SPEECH BY THE PRIMIE f1INISTEI E. G. 1HTI C. MP. ,/
FOR THE OPENINHG OF THE SE'HOR ILIAGE LT PROGrAH N~ LOA
GOVERNMENT AT THE CAINUIRRA COLLEGE OF AD CE BJA! U
MO~ D1Y fIC 19/ 1b
IIWELCOME THE INAUGURATION OF THIS IMPORTANT COUr,$'
~* IN THIS IMPORTANT SUBJECT AT THIS IMPORT-ANT INSTITUTTONv
jo IF I HAVE ONE COMPLAINT AGAINST AUSTRALIAN
INSTITUTIONS OF TERTIARY EDUCATION IT IS THIS: THEY HAVE
B3EEN REMARKABLY SLOW TO RECOGNISE THE VALUE OF PRACTICAL.
TRAINING IN GOVERNM1ENT AND PUB3LIC ADMINISTRATION: CAN
., ILLUSTRATE THIS BY RECALLING MY OWN DAY-S AS A STnflENTgC
IN THOSE DAYS, AND INDEED UNTIL QUITE RECENTLY, THERE
WERE PLENTY OF COURSES IN PO. I. TICAL SCIENCE BUT N1O COURSES
p IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT; THERE WERE COURSES IN MEDICIN. E BUT-
/ 9NONE IN. HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION; THERE lWEtE. COURSOiS IN
EDUCATION BUT NONE IN UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION , t THJERE
' i ~ WAS A STRONG TEMPTATION AND I SUSPECT THERE IS~ A TEMPTA1J ON'
NOW -TO REGARD THESE PRACTICAL SUBJECTS* AS THE PROVINCE
AMATEURS*, BENEATH THE DIGNITY OF THE TRUE SCHOLAIR A 1-1D A 11.11I
' OF TIME FOR THE BORN LEADER) C YET TODAY, IF WE. Tf!-K2-THOSE
SAME THREE CONTEMPORARY DISCIPLINES -LOCAL GOVE; lkl: l: ThT,-j
HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION AND UNIVERSITY ADNiINISTRAT ION W
4-df F IND COURSES READILY AVAILABLE IN* UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES
THROUGHOUT AUSTRALIAN
Vt,
i -2-
S1 IT IS A MEA,..; E OF THE IMPORTANCE NOW ACCORDED TO SUCH
STUDIES, A RECOGNITION OF THE GROWING COMPLEXITY AND
SOPHISTICATION OF MODERN GOVERNM1ENT AND SOCIAL ORGANISATION,
THAT WE ARE INAUGURATING THIS SENIOR MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IN
SLOCAL GOVERNMENT AT THE CANBERRA COLLEGE OF ADVANCED
SEDUCATIONX
* TWO WEEKS AGO I SPOKE TO MEMBERS OF THE INSTITUTE
IOF MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION IN MELBOURNE AND GAVE AN ACCOU; T
S OF THE GOVERNMENT'S INITIATIVES ON BEHALF OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS..
IT STRUCK ME THAT SO MUCH OF MY GOVERNMENT'S HOPES AND
. AMBITIONS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT DEPENDED NOT JUST ON WHAT
: GOVERNMENTS CAN DO, BUT ON THE CALIBRE AND EXPERIENCE OF THE
S' MEN AND WOMEN WHO ADMINISTER CITIES, SHIRES AND MUNICIPALITIES
.' FROM DAY TO DAY, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODIES
SHOULD BE RUN BY PEOPLE WITH RIGOROUS PRACTICAL TRAINING IN
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATIONX THIS IS NO TASK FOR THE
AMATEUR OR THE DILETTANTEX VIE ACCEPT THE IMPORTANCE OF
' SYSTEMATIC STUDIES FOR THE PROFESSIONAL MAN, AND THE
BUSINESSMANX WHY HAS IT TAKEN SO LONG TO RECOGNISE THAT
SUCH TRAINING IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR IN LOCAL'
" c GOVERNMENT, FOR THE LEADER IN PUBLIC LIFE AS WELL AS FOR THE
SLEADER IN COMMERCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE?
it
I
. THIS COURSE IN LOCAL G
: COME AT A MORE OPPORTUNE TIMErt
EVENTFUL ONE PERHAPS A FATEFU
* d IN AUSTRALIAX I DON'T THINK AN
THE EMPHASIS MY GOVERNMENT HAS
GOVERNMENT OR DOUBT THE STRENGT
FIELD) WE WANT TO ELEVATE LOCA
PLACE AS A FULL AND EQUAL PARTN
IT IS NOT SIMPLY A MATTER OF PRI
MORE MONEY IS CERTAINLY NEEDEDX
ARE WITH THE TRUE STATUS OF L
ULTIMATE IMPACT ON OUR LIVESX
NEXT MAY AND THERE SHOULD BE
COMPANY TO EXPLAIN OUR REFERENDI
GOVERNMENT WILL BE EMPOWERED TO
GOVERNMENT BODIES AND TO DISTRI
DEALINGS BETWEEN LOCAL GOVERNMEI
IN THAT WAY, LOCAL GOVERNMENT W
THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES OF THE
S AS THE THIRD TIER OF GOVERNMENT
' CONSTITUTION FOR THE FIRST TIME
THE FUNCTIONS AND FINANCES OF Ti
SAND MAKE POSSIBLE A RATIONAL CO
, J I p OVERNtENT COULD HARDLY HAVE
THE YEAR AHEAD WILL'BE AN
L ONE FOR LOCAL GOVE-NF! ENT
Y OF YOU WOULD QUARREL WITH
GIVEN TO BETTER LOCAL
H OF OUR RESOLVE IN THIS
L GOVERNMENT TO ITS RIGHTFUL
ER IN THE FEDERAL SYSTEM.
OVIDING. MORE MONEY, THOUGH
WE ARE CONCERNED AS YOU
OCAL GOVERNMENT AND ITS
IF OUR REFERENDUM IS CARRIED
LITTLE NEED FOR ME IN THIS
UM PROPOSALS THE NATIONAL
RAISE MONEY FOR LOCAL
BUTE THAT MONEY IN DIRECT
NT AND THE COMMONWEALTH,
ILL HAVE DIRECT ACCESS TO
NATION-ITS ESSENTIAL-PL ACE
WILL BE ENTRENCHED IN THE
y WE WILL BE ABLE TO -BALANCE
HE THREE DIVISIONS OF
-ORDINATION BETWEEN THE" i,
r i r
r-
SALREADY MY GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN SEVERAL PRACTICAL
STEPS TO PLACE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ON A MORE SECURE FOOTING,
, ONE OF OUR FIRST ACTIONS LAST YEAR WAS TO WIDEN THE CHARTER
OF THE COMMONWEALTH GRANTS COMiISSION TO ENABLE IT TO HEAR
APPLICATIONS FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT REGIONS FOR GRANTS UNDER
" SECTION 96 OF THE CONSTITUTION. IN THIS WAY WE HOPE TO MAKE
THE COMMISSION AS EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING INEQUALITIES BETWEEN
S" REGIONS WITHIN THE STATES AS IT HAS BEEN IN REDUCING
INEQUALITIES BETWEEN THE STATES THEMSELVESt THE FIRST
APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE HAVE BEEN RECEIVED AND HEARINGS
WILL BEGIN SHORTLY OUR SECOND INITIATIVE WAS TO SEEK A VOICE
AND A VOTE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT ON THE LOAN COUNCIL, WE
RAISED THIS PROPOSAL A PROPOSAL CONSISTENT WITH THE POLICY
S, OF THE LABOR PARTY AND OUR MANDATE FROM'THE PEOPLE AT THE
.; CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION LAST SEPTEMBER; AND I REMIND YOU THAT
IT WAS AT THE EXPRESS INSISTENCE OF MY GOVERNMENT THAT
: IR, EPRESENTATIVES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT WERE ADMITTED TO THAT
CONVENTIONX WE RAISED THE PROPOSAL AGAIN AT A SPECIAL
CONFERENCE OF THE PREMIERS IN OCTOBERx THE INABILITY OF THE
PREMIERS TO REACH UNANIMITY ON OUR PROPOSAL OBLIGED US TO
EEK A REFERENDUM A REFERENDUM TO REMOVE ALL CONSTITUTIONAL
OBSTACLES TO THE RATIONAL CO-ORDINATION OF LOCAL, STATE AND
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN AUSTRALIA,
IAM FIRU-1LY CONIVIVICED THAT UNLESS THAT REFERENDUIM
IS CARRIED LOCAL COVERNMIET IN AUSTRALIA WILL REMAIN IN ITS
PRESENT SAT-JACK1ET, ITS PRESENT STATE OF PERM'ANENT
FINANCIAL CRISIS, A POOR RELATION OF STATE GOV'ERNMENTS THAT
LACK THE MEANS rO GIVE LOCAL GOVERIHEiNIT THE RESOURCES IT
NEEDS,,, VE CAN GIVE LOCAL GOV/ ERNMENT THE MEANS TO DO ITS JOBA
WE CAN GI\ VE IT THE STATUS AND AUTONOMY IT DESERVES)( WE CAN
ENSURE ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE NOT AS AN APPENDAGE OF THE STATES,
: NOT AS AN APPENDAGE OF THE COMMONWEALTH* BUT AS AN EQUAL
9 PARTNER W1ITH BOTH IN THE FEDERAL SYSTEIf.! NO ONE KNOWS BETTER
THAN YOU PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, AND ESPECIALLY THE DEDICATED
MEN AND 11OMEN WHO HAVE UNDERTAKEN THIS FIRST COURSE IN LOCAL
GOVERN4MENT AT THIS COLLEGE, THE FRUSTRATIONS AND DIFFICULTI0
OF THE CAREER YOU HAVE CHOSEN~ I BELIEVE THAT IF YOUR CAREERS
Q , ARE TO BE FULLY REWARDING, IF YOUR STUDIES AT THIS COLLEGE
ARE TO BE TRULY MEANINGFUL AND VALUABLE TO YOU AND SOCIETYf
THEN TOGETHER WE MUST WORK FOR A NEW DEAL FOR LOkCAL GOVERNMENT
A-NEW DEAL THAT WILL ENSURE ITS FIRM PLACE It 0NES TI T tiT
AND IN THE FEDERAL SYSTEMit
. IHAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE REAL FUTURE OF LOCAL
', GOVERNMENT, ITS REAL SUCCESS, ITS RELEVAN4CE A0D APAPiABILITY,
ITS POPULARITY, ITS ABILITY TO INVOLVE CITIZENS AND * fO ENGAGE
:;-THEIR EFFORTS AND SYMPATHIES, WILL DEPEND LARGELY ON 711E
PEOPLE WHO ADMINIISTER LOCAL GOVERNMENT ON A DAILY BASIS, 0
:. L~ OCAL. GOVERNMENT IS CONCERNED DIRECTLY-WITH OUR LIV
,' OHREELSE DO WE FIND SUCH INTIMATE L114KS BETWEEN GG VERN,' IENZtJ
Y~ ANPT~ GOVERm0,1(' IN NO OTHER AREA OF GOVERNMET RETHR
$,( CH. EA DIEI HE'iSERVCS ROIDED AiD
-6-
', THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE * ro PAY FOR THOSE SERVTcc-s THE
* RESULTING DEMANDS ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMI1NISTPATORSR
ON THEIR SK( ILLS, THEIR EXPERIENCE, THEIR INGENUITY -WL
. INCREASE AS RAPIDLY AS THE DEMAN4DS ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT ITSELFPt
THAT IS WHY I WELCOME THE I14ITIATIVE FOR THIS COURSE
. AT THE CANBERRA COLLEGE OF ADVANCED EDUCAT 1ONf I SHOULD
EMPHASISE THAT IT IS NOT AN " ACCREDITATION COURSE" FOR LOCAL
V GOVERNMENT OFFICERS SUCH AS THE MITCHtELL COLLEGE OF ADVANCED
L7~' EUCATION PROVIDES IN NEW SOUTI*: ALES OR THE ROYAL MELBAJURNE
INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. IN VICTORIA;! IT IS IN NO SENSE
ATTEMPT TO MUSCLE IN ON COURSES THAT STATE INSTIION ARE
. ALREADY PROVIDINGX IN FACT IT'IS A MODEL OF THE NlAY THAT
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN GOVERNMENTS CAN AND SHOULD BE ORGAf,' MEDX
~ NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ORGAN! SATIONS HAVE ALL
0HAD A PART TO PLAY IN ARRANGING THIS COURSEr, [ HE FIRST
SINITIATIVE CAME FROM THE INSTITUTE OF felUNICIPAL Anm~ INISTRATiON
I1N7 O~ IT BEGAN LOOKING FOR A TERTIARY INTI17IN1Oi~ 3I
COUSESIN LOCAL GOVERNMENT;? THE RESPONSE CA'E FROM THIS
COLLEGE -A BODY FUNDED BY THE AUSTRALIAN GoVERNMENTA(~ oz
IN ORDER TO PLAN AND ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM, AN ADVISORY
COUNCIL. HAS BEEN FORMED REPRESENTING NATIONAL, STATE A.-11 LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS AND ALL OTHER ORGAHlISATIOI NjS CONCERtNELi~ ' THE 1N2v TTtJTI
OF MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION, THE AUSTRALIAN COU; I4C1L of-Lo2AL'
GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATIONS; LOCAL GOVERNIMENT ENGINEERS, HEALTH
41 ' , SURVEYORS, PRIVATE BUSINESSMEN, STATE L. OCAL. GOVEPFNhIENT
DEPARTMENTS, THE DEPARTMENT OF URBAN AND REG-IONAL DEV:.-71OPMEN'r,
HE DEPARTMENTS OF THE CAPITAL TERRITORY AND THE NORTHERN
. TALA R
TRR I THE AuSTALA INTTTE OF URBAN STUDIES -ALL ARE:
Fni W. AIT)
IDOUB3T IF A 14ORE COMPREHENSIVE ASSEMBLY OF STATE, L-OCAL
AND NATIONAL AGlENiCIES HAS BEEN BPoU'orit TOGETHER FOR A SINGLEl:
PURPOSE INJ SUCH A READY SPIRIT OF CO-0OP
ICONGR~ ATULATE ALL THOSE' 1 HO HAVE ORGANISED THIS
COURSE, BUT TI] ERE ARE TWO MEN I14 PARTICULAR WHO DESERVE
OUR GH-ATITUDE) THE PROGRAM OWIES MUCH TO THE INITIATI VE
OF IMR, ANDREW IIIALLS, A FORMER To! V~ CLERK OF BOX HILL AND
NOW4 A MEMBER OF THE-GRANTS CoNNrISSloN; AND Milh. 1GMi' '. IO) RSLEY,
CONVENOR OF TH'-E COMMITTEE ESTAflLISHIED BY THlE INSTITUTE OF
MIUNICIPAL ADI-1IINISTRATI'ON IN 19/ 0 TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY
OF AN INSTITUTE OF LOCAL GOVERMlENT STUDIES-,, YOU ARE
FORTUNATE ALSO IN HAVING THE SUP PORT AND COLLABOR~ ATI OF
* THE INSTITUTE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT STUDIES IN THE UNIVERSITY
OF BI RM ItJ M YOOUR INITIAL PLANS ARE FOR TWO OUSS
YEAR WITH 25 PL. ACES IN EACiqf. TiiERE ARE, MN FACT, 2/ PEOPLE.
PARTICIPATING IN THE FIRST COUjRSE., THAT IS A MOST CRAT IFY 11*.
* RESPONSEje
' I.
2
4 iC ' 4.
E
4
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I AM GLAD TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF URBAN
AND REGIONAL DEVELOP1MENT, FROM NEXT YEAR, WILL BE CONTRIBUTING
$ 12,000 A YEAR IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COURSE4 THE COLLEGE
HAS ACCEPTED THE DEPARTMENT'S SUGGESTION THAT, DEPENDING
ON THE NEEDS OF THE COLLEGE, PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO
USING THE MONEY TO ENSURE AN ADEQUATE REPRESENTATION AT
COURSES BY OFFICERS FROM SMALLER AREAS; A GENERAL REDUCTION
IN THE COST OF THE COURSE WHERE PRACTICAL; AND PROVISION
OF FUNDS FOR VISITING LECTURERS OR RESEARCH ACTIVITIESX
ANY FUNDS ALLOCATED BY THE COLLEGE FOR . SCHOLARSHIP ATTENDANCE'
CERTAINLY YOU CAN RELY ON MY GOVERNMENT'S ACTIVE
E NCOURAGEMENT AND PRACTICAL SUPPORTt BUT WHAT I FIND TRULY
HEARTENING IS THAT THE INITIATIVE FOR THIS COURSE CAME FROM
LOCAL-GOVERNMENT ITSELF,, IT IS SYMBOLIC, PERHAPS, OF
NGATTHIOEN AL IMPORTANCE WE ATTACH TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT
r: THE COURSE SHOULD BE PROVIDED HERE, IN THE NATIONAL CAPITALIT
SEEMS TO ME THAT COLLEGES OF ADVANCED EDUCATION ARE
UNIQUELY EQUIPPED, WITH THEIR MORE FEEXIBLE PROGRAMMING
ORRANTGOE MPERNOTVSID, E COURSES IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
E AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT HAS NOW ASSUMED TOTAL FUNDING
RESPONSIBILITIES'FOR TERTIARY EDUCATION, INCLUDING
POLYTECHNICSt THE GOVERNMENT'S FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION
IN THE 1973/ 75 TRIENNIUM IS MORE THAN $ 600 MILLIONg
SI / 8A
4-8 WE I3ELIFVE THE COL. LEGES CAN WIDFll THE RA ' Y E OF
TERTIARY EDUCATION OPPORTUITIES1 " I ITH A STRONG
BIAS TOWARDS THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE
STUDIES UNDERTAKEN~ IN THE INTRODUCTION OF N EW
COURSES -OF WHICH THIS COURSE IS A GOOD E) XAMPLE-
' THE COLLEGES ANID STATE AND NATIONAL GOVERfl" 1F NT
-AUTHORITIES HAVE PLACED PROPER I~ PHASIS ON KNOWN
INDUISTRIAL AND SOCIAL NEEDS-I HOPE THAT THERE
1 11111 SOON BE COURSES AVAILABLE, NOT ONLY IN
UTI VR1fENTO EArN~ DE TA DMIINISTRATION
AT ALL LEVELSgt
~ 71
~ j.
I. S..
1~ I' 12 I ii I? a .91-I, YOUR O11' 11 EXPERIENCE IN PUBLIC LIFE, NO LESS THAN
MINE, HAS SHOWN HOW INCREASINGLY COMPLEX, SOPHISTICATED
AND DIFFICULT THE PRACTICE OF GO\' ER[ IMET HAS BECOM1E IN MODERN
TIMESy, IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THIS COURSE WILL DO MUCH TO
REDUCE THOSE COMPLEXITIES AND REf--OVE THOSE DIFFICULTIES, IN
THE KNOWLEDGE THAT YOUR STUDIES WILL MAKE FOR MORE EXPERT
AND EFFICIENT LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR OUR PEOPLE, I HAVE GREAT
PLEASURE IN DECLARING OPEN THIS FIRST SENAOR M1ANAGEMENT PROGRANl
IN LOCAL GOVEN MIENT AT THE CANBERRA COLLEGE CF ADVAN4CED
EDUCATIONA
77'