited through any lack
of adequate electricity supply facilities.
The Prime Minister expressed particular satisfaction that Sir
David had been prepared to accept the appointment as Chairman.
Sir David is a prominent and respected figure in Australian
Industry, and has had a long and distinguished career. He is
particularly well-qualified to undertake this difficult but most
important task at this critical period when the supply of energy
in its many forms has become a crucial global as well as a
national issue. 000---Z-18kopy r-lLtF
INQUIRY INTO ELECTRICITY GENERATION AND THE
SHARING OF POWER RESOURCES IN SOUTH-EAST AUSTRALIA
TERMS OF REFERENCE
Whereas the Governments of New South Wales, Victoria and the
Commonwealth developed, in co-operation, arrangements for the
Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electricity Scheme, the Commonwealth
Government and the Governments of New South Wales, Victoria,
South Australia And Tasmania have agreed that a Committee of
Inquiry should be appointed:
to inquire into the feasibility of establishing
a strongly integrated South-East Australia
Electricity power grid through further
co-operative governmental arrangements;
to examine the provision of increased capacity
for the exchange of power across State borders
to ensure continuity of power supplies aiid
optimum. use of fuel resources; and
to examine the need for possible location and
type of new power stations to support the
establishment of the proposed grid.
In carrying out its functions the Committee should
have rec: ard to:
al! alternative sources of primary energy for
electricity generation; and
the technical feasibility, the economics and the
social and environmental impacts of the possible
alternatives.