PRIME MINISTER PRESS STATEMENT NO./, L-C-
23 April 1975
JOINT PRESS STATEMENT BY THE1 PRIME MINISTER, MR WHITLAM,
AND THE TASMANIAN PREMIER, MR NEILSON
The Australian and Tasmanian Governments have
agreed on the terms for the transfer to the Australian
Government of the Tasmanian rail system.
The announcements were made jointly toda~ y
by the Prime Minister, Mr Whitlam and the Tasmanian
Premier, Mr Neilson. The agreements were concluded at discussions
in Canberra on Tuesday between Mr Whitlam, Mr Neilson
and the Australian Minister for Transpor-t, Mr Jones
and the Acting Treasurer, Mr Stewart.
The Prime Minister and Premier emphasised
that all employees of the Tasmanian Railways will be
employed in the Australian Railways service or the
Tasmanian Transport Commission and that the terms and
conditions of employment would be no less favourable than
those presently applied.
The Australian Government will assume
responsibility for the financial operation of the system
as from 1 July 1975 It will also assume the burden of
the appropriate portion of the railways deficit.
There will be a cash adjustment to the
Tasmanian Government this financial year, and an
appropriate adjustment to the level of financial
assistance grants in future years.
The agreement to transfer the Tasmanian
Railways resulted from the offer contained in the Prime
minister's Policy Speech of November 1972 for the
Australian Government to accept responsibility for the
railways of any State.
" This agreement, which follows on the
agreement reached for the transfer of the South Australian
non-rn etropolitan railways, represents a significant further
step towards the creation of a truly national railway
system," the Prime Minister and the Premier said.
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" It should provide opprotunity for the improved functioning
of the Tasmanian rail system through better co-ordination
with other elements of the expanded Australian National
Railways and also with the operations of the Australian
National Line."
CANBERRA, A. C. T. nln