PM Transcripts

JAUSA.% AI I
PRIME MONBSTER PRESS STATEMENT NO. 413
13 December 1974
STATE AGENTS-GENERAL
The Prime Minister, Mr Whitlam, today denied reports
that he had any intention of raising with the British Government
the position of State Agents-General in London.
Mr Whitlam said he appreciated that the Agents-
General had a role to perform in relation to commercial and
related matters to which the States attributed considerable
importance. There was, however, no suggestion that Agents-
General exercised diplomatic functions, as these were the
sole concern of the Australian Government.
There was no foundation whatsoever for the Queensland
Premier' s assertion that the question of a border with
Papua New Guinea and the Torres Strait area would be raised
with the British Government.
" The Premier will be aware that a first round of
discussions, of an essentially preliminary nature, was held
in Canberra on 13 November between officials of the Australian
and Queensland Governments.
" At this meeting it was agreed that a second, and
more technical, meeting be held after the Queensland elections.
The expectation was that this meeting would be held in the
week beginning 16 December.
" The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet was
advised this week by Queensland officials that processes
associated with the formation of a new Queensland Government
would not be complete until 23 December and that, therefore,
the proposed meeting would have to be deferred until some time
in January, probably the last week in January," , Mr Whitlam said.
The-Prime Minister added that he had no intention of
canvassing in public the matters which would be raised during
his impending private talks with Her Majesty The Queen or
with the British Government.
CANBERRA. A. C. T.