PM Transcripts

PRIME MINISTER PRESS STATEMENT NO. 360
1 November 1974
AUSTRALIAN DELEGATION TO WORLD" FOOD
CONFERENCE
The Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs announced that
the Minister for Agriculture, Senator Wriedt would be leaving
Australia for Rome during the week-end to lead the thirteen
member Australian Delegation to the World Food Conference.
( 5-16 November). The Deputy Leader of the Australian
Delegation will be Mr R. S. Swift, Deputy Secretary of the
Department of Agriculture. The delegation will comprise
Australia's Ambassador to Italy, His Excellency Mr J. E. Ryan,
the Research Adviser to the Minister for Agriculture,
Mr David Thomas, and Senior officers from the Departments of
Agriculture, Overseas Trade, Treasury and Foreign Affairs.
The delegation will be accompanied by an adviser, Mr Allan Smith,
National Director of the Australian Freedom From Hunger Campaign.
The Conference is being convened in order to devise
measures for dealing with the world's present food crisis, which,
although it had been developing over a long period, suddenly
emerged in dramatic form in 1972 when, as a result of adverse
weather conditions, world food output declined.
The Conference's work will be divided into three main
areas: measures to increase agricultural production in developing
countries; world food security; and world food trade. Australia
intends taking an active role in the Conference's discussions in
these three areas and the delegation has accordingly been briefed
to adopt a positive and constructive approach towards proposals
for programs and objectives which will contribute to reducing
the food gap in developing countries.
CANBERRA.. A. C. T..