PM Transcripts

PRIME MINISTER'
FOR MEDIAWEDNESDAY, 20 MAY, 1981
DROUGHT AID TO THE STATES
I have written today to-all Premiers and to the Chief Minister
of the Northern Territory about ways of improving the
provision of assistance to-primary producers affected by
prolonged drought.
At the Premiers' Conference on 4 May I drew attention
to the serious continuing drought situation and suggested
there was a need for officers to meet and to discuss problems
of drought assistance in a frank and open way leaving
political considerations aside to be dealt with by Premiers
and me.
Premiers agreed to this approach.
However, the outcome of a subsequent meeting of officers held
in the context of an overall review of the natural disaster
financial assistance arrangements, suggests that officers were
constrained in their consideration of drought relief.
I have therefore written to the Premiers, the Chief Minister
and the relevant Commonwealth Ministers stressing the need for
of ficers to develop proposals from first principles.
I am particularly concerned about the burden of debt on many
producers and the problem they will face in restocking when
the drought finally breaks.
We will be looking to officers to put definite proposals to
the Conference to be held on 19 June.
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