PM Transcripts

3J) AUSTRALIA i
PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 17 MAY 1978
ASSISTANCE TO CATTLE PRODUCERS
AFFECTED BY BLUETONGUE VIRUS
The Prime Minister has written to the State Premiers seeking
their agreement to sharing the cost of a number of measures
to assist cattle producers financially affected by bluetongue
control measures. The Minister for the Northern Territory has
written to the Majority Leader of the Legislative Assembly
extending a similar cost-sharing proposal to operate from
1 July 1978. Assistance costs in the Northern Territory in
1977/ 78 will be met by the Commonwealth.
It is important that producers' incomes not be eroded any
further as a result of control measures imposed by Commonwealth
and State animal health authorities.
The Prime Minister outlined the program of financial assistance
that has been proposed to the States, and the Northern Territory
Legislative Assembly. The proposed assistance measures comprise:
payments to offset mustering costs during 1978
and for movement of stock in control areas in
the Cape York Peninsula, the Northern Territory
and the Kiinberleys. This assistance would be at
the rate of $ 3 per head with a maximum of
$ 3,000 per property.
payments to compensate for costs of blood testing
of cattle at the rate of $ 5 per head for survey
and surveillance testing and $ 10 per head for
movement testing.
provision of funds in the Northern Territory,
Queensland and Western Australia for the urgent
acquisition of virology laboratory equipment.
The assistance proposed by the Commonwealth is dependent upon
agreement of the relevant States to share costs on a dollar
for dollar basis and to undertake administration of this scheme.
The Prime Minister has asked Premiers to respond to the Commonwealth
Government's offer as a matter of urgency.