PRE33 STATEMENT NO. 24
18 December 1972
REPRESENTATION AT I. L. O.
Australia would strengthen its labour representation in
Europe and its relations with the International Labour
Organisation and with other organisations concerned with manpower
and social affairs in Europe, by appointing in Europe a Special
Labour Adviser with the personal rank of Ambassador, to handle
all labour questions, the Prime M1inister and Minister for Foreign
Affairs, Mr. 1hitlam, announced today.
This representative would be Dr. P. H. Cook, at present
Secretary of the Department of Labour and National Service.
He has had great experience in the work of the I. L. O. and has
participated on many occasions as Australia's representative at
I. L. O. Conferences. Dr. Cook -would be attached for administrative purposes
to the Australian Mission to the United Nations in Geneva but
would have wide-ranging responsibilities covering the whole of
Europe. As well as carrying out representation and continuing
relations with the major organs of the I. L. O. and its Office,
Dr. Cook would assist the Australian Ambassador to the Organisation
for Economic Co-operation and Development as Australia's principal
representative for manpower and social affatrs questions with
the Organisation. The of which Australia became a
member in June 1971, has an important Manpower and Social Affairs
Directorate within its secretariat and conducts meetings of
Government representatives through its Manpower. and Social Affairs
Committee, as * well as through seminars and other specialist
meetings of experts from Vestern. European and North American
countries and Japan. For a number of years, O. E. C. D. has urged
Mdember governments to adopt ani active manpower policy, particularly
through measures to facilitate and stimulate mutually beneficial
adaptation between the labour force and the needs of a rapidly
changing economy. o.&/ 2
-2-
Dlr. Cook would generally keep in touch with manpowe r
developments in Western Europe, especially those which may
be of direct interest to the Australian situation. He would,
inter alia, maintain regular contact with such organisations,
as the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions.
PM1r. Vhitlam emphasised the importance he attached to
Australia's active participation in I. L. 0. and to ratification
of I. L. 0. Conventions. He said that Australia had, at one*
time, led . the world with some of the most progressive labour
legislation but, during the last twenty years, had fallen
far behind many of the countries in Western Euirope. It was
now time to catch up. In many instances conditions of work,
social security, retirement benefits and many otherthings
vital both to the individual worker and to the economy as
a whole were now much more favourable to workers in European
countries than in Australia. V e must learn in depth and in
detail just what European countries had managed to achieve
while we had been standing still. The appointment in Europe
of a senior representative with a great background of
experience and expertise in labour matters would go a long
way to help remedy the lack of progress in Australia in recent
years. CCAANNBBEERRRRAA.. AA.. CC.. TT..