-7
GOVERNMENT ACHIEVEMENTS IN TASMANIA
SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER
THE HON. E. G. WHITLAM, M. P.,
TO A LUNCHEON OF THE HOBART CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,
HOBART, 22 FEBRUARY 1974
THIS IS MY FOURTH VISIT TO TASMANIA SINCE I
BECAME PRIME MINISTER. I CONFESS THAT IT IS ALTOGETHER
TOO RARE A PLEASURE FOR ME TO VISIT YOUR CHARMING AND
HISTORIC CITY. AFTER THIS WEEK, I DECIDED I WOULD RATHER
BE HERE WITH YOU THAN TALKING TO THE GIPPSLAND FARMERS.
THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A FRIENDLY GATHERING OF TASMANIAN
BUSINESSMEN TO MAKE ONE FEEL AT HOME: NO TOMATOES,
NO EGGS, NO PITCHFORKS, THEN I WAS REMINDED THAT MUCH
OF AUSTRALIA'S'SUPERPHOSPHATE IS MANUFACTURED HERE IN
TASMANIA, SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHY AUSTRALIAN PRIME
MINISTERS OCCASIONALLY WANT TO GO ABROAD. / 2
Now SINCE I'VE RAISED THIS MATTER OF THE PHOSPHATE
BOUNTY, AND SINCE IT IS CLEARLY A MATTER OF VERY GREAT
INTEREST TO AN AGRICULTURAL STATE SUCH AS YOURS, LET ME
BEGIN BY SAYING A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE DECISION WE MADE, THE
OTHER DAY IN VICTORIA I QUOTED SOME REMARKS BY SIR JOHN
MCEWEN WHEN THE LIBERAL-COUNTRY PARTY GOVERNMENT ABOLISHED
THE LAST PHOSPHATE BOUNTY IN 1950, I WANT TO REMIND YOU
OF WHAT THE FORMER LEADER OF THE COUNTRY PARTY SAID BECAUSE
I KNOW HE IS A MAN YOU RESPECT AND I REGRET THAT HIS WORDS
DID NOT RECEIVE THE PUBLICITY WHICH I HOPED THEY WOULD,
DON'T FORGET THAT IT WAS A LABOR GOVERNMENT THAT INTRODUCED
THE FIRST PHOSPHATE BOUNTY AS A WARTIME MEASURE AND IT WAS
THE LIBERAL-COUNTRY PARTY GOVERNMENT THAT REPEALED IT, THEIR
DECISION WAS EXPLAINED BY SIR JOHN MCEWEN IN THESE TERMS:
THE ACT TO BE REPEALED WAS PASSED AS A
WARTIME CONTINGENCY ArID IT HAS SERVED ITS
PURPOSE, IT HAS ONLY A LIMITED USEFULNESS,
THERE IS NO LONGER ANY JUSTIFICATION FOR
PAYMENT FROM PUBLIC FUNDS OF A BOUNTY TO
REDUCE THE COST OF A PRODUCT WHEN FOR THE
OVERWHELMING PERCENTAGE OF ITS USERS IT
HAS SERVED ITS PURPOSE,
-3-
Now THAT IS PRECISELY OUR POSITION TODAY, THE
BOUNTY HAS OUTLIVED ITS USEFULNESS, IT HAS SERVED ITS PURPOSE,
IN THE PRESENT BOUYANT CONDITION OF THE RURAL SECTOR, NO
GOVERNMENT CAN JUSTIFY THE EXPENDITURE OF $ 60 MILLION A YEAR
ON A SUBSIDY THAT IS NO LONGER USEFUL, WE HAVE GIVEN A FULL
YEAR'S NOTICE OF THE REMOVAL OF THE SUBSIDY AND I HAVE
REMINDED FARMERS THAT IF THEY FEEL THEY HAVE A CASE FOR
SPECIAL ASSISTANCE THEY SHOULD PUT IT TO THE INDUSTRIES
ASSISTANCE COMMISSION WHICH MY GOVERNMENT SET UP, I MUST
SAY I FIND IT CURIOUS. THAT THE PEOPLE OBJECTING MOST LOUDLY
TO THE REMOVAL OF THIS SUBSIDY ARE THOSE WHO ARE CONSTANTLY
TELLING US TO REDUCE GOVERNMENT SPENDING,
LET ME EXPRESS THAT FIGURE OF $ 60 MILLION A YEAR
IN TERMS RELEVANT TO YOUR OWN STATE, IT IS ROUGHLY EQUAL TO
THE ESTIMATED TOTAL $ 65,159,000 OF ALL SPECIFIC PURPOSE
REVENUE PAYMENTS TO BE MADE BY THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT TO
TASMANIA IN THE PRESENT FINANCIAL YEAR, IT IS ALMOST
TWO-THIRDS THE TOTAL OF ALL GENERAL REVENUE ASSISTANCE TO
TASMANIA. IT IS ROUGHLY FIVE TIMES THE AMOUNT PAID BY THE
COMMONWEALTH TO TASMANIA FOR ALL EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES IN THE
CURRENT YEAR, NOW MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU THAT THE
WHOLE $ 60 MILLION SAVED IN THIS WAY WILL BE PAID TO TASMANIA,
I REGRET I CANNOT DO SO. IT IS QUITE CLEAR, HOWEVER, THAT
SAVINGS OF THAT ORDER, WHEN APPLIED IN OTHER WAYS, CAN HAVE
A CONSIDERABLE IMPACT ON THE WELL-BEING OF THE SMALLER STATES,
MODEST SAVINGS ON A NATIONAL SCALE CAN BRING MORE THAN MODEST
REWARDS TO A STATE SUCH AS YOURS, ,/ 4
I WELCOME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOU BECAUSE
I KNOW THERE IS TENDENCY FOR TASMANIANS TO FEEL WHATEVER
GOVERNMENT MAY BE IN POWER THAT THEY ARE NEGLECTED OR
FORGOTTEN IN CANBERRA. YOUR PRIDE, YOUR UNIQUENESSi YOUR
HISTORY, YOUR ISOLATION IN A LITERAL SENSE, YOUR INSULARITY
MAKE YOU SOMEWHAT SUSPICIOUS OF NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS. IF YOU
EXAMINE THE RECORD FAIRLY I DOUBT IF YOU WILL FIND ANY INSTANCE
OF TASMANIA BEING UNFAIRLY TREATED BY MY GOVERNMENT OR PLACED
AT A DISADVANTAGE COMPARED WITH THE OTHER STATES. INDEED IT
CAN BE SHOWN THAT TASMANIA HAS BENEFITED PROPORTIONATELY BETTER
FROM NATIONAL GOVERNMENT SPENDING THAN THE REST OF AUSTRALIA.
I SHALL LIST SOME OF THESE AREAS IN A MOMENT. BUT FIRST
LET ME MAKE A PURELY POLITICAL POINT. AS YOU KNOW, THE
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, WHICH COMPOSES THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT,
CURRENTLY HOLDS ALL FIVE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEATS IN TASMANIA. THAT IS A REMARKABLE, GRATIFYING AND,
I BELIEVE, QUITE UNPRECEDENTED EXPRESSION OF PUBLIC TRUST
IN A POLITICAL PARTY. NOW THOSE FIVE SEATS IN TASMANIA
REPRESENT, FOR THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT, MORE THAN HALF ITS
ENTIRE MAJORITY. I MERELY SAY THIS: IT MAY BE THAT YOUR
BEST ASSURANCE, YOUR MOST COMPELLING GUARANTEE OF MY GOVERNMENT'S
CONCERN FOR YOUR STATE LIES IN THOSE FIVE SEATS. I ASK YOU TO
ACCEPT, AS POLITICALLY REALISTIC MEN, THAT NO GOVERNMENT
ENJOYING THE PUBLIC TRUST PLACED IN IT BY THE PEOPLE OF TASMANIA
COULD AFFORD FOR A MOMENT TO NEGLECT YOUR INTERESTS OR YOUR
WELFARE.
THE OTHER BASIC ASSURANCE YOU HAVE OF THE
GOVERNMENT'S CONCERN LIES,, PARADOXICALLY IT MAY SEEM, IN OUR
CONCERN FOR THE LARGER CITIES OF THE MAINLAND. No
GOVERNMENT WHICH IS COMMITTED TO RESTRICT THE GROWTH OF
SYDNEY AND MELBOURNE CAN BE INDIFFERENT TO THE GROWTH OF THE
SMALLER CAPITALS. FOR THE SAME REASON THAT WE ARE ENCOURAGING
THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW CIT IES LIKE ALBURY-WODONGA WE ARE
ENCOURAGING THE GROWTH OF EXISTING CITIES SUCH As HOBART.
MIND YOU, WE ARE DETERMINED THAT HOBART WILL AVOID THE
INTOLERABLE PRESSURES PLACED ON THE' LARGER CITIES. IT
IS, HOWEVER, ESSENTIAL TO OUR PLANS FOR BALANCED DEVELOPMENT
AND MORE EQUITABLE AND EFFICIENT USE OF OUR RESOURCES THAT
SOME OF THE GROWTH OF SYDNEY AND MELBOURNE SHOULD BE DIVERTED
TO SMALLER CITIES WHERE IT WILL NOT ONLY BE ACCEPTABLE,
BUT BENEFICIAL. SYDNEY's LOSS, I TRUST, WILL BE HOBART's
GAIN. WITH THAT IN MIND, LET ME GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES OF HOW
TASMANIA BENEFITS FROM THE WIDE RANGE OF NEW AND INCREASED
EXPENDITURES PROVIDED IN THE GOVERNMENT's FIRST BUDGET.
TOTAL PAYMENTS TO THE TASMANIAN GOVERNMENT IN 1973-74,
FOR ALL PURPOSES AND INCLUDING THE STATES' LOAN COUNCIL PROGRAM,
ARE ESTIMATED TO TOTAL $ 228 MILLION, AN INCREASE OF $ 32 MILLION
OR 16% OVER THE AMOUNT IN 1972-73, THIS REPRESENTS OVER $ 570
PER HEAD OF POPULATION IN TASMANIA, COMPARED WITH AVERAGE PAYMENTS
TO ALL STATES OF $ 337 PER HEAD.
6
IT IS ESTIMATED THAT TASMANIA WILL RECEIVE GENERAL
REVENUE GRANTS TOTALLING $ 97.7 MILLION IN 1973-74,
REPRESENTING $ 245 PER HEAD COMPARED WITH A NATIONAL AVERAGE
OF $ 143 PER HEAD,
TASMANIA HAS BEEN ALLOCATED $ 64 MILLION IN
GENERAL PURPOSE CAPITAL FUNDS, UNDER DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE
LOAN COUNCIL LAST JUNE, FOR STATE GOVERNMENT WORKS IN
1973-74, INCLUDING AN. INTEREST-FREE GRANT FROM THE AUSTRALIAN
GOVERNMENT OF $ 20,5 MILLION. IN PER CAPITA TERMS, TASMANIA
IS RECEIVING OVER DOUBLE THE NATIONAL ALLOCATION $ 161 PER
HEAD COMPARED WITH $ 66.9 PER HEAD FOR THE SIX STATES COMBINED.
ALL THESE ALLOCATIONS RECOGNISE THE SPECIAL NEEDS
OF YOUR STATE, ATTRIBUTABLE TO ITS SMALL POPULATION AND
ITS RELATIVELY LOW CAPACITY TO RAISE REVENUE AND SPREAD
ITS OVERHEAD COSTS. / 7
7
IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION AUSTRALIAN
GOVERNMENT GRANTS WILL RISE DRAVATICALLY, MAINLY AS A RESULT
OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE KARMEL COMMITTEE. GRANTS
FOR SCHOOLS IN TASMANIA ARE ESTIMATED TO TOTAL MILLION
IN 1973-74, AN INCREASE OF $ 2.9 MILLION OR 112% OVER THE
PREVIOUS YEAR. GRANTS FOR TERTIARY EDUCATION WILL TOTAL
ABOUT $ 12.5 MILLION THIS YEAR, AN INCREASE OF MILLION
OR 112% OVER THE CORRESPONDING TOTAL IN 1972-73. OUR
ADVANCES FOR HOUSING WILL INCREASE BY 82'% OVER THE PREVIOUS
YEAR. WE HAVE ALSO MADE GENEROUS GRANTS TO TASMANIA FOR
GROWTH CENTRES AND OTHER URBAN AND REGIONAL PROJECTS,
FOR LAND ACQUISITION, URBAN TRANSPORT AND SEWERAGE, IN
ADDITION, TASMANIA WILL RECEIVE GRANTS OF $ 14 MILLION IN.
1973-74 UNDER THE COMMONWEALTH AID ROADS ARRANGEMENTS,
THIS IS ANOTHER AREA WHERE TASMANIA DOES PROPORTIONATELY
BETTER THAN OTHER STATES. IN 1973-74 ITS GRANTS WILL BE
ABOUT $ 35 PER HEAD OF POPULATION COMPARED WITH $ 214 PER HEAD
FOR THE SIX STATES. TASMANIA'S SPECIAL PROBLEMS, SUCH AS THE
HIGH COST OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE DUE TO YOUR
PECULIAR TOPOGRAPHICAL CONDITIONS, ARE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT
WHEN GRANTS ARE DETERMI-NED.
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IF WE LOOK AT TASMANIA'S ECONOMY AS A WHOLE
AND AS BUSINESSMEN I KNOW THAT IS YOUR MAJOR CONCERN
WE FIND A STRONG PATTERN OF EXPANSION IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS.
RETAIL SALES IN THE SEPTEMBER QUARTER WERE 12.7% HIGHER THAN
THE SAME QUARTER OF 1972, REGISTRATIONS OF NEW MOTOR VEHICLES
IN THE DECEMBER QUARTER WERE-]. 2. L'% HIGHER THAN A YEAR BEFORE,
COMPARED WITH A 10.3% INCREASE FOR THE WHOLE OF AUSTRALIA,
THERE WAS A STRONG GROWTH IN HOME BUILDING. THE NUMBER OF DWELLINIGS
UNDER CONSTRUCTION WAS 40,7% GREATER IN THE DECEMBER QUARTER
OF 1973 THAN IN THE DECEMBER QUARTER OF 1972 WELL ABOVE THE
AUSTRALIAN AVERAGE OF 33%. IT IS TRUE THAT THE LABOUR
MARKET HAS RECCRDED ONLY MARGINAL IMPROVEMENT IN THE PAST
YEAR, BUT THERE HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT ACCELERATION IN
EMPLOYMENT GROWTH. BETWEEN NOVEMEER 1972 AND IIOVEMBER 1073
( THE LATEST MONTH FOR WHICH FIGURES ARE AVAILABLE) THE NUMBER
OF EMPLOYED WAGE AND SALARY EARNERS INCREASED BY A MARKED
IMPROVEMENT ON THE INCREASE BETWEEN NOVEMBER 1971 AND
NOVEMBER 1972. THE EXPANSION IN FEMALE EMPLOYMENT HAS
BEEN ESPECIALLY PRONOUNCED: 6.9% IN THE LATEST 12-MONTH
PERIOD, COMPARED WITH A GROWTH OF 0.7% IN THE PRECEDING YEAP. I 1,/ 9
C
I WOULD NOT WANT THOSE FIGURES IMPORTANT AS THEY
ARE, ENCOURAGING AS THEY ARE TO BE TAKEN IN ISOLATION TO
GIVE A MISLEADING PICTURE OF CONDITIONS IN TASMANIA, I
ACKNOWLEDGE FRANKLY THAT GrOWTH AND DEMAND IN YOUR STATE
HAS BEEN LESS MARKED THAN It! AUSTRALIA AS A WHOLE DURING
RECENT MONTHS. IN PARTICULAR YOUR LEVEL OF UNEMPLOYMENT
JUST OVER 3% AT THE END OF JANUARY IS STILL UNACCEPTA[ LLY
HIGH, ALMOST 1% HIGHER THAN'THE NATIONAL FIGURE. I BELIEVE
THIS IS DUE TO UNIQUE LOCAL AND SEASONAL FACTORS IN TASMANIA.
NEVERTHELESS OE WANT T0 SEE THAT FIGURE REDUCED, ANID IT WILL
BE REDUCED. MY GOVERNMENT' S FIRST PRIORITY ITS FIRST DUTY
TO ITS SUPPORTERS AND TO THE AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE WAS TO
RESTORE FULL EMPLOYMENT AFTER THE RECESSION OF 1971-72,
WE HAVE RESTORED FULL EMPLOYMIENT IN NATIONAL TERMS AND WE
HAVE RESTORED A STRONG LEVEL OF REAL NATIONAL GROWTH.
WE HAVE OPENED UP IMPORTANT NEW MARKETS IN ASIA AND OTHER
COUNTRIES FOR OUR EXPORTS, ESPECIALLY PRIMARY PRODUCTION.
FARMiERS IN PARTICULAR ARE ENJOYING RECORD INCOMES, RECORD
PRODUCTION, RECORD PROSPERITY. ViE HAVE GOT OUR OVERSEAS
RESERVES INTO A MUCH HEALTHIER STATE OF BALANCE. VIE HAVE
TAKEN OVERDUE MEASURES, * INCLUDING TWO REVALUATIONS, TO PLACE
THE CURRENCY ON A SOUNDER FOOTING IN RELATION TO CURRENCIES
OVERSEAS. I BELIEVE WE CAN NOW CLAIM THAT THE AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR
IS THE STRONGEST CURRENCY IN THE WORLD.
10
I HAVE SAID MANY TIMES THAT INFLATION REMAINS THE
MOST IMPORTANT SINGLE PROBLEM FACING THE GOVERNMENT. THE
MEASURES WE HAVE TAKEN TO RESTRAIN INFLATION OUR TARIFF
CUTS, OUR REVALUATIONS, THE PRICES JUSTIFICATION TRIBUNAL,
OUR MONETARY POLICIES HAVE ALL HAD POSITIVE AND IMPORTANT
EFFECTS ON THE LEVEL OF INFLATION. INFLATION WOULD BE
A GREAT DEAL HIGHER TODAY IF MY GOVERNMENT HAD NOT TAKEN THE
ACTION IT HAS IF WE HAD NEGLECTED THE OVERDUE MEASURES
WHICH WERE SHIRKED FOR SO LONG EY OUR PREDECESSORS,
I GIVE AN ASSURANCE THAT OUR UNREMITTING AND M'ANY-SIDED 13ATTLE
AGAINST INFLATION WILL GO ON. THE ENERGY CRISIS AND THE
ENORMOUS UNCERTAINTIES IT HAS BROUGHT TO THE ECONOMIES OF
OUR TRADING PARTNERS MAKE THE FUTURE MORE HAZARDOUS AND
UNPREDICTABLE. ISHOULD MAKE IT QUITE PLAIN, HOWEVER, THAT
INFLATION WILL NOT BE TACKLED WITH THE OLD-FASHIONED METHODS
OF THE PAST. WE WILL NOT REDUCE INFLATION BY CREATING
UNEMPLOYMENT FOR WORKERS OR STAGNATION FOR BUSINESSMEN.
WE WILL NOT FIGHT INFLATION BY RENEGING ON THE PROMISES WE!
MADE TO THE AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE FOR SOCIAL REFORM, FOR EDUCATION,
FOR DECENT CITIES, FOR BETTER TRANSPORT, FOR A NEW DEAL FOR
PENSIONERS, MIGRANTS, ABORIGINALS AND THE POOR. WE ARE OFTEN
TOLD THAT WE MUST REDUCE GOVERNMENT SPENDING. NO ONE EVER TELLS
US WHAT SPENDING WE SHOULD CUT, THE FACT IS THAT EVERY MEASURE
FOR INCREASED WELFARE OR INCREASED SPENDING ON SOCIAL REFORM.
PROGRAMS HAS BEEN SUPPORTED BY OUR OPPONENTS IN. THE PARLIAMENT,
IN THE CASE OF EDUCATION THEY EVEN ASKED US TO SPEND A LITTLE
MORE ON SCHOOLS THAT DIDN'IT' NEED IT. IN THE CASE OF PHOSPHATES,
THEY ASKED US TO KEEP A SUBSIDY THAT NO LONGER SERVES ITS PURPOSE
AND WHICH OUR PREDECESSORS THEMSELVES ABOLISHED WHEN ITS
USEFULNESS EXPIRED. IT IS ALL VERY WELL TO TALK ABOUT CUTS IN
SPENDING, BUT I ASK: WHERE ARE THE CUTS COMING FROM?
1]
I COME NOW TO SOME MATTERS OF SPECIAL CONCERN TO YOUR
STATE. I KNOW THERE IS ANXIETY FOR THE OUTLOOK IN THE APPLE
INDUSTRY. MY COLLEAGUE, SENATOR KEN WRIEDT, THE MINISTER
FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRY, IS AWARE OF THE NEED FOR EXPANDED EXPORT
MARKETS. LAST OCTOBER HE ANNOUNCED THAT THE GOVERNMEr'T HAD
DECIDED TO ESTABLISH AN AUSTRALIAN APPLE AND PEAR CORPORATION
TO REPLACE THE EXISTING APPLE AND PEAR BOARD. THE CORPORATION
WILL BE ABLE TO TRADE IN ITS OWN RIGHT AND PLAY AN IMPORTANT
ROLE IN RESEARCH AND PROMOTION. THE SEARCH FOR NEW~ MARKETS
WILL BE AN IMPORTANT -TASK OF THE NEW CORPORATION. IN
ADDITION, THE GOVERNMENT HAS MADE EMERGENCY PAYMENTS
TOTALLING $ 2.1 MILLION TO ASSIST APPLE EXPORTEPS ADVERSELY
AFFECTED BY THE REVALUATION OF THE DOLLAR. SUPPLEMENTARY
GRANTS OF $ 1,000 WILL ALSO BE MADE TO FARMERS GROWING
EXPORT APPLES WHO MAY BE IN EXTREME FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES.
I SHOULD SAY THAT NO ONE UNDERSTANDS YOUR PROBLEMS BETTFR
OR HAS DONE MORE FOR THE LONG-TERN INTERESTS OF PRIMARY
PRODUCERS IN THIS COUNTRY, THAN YOUR FELLOW-TASMANIAN,
KEN WRIEDT. I BELIEVE HE IS HELD IN UNIVERSAL RESPECT
THROUGHOUT THIS STATE AND THROUGHOUT AUSTRALIA, / 12
12
NEXT, I MENTION OUR POLICY ON WATER RESOURCES.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS PUBLISHED A DOCUMENT, " A NATIONAL
APPROACH TO WATER RESOUIRCES MANAGEMENT", WHICH SETS OUT
A NUMBER OF OBJECTIVES AND PROPOSED COURSES OF ACTION
BY THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF
AUSTRALIA'S WATER RESOURCES. A MEETING OF STATE AND
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT MINISTERS IN MELBOURNE ON ILI DECEMBER
ENDORSED OUR CONCEPT OF A NATIONAL WATER POLICY, AND FURTHER
DISCUSSIONS WILL BE HELD ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT
POLICY, YOUR PREMIER HAS SOUGHT AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT
ASSISTANCE FOR THE NORTH WESTERN REGIONAL-WATER SCHEME,
WHICH WILL AUGMENT THE WATER SUPPLIES OF SEVERAL TOWNS
IN THE BURNIE-DEVONPORT AREA. CONSULTATIONS ON THIS
PROJECT WILL BE UNDERTAKEN SHORTLY.
INi THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUR IMPORTANT MANUFACTURING
INDUSTRIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE BASED ON YOUR MINERAL AND TIMBER
RESOURCES, my GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THE SPECIAL DIFFICULTIES
IMPOSED BY HIGH TRANSPORT COSTS FETWEENj TASMANIA AND THE
MAINLAND. ON 30 NOVEMBER LAST YEAR I ANNOUNCED THE APPOINTMENT
OF MR J. F. NIMMO, FORMER SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING,
AS A ROYAL COMMISSIONER TO UNDERTAKE AN INGUIRY INTO THE IMPACT
OF FREIGHT RATES ON THE TASMANIAN ECONOMY. WE HAVE ALSO
ANNOUNCED THAT MR M. M. SUMMERS, FORMER SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORT, WILL INQUIRE INTO THE LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT OF
THE MARITIME INDUSTRY. AM HOPEFUL THAT BOTH THESE INQUIRIES
WILL BENEFIT TASMANIA,. .113
73
I MENTION OUP IMPORTANT DECISION TO MOVE IHE
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ANTARCTIC DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMErT
OF SCIENCE TO HOBART. THE DIVISION WILL MOVE INTO A NEW
UNIFIED COMPLEX TO COST AROUND 17 MILLION AND EXPECTED TO
BE COMPLETED IN 1977. THIS WILL BE A MAJOR DECENTRALISATION
OF AN AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT, MIUCH OF THE
DIVISION IS BUDGET OF MORE THAN $ 7 MILLION A YEAR WILL PE.
SPENT IN TASMANIA PURCHASING SUPPLIES FOR EXPEDITIONS
AND SHIPS, HOBART WAS CHOSEN nECAUSE OF ITS EXCELLENT
PORT FACILITIES AND GREATER PROXIMITY TO THE ANTARCTIC.
THE RESULT WILL BE A MORE FRECUENT USE OF H4OBART BY THE
POLAR VESSELS ON CHARTER TO THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT,
THE UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA, WHICH HAS HAD A LONG ASSOCIATION
WITH THE DIVISION IN RESEARCH WORK ON COSMIC RAYS, WILL BE
ABLE TO CO-OPERATE MORE CLOSELY IN OTHER AREAS OF RESEARCH
AND BUILD UP ITS ALREADY CONSIDERABLE SCIENTIFIC REPUTATION.
THE ENTHUSIASTIC RESPONSE OF THE VICE-CHANCELLOR, SIR
GEORGE CARTLAND, AND THE ACADEMIC STAFF OF THE UNI/ ErsiTY
TO THE TRANSFER OF THE DIVISION UNDERLINES THE LONG-TERM
IMPORTANCE THAT THEY SEE IN THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION,
IREFER NEXT TO OUR SPECIAL ENCOURAGEMENT FOR TOURISM
IN TASMANIA. WE ESTABLISHED A NEW DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM AND
RECREATION AND LAST YEAR THE MINISTER APPROVED A GRANT OF
$ 95,000 To TASMANIA TOWARDS THE RESTORATION AND. CON'/ ERSIOM OF
THE HISTORIC ASYLUM AT PORT ARTHUR. WE HAVE APPROVED CRAMTVS,
ON A DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR BANIS WITH THE STATES, TO DEV'EL. OP YOUTH
HOSTELS FOR YOUNG TRAVELLERS. / J L!
1L
FINALLY I MENTION THE IMPORTANT WORK OF THE CSIRO
AND THE DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE IN CHECKING AND MONITORING
MERCURY POLLUTION IN THE DERWENT; LAST YEAR OUR LABORATORIES
IN TASMANIA DETECTED A HIGH LEVEL OF MERCURY IN SOME TYPES
OF FISH AND WARNINGS WERE ISSUED TO THE PUBLIC BY THE
TASMANIAN GOVERNMENT, THE DEPARTMENTS OF SCIENCE AND HEALTH
ARE MAKING A CONTINUING INVESTIGATION INTO THE PRESFtCE OF
MERCURY AND BROMIDE IN HOUSEHOLD FOODS.
I KNOW THAT A SMALL STATE SUCH AS YOURS HAS SPECIAL
PROELEMS IN KEEPING PACE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AND LIVING STANDARDS
OF THE LARGER STATES. SO LET ME CONCLUDE WITH SOME REFERENCE
TO THE MEASURES WE ARE TAKING TO ENSURE GREATER EOUALITY AND
FAIRNESS IN THE ALLOCATION OF OUR NATIONAL RESOURCES. THESE
RELATE SPECIALLY TO THE AREA OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT. TASMANIANS
ARE WELL AWARE OF THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF THE COMMONWEALTH GRANTS
COMMISSION IN REDRESSING THE INEQUALITIES BETWEEN THE STATES.
YOU ALSO HAVE DIRECT EXPERIENCE OF INEQUALITIES BETWEEN REGIONS
WITHIN YOUR STATE, FOR SMALL AS TASMANIA IS IN GEOGRAPHICAL TERMS,
THERE ARE AREAS WITHIN IT WHICH ARE MARKEDLY LESS DEVELOPED, LESS
PROSPEROUS, THAN OTHERS. IT IS FOR THAT REASON THAT MY
GOVERNMENT DECIDED LAST YEAR TO WIDEN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE
GRANTS COMMISSION TO ENABLE IT TO GIVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ON A REGIONAL EDsIS. APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE
HAVE BEEN MADE AND I EXPECT THE COMMISSION TO COMPLETE ITS HEARINGS
ABOUT THE END OF MAY, WITH RECOVtlENDATIONS IN TIME FOR THE
1.974-75 BUDGET, I
15
OUR OTHER INITIATIVE IS DESIGNED TO GIVE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT A VOICE AND A VOTE ON THE LOAN COUNCIL AND TO
ENABLE THE NATIONAL PARLIAMENT TO BORROW MONEY ON BEHALF
OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND CRANT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE DIRECT
TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODIES, THIS WILL BE POSSIBLE IF OUR
REFERENDUM ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS APPROVED IN MAY, I STRESS
THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROPOSAL TO TASMANIA, YOUR " TATE
HAS MANY SPECIAL NEEDS WHICH ONLY LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAN SUPPLY,
IF WE ARE TO ENSURE THAT TASMANIA'S DEVELOPMENT KEEPS UP
WITH THE OTHER'STATES. IF WE ARE TO ENSURE THAT THE FINANCIAL
RESOURCES OF THE NATION ARE FULLY AND EFFECTIVELY USED
FOR THE WELFARE OF THE SMALLER STATES AND THE REGIONS
WITHIN IT, IF WE ARE TO ENSURE THAT TASMANIA AND TASMANIANS
HAVE JUST AND PROPER ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES OF THE
NATION AND THAT THESE RESOURCES ARE USED WHERE THEY ARE
MOST NEEDED, THEN I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE REFERENDUM
WE SHALL BE PUTTING TO THE PEOPLE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE
SENATE ELECTIONS, THERE WILL NO LONGER BE ANY NEED FOR
A SMALL STATE TO BE DISADVANTAGED OR FOR REGIONS WITHIN
THAT STATE TO BE DEPRIVED, BY THIS REFERENDUM I HOPE
TO SEE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED AS A FULL AND EQUAL
PARTNER IN THE FEDERAL SYSTEM, IN THE SAME WAY, AND WITH
THE ASSISTANCE AND CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE AUSTRALIAN
GOVERNMENT, I BELIEVE TASMANIA WILL PROSPER AS A FULL
AND EQUAL PARTNER IN OUR FEDERATION,