PRIME MiNiSTER
SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER
NAMING OF THE LOCOMOTIVE " BOB HAWKE"
ADELAJDE 18 APRIL 1984
I am greatly honoured to have been chosen to give my name toa
one of the new range of " BL" class locomotives. I have
noted with particular satisfaction that one of Australian
National's earlier locomotives was named after one of my
predecessors, that dedicated railway man and great
Australian, Ben Chifley.
I understand that these locomotives are a new, improved
model with state-of-the-art refinements which lead to
greater fuel efficiency and improved hauling power traits
which seem eminently in keeping with the leadership that my
Government is giving to the nation.
Clyde Industries is to be congratulated on the production of
this fine series of locomotives; they are the latest in a
long line of successful diesel-electric locomotives which
have given excellent service to Australian railways over the
last 30 years.
I understand that the locomotives Eire the result of a very
successful association with the ElE. ctro-Motive Division of
General Motors in an arrangemnent which involves Clyde
adapting the basic technology of the latest United States
developments to meet the exacting conditions encountered in
Australian railway operations.
It is with products such as the " BL" class Of locomotive,
and the dedicated efforts of its employeeS, that Australian
railways will continue to play an important and crucial role
in the transport services of thc nation.
The railway industry in Austrlaia has a proud history of
service to the country. In the early years, it helped to
open up the country and aided in the development of our
great, mainly export oriented, rural industries. In more
recent times, railways have played a key role in assisting
the development of recently discovered major mineral
deposits and in the provision of efficient and reliable
transport links over the long distances between our major
centres of population.
2.
The Government's overall transport strategy is to ensure
that the nation has a balanced system, wit h each mode
undertaking those tasks for which it is best equipped.
Australia, with its vast distance and heavy dependence on
exports needs an efficient and economic tiransport system, if
it is to improve its competitiveness and r-ealise the
community's aspirations for higher living standards.
The Australian National Railways Commission, which was
established in July 1975 has an important role to play in
the Government's transport strategy.
The Commission, which is now trading as ' Australian
National', t is jesponsible for around 8,000J kilometres of
track about of the total Australian network. It employs
about 10,000 s~ aff on both intra-and-inter-state passenger
and freight services and commands assets of the order of
$ 600 million. It is a big enterprise in any sense of the
te rm
Despite ( or perhaps because of) its size, life has not been
easy for Australian National. The nature of the far-flung
and disparite system it has been charged with operating has
posed major problems for its management. These fundamental
constraints have been exacerbated in recent years by the
general economic downturn and natural disasters, such as
drought. As a result, Australian National recorded an
operating loss of $ 109 million last financial year. While,
with the improvement in the economy and the breaking of the
drought, there has been a significant improvement in
operating results in the current year, Australian National
still has some way to go to achieve what could be regarded
as a satisfactory long-term operational profile.
Strenuous efforts are being made to improve efficiency.
Greater emphasis has been given to marketing, especially the
acquisition and development of profitable new traffic, and
to measures to match the supply of capacity more closely
with the demand for rail services. Close consultations with
unions are an integral and indispensable component of such
efforts to improve efficiency and enhance the long-term
competitiveness and employment security cf Australian
National
M~ y Government is determined that its railway, Australian
National, should be equipped materially and managerially to
operate efficiently in the very competitive transport
market. To this end, Australian National has just. been given a
modern legislative charter with flexibility to operate in a
commercial manner while retaining proper accountability to
the Parliament.
Strengthening the existing arrangements for the promotion
and operation of freight services is also under review by
the Railways of Australia Committee, the promotional and
co-ordination body of the Government railways.
Australian National's position as a line haul carrier
between other railway systems also brings with it some
complications. It is vital to Australia National's
interests that the interstate rail transport system is well
marketed and operated and has adequate capacity to meet the
demands place on it.
My colleague, Peter Morris, advises me that, through the
Australian Transport Advisory Council, he and his State
counterparts are looking to develop a range of investment
and complementary operational measures for improving the
national mainline network.
In this regard, the question of cost recovery between the
various modes continues to plague the transport planners and
decision-makers in Government.
I note that this is one of the issues that the National Road
Freight Industry is currently addressing. I trust that the
findings of the Inquiry will assist those responsible to
determine an appropriate allocation of reSources between the
competing modes that will enable the transport services to
be provided at the lowest economic and social cost to the
na t ion
The remaining areas of railways operations covering
metropolitan passenger services, long distance country and
interstate passenger services and less than car load ( LCL)
freight services are a major problem for rail authorities
and Governments.
There is clearly a need to rationalise services where large
losses are being made. However it is not always easy to
discern where the public interest lies and what services
should be retained as a public service obligation.
Although the rail passenger services in the major cities,
such as Melbourne and Sydney, are not financially selfsupporting,
it is hard to envisage those cities operating
effectively in the long term without their suburban rail
systems. I have great sympathy for the rail industry as it grapples
with the future of this range of services at the same time
as it addresses the need to reduce the large railway
deficits which are a severe drain on the budgets of all
Governments. I wish the industry well in its attempts to
increase its competitiveness and share of the transport
rnarket as any improvements, irrespective of their success in
increasing rail's share, improve the welfare of all
Australians. I would like to conclude now by formally naming this
locomotive the " Bob Hawke". 0.