PM Transcripts

DRI Ck O ONTYDEVELOPME2 1N UEENAND
STAr. EYL NT BYr THE PRIMAE Wj7 IS TER
Thi. s afternno-i in Calnb! crra C& I~ raiacvraltia a. j queeri-sla--ad
Ministero had a very laelpful and co-operative discussion relating
t. o the Queensland Govern-ment Is propcsals for the development of."
large areas of Bvigalow country in Central Queensland. The
Ccmmonwealth Ministers involved were Mr. HAc~ wen, Mrv. Holt,
Senator Spooner, Mr. Davidson, Mr. Adarmann and myself.
Queensland was represented by the Premier, Mr. Nicklin, a. nd the
Minister for Lands and Irrigation, Mr. Fletcher.
The Commonwealth Ministers made it clear thpt they were
attracted to tUhis venture as one which will, in substantial degree,
increase production for export from an area of Queensland not yet
developed but which very much lends itself to development.
The discussion revealod that the Queenslan~ d Government
had worked cut its development plans in detail.,
Coertain det'Uails of the-, iinanc. Jal * s: rangerants were
discussed and settlu2d, ai-d in theio iresult the Goveornments have,
agreed that the proposal illi now go ahead, the Commonwealth
a grcoing to find in the ciurrent financial yoar œ l, 65n. ( which is
theo amrount now sought by Queensland) and in the remainder of the
pla-ned. five year programme frhrannual contributions to take
the total-ever the five years to f-7.25' m. The finance will be
Drovided by way of special loans to the Queensland Government.
This decision by the Comonwal-thi to provide œ-7.25mn,
twr ds the doveJlop.-int o 7 th-Brigalow country follows earlier
decisioins to provide f~ m. for the construction of beeof roads in
Queenisland and a further.-œ C3, 31m requested by thea Queensland
Govornmeont for the sealing of the reads.
The Commonwalth is happy to be able to contribute
tcwe-rrds these. grcat' pr-oje-cts w~ lich ~ eka new phase in Queensl~ and
development arid promise greatly iiinereased returns to Austra" Lia
-through increased export output,
CAINBERRA,
6t'Uh November, 1962.