SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER
MR. E. G. WHITLAM, QC, M. P,
TO OPEN THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF
THE NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL,
CANBERRA, P0; 4DAY 26 N0VEMBER 1973
THIS MEETING HAS ASSEMBLED TO GIVE PRACTICAL
EXPRESSION TO OUR HOPES WHATEVER GOVERNMENT WE REPRESENT,
WHATEVER PARTY WE REPRESENT THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE
NORTHERN REGIONS OF AUSTRALIA WILL GO FORWARD WITH SPEED,
WITH CERTAINTY, AND WITH GREAT BENEFITS FOR THE PEOPLE
OF THE NORTH AND ALL AUSTRALIANS.
THIS IS BY NO MEANS THE FIRST MEETING THIS YEAR
BETWEEN THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT AND CERTAIN STATE
GOVFRNMENTS 10 EXAMINE ISSUES OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO
PARTICULAR REGIONS. THERE HAVE BEEN TALKS BETWEEN THE
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT AND THE VICTORIAN AND EW SOUTH
WALES GOVERNMENTS CONCERNING ALBURY-WODONGA, AND WITH
THE VICTORIAN, NEW SOUTH WALES AND SOUTH AUSTRALIAN
GOVERNMENTS CONCERNING THE MURRAY WATERAGREEMENT.
THOSE MEETINGS REACHED HIGHLY SATISFACTORY CONCLUSIONS.
I HAVE HIGH HOPES THAT THIS MEETING WILL DO LIKEWISE. ,/ 2
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IT MAY BE THAT SMALLER CONFERENCES SUCH AS THISMORE
INTIMATE, MORE MANAGEABLE, MORE PURPOSEFUL
PERHAPS CAN PRODUCE QUICKER AND MORE SATISFACTORY
RESULTS THAN FULL-SCALE PREMIERS' CONFERENCES. IN
ANY CASE, I WELCOME MR. BJELKE-P-ETERSEN AND
fIR. 3IKRO. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THEIR ATTENDANCE
AT THIS INAUGURAL MEETING. IVENTURE TO SUGGEST THAT
THEY MAY DERIVE SOME REASSURANCE FROM THE FACT H
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AT ANY MEETING HELD HERE, IN THIS SENATE CHrtf= FTH
THE RIGHTS AND INTERESTS OF
THE STATES WILL BE AMPLY PROTECTED.
FOR AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS IN THE PAST,
NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SOMEWHAT REMOTE
AND PERIPHERAL CONCERN. FOR A GOVERNMENT IN CANBERRA,
" THE IqORTH i MEANT ONLY A FRACTION OF THE AREA OVER
WHICH ITS RESPONSIBILITY RAN; FOR A GOVERNMENT IN
PERTH IT MEANT PERHAPS HALF ITS AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY;
FOR A GOVERNMENT IN BRISBANE OR AN ADMINISTRATION IN
DARWIN, IT MEANT NEARLY* ALL OF IT. SO I AM CONSCIOUS
OF THE FACT THAT THE GOVERNMENTS OF QUEENSLAND AND
ESTERN AUSTRALIA, AS WELL AS HAVING A GREATER NATURAL
INTEREST IN THESE REGIONS, HAVE AN ADVANTAGE OVER US IN
CANBERRA BY VIRTUE OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF LOCAL CONDITIONS
AND THEIR LONGER EXPERIENCE IN ADMINISTERING THE REMOTE
AREAS OF THiEIR STATES. a a 3
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N" OTHING I SAY TODAY, AND NOTHING WE ENVISAGE
THIS NEW COUNCIL DOING, SHOULD BE TAKEN AS A CRITICISM
OF THE EFFORTS OF THE STATE GOVERNMENTS AND NORTHERN
TERRITORY ADMINISTRATIONS IN DEVELOPING THE NORTH.
THEY HAVE DONE A GREAT DEAL. IT IS MY INTENTION,
HOWEVER, TO SEE THAT THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT, IN
CO-OPERATION WITH THE STATES, PLAYS ITS FULL PART
IN THESE ENDEAVOURS, AND THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE
NORTH HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES FOR A FULL AND
PROSPEROUS LIFE AS ALL OTHER AUSTRALIANS.. THERE
WILL BE NO MORE SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS; THERE WILL
BE NO MORE SECOND-CLASS REGIONS.
I THINK I CAN CLAIM THAT my GOVERNMENT, MORE
THAN ANY OTHER IN THE HISTORY OF FEDERAL POLITICS,
IS COMMITTED TO THE TASK AND THE CHALLENGE OF
NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT. THAT COMMITMENT WAS EXPRESSED
IN MY POLICY SPEECH A YEAR AGO. IT WAS REFLECTED IN
THE DECISION ONE OF THE FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE ACTS
OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT TO ESTABLISH THE DEPARTMENT
OF NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
CO-ORDINATING DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA OF AUSTRALIA
NORTH OF THE 26TH PARALLEL. WiE BELIEVE THAT THIS
REGION RICH AS IT IS IN NATURAL RESOURCES AND
PASTORAL AND AGRICULTURAL POTENTIAL SHOULD RECEIVE
A RECOGNITION FROM THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT COMMENSURATE
WITH ITS CONTRIBUTION TO THE NATIONAL ECONOMY. IN ANY
ANALYSIS, THE NORTH CONTRIBUTES AS MUCH AS ANY OTHER
SECTOR OF AUSTRALIA TO OUR EARNINGS AND OUR STANDARD
OF LIVING. s s.
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THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT HAS ALWAYS RECOGNISED
THE PROBLEMS AND DIFFICULTIES OF DEVELOPING THE NORTH
THE HIGHER COSTS OF PROJECTS IN REMOTE AND DIFFICULT
ENVIRONMENTS, THE NEED FOR SPECIAL WAGE AND OTHER
INCENTIVES TO ATTRACT WORKERS, THE HIGHER COST OF
HOUSING AND TRANSPORT, CAPITAL EQUIPMENT, BUILDINGS,
POWER, AND FERTILISERS THESE FACTORS, AND OUR
HISTORICAL PATTERN OF DEVELOPMENT, HAVE PUT SOUTHERN
AUSTRALIA IN A POSITION OF GREAT COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
OVER THE NORTH, THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE PAST DECADE
ALONE, HOWEVER, HAVE CLEARLY SHOWN US THE REAL POSSIBILITIES
OF NORTHERN AUSTRALIA, THE MORE WE TAKE HOLD OF THESE
OPPORTUNITIES AND ENLARGE THE RANGE OF LIFE STYLES
OPEN TO ALL AUSTRALIANS, THE MORE WE ENRICH OUR NATIONAL
CULTURE, AUSTRALIA'S SENSE OF NATIONHOOD WILL NEVER BE
FULLY REALISED WHILE OUR POLICIES AND PRE-OCCUPATIONS
REMAIN LARGELY CONFINED TO A TRIANGLE IN THE SOUTH-EAST
OF THE CONTINENT FROM BRISBANE TO ADELAIDE AND ANOTHER
IN THE SOUTH-WEST FROM PERTH TO ALBANY,
IN MY POLICY SPEECH A YEAR AGO I SAID THIS
" LABOR'S OBJECTIVE IS TO DEVELOP THE VAST AND VALUABLE
RESOURCES OF NORTHERN AUSTRALIA FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE
AUSTRALIAN NATION AND FUTURE AUSTRALIANS IT IS IN
THE NORTH THAT THE GREAT SUGAR AND CATTLE INDUSTRIES HAVE
BEEN ESTABLISHED AND IT IS IN THE NORTH THAT AUSTRALIANS
FACE THE GREATEST CHALLENGE TO RETAIN THE OWNERSHIP OF
THE NATION'S RESOURCES AND TO BASE NEW INDUSTRIES ON
THOSE RESOURCES,"
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THE PURPOSE OF THIS COUNCIL IS TO DEVELOP MEASURES
DESIGNED TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF NORTHERN AUSTRALIA
AND THE WELFARE OF ITS PEOPLE, IT WILL INITIATE WHATEVER
STUDIES AND INVESTIGATIONS IT CONSIDERS NECESSARY TO
ACHIEVE THESE OBJECTIVES, THIS IS A COMPREHENSIVE MANDATE,
I GIVE AN ASSURANCE THAT IF THE POLICIES YOU AGREE UPON
REQUIRE SPECIAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, THE AUSTRALIAN
GOVERNMENT WILL SYMPATHETICALLY EXAMINE SUCH PROPOSALS
IN CO-OPERATION WITH THE STATES,
' IY GOVERNMENT'S BROAD NATIONAL OBJECTIVES ARE NOW
GENERALLY WELL KNOWN, THEY APPLY EQUALLY TO THE NORTH,
VIE WANT STRONG AND CONTINUING ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE
NORTH AS WELL AS THE SOUTH, OUR ECONOMIC PLANNING IS
DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE GREATER AUSTRALIAN OWNERSHIP AND
PARTICIPATION IN INDUSTRY, MAXIMUM PROCESSING OF OUR
RESOURCES AND FAIR EXPORT PRICES, AT ALL TIMES DUE
ACCOUNT WILL BE TAKEN OF THE NEEDS OF CONSERVATION,
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AND ABORIGINAL RIGHTS, I BELIEVE
THAT THESE OBJECTIVES REFLECT THE FEELINGS AND ASPIRATIONS
OF MOST AUSTRALIANS, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE PURSUIT OF
THESE OBJECTIVES WILL CREATE UNDUE DIFFICULTIES FOR OUR
INDUSTRIES, INCLUDING THE MINING INDUSTRY, IT WILL,
HOWEVER, REQUIRE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND
INDUSTRY IN THE PLANNING AND EXECUTION OF MAJOR
DEVELOPMENTAL PROJECTS,
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THERE IS AN URGENT NEED FOR SUCH CO-OPERATION AND
PLANNING. DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN THE PAST NEW TOWNSHIPS,
RAILWAYS AND PORTS, PARTICULARLY IN THE NORTH FREQUENTLY
WENT AHEAD WITHOUT REGARD FOR OVERALL NATIONAL POLICY OR NEEDS.
WIE MUST ENSURE THAT FUTURE DEVELOPMENT IS GUIDED BY NATIONAL
AS WELL AS LOCAL CONSIDERATIONS. SUCH NATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
ARE BEHIND THE IMAGINATIVE PILBARA DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT
WHICH IS NOW THE SUBJECT OF JOINT DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN
THE AUSTRALIAN AND WESTERN AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENTS, WE
WANT THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW REGIONAL CENTRE, WITH CHEAP
POWER, CO-ORDINATED TRANSPORT AND PORT FAC-ILITIES, TO BE
PLANNED IN A WAY THAT WILL PERMIT THE BALANCED DEVELOPMENT
OF THE RESOURCES IN THE REGION TO THE MUTUAL ADVANTAGE OF
WESTERN AUSTRALIA, THE NATION AND THE PARTICIPATING
COMMERICAL INTERESTS, MUCH THE SAME THINKING IFS BFHIND
my GOVERNMENT'S INITIATIVE IN PROVIDING FtJND. S FOR A
COMPREHENJSIVE LEVALUIOr OF THE RESOURCES OF THiL
BURDEKIN AND BOWEN B3ASINS IN QUEENSLAND.
IEMPHASISE THAT THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT IS NOT
PREPARED TO ALLOW THE TEMPO AND DETAIL OF NORTHERN
DEVELOPMENT TO BE DETERMINED B3Y MARKET FORCES ALONE.
IF WE WERE TO DO SO, WE WOULD PFRPETUATE THE CONDITIOS
WHICH HAVE CHARACTER ISED OUR NATPNTAL [ DEVELOPMENT OVER
THE PAST GENERATION. HISTORY MAY WELL JUDGE OUR GENERATION
HARSHLY WHEN IT IS RECALLED THAT OF OUR TOTAL
POPULATION INCREASE OF NEARLY 5 MILLION PEOPLE SINCE 1949
HAS OCCURRED IN THE CAPITAL CITIES, AND OVER 50% HAVE
SETTLED IN SYDNEY AND MELBOURNE ALONE. ' e o/ 1
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I AM NOT CONCERNED TODAY TO DISCUSS THE GROWING PROBLEMS
OF OUR CITIES. THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY TAKEN CERTAIN
STEPS TO ALLEVIATE THE MORE PRESSING OF THESE PROBLEMS.
IT WOULD, HOWEVER, BE WHOLLY CONSISTENT WITH OUR
POLICIES OF URBAN RENEWAL AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW
GROWTH CENTRES IF THE TEMPO OF NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT
WERE INCREASED, AND GREATER INCENTIVES WERE PROVIDED
FOR MORE AND MORE PEOPLE TO MOVE TO THE SPARSELY
POPULATED NORTHERN REGIONS OF AUSTRALIA.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS INAUGURAL MEETING IS TO CONSIDER
THE PROCEDURES AND ARRANGEMENTS TO BE FOLLOWED BY THE
COUNCIL IN FUTURE. I HOPE THE COUNCIL WILL MEET
REGULARLY AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR IN ORDER TO AVOID
THE AD HOC APPROACH TO NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT IN THE PAST.
MY GOVERNMENT AND I WOULD EXPECT FUTURE AUSTRALIAN
GOVERNMENTS WILL LOOK INCREASINGLY TO THIS COUNCIL
FOR SOUND ADVICE ON THE DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS OF THE
NORTH. WE KNOW OF THE RESOURCES AND THE DIFFICULTIES
WELL ENOUGH. '.' IHAT ALL OUR GOVERNMENTS NEED IS DETAILED
AND EXPERT ADVICE ON HOW TO DEVELOP THOSE RESOURCES AND
OVERCOME THOSE DIFFICULTIES. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THIS
COUNCIL MARKS A NEW PHASE IN FEDERAL-STATE RELATIONS IN
A PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT AREA OF UNDOUBTED NATIONAL
IMPORTANCE. I AM CONFIDENT THAT THIS COUNCIL WILL BRING
NEW VIGOUR AND NEW IDEAS TO OUR POLICIES FOR NORTHERN
DEVELOPMENT AND MAKE A MOST SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE
PROGRESS OF OUR NATION AND THE LIVING STANDARDS OF ITS
PEOPLE.