PM Transcripts

,, AUSI'RALA&
PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA WEDNESDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER, 1980
JULIUS DAM
The Prime Minister, Mr Malcolm Fraser, said today
that, on return to office, his-Government would provide
$ 250,000 to the City of Mount Isa to assist further in the
debt servicing problems associated with the Julius Dam.
The Commonwealth has previously provided a loan of
$ 2 million to assist in the construction of the dam and
provided a grant of $ 325,000 to assist the Council in its
borrowing program. It also allocated $ 500,000 in 1978-79
and $ 250,000 in 1979-80 to the Mount isa City Council to
reduce the debt burden of its loan commitments. Mr Fraser
went on to say that the additional assistance that is now
to be made available was further evidence of his Government's
concern for the particular problems faced by people at Mount
Isa who already incur very high water charges. It also
demonstrates the clear commitment by the Commaonwealth to the
development of the north.
The Prime Minister said that Australia was universally
recognised as a dry continent and water was an essential
prerequisite to the development of the nation. This development
could not occur unless -the Commonwealth adopted a sympathetic
and realistic attitude towards the difficulties faced by peopl~ e
in remote communities. The Government, by its actions, clearly
demonstrates its concern to minimise the difficulties faced by
such communities. Mr Fraser concluded by noting the additional assistance
to Mount Isa would be provided to Queensland, under the National
Water Resources Program, to be forwarded to the City of Mount Isa.