PM Transcripts

PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 3 MAY 1978
MEAT INSPECTION SERVICES
The Prime Minister has written to the State Premiers seeking
their co-operation to rationalise Commonwealth and State
meat inspection services. He has also asked the Premiers to
minimise inspection fees imposed by State Government bodies
on meat entering metropolitan markets.
Previous negotiations with the States extending over many
years have failed to reach agreement. Existing arrangements
involve separate administrative organiisations which lead to
some unnecessary costs.
It is common practice for State Governments to impose an
additional inspection levy on meat sold within metropolitan
areas.
The Prime Minister said as this was a State Government responsibility
he had asked the Premiers to see if these additional
charges could be minimised.
It was important to explore avenues to reduce costs and improve
returns to producers in the depressed beef industry. Such an
initiative had already been taken with the Prices Justification
Tribunal inquiry to examine beef marketing and processing
margins. The Prime Minister is hopeful that with the co-operation of
the States it will be possible to rationalise meat inspection
services and keep charges to a minimum.