PM Transcripts

UNTIL 5 PM. SUNDAY. 28TH AUGUST. 1966
FOR PRESS P. M. No. 84/ 1966
FUTURE OF ST0' VY MOUITAINS AUTHORITY
Statement by the Prime Minister, Mr. Harold Holt
The Commonwealth Jovernment has been giving a
good deal of attention to the question of the future of the
Snowy Mountains Authority. The major work in the Snowy Mountains
area will be completed on present estimates by about 1972, and
the Government hopes it will be found possible for a continuing
use to be made of some of the specialised skills which the
Authority can provide. Examination has been conducted by means of studies
at the official level and inter-De artmental discussion. These
have, of course, included consultaion with Sir William Hudson,
Commissioner of the Snowy Mountains Authority and his senior
colleagues. There has been consideration by Cabinet itself. WVhat
clearly emerges is that it is mainly in the area of State works
that the future collective use of the skills which the Authority
has built up is likely to be found. The works programmes of the
Commonwealth and notably the water resources programmes in the
areas under its control offer limited scope compared with those
of the States. Before a final decision can be made about the future
of the Authority, it is necessary that the Commonwealth Government
should be in possession of the views of State Governments as to
whether thev would see a requirement within their works programmes
and the funds likely to be available to them, to engage the skills
of the Snowy team to the extent necessary to sustain a workable
organisation. The Commonwealth's purpose would be to ascertain
in general whether they would re-ard the continuation of the
Auttorit as likely to serve Sta te and Commonwealth purposes in
a valuab e way. Most of the State Governments have, of course,
design and constructing authorities of their own, but some or
indeed all, of them may feel that they could be considerably
assisted by the services of the Authority. There have already been
instances of this. Australia is the world's driest Continent7 and all
Uovernments, State and Commonwealth, recognise that continuin&
progress in water conservation is essential to further expansion
of production and to national development. Our recent drought
experience has brought home to us all how gravely affected
Australia continues to be by the lack of regular supplies of water
in adequate quantities. There is much that Australia can do by
its ovm efforts to meet its growing needs for power and water.
The skills, experience and expertise of the Snowy Mountains
Authority should if the States decide to avail themselves of
them be capable of making a valuable contribution for these
purposes. We propose, therefore, to consult promptly with the
State Governments on the specific question of the Authority's
future. Before we can finally decide on the size, role and
structure of a continuing organisation, we must have been able to
assess the extent to which tie States would avail themselves of
the services of such an organisation.
CANBERRA, 28th August, 1966.
EI,, IBA~ RuOED