PM Transcripts

Extract from Hiansard
COMMflON TE. A TH GOVERNME~ NT OFFER TO ASSIST IN
FINANCIUNG OF 100OLi PROMO0TION
Statement by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon.
Sir Robert Mvenzies, in the Ho,, se of Representatives
on 10th October, 1963
The Government has decided to assist the wool,
growing industry to finance an expanded wool promotion
campaign. The decision to do this has been taken after
consideration of a request put to the Government by the
Executive Committee of the Australian Wool Industry Conferen~ e,
The Government is willing to match : Ci for ! Zl any additional
funds which wool-growers are prepared to contribute by way
of levy for wool promotion.
Mr. Curtin ( Labour Another band-out,
SIR ROBERT MENZIES This is a serious topic. I wish I could
be allowed to make this statement with-out interruption. This
is a matter of great interest to all wool people, if not so
much to woolly ones. I repeat: The Government is willing to
match Vi for Vi any additional funds which wool-growers are
prepared to contribute by way of levy for wool promotion.
Honourable members will appreciate that this means that if
wool-growers agree to increase their levy for promotion, which
is at present 10/-a brale, the Commonwealth will contribute
an amount equal to the additional funds provided by wool-,
growers as a result of an increase in the levy.
The Government's offer -to match additional funds
contributed by wool-growers for wool promotion will apply for
a period of three years. At the end of that period the.
Government will review its assistance in the light of the
circumstances at that time. The Australian Wool Board will
be asked to report to the Government annually on the operation
of the wool promotion programme.
Although the Executive Committee of the Wool
Industry Conference has also suggested that the Cormmonwealth
should assist in providing additional funds for wool research,
the Government has decided to defer consideration of this
particular request for the time being. In making that
decision, we took account of the fact that substantial reserve
funds are at pru. sent avail. ble for financing wool research.
At the same time, however, we have noted that these reserves
are being depleted and we will review the position after the
Australian Wol Board has taken over the administration of
wool research and has had an opportunity of examining future
financial roquirements. The Commonwealth is at present
contributing the equivalent of a bale for wool research
while wool-gro-wers themselves contribute at the rate of 2/-
a bale. The Commonwealth will, of course, continue to
contribute on this basis.
Mr. Speoker, this has been a major decision by
the Government and it has been taken in the light of the
special circumstances applying to the weol industry and
having regard to its competitive position with other fibres
and its significance to the Australian economy.