PM Transcripts

FOR PRESS A special committee of Federal Ministers will investigate
the possibility of establishing an international airport at
Townsville. This was announced today by the Minister for Tourism and
Recreation ( Mr. Frank Stewart).
Such an airport would be expected to boost the tourist
potential of the entire region, Stewart said.
It would also continue to be used by the RAAF as a joint
military-civil vpnturP.
" The committee will carefully study the location and also
the physical requirements for an airport, the anticipated needs
of international airlines and the environmental, urban and regional
development aspects," he said.
" We will also look at the operational and economic factors
which would speed up the tourist development of Northern Australia
in general and the Great Barrier Reef area in particular."
Mr. Stewart said the Prime Minister ( Mr. Gough hitlam) in
his policy spcech had bcon s-pecific about thce Govcrniuiicnt's
intentions to declare the Great Barricr Rcef a National Park.
This would follou the expectcC early passage of the
Territorial Sea and Continental Shelf Bill.
Such a move :.' ould neccs: itate the e; tablishment of an
international airoort at Townsvillc.
Chairman of the sp,, ecial Cbinet Coiiitte is
Mr. Frank Stevwart.
Other meribcrs are Dr. Rex Patterson, Iinister for
Northern Development, Senator Reginald Dishop, linister for
Repatriation and inister assisting the -inister for Defence,
1r. Tom Uren, . inister for Urban anC Regional Development,
H. r. Charlooes Jones,. inister for Transport and i: inister for Civil
Aviation and Dr. Moss Cass, Minister for the Mnvironrment and
Conservation. The committee held its first meeting last night, shortly
after the full Cabinet ncmeeting.
Mr. Stewart said the pro) osed new Tov. nsville airport would
cut travelling time for overeoas touristo and %: ould also eliminate
many of the inconveniences aLsociated with changing aircraft. / 2