ADDRESS BY THE PRIME MINISTER,
THIE HON. R. J. L. HAWKE, AC, MP.,
BUSLNESSPERSONS LUNCH
PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL HOTEL
CAIRNS, 11 AUGUST 1983
I AM DELIGHTED TO BE BACK IN CAIRNS ENJOYING YOUR
SPLENDID HOSPITALITY ONCE AGAINMY
LAST VISIT TO CAIRNS WAS IN FEBRUARY JUST PRIOR TO THE
LAST FEDERAL ELECTION.
ISPOKE THEN ABOUT THE SPECIAL PROBLEMS FACING NORTH
QUEENSLAND AND OF THE POLICIES WE IN THE LABOR PARTY
PROPOSED TO INTRODUCE IF ELECTED TO GOVERNMENT.
IT IS APPROPRIATE THEREFORE THAT I REPORT BACK TO YOU AND
THE PEOPLE OF NORTH QUEENSLAND ON PROGRESS TO DATE AND OUR
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.
DURING MY VISIT TO CAIRNS IN FEBRUARY I SPOKE OF WHAT HAS
BEEN TERMED THE TYRANNY OF DISTANCE
I POINTED TO THE GREAT PROBLEMS THIS POSED FOR NORTH
QUEENSLAND AND THE CONSEQUENT NEED TO GIVE TO HIGHEST
PRIORITY TO COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT-
THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO PROCEED WITH THE NATIONAL
COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE SYSTEM -THE AUSSAr PROJECT -WILL
BE TREMENDOUSLY VALUABLE TO PEOPLE IN REMOTE AREAS-
1-T WILL BRING ABC RADIO AND IT WILL BRING TV TO THOUSANDS OF NORTH
QUJEENSLAND PEOPLE WHO AT PRESENT RECEIVE NO SERVICETHE
SATELLITE SHOULD ALSO ENSURE THAT ALL AUSTRALIANS CAN BE
CONNECTED TO THE AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE NETWORK.
As WELL, THE SATELLITE IS LIKELY TO BE USED FOR EDUCAT ION
SERVICES TO REMOTE AND UNDERSERVED AREASTHE
GOVERNMENT'S DECISION ON THE SATELLITE TAKEN, I MIGHT
SAY, IN THE FACE OF STRONG OPPOSITION FROM SOME TRADE UNIONS
CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES OUR COMMITMENT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THE NATION AND TO THE WELFARE OF PEOPLE IN REMOTE AREAS.
ANO0THER PROPOSAL THAT HAS FOR A LONG TI" ME BEEN WIDELY
SUPPORTED IS TO SET UP A SECOND ABC REGIONAL RADIO NETWORK.
PREVIOUS GOVERNMENTS HAVE NOT SEEN FIT TO GO AHEAD WITH THE
PROPOSAL, DESPITE ITS CLEAR BENEFITS To NORTH QUEENSLAND AND
OTHER REMOTE AREAS. THAT WILL NOW CHANGETHE
FEDERAL LABOR GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO ESTABLISH A
SECOND REGIONAL RADIO NETWORK FOR THE ABC-
WE WILL MAKE AN IMMEDIATE START BY PROVIDING FUNDS IN THE
1933-84 BUDGET TO GET THE PROJECT OFF THE GROUNDWE
ANTICIPATE THE FIRST STATIONS OF THE NETWORK WILL BE
COMPLETED BY 1985.
M1ANY NORTH QUEENSLANDERS AND OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE
FRUSTRATION INHERENT IN A SOLE ABC RADIO SERVICE WHOSE
PROGRAM SCHEDULES MUST SERVE A WIDE VARIETY OF INTERESTS
SUCH AS CATERING FOR RURAL AND URBAN LISTENERS,
SCHOOLCHILDREN AND THE GROWING DAYTIME AUDIENCE.
WHEN THE SECOND REGIONAL NETWORK COMMENCES TRANSMISSIONS IT
WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR THE ABC TO OFFER A MUCH WIDER CHOICE OF
PROGRAMMING TO ALL ITS LISTENERS IN THE NORTH AND ELSEWHERETHE
NETWORK WILL CONSIST OF MORE THAN 40O REGIONALLY-LOCATED
STUDIOS, OF WHICH ONE QUARTER WILL BE NEWLY-ESTABLISHED.
THiIS WILL ALLOW THE ABC TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS WITH A GREATER
AMOUNT OF LOCAL MATERIAL OF INCREASED RELEVANCE TO THE
REGIONS SERVEDWE
ESTIMATE THAT AS MANY As 4-MILLION AUSTRALIANS WHO ARE
NOW ONLY RECEIVING ONE ABC RADIO PROGRAM WILL BENEFIT FROM
THE SECOND NETWORK.
4.
THE DOMESTIC SATELLITE WILL BE USED TO DISTRIBUTE THIS ABC
SERV ICE.-
A NUMBER OF ASPECTS SUCH AS LOCATION OF STUDIOS AND
FREQUENCY ALLOCATION NEED SOME FURTHER STUDYTHE
MINISTER FOR COMMUINICATIONS WILL BE ESTABLISHING A TASK
FORCE TO EXAMINE THESE MATTERS AND PREPARE A PUBLIC
STATEMENT ABOUT THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SECOND REGIONAL
RADIO NETWOR.
OUR DECISION TO ESTABLISH THE SECOND REGIONAL RADIO NETWORK
WILL REPRESENT A SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT IN ADDITIONAL
BROADCASTING SERVICES IN NORTH QUEENSLAND AND WILL MORE THAN
MEET OUR PROMISE TO PROVIDE $ 250,000 FOR UPGRADING SERVICES
IN THIS REGION.
I NOW TURN TO ANOTHER COMMUNICATION PROBLEM FACED BY A GREAT
MANY PEOPLE IN NORTH QUEENSLAND AND ELSEWHERE WHO RECEIVE
ABC TELEVISION BUT WHO ARE UNABLE TO RECEIVE COMMERCIAL
TELEVISIONTHEY HAVE A SPECIAL DIFFICULTY IN THOSE INSTANCES WHERE
RIGHTS TO PROGRAMS OF SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE ARE HELD BY
COMMERCIAL STATI ONS AND NOT THE ABC.
A RECENT CASE IN POINT IS THE REPLAY OF NSW RUGBY LEAGUE IN
QUEENSLAND-
WHEREAS THE ABC USED TO TELEVISE THE LEAGUE, THOSE RIGHTS
ARE NOW HELD BY THE QUEENSLAND COMMERCIAL TELEVISION
STATIONSTHIS HAS MEANT THAT THOSE PEOPLE IN QUEENSLAND IN AREAS
WHERE THERE IS NO LOCAL COMMERCIAL TELEVISION STATION HAVE
BEEN DEPRIVED OF THE LEAGUETHE
GOVERNMENT HAS RECEIVED STRONG REPRESENTATIONS FROM
KEITH WRIGHT AS WELL AS UNHAPPY QUEENSLAND RUGBY LEAGUE
FANS THE DIX COMMITTEE OF REVIEW INTO THE ABC RECOMMENDED THAT
SPECIAL ATTENTION BE GIVEN TO THIS PROBLEM.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED CONSIDERATION OF A TELEVISION
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM THAT ALLOWED DIFFERENT PROGRAM MATERIAL
TO BE INCLUDED IN NATIONAL TELEVISION SCHEDULES INTENDED FOR
AUDIENCES WHERE ABC TELEVISION PROVIDED THE ONLY TELEVISION
SE RV ICE.
THE DIX COMMITTEE ENVISAGED THAT THIS WOULD ALLOW THE ABC,
IN CONSULTATION WITH OTHER BROADCASTING INDUSTRY OPERATORS,
TO CONSIDER SEPARATE PROGRAMMING FOR THESE AREAS. THIS
SEPARATE PROGRAMMING WOULD BE BASED ON:
FIRST, POPULAR APPEAL MATERIAL OF QUALITY SUCH AS
AUSTRALIAN FEATURE FILMS AND OVERSEAS FEATURE
PRODUCTIONS;
SECOND, MATERIAL OF WIDE OR "/ NATIONAL INTEREST I
SUCH AS SOME SPORTING EVENTS OVER WHICH COMMERCIAL
OPERATORS POSSESSED EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS;
THIRD, MAINSTREAM TELEVISION PRODUCTIONS OF THE
MULTICULTURAL TELEVISION SERVICE.
THIS IS A DIFFICULT ISSUE,
HOWEVER, WITH THE CO-OPERATION OF ALL THE PARTIES INVOLVED,
I BELIEVE THAT THE Dix COMMITTEE PROPOSAL PRESENTS A
POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.
ACCORDINGLY, I HAVE ASKED THE MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS,
MICHAEL DUFFY, TO TAKE UP THE PROPOSAL WITH THE NEW CHAIRMAN
OF THE AuSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, MR KEN MYER.
SHOULD THIS SOLUTION PROVE FEASIBLE IT WILL ALLOW A MUCH
BROADER RANGE OF PROGRAMMING TO PEOPLE IN QUEENSLAND AND
ELSEWHERE WHO DEPEND ENTIRELY ON THE ABC TELEVISION SERVICE.
ANOTHER ASPECT OF THE " TYRANNY OF DISTANCE" IS TRANSPORT.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT APPRECIATES THE JUSTIFIED CONCERN OF
NORTH QUEENSLANDERS ABOUT THE STATE OF THEIR ROADS. WE
ARE SQUARELY ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL INCREASE TOTAL ROAD FUNDING TO
QUEENSLAND IN 1983-84 By 40 PER CENT TO $ 253 MILLION.
As WELL AS ADDRESSING AN IMPORTANT PROBLEM AREAJTHIS WILL
PROVIDE OVER 12,000 JOBS BOTH DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY,
WE REGARD THE BRUCE HIGHWAY AS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR
THE ALLOCATION OF NATIONAL ROAD FUNDS WITHIN QUEENSLAND.
WE ARE ACCELERATING ITS UPGRADING TO BRING IT UP TO AN
ACCEPTABLE NATIONAL STANDARD AND ELIMINATE FLOOD-PRONE
SECTIONS.
ABOUT $ 65 MILLION,. AN ALL-TIME RECORD, WILL BE SPENT IN
1983-84.
ANOTHER MAJOR CONCERN OF NORTH QUEENSLANDERS LOCAL ROADS
IS ALSO A PRIORITY AREA.
LOCAL ROADS WILL BENEFIT FROM THE 40 PER CENT BOOST IN TOTAL
ROAD FUNDING FOR QUEENSLAND, TO WHICH I HAVE JUST REFERRED.
IN ADDITION WE ARE PROVIDING QUEENSLAND WITH $ 12.14 MILLION
IN 1983-84 FOR JOBS ON LOCAL ROADS UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF
OUR COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH QUEENSLAND DEPENDS ENORMOUSLY ON
ITS GREAT PRIMARY INDUSTRIES.
THE SUGAR INDUSTRY HAS FACED HUGE PROBLEMS IN RECENT YEARS
WITH THE SLUMP IN WORLD SUGAR PRICES COMING ON TOP OF OTHER
MAJOR PROBLEMS.
ONE OF THE FIRST ACTIONS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS TO
CHANNEL $ 10 MILLION INTO THE QUEENSLAND SUGAR INDUSTRY
rltOUGH THE RURAL ADJUSTMENT SCHEME.
THESE FUNDS ARE BEING MADE AVAILABLE IN THE FORM OF CARRY-ON
LOANS AND WILL UNQUESTIONABLY KEEP MANY GROWERS IN THE
INDUSTRY WHO WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN FORCED OUT.
OUR NEW FIVE-YEAR STABILISATION PLAN FOR THi-TOBACCO
INDUSTRY WILL ALLOW GROWERS TO LOOK TO THE FJTURE WITH
CONF I DENCE
WE ARE NOW FINALISING PLANS FOR REORGANIZING TIE MEAT
INDUSTRY ORGANISATIONS.
THESE PLANS WILL ENABLE PRODUCERS AND PROCESSORS TO HAVE A
GREATER CAPACITY TO INFLUENCE POLICY MAKING WITHII. THEIR
INDUSTRY.
THE FISHING INDUSTRY WILL BENEFIT FROM A NEW ORGANIZATION
THE FISHING INDUSTRY CONSULTATIVE PANEL WHICH WE
ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE INDUSTRY-WIDE ADVICE TO
GOVERNMENTTHE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZES THE CONCERN OF NORTH
QUEENSLANDERS FOR THE STATE OF OUR DEFENCE PRE! AREDNESS AND
THE ADEQUACY OF OUR COASTAL SURVEILLANCE.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE DEFENCE
SPENDING IN REAL TERMS IN THE COMING BUDGET..
THE GOVERNMENT IS ALSO CONDUCTING A FULL SCALE REVIEW OF
OUR COASTAL SURVEILLANCE ARRANGEMENTS, HEADED UP BY MY
COLLEAGUE, Kim BEAZLEY.
BUT I KNOW THERE IS A MATTER OF IMMEDIATE CONCERN TO CAIRNS
THE QUESTION OF FUTURE ORDERS OF PATROL BOATS AT NORTH
QUEENSLAND ENGINEERS AND AGENTS.
THIS MATTER IS CURRENTLY RECEIVING THE URGENT CONSIDERATION
OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE ADVICE WE HAVE RECEIVED
FROM OUR DEFENCE AUTHORITIES THAT THEY CLASSIFY FURTHER F-CLASS
PATROL BOATS AS A LOW PRIORITY.
BECAUSE OF THIS, I AM NOT ABLE TO INDICATE AT THIS POINT
PRECISELY WHAT THE POSITION WILL BE.
BUT I CAN SAY THIS.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS IN NO DOUBT AND HAS BEEN LEFT IN
NO DOUBT OF THE IMMENSE CONCERN IN CAIRNS THAT FURTHER
ORDERS BE PLACED WITH NQ[ A AND SOON.
I CAN ALSO SAY THAT THE DEFENCE MINISTER, GORDON SCHOLES,
HAS FORESHADOWED A HIGH PRIORITY PROGRAM FOR ABOUT FIVE
PATROL BOATS FOR SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC ISLAND STATES.
SUBJECT TO PROGRESS WITH NEGOTIATIONS A PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT IS
EXPECTED IN LATE AUGUST, DURING THE SOUTH PACIFIC FORUM MEETING.
NQEA WOULD BE EXPECTED TO BE A STRONG TENDERER, ON THE
BASIS OF THEIR EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE ON FREEMANTLE-CLASS
PATROL BOATS FOR THE NAVY AND THEIR HIGH LEVELS OF EFFICIENCY.
THE FUTURE VIABILITY OF NQEA IS A HIGH PRIORITY WITH ME
AND my GOVERNMENT AND WE WILL BE PURSUING THIS AND OTHER
AVENUES TO ENSURE THAT VIABILITY.
A MATTER I KNOW IS OF GREAT INTEREST TO SO MANY IN THIS
AUDIENCE IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOURIST INDUSTRY.
THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR THE WHOLE OF AUSTRALIA.
IT IS CRUCIAL FOR THE FUTURE PROSPERITY OF NORTH QUEENSLAND,
INDEED NORTH QUEENSLAND HAS VAST POTENTIAL TO DEVELOP A
TOURIST INDUSTRY OF WORLD RENOWN.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL GIVE ITS FULL BACKING TO THE
EFFORTS OF NORTH QUEENSLAND TO DEVELOP YOUR TOURIST INDUSTRY.
YESTERDAY I ANNOUNCED A DECISION THAT WILL GREATLY ASSIST
THE TOURIST INDUSTRY IN NORTH QUEENSLAND A SPECIAL GRANT
OF APPROXIMATELY $ 1 MILLION THIS FINANCIAL YEAR TO SUBSIDISE
THE DIESEL FUEL COSTS To BARRIER REEF ISLAND RESORTS.
THIS EFFECTIV/ ELY MEETS ONE OF THE COMMITMENTS WE MADE TO
NORTH QUEENSLAND TO EXEMPT THE GREAT BARRIER REEF ISLAND
RESORTS FROM THE DIESEL EXCISE IMPOSED BY THE PREVIOUS
GOVERNMENT.
11.
THE TOURIST INDUSTRY IN NORTH QUEENSLAND WILL ALSO BENEFIT
FROM THE SUBSTANTIAL BOOST IN FUNDING WE WILL PROVIDE THIS
FINANCIAL YEAR TO THE AUSTRALIAN TOURIST COMMISSION,
THIS WILL ENABLE THE COMMISSION TO STEP UP ITS ACTIVITIES TO
PROMOTE INBOUND TOURISM TO AUSTRALIA,
THE GOVERNMENT SEES THE PROVISION OF MORE LOW-COST
ACCOMMODATION AS A MEANS-OF ENCOURAGING MORE AUSTRALIANS TO
SEE AUSTRALIA PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BE UNABLE
TO AFFORD A HOLIDAY,
WE PLAN TO UNDERTAKE A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY IN CONSULTATION
WITH THE STATES AND RELEVANT AGENCIES TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM
WHERE A DEMONSTRATED NEED EXISTS,
As AN INITIAL STEP, STATE TOURISM AUTHORITIES HAVE PROVIDED
INFORMATION ON THE CURRENT STATE OF LOW-COST ACCOMMODATION,
ANOTHER OF OUR NORTH QUEENSLAND COMMITMENTS ON TOURISM WAS
TO NEGOTIATE WITH TRANSPORT OPERATORS FOR 30 DAY FIXED FARE
AIR TRAVEL AND ALL INCLUSIVE AIR-RAIL-COACH TICKETS TO
ATTRACT MORE PEOPLE TO NORTH QUEENSLAND,
12.
MY COLLEAGUE) JOHN BROWN, MINISTER FOR SPORT, RECREATION AND
TOURISM, HAS SET IN TRAIN THESE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE
AIRLINES ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT.
FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS W', IL. L NEED TO FOLLOW WITH RAIL AND
COACH OPERATORS.
AN ISSUE OF GREAT CONCERN TO THE TOURIST INDUSTRY AS WELL
AS TO THE BOAT CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN QUEENSLAND HAS BEEN
THE IM-POSITION BY THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT OF A 20 PER CENT
SALES TAX ON TOURIST VESSELS.
THIS TAX HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE SERIOUS ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES
EXPERIENCED BY BOTH THESE INDUSTRIES IN RECENT TIMES.
TO ALLEVIATE THESE PRESSURES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS
DECIDED TO REINSTATE THE EXEMPTION FROM SALES TAX FOR
CERTAIN TOURIST BOATS.
THE EXEMPTION WILL EXTEND TO THOSE VESSELS WHICH ARE
LICENCED TO CARRY NOT LESS THAN 12 PASSENGERS AND WHICH
ARE USED PRINCIPALLY BY THE OWNER IN CARRYING ON A BUSINESS
OF PROVIDING REGULAR, SCHEDULED SIGHT SEEING TOURS FOR
PAYING PASSENGERS,
13.
To MAXIMISE ITS BENEFITS, THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE EXEMPTION
WILL BE BACKDATED TO 19 AUGUST 1981, WHICH IS THE DATE SUCH
VESSELS FIRST BECAME TAXABLE.
THE EXEMPTION IS NOT TO APPLY TO VESSELS CHARTERED OR HIRED
FOR PURPOSES OF PLEASURE, SPORT OR RECREATION.
THIS DECISION WILL PROVIDE A SUBSTANTIAL BOOST NOT ONLY
TO THE TOURIST INDUSTRY BUT ALSO TO THE SMALL SHIPS
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.
THIS INDUSTRY WILL AGAIN BE ABLE TO MAKE AN IMPORTANT
CONTRIBUTION TO THE QUEENSLAND ECONOMY.
THE INDUSTRY HAS DEVELOPED OVER MANY YEARS IN QUEENSLAND AND
CARRIES WITH IT UNIQUE SKILLS WqHICH HAVE BEEN
UNDER THREAT.
THE GOVERNMENT'S ACTION REFLECTS OUR COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND WORKFORCE SKILLS IN THE IMPORTANT
REGIONAL CENTRES OF AUSTRALIA AS WELL AS TO ENCOURAGING THE
TOURIST INDUSTRY TO ACHIEVE ITS FULL POTENTIAL.
WE RECOGNISE THE ACUTE SHORTAGE OF OFFICE ACCOMMODATION
IN NORTH QUEENSLAND.
THERE IS AN URGENT NEED TO PROVIDE BETTER FACILITIES,
ESPECIALLY FOR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMIENTS WHICH MAKE
USE OF SHOP FRONT ACCOMMODATION FOR EXAMPLE SOCIAL SECURITY,
IMMIGRATION AND ETHNIC AFFAIRS AND OTHERS.
1N.
ACCORDINGLY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS TO EMBARK ON A MAJOR
NATION-WIDE OFFICE CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM.
THSWILL PARTICULARLY BENEFIT NORTH QUEENSLAND. CAIRNS
IS ON THE TOP OF THE LIST FOR THIS NEW OFFICE CONSTRUCTION
ALONG WITH ROCKHAMPTON, MACKAY AND THURSDAY ISLAND.
k1. COlL LEAGUE, JOHN BROWN, THE MINISTER FOR ADMINISTRATIVE
SERVICES) WILL ANNOUNCE DETAILS SHORTLY AND WE W/ ILL BE
ADVERTISING SOON FOR SUBMISSIONS OF INTEREST FROM
DEVELOPERS. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL UNDERTAKE THIS NEW PROGRAM OF
OFFICE CONSTRUCTION BY USING LEASE PURCHASE ARRANGEMENTS
WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR A NEW AND INNOVATIVE FORM OF
CO-OPERATION WITH BUSINESS,
WE INTEND TO ENTER INTO FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS WITH PRIVATE
SECTOR INTERESTS WHEREBY THE COSTS OF CONSTRUCTION WILL BE
RECOUPED BY DEVELOPERS FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OVER A FIXED
PERIOD AT THE END OF WHICH OWNERSHIP OF THE OFFICE BUILDINGS
WOULD BE VESTED IN THE COMMONWEALTH.
EIGHTY-THREE PER CENT OF COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT ACCOMMODATION
IS LEASED PROBABLY THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF ANY
COMPARABLE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT IN THE WORLD,
OUR OFFICE CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM WILL HELP CORRECT THAT
IMBALANCE.
IT WILL STIMULATE * rHE BUILDING INDUSTRY IN REGIONAL AREAS
AND PROVIDE BETTER SERVICE FROM COMMONWEALTH DEPARTMENTS
TO THEIR CLIENTS,
THIS NEW PROGRAM OF OFFICE CONSTRUCTION, USING BOTH
BUDGET-FUNDED AND PRIVATE SECTOR-FUNDED ARRANGEMENTS,
REPRESENTS A WELCOME RESUMPTION OF COMMONWEALTH ACTIVITY itl
THE DEVELOPMENT OF ITS OWN OFFICE SPACE.
EXPENDITURE ON THE PROGRAM WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY OFFSET
BY RENTAL SAVINGS, AND IN DUE COURSE), BY THE DISPOSAL OF
SURPLUS GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS,
THE BENEFITS TO CITIES LIKE CAIRNS ARE CLEAR BETTER
GOVERNMENT SERVICE, MORE CONSTRUCTION AND MORE JOBS,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, NORTH QUEENSLAND HAS THEE POTENTIAL TO
TAKE THE LEAD IN THE ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION OF AUSTRALIA,
THE TASK WE FACE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT POTENTIAL IS REALISED,
WE NEED A NEW AUSTRALIA ONE THAT IS HEALTHIER, STRONGER
AND MORE SECURE.
ONE THAT FULLY EMBRACES THE GREAT CHALLENGE OF THE
DEVELOPMENT OF OUR NATIONAL RESOURCES.
AND I BELIEVE THAT NEW AUSTRALIA OF THE FUTURE CAN BE FOUND
HERE IN NORTH QUEENSLAND.