FOR MEDIA 25 July 1983
The Prime Minister today chaired the first meeting of the
Economic Planning Advisory Council.
EPAC has been set up to continue the process of co-operation
which was begun at the Summit.
Today's inaugral meeting continued that spirit of constructive
co-operation.
The purpose of EPAC is to provide independent community-based
advice to the Government on the broad conduct of economic
policy, particularly in a medium and longer-term context.
The membership of the Council is drawn from Commonwealth and
State Governments, industry, the union movement, local
cgovernment, consumer and welfare organisations.
The preparation of the 1983-4 Budget is nearing completion and
therefore non-Federal Government members of EPAC have had no
involvement in or responsibility whatsoever for what will be
in that Budget.
Nevertheless, the Federal Government was assisted by observations
from those non-Federal Government members in what they regarded
as relevant appropriate considerations to be taken into account
in reaching decisions about the Budget.
The Council discussed developments in prices and incomes
matters, including the Government's intention to introduce
legislation establishing a Prices Surveillance Authority
early in the forthcoming Budget Sittings of Parliament.
The Prime Minister sought the reaction of Council members to
the appointment of an additional member to EPAC through
consultation with the relevant small business organisation,
the Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia.
It was felt that a member with special knowl-edge and experience
of the problems faced by small businesses would be able to
make a particularly valuable contribution to the Council's
work. Legislation to amend the EPAC Act for this purpose will be
introduced in the Budget Sittings.
The Council considered the future areas of work to be undertaken
related to its Predominant role in considering the optimum
future patterns of economic development in Australia.-/ 2
OMNI".*
The structure of the Council's work program to give effect to
this fundamentally important task will be examined in detail
at the next meeting. 0
By this time an appointment will have been made to the position
of Director of the EPAC Secretariat.
However, it was thought to be useful immediately to commission
work on some areas which will inevitably be relevant to the
Council's broad responsibilities however they develop.
These areas are:
updating and further development of the " Summit"
scenarios, analysis of existing Federal Government mechanisms
concerned with issues relevant to economic development,
analysis of the existing data base,
a summary of the major findings of previous studies
the Asprey Report) dealing with the revenue
base, and
a n examination of the likely employment growth and
workforce participation in the process of the
anticipated economic recovery.
The appointment of a Director to head the planned independent
Secretariat is expected to be made over the next month and
the recruitment of other staff will follow.
In the meantime, the Council will be assisted by a small number
of staff seconded from Commonwealth Government Departments.