PM Transcripts

Icr use of assistid
enhance proto
U. S. and EEC
ng a substantial
of agricultural
irotracted negoic
level of Aus-
Sagreed figure of
matisfactory than
as a strong comse
that the rural
jtion to our sura
vital role in the
nt recession. All
ig called upon to
very. I can assure
to bear a disproow
has brought
Smost States of
drought and, in
onstrate the very
lethods of assess-
I wish you every
: claring the third
imary Industry,
more aggressive
rimary produce
ew and expandincreasing barcrnment
would
, Itain access to
ie Middle East
entitled ' The
Id Trade and
cheon held by
' elopment of
in, China and
of Australia's
Ir Kerin said
have become
iral products
n the future.
tic. re flecting
in domestic
lent between
. ide primar)
panded mar-
' the drought
growth. Bupoint out
> r to its long The Minister added that restoring balance and
growth to the Australian economy would also depend
on a sustained recovery in the world economy.
While he welcomed signs of progress in the U. S.
economy, Mr Kerin warned that pressure on the U. S.
dollar, and fears of it fuelling inflationary pressures
and rising interest rates meant the ' recovery' had to be
viewed with caution.
The Minister also warned of the dangers of a trade
war between the U. S. and the EEC and said that of
J particular concern to Australia is the potential for
enormous damage to our rural industries from subsidised
competition in our export markets especially
from the EEC.
Mr Kerin said that in formulating its economic strategy
the Government had been mindful of the impact of
its policies on primary producers.
Prime Minister
Message to Robert de Castella
15 August 1983 The following message was today
sent to Robert de Castella by the Prime Minister, the
Hon. R. J. L. Hawke:
Your great victory in Helsinki, establishing you unquestionably
as the world's top marathon runner, is one that has
delighted all of Australia. Your dedication and commitment
are an example to all of us. We all extend to you our
warmest congratulations.
Impact of Sex Discrimination Bill
18 August 1983 The Minister Assisting the Prime
Minister for the Status of Women. Senator the Hon.
Susan Ryan, said today:
Under the Sex Discrimination Bill 1983, discrimination in
employment on the ground of sex is unlawful and the Bill
contains machinery to deal with complaints from people
who believe they have been discriminated against.
However the bill exempts certain conduct so that it is not
unlawful to discriminate against a woman on the ground of
sex in relation to her employment, engagement or appointment
in a Defence Force position involving combat or
combat-related duties. The meaning of ' combat-related
duties' is to be prescribed by regulations.
That means if the position of pilot in the RAA. F is classilied
as combat-related a woman who is discriminated
against when pilots are employed will have no case to bring
under the legislation.
It does not mean that if the RA,\ F decided to hire a
woman pilot that Sex Dicrimination Bill would provide
anN legislative obstacle. It is therefore incorrect to state that
when the Bill comes into effect. women will be barred by
law from combat and combat-related duties in the Defence
Force. The Government has initiated and inter-depart niental
review of Defence Force employment of women. The review
in which the Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet and the Attorney-General's Department will take
part. is to commence shortly.
The aim of the rcvics is to identify those duties in the
Defence Force which are combat and combat-related and 1.
the positions to which they relate. It is intended that the review
will result in furthering the Government's objective of
broadening of opportunities for women in the Defence
Force. Passage of the Sex Discrimination Bill will in no way
limit opportunities for women in the Defence Force.
Resources and Energy
Catalogue on water research
16 August 1983 The Minister for Resources and Energy,
Senator the Hon. Peter Walsh, today announced
the publication by his Department of the first issue of
Water Research in Australia. Current Projects. This
catalogue contains summaries of all water research
projects being undertaken in Australia during 1982,
and includes details of nearly 850 projects.
Contributions were received for the catalogue from
a large number of organisations, and their co-operation
will ensure that this publication becomes a key reference
document on the national water research effort. It
will be particularly useful in identifying gaps and
eliminating duplication in water research in Australia.
It represents the first tangible result from the recently
established national water information data base
STREAMLINE. The document is being widely distributed in
Australia and to a range of key institutions in other
countries. The research in progress information on the
data base will be updated annually to provide a current
record of water research throughout Australia.
Copies of Water Research in Australia" Current
Projects 1982 are available from the Department of
Resources and Energy and the Australian Government
Publishing Service bookshops.
Speech to World Solar Congress
18 August 1983 The following is the text of a speech
by the Minister for Energy and Resources. Senator the
Hon. Peter Walsh, at the World Solar Congress in
Perth: For some years the highest profile energy policy issue
debated in Australia has been that of nuclear power. There
is negligible dissent from the view that Australia itself has
no need for nuclear power---at least for some time. The debate
has focused on whether Australia should facilitate, as a
major supplier of uranium. the nuclear power plans of
other countries.
Opposition to Australian involvement is dericed principally
from fears about the immediate and long term cnvironmentnal
dangers of nuclear power including, at the extreme.
the possibility of unrestrained nuclear war. the
environmental consequences of which, for the humian
species ai least, would probably be terminal.
Use of fossil fuels, the major present source of primary
energy. does not entail that spectacular threat to human
existence. It does however, in common with nuclear power.
liberate additional heat which may have signilicant effects
on the world's climate. More importantly, it dumps in the
atmosphere obnoxious gases like sulphur dioxide and carbon
dioxide the gas which, though inert, is widely believed
to have the potential to significantly increase temperature
and drastically change rainfall distribution.
ugust 198315-21 August 1983 Commonwealth Record