PRESS OFFICE TRANSCRIPT 30 NOVEMBER 1978
PRESS CONFERENCE WITH NEWSPAPER JOURNALISTS
FOLLOWING ANNOUNCEMENT OF MINISTERIAL CHANGES
Prime Minister
Over the last two or three years the work load of the
Department of Employment and Industrial Relations has
expanded very greatly. I think we can see the results
in that in a greatly improved industrial climate which
comes partly from the relationship which has developed
between Tony Street and the trade union movement. Partly
also I believe from the changes to industrial law; the
introduction of the Industrial Relations Bureau which
has been workly but in a number of areas effectively.
At the same time, through the expansion of various training
programmes, the work load on that side of the Department
has also expanded enormously compared to earllier times.
If you wanted to go back before 1972 and before employment
became a significant problem, the Departnient then was
really an Industrial Relations Department. In recent times
the totality of effort required by the Perm. anent Head
and Minister has grown very greatly. In addition to that,
over a time, the needs of the community, the needs of
Government, in its own facilities for the community
vary in different concerns. Vary and change over time.
That's the reason for establishing two departments where there
will be two permanent heads, obviously, and two Ministers
involved: Tony Street with Industrial Relations, building
on the foundations that have been set and Ian Viner in
Employment and Youth Affairs. The resources of the Industrial
Relations Department will be expanded because there are some
areas where on a national industry and factory basis Tony
Street would have wanted to be able to spend more time but
over the past he has not been able to. A large part of
the work of the Department has been reactive. You react
to a dispute situation when it arises, or to a potential
dispute when you come to hear of it. From the outset it has
been our industrial relations policy the requirement to
develop, as much as possible, consultative processes and
relationships between management and labour that as far
as possible will help to prevent disputes arising. The
Minister and the Department will, under the new arrangements,
be able to devote much greater attention and time to that
aspect of industrial relations. I think this is in a sense
a new development in approach to the industrial arena and
one which no previous government or ministLer has embarked
upon. That is an area where Tony Street has wanted to be
more active than he has been and wanted the Department to
be more active than it has been, but under the pressures of
the total responsibility has not been possible.
Additionally, of course, in the new Department of Employment
and Youth Affairs, they are a very real concern to the
community and very concerns on the part of the Government
and certainly onU-ie part of myself to make sure that the
training programmes and services that are available run as
well as possible. Modified and changed as needs permit
and as circumstances show it to be desirable. That also
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Prime Minister: ( continued)
is an area which in oresent circumstances requires the
, attention of a senior minister on a full-time basis.
The other changes, in a sense, flow from these two.
They are set out in the statement. Fred Chaney to
Aboriginal Affairs. The changes that have been made
in Environment, Housing and Community Development
I think are natural and sensible. Housing goes to
Construction; Environment goes to Science wO. here those
responsible for the environment will be able to work
even more closer with the CSIRO and the resources in
that area which will help to strenghten the overall arm
of the Government in environmental matters.
Question When ( inaudible).
Prime Minister
Probably on the 5th. The details of the administrative
arrangements order have to be worked out.
Question ( Inaudible)
Question ( inaudible)
Prime Minister
A number of portfolios depend for their position on the
Minister that has them. Some portfolios obviously have
to be in Cabinet. The Treasury is the obvious example.
But other portfolios depend very much on the Minister.
Aboriginal Affairs wasn't in Cabinet, it ca-me into the
Cabinet because Ian Viner dame into Cabinet. I think he
has been remarkable successful in that portf~ olio but I
have every confidence that Fred Chaney will be a very good
minister for Aboriginal Affairs with the concerns and
sensitivities that are certainly very necessary in that area.
The list, there is much more of an indication to the extent
that this does mean something, it's an indication of people
rather than a rank in the importance of an actual portfolio.
Question ( Inaudible)
Prime Minister
I think that when Fred Chaney has show-n a'great interest
in that area already as you know and I think that interest
is known. I'm quite sure that he ' 11 win the confidence of the
Aboriginal people as Ian Viner did.
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Question ( Inaudible)
Prime Minister
There are official processes for the appointment of
Permanent Heads to Departments and those processes
will be that's under the Act as it is for the
appointment of Permanent Heads.
Question ( Laurie Oakes)
need not guarantee ( inaudible)
Prime Minister
That's correct-, yes. There's a committee of senior public
servants who wilmake recommendations tCo the Government.
Question How long will that take?
Prime Minister
I would have t;-hought those processes well they will be
set in train forthwith of course, through the course of
this coming week.
Question
What's the status at the moment... ( inaudible)
Prime Minister
Acting arrangements have to be made and I will-be seeking
advice also in~ relation to that.
Question ( Inaudible)
Prime Minister-
For the additional functions in industrial relations, I would
envisage additiional resources being needed.
Question
To what extent?,
Prime Minister
Again, we need advice on that. I do envisage the human
resources of the Department being expanded to enable it
to fill what Tony Street regards, and T regard, as a very
important role.
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Question It doesn't seem all that important now. In 1974 it
was very important with 6.3 million days lost, etc.
( inaudible)."'. it's only a quarter ofL that now and yet
you have to have a new Department to deal with the
problem which is virtually no longer a problem.
Prime Minister
I think industrial relations is a continuing matter for
concern because any dispute that occurs when it might not
have occured because of greater attention or greater
effort then it is a dispute that is unnecessary and damaging
and wasteful.
Question one of the reasons for lack of investment and overseas
-confidence. But given this record surely we can't
use that anymore as a reason for lack of economic recovery.
Prime Minister
I think you will find that quite a number of the disputes
that do occur in the export trade or on the waterfront and
therefore they do come to the notice of people overseas
to quite a considerable extent. The disputes that have involv. ed
Utah, the container disputes, and it clearly doesn't enhance
a country's reputation when trade is help up as a result of
industrial dispute.
Question ( Michelle Grattan)
( Inaudible)
Prime Minister
No. Environment, Housing and Cormmunity Development. It's
functions go to, in a sense, as I believe, their natural
home. Environment into Science, Housing to Construction,
Sport will go to...
Question To what extent will Mr. Viner... ( inaudible).
Prime minister
Well it depends what you mean by that. If you regard
NEAT as s-, ecially an employment training programme, These
are obviously programmes designed to try and get people
into work, in productive and useful work. The examination,
monitoring, expansion of these programmes has been undertaken
over the last couple of years in particular. I've got no
doubt there will be modifications. I've said publicly, and
Tony Street has, that there is a review of these particular
programmes underway at the moment. A number of suggestions
have been made to us. There are one or two interesting
experiments being undertaken in different areas.
Prime Minister ( continued)
Because of ourconcern, quite obviously these matt--ers
are reviewed continually and I believe the Gove'-rnment
will be better served and I think people who want assistance,
help, in this area, will also be better served by having a
Minister who can devote 100 percent of his time to these
particular problems. I've got no doubt that there will
be recommendations put to us from time to time but if there
is an implication in your question that that means a change
of the broad thrust of--economic policy, the answ,. er to
that part of it would be no.
Question Is there likely to be a review of the Government's overall
policy on employment, following on from this creation of
a new department?
Prime Minister
Not a review of the br-oad thrust of strategy.
Question ( Inaudible)
Prime Minister
That's the intention, but I will taking advice on that
point also. If you are writing that you can say it is
likely that.
Question the whole lot up.
Prime Minister
Not the whole lot up, no, because both Departm~ ents would
clearly need, as many Departments do, bases out in other
parts of Australia.
Question It will be headquartered in...
Prime Minister
If you are talking about the headquarters put it in terms
" it's likely that..."
Question What happens to the special established months ago
with Industrial Relations.
Prime Minister
That committee would be continuing. ./ 6
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Question: ( Inaudible)
Prime Minister:
It had work put in front of it and I'm not sure how often
it has met actually because I don't know ,. hen all Cabinet
Committees meet. It had matters put in front-of it and
a good deal of work was commissioned as a result of that.
I've got no doubt that the Committee will meet as it
feels necessary.
Question Could I just ask one question about the workings of that
Committee. There has been some confusion ahout it.
Will that Committee will particular disputes be
referred to that Committee?
Prime Minister
No, it was never intended to ( inaudible). If you've got
a major dispute, which the Minister feels needs referring
to other Ministers or to Cabinet, it could co to that
Committee or it could go to Cabinet. The major disputes
go the Cabinet anyway, or have done in the zast. So there
is nothing new in that. I think some of the writing at
the time was that all disputes will.. but that just hasn't
happened. It's not intended to happen.
Question ( Inaudible)
Prime Minister
Tony Street. That stays in his area.
Question ( Inaudible)
Prime Minister
The Ministers didn't know this announcement was being made
today but Tony Street will be handling that tomorrow. There
will times in the future. NLCC will stay in his area of
responsibility. There will times, clearly., when Ian Viner
will need to be present.
Question ( Inaudible) / 7
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Prime Minister-
I don't know what his movements are tomorrow. If he can
be, it would be helpful, but it's not mandatory and
Tony Street's quite capable of handling it.
Question Did you ask Yzr. Peacock if he wanted to change his
portfolio... ( inaudible).
Prime Minister
I'm not going to start commenting on conversatiorslI might
or might not : iave had with any other Ministers. I don't
blame you for trying it on, but I don't think you would
have expected any other answer.
Question
You say that the split of the EHCD will fit logically, naturally,
in other departments. How logical and how natural is
Mr. Newman with these likes atomic energy commission... ( inaudible)
and general energy development. It's a sort of twin
department to Trade and Resources ( inaudible). How does
urban planning and local government fit naturally and logically
into that?
Prime Minister
I think you've forgotten that he's also got decentralisation
responsibilities and the decentralisation...
Question
All I'm suggesting is
Prime Minister
Not at all. Local government matters very clearly go with
decentralisat ion.
Question How do they go with the Atomic Energy Commission or...
Prime Minister
I think you're suggesting that a Department sometimes only
has one functi_* on. I hope you are not suggesting there just
be one departm: ent for the Atomic Energy Authority.
Question But I can't see the logical / 8
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Prime Minister
It logically and naturally fits with some 1 asDects
of the Department of National Development.
Question Did you say a moment ago that none of the Ministers knew
that these changes were taking place?
Prime Minister
Of course the Ministers knew these changes were taking place.
Quite a significant nunber did but the question of timing
was one that they might not have been aware of.
Que stion
Can I ask you if the reference to the new arrangements
was "...( inaudible) industrial disputes". ( Inaudible).
Prime Minister
No. I think it is a cuestion of you can only do these
things with co-operation. Our industrial relations policy
has had, from the outset, in it the proposal that there
should be consultative procedures established in particular
work places which would enable management and labour to
consult on a continuing basis and not just in a crisis
atmoshphere when there is a real problem and a real difficulty.
Now such processes work in some industries and some work
places very well and very effectively. In others they work
very well or very effectively. In others just not enough
attention is given to it. In some, management might not be
interested. In others unions aren't interested. Therie is
a role to promote the concept of consultation in the
industrial environment much more vigorously and I think it
will take a good deal of time and effort. There are three
levels at which this can occur because in a sense disputes
come at different levels. It can -be local. It can be
industry-based and sometimes national. I know Tony Street
wants to work in this if you like preventative
arena on the national level, the industry level and on
an individual factory basis. I think it, in a sense, heralds
an important additional element in our attitude to industrial
relations and in the w.. ay we seek to go about promoting a
better industrial cli-zate.
Question Did he say he was more interested in this prevention... rather
than the employment side
Prime Minister
Again, I don't want to talk about the particular information
to Ministers. Tony Street I believe has been remarkably
successful in the industrial relations environment and in
the other area also, but the plain facts are that the / 9
9-
Prime Minister ( continued)
responsibilities in both areas have groTrn very greatly
and the time involved has grown very greatly. I certainly
believe he's got a continuing contribution to make in theindustrial
relations environment which may be uniquely
his. He's got a very great capacitLy to get on with members
of the trade union movement that I think surprised some
people when he was originally appointed to the job.
Question ( Inaudible)
Prime Minister
He's been staying out at the Lodge tk-his week and we discussed
these things at length and it is my very strong impression
that he is where he wants to be.
Question ( Inaudible) extent of your ministerial changes?
Prime Minister
I have nothing else in mind at all.
Question You said last week that no changes wxere in contemplation...
Prime Minister
Yes I did. I've been thinking of how, for
some time, how to give more attention to the very real
needs in our community in certain areas and to the changing
basis of those needs. You can be king about it and
not quite know how to respond to it.
Question But you said not in contemplation.
Prime Minister
I didn't have ministerial changes in contemplation.
Question You didn't?
Prime Minister
No.
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Question ( Inaudible)
Prime Minister
No, I didn't.
Question
You just wanted to think of ways to give m~ ore attention
to ( inaudible).
Question
What is the employment prospect that faces the news
of ( inaudible).
Prime Minister
You've got Tony Street's statement and other statements
in relation to that. The prospects are =-lI there. There
are a number of factors that have an i--ract on what is
going to occur in the employment arena. Some af these are
under our own control in relation to inflation and changes
in wage levels -,, here the attitude I have is virtually
identical with that of Dennis Healey or -: he British Prime
Minister. Others can also be affected by what happens
overseas. Because inflation has tended " o increase rather
than to continue to diminish in North Arn== erica and a number
of countries in Europe I don't think you can expect to
find an expansion in world trade, in world markets, which a
year ago many of us were hoping for. That means that we
will have to be more reliant on our own efforts to overcome
our problems and even more vigorous in m~ aking A\ ustralian
industries more competitive: to get a hb%; ger share of our
domestic marketl-and at the same time to enable more people
to get into the export arena. There' s b-eginning to be
some encouraging news in relation to the exports of
manufacturers. Question talks with ?, inisters over the last ccu-2ple of days.
( Inaudible)
Prime Minister
Some Ministers, because of the nature their job, you
see very often and you are talking with them but other
Ministers, because their task might be out of the mainstream
of public concern, you don't talk to in relaxed way about
their concerns and problems and how the-y feel matters are
going in their portfolio and I wanted to do just that.
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