PM Transcripts

Press Statement No. 328
13 September 1974
PUBLIC SERVICE BOARD WAGE DECISION
The Pr. Lme Minister, Mr. E. G. Whitlam said today
that he welcomed the decision of the Public Service Board
to grant no further increase to Public Servants in the
clerical, postal and keyboard areas beyond the $ 16 per
week increase which had been announced by the Board on
June 21. Mr. Whitlam said that the decision of the Public
Service Board was an important example for the rest of
the community of the restraint which his Government sought.
He added that the Government's total approach to the related
issues of increases in income, inflation and management of
the economy included positive support for the principle of
automatic quarterly cost of living adjustments ( wage indexation).
Mr. Whitlam recalled that following the Parliament's
decision to reject the determinations of the Remuneration
Tribunal which dealt with the salaries of Members of Parliament,
Departmental Heads and office holders, his Government had
decided not to implement the Tribunal's recommendations
concerning Judges and he had telegraphed each of the Premiers
urging that they take similar action. Mr. Whitlam went on to
say that as the Treasurer had stated on 23 July the
Government had invited the Prices Justification Tribunal
to scrutinize with care price increases based on wage costs
in excess of awards.
The Prime Minister said that these actions by his
Government were an earnest of the Government's intention to
ensure restraint in the growth of wages anid other forms of
income. CANBERRA. A. C. T.