EMBARGO: 3.00 p. m.
PRWME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 16 NOVEMBER 1977
PUBLIC SERVICE TRANSFERS TO CANBERRA
The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, announced today that the
Commonwealth Government intended transferring approximately
500 Public Service and Defence Service positions from Melbourne
to Canberra in 1978/ 79, and transferring further contingents
total~ ling about 500 positions in the two subsequent years.
In adaition, the Government has approved the pennanent location
in Canberra of the Human Rights-Commission, the Commonwealth
Legal Aid Commission, and the Institute of Criminology, which
together would have an establishment of over 100 positions.
The units to be transferred from Melbourne in 1978/ 79 are:
Department of Defence 195 positions
Department of Transport 164 positions
Department of Employment and 50 positions
Industrial Relations
Department of Construction 75 positions
Further staff of the Departments of Construction and Transport
will be transferred to Canberra during 1979/ 80 and the remainder
of the Department of Construction transfers will be effected during
1980/ 81.
" These transfers will continue the process of consolidation in Canber
of policy advising and related support Central Office staff of
Commonwealth departments which I referred to in December last J'ear
when announcing the 1977/ 78 transfer programme.
The Government believes that the efficiency of its administration
and the standard aind responsiveness of advice its receives, will
be enhanced by these moves. It is essential for the Ministry
to have ready access and effective communication with its policy
advisers",, Mr Fraser said.
The Prime minister also noted that the transfer would assist the
Government's aim of restraining government expenditure by producing
long term savings in communication and travel costs. / 2
" Thie transfer decisions have not been taken lightly", the
Prime Minister said. " The Government is very conscious of
the impact such decisions have on the affected officers and their
families. In accord with past practice, it it intended that
conditions of employment, timing and other aspects of
impleentation of the transfers will be the subject of consultation
between departmental management and the Peak Councils within
the framework of the Canberra Relocation Coordinating Committee
chaired by the Public Service Board. As-in the past, those
public. servants whose positions are subject to complusory
transfer will receive at least twelve months notice of this".
He added that consultations on the Government's intentions had
been sought with Peak Councils on a confidential basis prior to the
announcement of final Government decisions. The Peak Councils had,
however, declined to enter into such consultations on this basis.
However, full opportunity would still be available to the Peak Councils
to consult on implementation of the transfers as indicated above.
The Prime Minister noted that the transfers would have a major
beneficial effect on the service industries in Canberra.
Canberra's role as the National Capital would be strengthened
by these decisions.