PM Transcripts

PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA MONDAY, AUGUST-10 .1981
SPECIAL GRANTS FOR QUEENSLAND AND THE NORTHERN TERRITORY
The Vrime Minister, Mr Fraser, announced today that in
1981r82Queensland would receive special grants of
$ 58.5 million and the Northern Territory would receive an
additional assistance grant of $ 20 million. These grants
are general purpose revenue payments and are in addition to
the grants payable under the States .( Tax Sharing and Health
Grants) Act 1981.
Mr Fraser said that the special grants for Queensland payable
in 1981-82 were recor'xended by the Commonwealth Grants
Commission and comprise an interim grant of $ 25 million
in respect of 1980-81 and a completion grant of $ 33.5 million
in respect of 1979-80. The total special grant in respect
of 1979-80 will be $ 44.5 million; Queensland had already
received an advance grant of $ 11 million in 1979-80.
Mr Fraser also said that, in the case of the Northern Territory,
the Memorandum of Understanding provides phase-in arrangements
under which the Territory will receive in 1981-82 either an
additional assistance grant of $ 20 million or a special
grant on the recommendation of the Grants Commission ( based on
comparisons with the States), whichever is the greater. The only
special grant payable to the Northern Territory in 1981-82
recommended by the Com~ mission is a completion grant of
$ 3.3 million in respect of 1979-80. In accordance with the
Memorandum of Understanding, the Territory will therefore
be paid in 1981-1982 the additional assistance grant of $ 20 million.
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