PRIP: MINISTER Press Statement No. 489
7 April 1975
INTER-STATE COMMISSION
The Prime Minister, Mr Whitlam, said today
that legislation would be introduced in the Australian
Parliament soon to re-establish the Inter-State Commission.
Mr Whitlam said the re-establishment of the
Inter-State Commission would rectify " a major deficiency
in the. structure of our Constitutional institutions"
" It is one of the great anomalies of Australia's
post-Federation history that the concept of the Inter-State
Commission, for which the founders of our. Constitution
obviously envisaged a major role in Federal relationships,
has except for a brief period six decades ago been ignored
by Australian Governments.
" After more than two years of careful planning
we have now reached a stage where we can decide upon a
role and structure for the Commission which we believe
will enable it to function in a way consistent with its
original conception. " A clearly developed and defined role for the
Commission will evolve over time and in the light of
experience." Mr Whitlam. said the Australian Government
intended the Commission to play a major role in the transport
field in accordance with the intention of the Constitution.
Mr Whitlam. said the Inter-State Commission,
was first appointed in 1913 following an Act of Parliament
introduced by the Fisher Labor Government of 1912. One of
the first acts of the Menzies Government in 1950 was to
repeal the Act. The restored Inter-State Commission will consist
of a President and four other Members, all full-time. In
accordance with Section 103 ( ii) of the Constitution, they
will be appointed for terms of seven years.
" Although the Commission will not be a judicial
body it is considered appropriate that, in view of its
important role and its unique Constitutional status and
authority, the President should have the same rank, status
and precedence as a Justice of the High Court and that other
Members should have comparability with Judges of the Australian
Industrial Court. / 2
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" It will be apparent from this that we shall
be seeking men of the highest calibre to fill positions on
the Commission," Mr Whitlam said.
CANBERRA. A. C. T.