FOR PRESS AUGUST 1977
COMMONWEALTH ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
The Prime Minister today has advised Premiers that $ 165.3 million
will be made available to the States for pa~ ssing to local
government authorities as general revenue assistance in 1977-78
under arrangements provided by the Commonwealth in the Local
Government ( Personal Income Tax Sharing) Act 1976.
The amounts ' to be paid to each State in 1977-78,. together
with the corresponding amounts for 1976-77 are:
LOCAL GOVERNMENT TAX-SHARING ENTITLEMENTS
1976-77 1977-78
$ m Sm

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.1 AP81AL 1A
PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS I AUGUST 1977
ADDRESS AT BARTON BLECTORATE DINNER
It is a great pleasure to be here tonight to speak at a dinner
organised by Jim Bradfield's Electorate Committee. There were
some wonderful results in the last elect'-ion, but there were few
swings larger than the one in Barton.
We all owe a great deal to people like Jim and his Committeeand
to Maurice Neil and Don Dobie who are also here tonight,
for ensuring a Liberal victory at that watershed election 19

FOR PRESS 1 August 1977
SPECIAL GRANT FOR QUEENSLAND
The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, announced today that
Queensland would receive a special grant of $ 24.8 million
in 1977-78 in addition to its tax sharing entitlements.
The special grant was recommended by the Commonwealth Grants
Commission and comprises an advance grant of $ 14 million in
respect of 1976-77 and a completion grant of $ 10.8 million in
respect of 1975-76.
The total general revenue assistance paid to Queensland in
1976-77 payments of tax sharing entitlement plus special

3HA 31 July 1.977
Embargoed until 7.00 p. m. 3YB 4 August 197747,.
F77/ 163
4J) AUSlT AL L
PR9NME MINOSTER
FOR PRESS 31 JULY 1977
ELECTORATE TALK
This week, Australians heard more good news about progress in
our fight against inflation. The June quarter Consumer Price
Index increase of 2.4% was the lowest June quarter increase
for five years. The figure put Australia's inflation rate
over the last financial year as measured by the CPI at 10.2%.
This figure, of course, excludes the Medibank levy cost as health

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10.45 a. m.* PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 30 JULY 1977
ADDRESS TO VICTORIAN LIBERAL COUNCIL -MELBOURNE
It is a great pleasure to participate once again in a meeting of
the State Council, and I would like to take this opportunity to
thank Joy Mein for her support in the past twelve months. I am very
much looking forward to working with her in the year ahead. I
would also like to pay a special tribute to two Foundation Members
of the Party, who, after many years of distinguished service have

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3.00 p. m. JjA U ST LIA
PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 29 JULY 1977
ADDRESS AT OPENING OF KANANDA DISTRICT COUNCIL YOUNG FARMERS
CONFERENCE : WARRNAMBOOL
It is a great pleasure to be invited to open your Annual Conference.
You could not have picked a better electorate in which to hold it.
It has been quite a wrench for me to spend so much time away from
my property over the past few years. Still, there are so many
other farmers in the present Cabinet, I almost feel at home in
Canberra these days.

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4.00 p. m. PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 28 JULY 1977
PRIME MINISTER'S ADDRESS AT THE OPENING OF DOWELL'S FACTORY, HAMILTON
It is a great pleasure to be here today to open Dowell's new factory
and warehouse on the Hamilton Industrial Estate. I understand that
Dowell is a company of great initiative. Indeed, such is their
initiative that although I am opening this factory today it has in
fact been in operation since April. So I suppose these few words
should be called my re-opening remarks.

EMBARGO: 2.00 P. M.
JJU STRALIA&
FOR PRESS 27 JULY 1977
ADDRESS TO ADELAIDE ROTARY CLUBS
It is a great pleasure to be able to speak to you today.
The latest economic indicators have been most encouraging. This
week, the June quarter Consumer Price Index was announced
the increase was 2.4 percent; over the year, excluding
Medibank effects, the index rose 10.2 percent, substantially below
the 15.8 percent increase over the year to June 1976. The
annual inflation rate is now approaching single digit levels,

F77/ 159
FOR PRESS 27 JULY .1977
MESSAGE. TO. MR.. WRAN
The Prime Minister has sent the following messages today to
State Premiers. The first message was sent to Mr. Wran and
the following messages to the other Premiers.
My dear Premier,
I refer to your telex letter of 24 July advising that your
Government is considering the appointment of a Royal Commission
on Drugs arnd seeking Commonwealth co-operation.
May I emphasise at the outset that my Government is deeply
concerned about the sources and illegal use of and the

EMBARGO: 6.00 p. mi. .121! C; LzL 26 JULY 1977
4AUST ALIA,, bk
Visit by HRH The Prince of-Wales
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales has accepted an
invitation from the Commonwealth Government to visit Australia
in November primarily as Patron of The Queen's Silver Jubilee
Appeal for Young Australians.
Announcing the visit today the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser,
said that the primary purpose of Prince Charles' coming at that
time is to undertake engagements in connection with the Silver