-j AUb It Al IA., LL
PRIRM! MINISTER
FOR MEDIA 13 July 1983
The Prime Minister today announced the appointment of members
of the new Economic Planninq Advisory Council.
EPAC has been set up to continue the process of consultation
and information exchange started at the National Economic
Summit Conference.
Through EPAC, the Government will have available to it, on a
continuing basis, independent advice from State Governments,
the business sector, unions and community groups on the broad
conduct of economic policy, particularly in a medium and
longer term context.
The first meeting of the Council will be held in Canberra on
July 1983.
This will enable the Government to consult the Council and
have the benefit of its views during the course of the
Budget's formulation.
EPAC's views will supplement the already extensive consultation
which the Government has engaged in about the conduct of policy
both during the Summit and subsequently.
The Council will have 17 members, including three Federal
Government Ministers arid three State Government representativcs.
The States will be represented on the inaugural Council by the
Premiers of New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania.
The Federal Government will be represented by myself, the
Treasurer and the Minister for Employment and Industrial
Relations. Under the Act establishing EPAC, the State Government members
are to hold office for a period of up to two years.
The Government's intention is that one of the three State
seats will rotate between NSW and Victoria while the other
two seats will be shared among the remaining States and the
Northern Territory so that, over time, each of-those five will
get equal representation.
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The non-Government members were selected after consultation
with relevant industry and community orgjanisations. These
members, who have a four year term, are:-
Mr A. W. Coates
General 11Llanacjer and Director, AMklP Society
Mr B. N. Kelman
Director and General Manager, CSR Ltd
Mr D. N. Hughes
Chief Executive Cadbury Schweppes Australia Ltd and
President, Confederation of Australian Industry
Mr F. M. Davidson
President, National Farmers' Federation
Mr C. O. Dolan
President, ACTU
-Mr. W. J. Kelty
Secretary, ACTU
Mr C. H. Fitzgibbon
Senior Vice-President, ACTU
Ms J. Marsh
ACTU Advocate
Ms L. F. Cutts
Director, Australian Council of Local Government
Associations
Mr C. K. Menzies
Secretary-General ACOSS
Dr J. B. Braithwaite
Director, Australian Federation of Consumer Organisations
In addition to drawing on its own resources, the Council will
consult widely with Federal and State bodies and with
commercial, industrial, consumer, welfare and other
organ isations.
It will also have power to engage consultants and to form
committees and working parties to investigate matters on its
behalf. The membership of such working parties will not be restricted
to Council members and I expect the Council to seek the
assistance and involvement of others whenever this is appropriate.
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The Government appreciates community interest in EPAC's
future work and the contribution which will be made by
the members of the inaug~ ural Council.
The Council will play a significant role in national
economic policy formulation.