PRIME MINISTER 7 April 1973
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER,
THE HON. E. G. WHITLAM, M. P.,
AT THE OPENING OF
WESTERN MINING CORPORATION' S NICKEL SMELTER,
KALGOORLIE, 7 APRIL 1973
The opening of this smelter is more than a great new
milestone in the remarkable history of the Kalgoorlie
area; it is a mark of confidence of the Western Mining
Corporation in the area's futdre. And I come here today to
express and demonstrate my Government's complete confidence
in the future, not just of this area, but of the future of
the great and diverse resources of this vast western and
northern area of Australia.
Kalgoorlie itself is in a way a living symbol of
Australia's good fortune and it is a symbol also of Australia's
interdependence. Some of the very worst ravages of the
depression which struck the eastern colonies, particularly
Victoria, in the nineties were reduced by the timely discovery
of gold here. It is a matter of record that the personal and
family links between the west and the east, formed as a result
of the gold rush, played a key part in preventing the breakup
of the Federation, or West Australia's secession from it a
generation later. Kalgoorlie itself fell on hard times;
yet today even the gold industry is probably in better shape
than any time for the last decade. The future of the area
is probably brighter than any time in its history.
I would like to give a general outline of my Government's
attitude to the mineral resources of Australia and relate it
to this particular resource of nickel. We have to recognise
that the interests of the mining industry must be placed in the
perspective of the interests of Australia as a whole.
We do not ignore, but we cannot be pre-occupied with the short
term interest of a particular section of the economy or a
special interest within the economy. In short we have to plan
for the economy as a whole, in the interests of industry as a
whole and in the interests of the people as a whole. 9. 9 2/
And in such planning we have to take account of the wider
international realities. We have to recognise that Australia's
resources, great as they are, are not unlimited.
We have to recognise the growing concern in major industrialised
countries at the rapid depletion of traditional sources of
energy and raw materials. We have to see that our minerals are
sold at reasonable prices in world markets. We have to preserve
the interests of Australians yet unborn, to ensure that our
prosperity is not bought at the price of impoverishment
of future generations. And I mean not only material impoverishment
but the impoverishment of their environment. We have to preserve
for ourselves and for the generations to come the greatest
possible measure of Australian ownership and participation in
the mining industry.
These are the considerations behind the actions my Government
has already taken and those that we plan to take in the years
ahead. Nickel, of course, is basically an export industry.
Australian consumption is less than 8% of current Australian
production so I am very much aware that this industry has
been directly and in the short term, I acknowledge, unfavourably
affected by certain of our measures. You know that we have
placed controls on all mineral exports whether in raw or
semi-processed form. We aim to ensure that exports are sold at
reasonable prices on the world market. Our measures will
encourage more processing of minerals in Australia, lead to
greater employment opportunities, greater industry self
sufficiency and ultimately to a higher unit value for our
exports themselves. We can look to shipping economies for
both buyer and seller. I assure you, however, that in our quest
for these results we will use our powers and apply controls
judiciously, selectively, realistically.
We will be applying the same common sense judgement to
industries and to areas immediately affected by broader economic
adjustments such as those forced on us by developments in the
world currency situation. As you know we have taken certain
necessary steps to protect the Australian dollar. We would have
been failing in our duty to the Australian people as a whole
had we not done so. No section of Australian industry should
place a short term advantage against the long term well being
of the whole Australian economy.
I have said that my Government is determined to have more
processing of our own mineral resources. We are determined that
Australians shall have a greater degree of ownership and control
of their industries. On both these counts I am delighted to be
personally involved in this project today. The shareholding
of Western Mining Corporation is predominantly Australian and
its Board of Management is completely Australian. I know that
foreign companies have made overtures and these have been
resisted by Western Mining Corporation. My Government will
strongly support the Corporation in such efforts and such
resistance. This smelter is being located near Kalgoorlie partly
at the request of the West Australian Government. It signifies
participation by industry in plans for more balanced development.
It is a splendid thing that the great mining skills built up
over generations in this area should be preserved and used in
the area. As a mark of our confidence, as a mark of our determination
to provide opportunities for youth to live and work in the place
where they were born and grew up, the Government proposes to
contribute to the new student residence being built at the
Kalgoorlie School of Mining. We will be contributing $ 75,000
to it and $ 35,000 to a recreation complex being built in
association with the school.
If we are to have more balanced development, if we are to
provide opportunities for our young men and women, if we are
to maintain and build up our national skills, if we are to
achieve more processing in Australia of Australian resources
we will need to have a greater and continuing co-operation
between governments and industry. We cannot achieve these
things without effective planning and we cannot have effective
planning without that sort of co-operation. In this State
we have already embarked upon some far reaching measures for
co-operation and participation in the development of its
mineral resources. Proper planning must transcend State borders;
for example we have agreed upon a feasibility study to determine
the route of a pipeline bringing the natural gas from
Palm Valley in the Northern Territory to Kalgoorlie then to
Perth and thence to the North-West Shelf. We hope to achieve
an assured and cheap supply of energy for the great industries
based in Kalgoorlie. The whole scope of our national pipeline
project is breathtaking but its the kind of thinking, the kind
of planning which we must have if Australian resources are to
be put to the best use for the greatest benefit of all
Australians. I believe that against long term prospects for
development now opening up before us the short term difficulties
fade into insignificance.
I congratulate the Corporation on its achievement and its
contribution. I congratulate this great and historic area of
Kalgoorlie on the great new chapter now unfolding in its history.