PM Transcripts

FOR PRESS: P. M. No. 85/ 1966
ASSISTANCE TO SUGAR INDUSTRY
Statement by the Prime Minister, Mr. Harold Holt
The Premier of Queensland has made strong representations
to me concerning the difficult situation facing the sugar
industry in Queensland and New South Wales.
Primarily this has come about through the catastrophic
fall in the world free market price for sugar. This has
happened at a time when the large expansion programme undertaken
by the industry some years ago is coming to fruition in a big
increase in sugar production.
Recognising the great importance of the sugar
industry to Australia, especially as an export producer, the
Commonwealth has been examining this problem earnestly and
sympathetically. It is far from being an easy problem. Although on
the production side the sugar industry is unquestionably sound
and efficient, and although it has showm a commendable spirit
of enterprise, it is up against a world market for its product
which is extremely weak and may well remain so for a considerable
time to come. In the circumstances, these quite uneconomic prices
impose great financial difficulties on producers in the sugar
industry and on the substantial communities in large areas in
Australia which have been developed through the establishment
of the sugar industry and depend on it for their livelihood.
For the most part, there are no comparable alternative
opportunities for production and employment in these areas.
My colleagues and I have been-treating the matter
as one of the greatest urgency and, in co-operation with the
Queensland Government, our efforts will be continued until a
solution has been found.
CANBERRA, 29th August, 1966