House of Representatives
24 November 1978

31st Parliament · 1st Session

  1. House of Representatives
  2. 31st Parliament
  3. 1978

Mr SPEAKER (Rt Hon. Sir Billy Snedden) took the chair at 10 a.m., and read prayers.

page 3397

PETITIONS

The Clerk:

– Petitions have been lodged for presentation as follows and copies will be referred to the appropriate Ministers:

Retail Oil Industry

To the honourable Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned citizens of Australia respectfully showeth:

We citizens of the Commonwealth, employed in the small business sector of the oil industry, earnestly request our government to implement, as quickly as possible, the package of measures as announced by the government on 31 October, 1978, designed to ensure that many thousands of Australia’s small businessmen and their employees be retained in the retail oil industry.

And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray. by Sir William McMahon, Mr Armitage, Mr Lionel Bowen, Mr Carlton, Dr Edwards, Mr Gillard, Mr Les Johnson, Mr Kerin, Mr Les McMahon, Mr Martin and Mr Stewart

Petitions received.

Medical Benefits: Abortions

To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled. The petition of the undersigned citizens of Australia respectfully showeth:

That the provision of payments for abortion through items of the Medical Benefits Schedule is an unacceptable endorsement of abortion which has now reached the levels of a national tragedy with at least 60,000 unborn babies being killed in 1977.

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that the Government will so amend the Medical Benefits Schedule as to preclude the payment of any benefit for abortion.

And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray. by Mr Lynch, Mr Aldred, Mr Burns, Mr Falconer, Mr Roger Johnston and Mr Yates.

Petitions received.

Pornographic Publications

To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled:

The humble petition of the undersigned citizens of Australia respectfully showeth:

That we the undersigned, having great concern at the way in which children are now being used in the production of pornography call upon the government to introduce immediate legislation:

  1. To prevent the sexual exploitation of children by way of photography for commercial purposes;
  2. To penalise parents/guardians who knowingly allow their children to be used in the production of such pornographic or obscene material depicting children;
  3. To make specifically illegal the importation, publication, distribution and sale of such pornographic child-abuse material in any form whatsoever such as magazines, novels, papers or films;
  4. To take immediate police action to confiscate and destroy all child pornography in Australia and urgent appropriate legal action against all those involved or profiting from this sordid exploitation of children.

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that your honourable House will protect all children and immediately prohibit pornographic child-abuse materials, publications or films.

And your petitioners as in duty bound, will ever pray. by Mr Bungey, Mr Kevin Cairns, Mr Graham and Mr MacKellar

Petitions received.

The Budget

To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled:

The humble Petition of we the undersigned citizens of Australia respectively showeth-

That because this budget will further increase the number of persons unemployed, because it reduces the average worker’s spending power by $ 10 per week, because it will reduce the income of pensioners, because it is unfair in placing a greater burden on the poor rather than the rich, and because it is driving this country into a depression.

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that

The Federal Government withdraws this budget and provides Australia, within this session of Parliament, with a revised budget that increases the level of economic activity in Australia, lowers unemployment, removes the burdens placed on the disadvantaged, and revives business and consumer confidence in the future of this potentially great country.

And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. by Mr Armitage, Mr Jacobi and Mr Les Johnson.

Petitions received.

Australian Broadcasting Commission

To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled.

The humble petition of the undersigned citizens of Australia respectfully say we are concerned about the deteriorating standards of ABC radio and television programs.

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that Parliament take immediate steps to appoint an independent inquiry into the ABC which:

  1. Investigates the practical experience and qualification of the commissioners to perform their duties.
  2. Determines the effects of staff ceilings and reduction of funds, in real terms, on standards.
  3. Thoroughly reviews the organisation to determine its present effectiveness.
  4. Ascertains if any external or internal censorship exists.
  5. Makes recommendation to reduce censorship and improve the efficiency and standards.

And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. by Dr Cass, Mr MacKellar and Mr Eric Robinson.

Petitions received.

Retirement Conditions

To the Honourable the Speaker and honourable Members of the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled the petition of the undersigned citizens of North Queensland, support this protest at the unjust treatment by the Federal Government of people depending on the old age pension, which is considered to be below the poverty level.

That we protest at the Federal Government’s failure to provide all sections of the Australian community with conditions of retirement more comparable to that section who now retire in comfort under superannuation and long service leave schemes.

That immediate action be taken to provide that all sections of the Australian work force be allowed to retire under a more comparable level than that which exists at present

That we protest at the re-introduction of the means test for people over seventy years of age, especially those people who have already been assessed by the Social Security Department before being placed on a full age pension.

That we protest at the Government’s failure to honour their promise to have pensions adjusted in line with the C.P.I. cost of living adjustments, which is applied to all other sections of the community.

That the amounts allowed for earnings by single and married pensioners should be increased to a more comparable level to the high cost of living, before it affects the pensions.

That the amount allowable before a pensioner pays income tax which covers all forms of income, including the annual pension, should be increased, as the high cost of living warrants this consideration.

And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray. byDr Everingham and Mr Humphreys.

Petitions received.

Australian Capital Territory: Water Pollution

To the honourable the speaker and members of the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled:

The humble petition of the undersigned citizens of Australia respectfully showeth; that they are deeply concerned at the increasing pollution of areas within the ACT, and in particular Jerrabomberra Creek and its tributaries, especially in the area near the Integrated Forest Products plant and the Larry’s Creek and Paddy’s River. that pollution is a dangerous threat to the fragile ecology of these areas and is causing severe economic difficulties for individual people, especially in these areas. that there is completely inadequate environmental protection laws at the moment in the ACT. that there is an inadequate interest within the administration of the ACT for the problems caused by pollution, especially those problems which affect the livelihood of people who suffer through pollution.

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that the concern of those undersigned shall be recognised by the Parliament, and that the petition will not be simply forgotten among the many which Parliament receives. that action will be taken urgently to establish proper environmental standards to prevent water pollution in the ACT. that breaches of the law setting out those standards should be treated with the greatest seriousness.

And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. by Mr Fry and Mr Haslem.

Petitions received.

Red Army Choir

To the honourable, the Speaker, and the members of the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled. The humble petition of the undersigned citizens of Australia respectfully showeth:

That we have heard the expressed intentions of one entrepreneur to bring the Red Army Choir to Australia, and declare, that regardless of its artistic merits or demerits, the Red Army Choir is a military propaganda, glorifying the Soviet Regime which is still hostile to the democratic way of life. The Red Army is the symbol of power that is keeping formerly free people under subjugation, and its presence enables blatant violation of human rights to be perpetrated.

Your petitioners humbly pray that just as entry into Australian ports is denied Soviet warships, so too, will entry be denied to the Red Army Choir.

And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray. by Mr Hurf ord and Mr McLeay.

Petitions received.

Royal Commission on Human Relationships

To the Honourable Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled: The humble petition of the undersigned citizens of Australia respectfully showeth: That because the Report of the Royal Commission on Human Relationships and especially its Recommendations-

  1. Have been widely condemned for its support of unAustralian, anti-family, anti-child behaviour and morals such as incest, promiscuity, abortion, pornography, homosexuality, prostitution and brothels, etc. (Note: Refer quotations reverse side).
  2. Have been strongly criticised by the medical profession for the absence of any medical practitioner on the Commission or on its staff of 31 persons, and for the Commissioners action in rejecting or ignoring relevant medical evidence.
  3. Have been discredited as irresponsible in adoting a new definition of the family,i.e., “a varying range of people living together in relationships of commitment”, which has effectively confused the real meaning and intentions of the Report where it refers to the ‘ family ‘ ‘ ‘.

Therefore the Parliament has a responsibility to the families of Australia not to adopt this controversial Report and Recommendations.

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray:

That the Australian Parliament will: -

  1. Simply receive the Report and not adopt its Recommendations,
  2. Set up a Select Parliamentary Committee along the lines of the New Zealand Select Committee to conduct a public inquiry into the ways and means of supporting and strengthening family life and providing adequate protection for children from physical and sexual abuse before as well as after birth in accordance with U.N.O. Declaration of the Rights of the Child as part of Australia’s support for the Year of the Child.

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that your honourable House will take no measures concerning the Royal Commission on Human Relationships Report that will further undermine and weaken marriage, child-care or the family which is the basic unit of our society.

And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. by Mr Kevin Cairns.

Petition received.

Aboriginal Land Rights

To the Honourable the Speaker and honourable Members of the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled.

This petition of citizens of Australia respectfully showeth that

  1. Australia’s Aboriginal and Islander peoples have not been compensated for the loss of their traditional land, social and cultural independence and self-respect.
  2. Australia lags behind other nations with white majorities in providing a Treaty of Commitment to its indigenous people giving them a defined proportion of national income for a defined period freehold title to traditional land, waterways and seaboards control over related resources and over the introduction of alcohol and other alien cultural influences in their regions.

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that your honourable House will take urgent steps to concur with the wishes of a majority of electors at every polling booth in Australia at the 1967 referendum by resumption from the States of the major traditional Aboriginal land areas and reserves and former reserves as at 3 1.3.78, to become federal Crown land pending prompt determination of freehold title for Land Trusts and eventually for defined community co-operatives.

And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. byDr Everingham.

Petition received.

Medibank

To the right Honourable the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled:

The humble petition of undersigned citizens of Australia respectfully showeth-

That, contrary to election promises, the Federal Government is progressively dismantling Medibank to the detriment of those most in need and, in the long run, at the expense of national health.

Your petitioners most humbly pray that the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled, should- retain bulk billing; ensure that there be no decrease in refund rates; ensure that long term hospital patients be not penalised; continue refunds on termination of pregnancy; pledge that no further cuts in Medibank be made.

And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray etc. byDr Everingham.

Petition received.

Taxation

To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled:

The humble petition of undersigned citizens of Australia repsectfully showeth-

Any proposal for a broad-based indirect tax, or valueadded tax, such as that which the Treasurer has directed the Taxation Commissioner to review, would

  1. have an inflationary effect on the economy, depressing, to an even greater degree, the already low levels of consumer spending
  2. involve retailers and other business people, who would be charged with its collection, in keeping records of every sale and the tax due and paid
  3. be complicated and expensive to administer,
  4. be an iniquitous and insidious impost inasmuch as both low and middle income earners would be hit hardest by its introduction, and, by building taxes into prices, the Government would be concealing the source of taxation, unlike taxation based on income, which is a more visible and equitable impost.

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that the House will request the Government to reject any proposals for any retail tax which would apply a surcharge to goods and services at each stage of production.

And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. by Mr Humphreys.

Petition received.

Skyline Post Office, Queensland

To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled.

The petition of the undersigned citizens of Brisbane respectively showeth:

That they object to the proposed closure of the Skyline 4 1 70 Post Office early in 1979.

That the Post Office has served local residents for more than 24 years.

That many residents will be disadvantaged.

And that the Post Office should not be closed.

And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray. by Mr Humphreys.

Petition received.

Taxation

To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled. The humble petition of we the undersigned citizens of Australia respectfully showeth that:

The proposed introduction of a Retail Turnover Tax will

  1. Impose an intolerable burden on retailers- seriously inconvenience shoppers and prove difficult and expensive to administer.
  2. Increase the cost to consumers of clothing, food and other goods essential to maintenance of an adequate standard ofliving.
  3. Place a disproportionate tax burden on Australians least able to pay.

Your petitioners humbly pray that the Members in the House assembled will not introduce indirect tax measures such as a Retail Turnover Tax or the administratively more difficult Value Added Tax as to do so would exacerbate the inequalities in our taxing system.

And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray. by Mr Les Johnson.

Petition received.

Sydney (Kingsf ord-Smith) Airport

To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled. The humble petition of we the undersigned citizens of Australia respectfully showeth: That we oppose any expansion of the facilities of Kingsford-Smith Airport which entails the building of a new runway as it would have the following detrimental effects.

  1. The loss of one mile of waterfront including Lady Robinson’s Beach and a huge part of Botany Bay (2) The loss of up to 1,230 houses and a drop in valuation of remaining neighbouring properties (3) The creation of more noise pollution in the area (4) The creation of more traffic congestion on streets leading to and from the airport (5) The forced diversion of Cook’s River and further damage to the ecology of the area.

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that the Federal Government will not consider satisfying the airport needs of Sydney by extending Kingsford-Smith Airport and that any decisions related thereto are not taken before there is an opportunity for adequate consultation with any community particularly affected.

And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray. by Mr Les Johnson.

Petition received.

Pensions

To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled: The humble petition of the undersigned citizens of Australia respectfully showeth that the decision of the Government in its last budget to adjust pensions on a yearly basis causes undue hardship to pensioners whose standard of living is dependent on this sole source of income.

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that the Federal Government review its decision to index pensions on a yearly basis and accept that all pensions be adjusted on a quarterly basis so that Australians dependent on social security benefits are not forced to live below the poverty line.

And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray. by Mr Les Johnson.

Petition received.

Atomic Reactor

To the Right Honourable the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth in Parliament assembled. The humble petition of the undersigned citizens of the Sutherland Shire respectfully showeth:

That they oppose the construction of any additional reactor at the Australian atomic energy establishment at Lucas Heights in NSW.

And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray. by Mr Les Johnson.

Petition received.

Artificial Sweeteners

To the honourable the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled.

We the undersigned members of the Order of the White Cross International, a Humanitarian Knighthood for the Defence and Protection of Life and residents of the Commonwealth of Australia by this our humble petition respectfully showeth:

That the undersigned petitioners are deeply concerned about the steady increase of artificial sweeteners in the form of cyclamates and saccharin, or the combination of both, and that the regular use of these substances in conjunction with a range of other chemical additives present in manufactured foodstuff constitute a threat to the health of the human being and must therefore have a remarkable influence on the longevity of people in a negative form, since:

  1. Artificial sweeteners must be considered as carcinogens, according to research results throughout the world, lately by the U.S. National Academy of Research and Science, being active contributors to the ever increasing rate of cancer and also being the cause for a variety of physical and mental damages to individuals, subjected to continued consumption of artificials.
  2. Foodproducts containing artificial sweeteners, colourings, flavourings, as well as preservatives are in contrast to food derived from plant-sources only, grown in the soil of the country, and it should not require scientific proof, but commonsense to realise that chemical polluted foods cannot be beneficial to mankind and life in general. The Leader and Lord of Knights of the Order of the White Cross International, Dr Paul Robert Neuman has submitted several petitions to Federal Parliament, urging the Government to ban or at least to curb the use of these chemicals without causing noticeable action by the Government. We firmly believe that the public need to be encouraged to use sweeteners of plant origin, either present in fruit or derived from cane and beets.
  3. The banning or at least the restriction of these chemicals must consequently boost demand for natural fruit and natural sugar, creating progress and viability for the fruit and canegrowers, indeed creating favourable conditions for the food export sector and causing reductions in the unemployment figure, since the actual manpower engaged in this field of the chemical industry is small, compared with manpower required to replace the chemicals with agricultural products.

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that:

  1. The Government restricts the sale of artificial sweeteners to persons suffering from diabetes under the control and prescription of medical practitioners.
  2. The Government bans all forms of advertising in favour of artificial sweeteners.

And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray. byMrMacKellar.

Petition received.

Income Tax Levy

To the Honourable Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled:

The humble petition of the undersigned citizens of Australia respectfully showeth our deep concern for the recently imposed personal income tax levy.

The enormity of Government’s recently introduced income tax levy applicable first pay period November has displayed callous and ruthless disregard for all salary/wage earners particularly from shop floor to middle management familyman areas. To pay-as-you-earn employees on monthly salary the effect on fixed family budgeting is so severe that many of us will defer indefinitely, or altogether, essential purchases of replacement household appliances and allied household expenditure, which if allowed to proceed will have an alarming effect on total economy of our nation in times already troubled by inflation and unemployment. We seek your urgent assistance to assure the respective members that this wrong is promptly put right and certainly not later than January 1979 and that net indexation of that time is not less than the equivalent net amount being appropriated by this latest burden. We are not union members with so called professional union protection, but citizens who ask nothing more than rational fair play for us and our families. Your petitioners humbly pray that your honourable House will take steps to immediately remove this levy. by Sir William McMahon.

Petition received.

Metric System

To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled:

The petition of the undersigned citizens of Australia respectfully showeth objection to the Metric System and request the Government to restore the Imperial system.

And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray. by Sir William McMahon.

Petition received.

South Australian Country Rail Services

To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the House or Representatives in Parliament assembled. The humble petition of the undersigned citizens of Australia respectfully showeth:

  1. That any downgrading or closures of Country Rail Services in South Australia would have grave consequences for the Railway Industry, Primary Industry, Individual Country Communities and the State as a whole and calls on the Parliament to ensure that the Federal Minister for Transport takes the necessary action to maintain all existing services.
  2. That continued and increased Public Subsidy is fully justified in the long term National Interest by Mr Porter.

Petition received.

Royal Commission on Human Relationships

To the Honourable Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled: The humble petition of the undersigned citizens of Australia respectfully showeth:

That because the Report of the Royal Commission on Human Relationships and its Recommendations-

  1. contain matters of substance which ought to be pursued.
  2. result from a wide range of submissions made by Australians from all walks of life.
  3. identify many problem areas requiring attention.
  4. have been given media coverage which grossly distorts the contents.
  5. have thus far been ignored in Parliament.

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray.

That the Australian Parliament will:

  1. debate the Report and its Recommendations.
  2. make provision for rational public debate on the Report and its Recommendations.
  3. encourage its Members to support such public debate in their electorates.

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that your honourable House will implement such measures to maintain the Commissioners’ ‘belief in the right and integrity of the individual to make free choices in the context of human relationships, and to have access to the knowledge and skills which give such a free choice meaning ‘.

And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray. by Mr Scholes.

Petition received.

Commonwealth Public Service: Early Retirement Program

To the Honourable, the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled.

The petition of the undersigned citizens of Australia respectfully showeth:

That the rate of unemployment is causing concern with a growing number of people in the community and that the community at large and the Government should take urgent steps to lessen the incidence of unemployment particularly unemployed young people.

That there are approximately 10,500 Commonwealth public servants who could voluntarily retire if the retirement age was reduced to age 60 and that the number of public servants in each State who could similarly retire would substantially decrease the number of public servants thereby creating vacancies for the employment of young people.

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that the Government will proceed with its stated intention to introduce legislation providing for an early voluntary retiring program for the Commonwealth Public Service.

And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray. by Mr Simon.

Petition received.

page 3401

PUBLICATION OF HANSARD

Mr SPEAKER:

– I regret to inform the House that today’s issue of Hansard will not contain the complete record of yesterday ‘s proceedings. Last night, as a result of a malfunction in the pneumatic tube system which conveys Hansard copy to the Government Printing Office at Kingston, a considerable quantity of copy was jammed in the tubes and could not be extracted in time for publication. Consequently, that portion of yesterday’s proceedings which occurred after approximately 9.15 p.m. will be published in the same issue of Hansard as today’s proceedings.

page 3401

CENSURE OF MINISTER FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRY

Notice of Motion

Mr HURFORD:
Adelaide

-I give notice that, at the next sitting, I will move:

That this House censures the Minister for Primary Industry because, among other reasons, he has failed:

to provide the Parliament with a satisfactory explanation in rebuttal of serious public charges made against him in relation to his financial affairs, and

to justify, in particular, taxation claims for misappropriations made by companies with which he is associated amounting to over one quarter of a million dollars which deductions cost the public purse over $115,000.

Mr SINCLAIR:
Leader of the House · New England · NCP/NP

– I seek leave of the House to move a motion to suspend so much of the Standing Orders as would prevent the honourable member for Adelaide (Mr Hurford) from moving forthwith the motion of censure against the Minister for Primary Industry (Mr Sinclair) of which he has given for the next sitting.

Leave granted.

Suspension of Standing Orders

Mr SINCLAIR:
Leader of the House · New England · NCP/NP

– I move:

That so much of the Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent the honourable member for Adelaide moving forthwith the motion of censure of the Minister for Primary Industry of which he has given notice for the next sitting.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Motion of Censure

Mr HURFORD:
Adelaide

– I move:

That this House censures the Minister for Primary Industry because, among other reasons, he has failed-

to provide the Parliament with a satisfactory explanation in rebuttal of serious public charges made against him in relation to his financial affairs, and

to justify, in particular, taxation claims for misappropriations made by companies with which he is associated amounting to over one quarter of a million dollars which deductions cost the public purse over $113,000.

I intend to raise in the public interest eight serious questions in relation to the conduct of this senior Minister of the Fraser Government, the Minister for Primary Industry (Mr Sinclair). I hope I have time to cover all eight serious questions. The first is: Why is it that 34 months after he has taken virtually sole control of his family financial affairs- that is, almost three yearsthere has been no satisfactory explanation in response to the grave charges, made against him in the public arena, about those family affairs? Indeed, it is now over IS months- nearly 16 months- since the suspicions surrounding these bizarre activities came to light. On 12 August 1977 the Minister issued a Press release which in part stated:

It has been reported that there is a deficiency of more than $250,000 in company funds.

The Press statement went on:

There are no amounts outstanding which have not been accounted for within the company or between the shareholders.

In the light of unfolding events, what an extraordinarily misleading statement to make. If no amounts were outstanding on 12 August 1977, nearly 16 months ago, why on earth have not this House and the people of Australia been given the courtesy of a comprehensive statement by this Minister? It should have been easy for this to be done if there were no amounts outstanding. Of course, if there was nothing to explain, why on earth have we not had that put before us. Of course, that was a misleading statement. There is much to explain. The only purpose of such a statement was to mislead the people and to mislead this Parliament. Not only were these amounts of over $250,000 outstanding but in the same Press statement the Minister went further in seeking to mislead by suggesting that he was not a shareholder in the companies concerned. That was another attempt to mislead.

I come to the second question: Why were these misleading statements made? The statement made on 12 August was only one of the misleading statements. There was the now infamous Willesee at Seven interview on IS August and screened on that day, and the answers to the former Leader of the Opposition in this Parliament on 4 October 1977. When questioned by Mike Willesee, the Minister said of the accounts filed with the annual returns:

These are personal accounts I might add and they haven’t been filed with anybody. It’s a private company.

This is an incorrect statement and a most regrettable misleading statement coming from a Minister of the Crown who was admitted to the New South Wales Bar and has said himself that he has had experience in accountancy in his father’s accountancy firm and considerable experience as a director and principal accounting officer of companies incorporated under New South Wales law. He knows that companies, even though they may be exempt proprietary companies, still remain subject to the application of the Companies Act as administered in New South Wales by the Corporate Affairs Commission. He knows this. The continuing suggestion that there has been impropriety in the administration of the companies- this is public evidence from the twice amended annual company returns lodged with the Corporate Affairs Commission- reflects on the administration of the Companies Act by that Commission.

The companies, being juridical persons, can only speak through physical persons. So far, this senior Minister of the Fraser Government has spoken on his own behalf but no one has spoken on behalf of the companies. If this is so, the New South Wales Attorney-General must defend these creatures of the law. He has been doing so through an inquiry by Mr Finnane. I do not anticipate the results of the inquiry. I do not use in this debate any evidence from that inquiry. I use only public evidence that is in the Press releases and the newspapers of this country. Such a public inquiry is vital. What explanations have been given by the Minister for Primary Industry cannot be regarded as satisfactory. The idea of the

Prime Minister (Mr Malcolm Fraser) that the inquiry should be terminated is monstrous. It must be rejected. In the interests of justice and propriety, such a suggestion should be rejected soundly. A further misleading statement has been made. I refer to a reply in this House on 4 October to Mr Whitlam, the then Leader of the Opposition, in this Parliament The Minister on that occasion said:

Although the company is a proprietary company; although the matter is entirely personal; although the circumstances are such that the term ‘misappropriation’ has already been explained in public … in front of television … to the Australian people . . . this affair is exclusively the business of the shareholders of the companies, not of the Leader of the Opposition, not of the people of Australia.

This I submit again is not correct. Annual returns lodged with the Corporate Affairs Commission are very much public documents. They are filed so that they will be available to the public for scrutiny. This is demanded by the law in exchange for the privilege of creating a legal entity, a company, which is a separate juridical person from its shareholders and able to limit its liability. Towards the end of his reply in the House, the Minister said:

I am quite prepared to accept responsibility for those statements which I signed.

Now there is doubt as to what he did sign or what was signed for him. He went on:

As, for the time being, I am executor of my father’s estate, I have little alternative but to exercise the responsibility that that places on me.

This is correct. The Minister has no alternative but to accept that responsibility and the further responsibility that the Companies Act of any State clearly thrusts upon company officers. Let us hear no more misleading nonsense that these affairs are only private and not public or of public concern.

That brings me to the third serious question which I place before this Minister. He clearly acknowledged that his father was a chartered accountant who was, at a time, an auditor of the companies. This is obvious from the twice amended returns. Section 162 (3) of the New South Wales Companies Aa states:

The directors of a company shall cause to be made out and laid before the company at each annual general meeting a balance-sheet as at the end of the financial year giving a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of the financial year.

Another section of that Act states:

A director shall at all times act honestly and use reasonable diligence in the discharge of the duties of his office . . .

When those two sections are read together the public is entitled to speculate as to whether the Minister for Primary Industry has been fulfilling his duties as a director. To make the link between the Minister’s competence as a company officer and his adequacy for public office is not unfair. He himself stated in an interview on AM on 21 November that he regarded the standards he has set in this House to be the same standards as anyone would wish a person in high office to set. In the Willesee interview the Minister was asked:

Who was the employee who was paid or benefited by the money?

He answered:

That’s neither your business or anybody else’s out there.

The Minister has repeatedly glossed over the misappropriation. We know that it is at least $250,000. That is what we know has been claimed under section 71 of the Act. We know that if the section 5 1 claims had been agreed to the misappropriation would have been in the order of $265,000 or more. He claimed that the companies owed as much, if not more, in loans compared with the amount ‘borrowed’ by the misappropriator and said that the accounts supported his assertion. They do not support that assertion. It may be that he is aware of the identity of the employee involved. The facts demand that the borrower had an authority to sign cheques and it is extremely unlikely that the Minister canhot at least guess his identity.

The third major question is: Why has not this Parliament been told about these misappropriations in greater detail? Taxation claims have been made, the public purse has lost at least $ 1 1 5,000 at 46c in the dollar company tax and if the claim is greater than $250,000 of course the loss to the public purse is greater than $1 15,000. Section 174 of the New South Wales Crimes Act is worth noting. I shall precis it:

Whosoever, being a director, or officer … of any body corporate . . . receives . . . any of the property of such body corporate . . . otherwise than in payment of a just debt, and, with intent to defraud, omits to make … a true and sufficient entry thereof in the books … of such body corporate . . . shall be liable to penal servitude for 14 years.

By virtue of the words ‘penal servitude’ this offence is a felony. Section 350 of the Crimes Act states that every accessory after the fact to such a felony shall be liable to penal servitude for five years. An accessory after the fact may be defined as anyone who gives any assistance whatsoever to a felon to hinder his being apprehended, tried or suffering punishment. It is possible that whoever ‘borrowed’ the amount of more than $250,000 committed an offence under section 174 and anyone concealing his identity may be culpable as an accessory after the fact. However, it is worth noting that die Minister stated baldly to Willesee:

  1. . the misappropriation is not a criminal misappropriation.

That brings me to the fourth serious question. How on earth is a misappropriation not a criminal offence? When is a misappropriation criminal and when is it not? Why have not criminal proceedings been instituted? Have we had a police investigation or do we have a phantom criminal in our midst? These are genuine questions which should have been answered long before this.

Mr Birney:

– I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. That is a foul, miserable assertion and I suggest that the honourable member be ordered to withdraw that remark. He is becoming the prosecutor, the judge and the jury in this matter and he has no right so to do.

Mr SPEAKER:

-The honourable gentleman will resume his seat The honourable member for Adelaide will withdraw the remark. This is a debate on a censure motion. The honourable gentleman may make the accusations which he says will support the censure motion. I ask him to moderate his language.

Mr HURFORD:

- Mr Speaker, I do not think you will find in my language an assertion that anybody in this House is a criminal. If I have caused offence, certainly I withdraw. Contrary to the Minister’s assertions, matters involving misappropriations have come -

Mr Lucock:

– I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I have hesitated to take this point of order because I appreciate that the rule of sub judice is not quite applicable in this case. But I believe that certain events have taken place. I am not worried about those at the moment. The House can decide on the facts of the matter -

Mr SPEAKER:

-The honourable gentleman will make his point of order.

Mr Lucock:

– What concerns me is that a committee of inquiry in New South Wales is investigating these matters. In debating them in the House is there not the danger that the House is pre-judging something when the evidence and the facts relating to it are not yet completely known?

Mr SPEAKER:

-I have already ruled that the sub judice issue does not arise. The sub judice issue arises when a matter is before the courts. In this case one would think of it in terms of a criminal matter before the courts. If a charge were laid the matter would immediately become sub judice. No charge has been laid.

Mr HURFORD:

– We know that in the Willesee program to which I have referred a Mr Creighton Walsh mentioned the person whom he thought was the culprit in this case. We believe that it is over time for the Minister to clear everybody concerned with him in this case. He has had sole control for 34 months. We know that the person who was named by Walsh is now dead. But the people of Australia are entitled to a reliable assurance that this Minister has not benefited in any way from that person’s estate and that he will not benefit at least until the identity of the borrower is established. The Minister knows of the stories that are doing the rounds- the extra homes in Canberra, the houses in Woollahra, the extra properties at Bendemeer. It is time that he made a statement to this House clearing his name and clearing this subject from the Notice Paper. We too want a good old fashioned fair go. A fair go is the entitlement of this Parliament and the people of Australia as well as the Minister. If the Minister is to be allowed a fair go it is only possible if sufficient and uncontradictory information is given to this House. So far that has not been done.

I come to the fifth question. Could it be that the Minister wants to release this explanation when the Parliament is not sitting? A rumour is going around that he may be prepared to release it next week when, of course, the Parliament will not be able to question it. Is that why this House is getting up a week early, in a hurry? I believe that the Minister ought to put the statement before this Parliament. Will we have to wait until the third anniversary of this sordid affair before we know the answers? As a chartered accountant I am not without some knowledge of accounting matters. I know of no good reason why the community has had to wait 34 months for these matters to be cleared up. The Minister said almost 16 months ago that no amounts were outstanding. Rumour now has it that, as I have said, the statement is to be released soon. Why does he not release it today when we can question him before this Parliament? The question sits. Is the delay because the Minister is belatedly calling in another firm of chartered accountants? I would not object if that were so. I would welcome such a move. But it should have been done two years ago and it should not cause the postponement of an initial statement to this Parliament. I would welcome the move because I believe that justice not only has to be done but also has to be seen to be done.

I do not believe that the accountant who relies for so much of his income on Sinclair clients who have taken over the family firm is in a sufficiently independent position to be seen to be giving an objective report The charge has been made that he has been seen riding around in Commonwealth cars. I believe this is the opportunity for the Minister to answer that charge. The nature of the accountant’s work is such that there are many subjective decisions which must be made. It is public knowledge that an amount of $138,000 which loosely came under the heading of audit fees and accrued interest is swinging. It makes the world of difference if that amount is allowed to be treated under the heading of audit fees and accrued interest when it went from the Walsh companies to the Sinclair company or whether it is treated as a loan which is repayable and on which interest is to be paid. Subjective decisions have to be made. The accountant who makes those decisions should be seen to be independent and not be seen to be somebody who is getting the majority of his income from Sinclair clients. Everywhere one turns as one examines what is public knowledge in relation to these affairs, the more subjective decisions which benefit one family at the expense of another have to be made. Why has interest been charged only on some loans and not on others? Why has interest not been charged for the full period? That is the reason why we have to have a really independent accountant inquiring into this.

That brings me to question 7. Who on earth believes that one solicitor, a Mr Torok, can look after the interests of the disparate group of three shareholders? It is an indictment of this Minister, with his legal training, that he allows such an unethical and inequitable situation to continue. Already we have had the unedifying spectacle of one shareholder accusing the Minister of intimidation and the Minister cruelly dragging the past of that shareholder through this Parliament in an intimidatory fashion. Yet he still pretends that there is no conflict of interest. Who is there experienced in business affairs who cannot visualise the dominance of this Minister of Stateexperienced, a lawyer, accounting training, Deputy Leader of his party, a right honourable, for what that is worth, and apparently it is worth something to somebody, a person who has his own parliamentary colleagues accusing him -

Mr Yates:

- Mr Speaker, on a point of order, I ask that the charge made by the honourable member concerning the rank of right honourable, to which the Minister is entitled, shall be withdrawn.

Mr SPEAKER:

-I regret that the honourable member used it but I will not require him to withdraw.

Mr HURFORD:

– This is just another attempt to take up my time in a debate where there is so much information to bring forward. It is totally absurd that one solicitor could cover all the disparate groups, and the Minister knows it. It is another example of his dominance over the other two groups that he is continuing with this unethical situation. With my time being what it is, I come to the final question. Why on earth has he not at least stood down during this time? The Garlands and the Witherses and the Robinsons and all the rest were bound to stand down. Of course he should have done so.

Mr SPEAKER:

-Order! The honourable member’s time has expired. Is the motion seconded?

Mr KEATING:
Blaxland

-Yes, I second the motion. The whole defence of the Minister for Primary Industry (Mr Sinclair) has been one of a faithful son doing his best with a complex estate. That is the basic defence of the Government- one of a faithful son doing his best with a complex estate. This is false, this is a deception, and it is misleading Parliament. The Prime Minister (Mr Malcolm Fraser) said on 24 October 1978 that Ian Sinclair was the executor of his father’s will and that he reported the matters of the will immediately to the Australian Taxation Office and the New South Wales Corporate Affairs Commission. That was untrue, and the Prime Minister knew it to be untrue, because in fact it was 18 months after the death of George Sinclair before the Minister reported on 22 September 1977. That happened because Mr Creighton Walsh blew the gaff on the Minister on the Willesee program on 15 August 1977. So much for openness, so much for honesty, so much for the fair play of the Minister.

I do not rise on matters connected with the New South Wales Corporate Affairs Commission investigation, I rise on matters affecting the public purse of the Commonwealth and the revenue and the Taxation Office and to dwell on this question of misappropriations. Around that and the tax rebate which has come from it is the area where the Minister is culpable. The Minister used in an amended tax return in September 1977, in an amended report to the Corporate Affairs Commission of New South Wales, the heading ‘Losses by Misappropriation by Persons Unnamed. That was signed by Ian Sinclair. They are not loans to shareholders, because loans to shareholders of any company would have documentation and a liability would be clearly established. They are not loans to shareholders. In the Minister’s own words it is misappropriation and the document was signed by him. So there has been misappropriation.

We are now told the Australian Taxation Office has paid on those misappropriations. The company has claimed the misappropriation as a deduction against income and the Commissioner of Taxation has accepted the misappropriation. So the Allan Walsh companies, of which the Minister is a major shareholder, has received a tax rebate of $115,000 on a claim of misappropriation. This issue has nothing to do with the New South Wales investigation; it has to do with the revenue of the Commonwealth. What is important is that the Minister for Primary Industry has operated the accounts for the companies concerned for some years now. He is the one who knows all about them. He has had the cheque books. He says that misappropriations occurred. In that case, who is the embezzler? The Minister must know the identity of the embezzler. If the companies have claimed misappropriations, if the Minister has signed the document of misappropriation, and if the Commissioner of Taxation has paid on those misappropriations, then the Minister must know who the embezzler is. Why has the Minister not sought action to claim the moneys back from the embezzler or to identify the embezzler? Is the Minister protecting a felon? Obviously he is. We want to know why he is doing that.

Mr Birney:

– I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The suggestion that the Minister is protecting a felon is an allegation of a criminal offence. It is not only unparliamentary -

Mr Armitage:

– It is true.

Mr Birney:

– It is not true. It is a figment of the honourable member’s imagination. His allegation is unparliamentary, Mr Speaker, and I ask that he be requested to withdraw his statement.

Mr SPEAKER:

-The honourable gentleman will resume his seat. I ask the honourable member for Blaxland to withdraw the statement that he has just made.

Mr KEATING:

– I will withdraw that statement. Mr Speaker, and make this point: The Minister knows the identity of the embezzler. If funds have been misappropriated- the Minister manages the accounts of the companies- he knows who the embezzler is if, indeed, it is not himself. That is the issue before the House. The matter that the Opposition has raised is that the Prime Minister will not stand this Minister down, on the basis that no charge has been laid against him. That is not consistent with the action he took with other Ministers when he stood them down for lesser matters. He wants them either in the paddywagon or on bail before he will stand them down. That is the issue. They have to be either behind lock and key on charges or out on bail before the Prime Minister will stand them down. What is wrong with honourable members opposite? That is the issue. The Minister knows the identitity of the embezzler. We on this side of the House want to know why the Minister, as a director of the company concerned, has not sought to recover the moneys. If there has been a misappropriation, why did the Minister not seek to recover the funds?

The new factor is that the Minister is now the sole beneficiary of the probated estate. The estate was probated on 2 November this year. The Minister is now the sole beneficiary of the net estate of $107,000. Of course, part of the estate has shareholdings in the Allan Walsh group of companies, which have been the beneficiaries of rebates from the Commissioner of Taxation on misappropriations claimed as losses. These misappropriations have been made by people or persons unamed or unknown. That is the issue. Through this estate the Minister is now the direct beneficiary of rebates from the Taxation Office to the Allan Walsh group of companies, of which he is a shareholder. The estate reflects that benefit. Despite all this, the Prime Minister still will not do anything about the Minister. The Prime Minister is still waiting until the investigation in New South Wales is completed. The Prime Minister is not looking at the taxation aspects at all.

So we have the ludicrous situation of not knowing who the embezzler is. A Minister of the Crown has benefited by at least $107,000, which is the net benefit from his father’s probated estate, in part from funds rebated by the Australian Taxation Office on a misappropriation that might have been committed by persons associated with the probated estate. That is the situation. How can any Minister of the Crown stay a Minister of the Crown with those kinds of questions hanging over his head? The thing is that we could have the crazy situation of the thief investigating his own crime. That is the situation, and yet the Prime Minister allows it to continue. He does not intend to stand down the Minister until the investigations have been completed.

Mr Birney:

– I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. That statement should be withdrawn.

Mr KEATING:

– The honourable member for Phillip has been so used to representing thugs for so many years that it just comes naturally to him.

Mr Birney:

– The honourable member for Blaxland referred to the Minister as a thief. I do not know whether you heard him say that, Mr Speaker, but it was plainly heard in this part of the chamber.

Mr SPEAKER:

-Order! The honourable member for Phillip and the honourable member for Blaxland will remain silent. The honourable member for Phillip has taken a point of order. He wishes the honourable member for Blaxland to withdraw the allegation that the Minister is a thief. I did not hear the honourable member for Blaxland say that. He said the words to the effect that we could have a ludicrous situation.

Mr Birney:

– He is a fool and an idiot, and I would not ask him to withdraw that statement.

Mr KEATING:

– And you will not get a withdrawal, either.

Mr SPEAKER:

-The House will come to order. When a censure motion is moved, it is natural for tempers to flare, and it is not possible for the House to remain totally silent. However, there are limits beyond which honourable members should not go. I ask the honourable member for Phillip to remain silent. I ask the honourable member for Blaxland to use moderate language.

Mr KEATING:

– The misappropriations for the two Allan Walsh companies total $374,000- that is not some piggy bank exercise- of which $265,000 is claimed as a loss to revenue. Some people ask: ‘Why are not the other shareholders uptight about this?’ The reason is that the other shareholders are the beneficiaries of the tax rebates. They cannot count on the Minister or the estate tipping money back into the company, but they can count on tax rebates coming back from the Taxation Commissioner. So, nobody is going to raise that little issue, except, of course, die person who should be in charge of the revenue, namely, the Treasurer (Mr Howard). That is the issue involved. Now $109,000 has been claimed in the return as a misappropriation but is not claimed as a loss to revenue. I want to know why that is the case and why that claim has not been made.

Another interesting sidelight to this little issue is that the Minister has referred to five burglaries of the office of his solicitor. Those burglaries have occurred at various times. No mention was made of them as they occurred. All of a sudden we are told that there have been five burglaries.

We on this side of the House have reasonable reason to suspect that when the crunch comes and certain documents have to be produced all of a sudden it will be revealed that they were taken in the five burglaries. Perhaps they will just disappear overnight.

The issue here is that a Minister of the Crown has admitted that companies of which he is a director have had funds misappropriated. Those misappropriated funds have been claimed as a taxation loss. Yet we do not know what the view of the Taxation Commissioner is about the matter. If the Prime Minister were interested in the role played by one of his senior Ministers, he could get a report from the Taxation Commissioner on the evidence that the Commissioner has which identifies the person or persons who are unnamed in the misappropriation claim. What we would like to know is whether the Taxation Commissioner- perhaps the Treasurer can answer this question- has asked the New South Wales Police to investigate the frauds or the misappropriations. This is an unbelieveable situation. A Minister of the Crown claims from the Taxation Commissioner misappropriations in a taxation return, gets a rebate which he picks up through probate on the will of an estate. Yet he can still sit in the Parliament under the protection of the Prime Minister. The Minister has worked this very cagily in the last year. He has known about this matter since September 1977. He knew that it would be raised. He has backed in the Prime Minister at every turn of the wheel- in Cabinet, in the House and everywhere elsetrying to lock the Prime Minister on his side. Following the Prime Minister’s dismissal of Senator Withers and the attacks upon the Prime Minister for his disloyalty to his colleagues, he cannot afford now to stand down the Minister for Primary Industry unless he absolutely has to do that. It gets back to this issue I mentioned earlier.

Mr Malcolm Fraser:

– I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. It is well known that traditionally rulings from the chair in relation to sub judice have applied to judicial proceedings alone. When I spoke on another censure motion on this matter some days ago I made the point that an individual, whether in this Parliament or outside this Parliament, can be just as grievously damaged by matters being heard by a quasi judicial body or even by an administrative body being debated in the Parliament. I made the point that the original rules in relation to sub judice had been formed before the practice in governments of quasi judicial and administrative proceedings had developed to the point to which they have.

Mr KEATING:

– This is not a second reading speech. Either it is a point of order or it is not.

Mr SPEAKER:

-The honourable gentleman will resume his seat

Mr Malcolm Fraser:

– I made the point then that a person whether inside the Parliament or outside could be grievously damaged by such proceedings.

Mr KEATING:

– Sit him down, Mr Speaker.

Mr SPEAKER:

-Order! I am listening to the point of order.

Mr KEATING:

– Am I to have my time used up with a frivolous point of order upon which you must rule?

Mr SPEAKER:

-The honourable gentleman will remain silent. The right honourable the Prime Minister will make his point of order.

Mr Malcolm Fraser:

– I made the point then that if this kind of debate involved a person outside the Parliament there would be general agreement that it should not take place.

Mr Hayden:

– This is a frivolous point of order.

Mr KEATING:

– Let the Prime Minister try to defend his Minister if he must He should stand him down and he will not stand him down.

Mr SPEAKER:

-Order! The House will come to order. I ask the right honourable the Prime Minister to make his point succinctly.

Mr KEATING:

– Oh, come on. Give him a go, for God’s sake.

Mr Malcolm Fraser:

– I submit that it is very difficult for any point to be made or any debate heard when Opposition members are permitted to make the noise they have over the last three minutes.

Mr Hayden:

– I take a point of order. This is an intolerable situation. The Prime Minister is taking up the speaking time of the honourable member for Blaxland on a frivolous point of order. He has not stated his point.

Mr SPEAKER:

-I call upon the right honourable the Prime Minister to make bus point of order.

Mr Malcolm Fraser:

– In short terms, the rules of sub judice protect a person whether inside the Parliament or outside from debate on a matter being part heard.

Mr KEATING:

– If you will not take him on, Mr Speaker, I will take him on. I will not take any notice of your rulings, Mr Speaker. You will not protect my rights to speak.

Mr SPEAKER:

-The honourable gentleman will resume his seat.

Mr KEATING:

- Mr Speaker, you are the custodian of the House. You have to protect my rights to speak in the chamber and not let my time be taken up by this stupid, ridiculous point of order. I will not be made to sit down by the Prime Minister. This man will not stand down his Minister. He is prepared to besmirch the Cabinet of Australia, the Government of Australia, and everybody else.

Mr SPEAKER:

-The right honourable the Prime Minister is taking a point of order.

Mr Malcolm Fraser:

- Mr Speaker, I submit to you that the indignity -

Opposition members interjecting-

Mr SPEAKER:

-Order! The right honourable gentleman will resume his seat

Mr KEATING:

– You are just a rotten crook and you will not stand down crooks in the ministry. Stand your Ministers down, you bloody crook.

Mr SPEAKER:

-It is not possible for the proceedings of the House to continue while that noise continues. The honourable gentleman will remain silent The right honourable the Prime Minister will make his point of order.

Mr Young:

- Mr Speaker -

Mr SPEAKER:

-I am listening to one point of order and I must continue to do so.

Mr Young:

– I want to ask for an extension of time for the honourable member for Blaxland.

Mr SPEAKER:

– We will deal with that matter later. I call the right honourable the Prime Minister.

Mr Malcolm Fraser:

– On this matter, some days ago, I put the point of view that if debates of this kind were occurring in relation to a person under examination by a quasi judicial body outside this Parliament, the Parliament would not allow it. I suggest that in view of the behaviour of the Opposition the time has come for precedents to be made and not necessarily followed in relation to the rules of sub judice and debates on evidence part heard, part given and part presented to this Parliament on matters of a quasi judicial nature appearing in the administrative tribunals of other governments. They should not be permitted until after the end of the inquiry. I ask you, sir, so to rule.

Mr Scholes:

– It is important that the House understand that the point of order that the Prime Minister is taking is one which, if upheld, would permit a Prime Minister to protect any action of the Government by merely appointing a judicial or quasi-judicial inquiry, by appointing any sort of inquiry into a matter and then demanding that the Parliament not be able to debate that particular issue. This does not meet that criterion. What the Prime Minister is seeking to do is to bring in the sub judice rule in this Parliament as a means of personal censorship available to the Government. This is not sub judice. You have already ruled on it in this debate.

Mr SPEAKER:

-I have ruled on this point of order before in which I said that the sub judice rule did not arise, because this is not a judicial inquiry. A judicial inquiry is one which finally determines rights or obligations as between people. It is not a judicial inquiry. It is an administrative process by which facts are to be elicited in order to enable some person, who is as yet unnamed, to decide whether or not action should be taken under an Act. I understand the point that is taken by the right honourable gentleman but I am not prepared to alter my ruling in relation to the sub judice rule. I give that ruling. I call on the honourable member for Blaxland (Mr Keating) to apologise to the Chair for his behaviour.

Mr KEATING:

– You are the Speaker and therefore if you request an apology you will get it. But your tardiness cost me five minutes of my speech.

Mr SPEAKER:

– The honourable gentleman will withdraw that.

Mr KEATING:

– I withdraw and I apologise. May I test the Prime Minister’s sincerity -

Mr SPEAKER:

– The honourable gentleman will resume his seat The honourable member’s time has expired.

Mr Young:

– I gave notice that the honourable member’s time should be extended. If there is any justice in Parliament it will be.

Mr SPEAKER:

– The question is that an extension of time be granted.

Question put-

That the honourable member for Blaxland be granted an extension of time.

The House divided. (Mr Speaker-Rt Hon. Sir Billy Snedden)

AYES: 34

NOES: 76

Majority…… . 42

AYES

NOES

Question so resolved in the negative.

Government supporters- Sit down!

Mr SINCLAIR:
Minister for Primary Industry · New England · NCP/NP

-Mr Speaker -

Opposition members- Resign, resign!

Mr SPEAKER:

-Order! The right honourable gentleman will resume his seat. I wish to remind all members of the House that there is a motion of censure concerning one of the members of this House. I would expect that when the member rises to his defence he will be heard in silence.

Mr SINCLAIR:

- Mr Speaker, this is all pretty heady stuff. We open die newspapers in the morning; we listen to the honourable member for Adelaide (Mr Hurford) who moved this motion this morning and to the seconder of the motion; we read articles which contain accusations; we read the Senate Hansard, we read the Hansard of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly; and even this motion today and we find that charges have been made of gross impropriety, embezzlement, protecting a felon, forgery and so on down to the honourable member for Blaxland (Mr Keating) calling me a bloody crook’. This attack has come out of accounts which have been publicised for 18 months. The statements that have been made all imply that the man who has been appointed by the New South Wales Attorney-General either is grossly incompetent or, in some way, is not properly going about the charge that has been imposed on him by the New South Wales Attorney-General. Accusations have been made in this place against accountants; accusations have been made in this place against solicitors; and accusations made against everybody in any way associated with this company. What is the evidence? Let me say a Little bit about that.

Before I deal with the substance of the charges made against me I point out that what concerns me is that when this matter was raised yesterday the priority it was given then was equal, I think, to the substance of the motion itself. Everybody in this place knows the order of proceedings. We have an opening procedure and you, Mr Speaker, read prayers; petitions are read and then notices are called on and we move through to Question Time. So it went yesterday. At the end of Question Time the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Hayden) gave notice that he would move that a time limit be placed on answers to questions. Still no mention was made of a censure motion concerning me. Then we went on to deal with a matter of public importance- a matter dealing with a very worthwhile initiative of this Government in reducing the cost of international air fares by my colleague, the Minister for Transport (Mr Nixon). Finally, we came to grievances and again no mention at all was made of this censure motion. It was only after the grievance debate that honourable members opposite saw fit to raise these matters, a series of serious and very fundamental charges, involving, if one were to believe the honourable member for Adelaide (Mr Hurford), a series of criminal acts. He read out the penalties for such acts and asserted, as I understand it, that every one of those penalties should be applied against me. Mr Speaker, not only do I rebut totally all the accusations made by him but I think he, in the manner and form of his presentation, and even to a greater degree the honourable member for Blaxland- if I can give him the benefit of that honorific title- have demonstrated that there is no substance in the accusations.

What I would like to do, because the accusations are serious accusations, is turn briefly to a couple of other aspects of the matter. Unfortunately, the time available to me is even less than was available for the honourable gentleman who moved this motion. There is a very worthwhile heading in this morning’s Australian Financial Review which I think probably epitomises the whole of the efforts of the Australian Labor

Party. It was written by one of those journalists who is not exactly known for supporting the Government It reads: ‘ Parliament winds up with Labor secure in Opposition’. So may it be. However what I prefer to talk about is not the Leader of the Opposition or the ABC PM interview with Mr Max Toichmann, who is senior lecturer in politics at Monash University, about the Leader of the Opposition. What is happening is that the Leader of the Opposition is now passing the buck and two of the more junior members of the Opposition front bench, who are showing little respect for the dignities of this House, have taken the attack unto themselves.

We come to the whole question to which I want to refer. I think the editorial in the Australian- I am not going to read it againreferred to the fact that these matters are currently under investigation and by proceeding with the matter this way the Opposition not only is destroying the whole integrity of that special investigation but also is putting me in a position where if I answered in detail in this House the charges made against me I would again be accused for having done just that. In other words, I am in a ‘Catch 22’ position. What do I do? Do I come into this House and give the detailed answers to questions that have been put to me under the so-called privacy of a special investigation? If I do so am I going to destroy that whole inquiry? How do I do it? Do I come in here and lay down my defence? I assure this House that I have responded to every question that has been put to me by the special investigator.

The bank responsible for one of the subsidiary companies involved wrote to me and stated that it did not believe the investigator had a right of access into my affairs because the terms of reference of the special investigator did not embrace my personal accounts or those of my father. I wrote back and said that I waived ail privilege with respect to those documents. I have done everything I possibly can to make sure that the special investigators inquiry is pursued with the integrity that it should enjoy. Members in this House, in the Senate and in the Legislative Assembly- I think the Labor member for Illawarra is the person concerned- are doing their darndest to ensure that this inquiry is totally prejudiced in its presentation, its hearing and its consideration of evidence. If that is the way that the affairs of this House are going to be conducted I would submit that we are rapidly going about destroying the very fundamentals of democracy in this country.

Government supporters- Hear, hear!

Mr SINCLAIR:

– Let me refer to those matters which are public and on which I can say something at this time. The honourable member suggested this morning in his sanctimonious manner that I am dealing only with evidence that has been published. Let me explain that The published accounts are accounts of private companies. Very early in the piece, on 12 August 1977- the honourable gentleman referred to it this morning- I stated:

There are no amounts outstanding which have not been accounted for within the company or between the shareholders.

The matters are on record. What has happened is that after the death of my father I appointed an accounting firm which was in fact the firm which purchased my father’s chartered accountant business. That firm pursued, as I believed it should, a proper inquiry into where matters stood and what was happening. Immediately the accountants identified that amounts were outstanding they reported to me. In order to ensure that there would be completely no interference by me in the conduct of affairs at the official level, they reported the matter to the Corporate Affairs Commission and to the Taxation Commissioner. All these things that are being said about the special inquiry I think need to be seen in the light of those original reports. When the special investigation of the New South Wales Government was set up a report appeared in a publication on Sunday, 21 May 1978 which stated:

Mr Walker

The New South Wales Attorney-General- said yesterday the Corporate Affairs Commission opened an investigation into the companies in September 1976 . . .

In other words my father died at the beginning of the year, we appointed accountants and when the matters were identified they reported to the Corporate Affairs Commission and to the Taxation Commissioner- I will say more about him in a moment- immediately after certain information had been received. That, of course, was the information from my accountants. The Commission reported to Mr Walker that there was no evidence of any wrongdoing. So there is the first of the investigations. The New South Wales Corporate Affairs Commission said that there was no evidence of any wrongdoing. On the advice of Mr George Venturini whose name I have mentioned as a possible source of the leak of the documents to the Bulletin and on the advice of the New South Wales Attorney-General members opposite decided that it would be a great opportunity for the Labor Party to have something running for it- there is very little else they seem to have to do. At the Federal level there have been allegations that again, if one were to listen and to believe the charges laid by the Opposition, that the Taxation Commissioner has improperly applied to me concessions that are not a matter for any other taxpayer in this country. I wonder whether any honourable member on that side of the House has ever claimed a deduction. Have they ever claimed an allowance?

Mr SINCLAIR:
NCP/NP

– My very word it is, young man. That is what it is all about. The Opposition is charging the Taxation Commissioner with having breached his statutory responsibility. It is saying that he is incompetent in the manner and form in which he is carrying out his responsibilities. It is saying that it is impossible for him to carry out his task. It is demonstrating that it has no confidence in the civil service in this country.

Mr Newman:

-I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. I ask for the dignity of the House that you keep the honourable member sitting on the opposite side of the table quiet. I ask for the sake of dignity in the House that you give the Leader of the House an opportunity to present his case.

Mr SPEAKER:

-I call the Minister for Primary Industry.

Mr SINCLAIR:

-On 29 May the Prime Minister (Mr Malcolm Fraser) read into Hansard a letter dated 26 May from the Commissioner of Taxation, Mr W. J. O’Reilly. I do not intend to read it, but it is still pertinent because the point I seek to make is that up to that date and even now both the Corporate Affairs Commission officers and Taxation Office officers have been totally involved in the investigation into these matters. The special investigator in New South Wales has been totally involved. Not one of those people has laid any of these charges which have been bandied around in this House today. If the New South Wales police believed the things that have been said, they would have conducted an investigation. There has been ho approach to me and as far as I am aware there has been no approach to anyone acting on my behalf suggesting in any way that there is any substance in any of these charges that are being laid. Let me refer briefly to this letter from Mr O’Reilly to the Prime Minister. He said of the matters relating to these companies:

They are not all yet finally resolved and how they will be resolved is a matter between the companies and myself. If it is necessary to say it - he continued a sentence later-

I add that the Minister has not sought to use his personal position to influence official decisions. These have been, and will be, made according to law as applicable to the established facts.

He then continued -

If there has been a misappropriation by a person employed by the companies there would be nothing untoward in a tax deduction being allowed for the amount misappropriated.

I think it is important that I make this reference- to refer to the nature of the deduction allowed under section 71 of the Income Tax Assessment Act. He quoted section 71 and he stated:

You will note that the deduction is by law allowable in the income year in which the loss is ascertained, not in the year in which it actually occurred.

There is a very important aspect of this tax claim and this censure motion to which I want to refer. My own view and the view that I advised my accountants and my solicitors was that, because I had immediately accepted responsibility for all the sums that were found to have been misdirected at the time they were found, they should be treated as loans due to me and to my family group of companies. I said that neither in the year in which they were ascertained nor in the year in which they occurred should they have been allowable. The honourable gentlemen are putting to me that they did not believe that it was the firm that bought my father’s practice that could give impartial advice. It was indeed another firm, Messrs Greenwood and Challoner on whose advice the taxation returns and submission were made in respect of losses by misappropriation. In addition the firm of solicitors who acted for the companies, also said the accounts should be treated in that way.

My own belief was that they should have been treated as being fully taxable right through. I said in that Willesee interview that because I had accepted that responsibility they were not misappropriated funds in the normal course. They were funds which had been directed by my father in a manner which I believe was not correct. They had been directed either to my benefit or to the benefit of others and I believe that as a result they should have been taxable and not expressed in that form. What the honourable gentlemen are saying is that members of this House and members of the community, having received professional advice, should overthrow that advice. I just do not believe that would be proper or correct. It is not just I who is involved; it is other shareholders. Having employed professional people and having been told to write the accounts in a certain way and the matters being under investigation, had I insisted on my point of view prevailing we would have finished up with a different set of accounts to the ones that the accountants themselves recommended. Is that what honourable gentlemen wish? In fact I have accepted totally the advice of the accountants and in the following year, as the honourable gentleman would know, I identified the amount as sums that are the responsibility of Sinclair Pastoral Co. By the so-called round robin of cheques. Because they are now a debt due and the responsibility of Sinclair Pastoral Co. tax is payable in the year in which they were so recouped in accordance with the advice contained in the letter from Mr O’Reilly which was tabled in the House by the Prime Minister on 29 May. The whole of the substance of these accusations relates to matters about which naturally I am not very happy. I am disappointed that the matters have occurred as they have. There are explanations which I do not intend to give at this time for what happened as far as my father was concerned.

The companies- where they are and what they are- are entirely the result of his endeavours. They are all trading normally. They do not owe money to any outside creditors. They are functioning correctly and properly. As soon as any debts occur or taxes are said to be payable they are paid. No money is owed to anybody. No member of the outside public is involved. This matter is an attempt by members of the Labor Party to try to throw muck wherever they can. Because they have no issue of substance to pursue they have moved a motion of censure against me, which I rebutt entirely. I also reject completely many of the accusations and charges that have been made, as to which I have no time to respond now in this House. On any occasion if any of those charges are laid and if I have a proper and correct chance to do so, I intend to present the evidence.

Mr Young:

- Mr Speaker, I move that the Minister’s time be extended so that he can explain. He should not have a complaint against the House. We will give him all the time that he wants. I move:

That the Minister be granted an extension of time.

Dr Klugman:

-I second the motion because after all the Minister has implied that he has been forced by the Commissioner of Taxation to accept the refund.

Mr SPEAKER:

-The honourable member for Prospect will resume his seat. If he does not resume his seat, I will deal with him.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Mr SINCLAIR:

-I am delighted to have a further chance to talk about some of the facts because one of the problems with the claims of the members of the Opposition is that essentially the Labor Party is trying to establish that the special investigator is not capable of bringing down a fit and proper report. Mr Walker, the New South Wales Attorney-General, made a remark that he believed it to be improper that there should be reference in this House to the investigation. He said that it certainly does not assist the investigation that is being carried out in New South Wales for Federal parliamentarians to be reading from transcripts. It is my concern that the evidence that is largely the basis for the wildest of the charges flows essentially from those transcripts. Again I want to state in the House that, in the words of the special investigator, this is a matter in which he has not as yet reached any conclusive view on any of the aspects that are before him. In terms of the special investigation there is no suggestion that there are any aspects at this stage from which any charges flow.

In the House today new charges, including a suggestion of forgery about which I know nothing, have been made. I have read with interest the New South Wales Legislative Assembly Hansard. I gather that there is some suggestion that in some way I have been responsible- I presume it is me because the whole inquiry seems to be around me and not the companies or the facts- for forgeries representing the signature of my father being placed on annual returns. I can assure this House that if there are such forgeries I am in no way responsible for them and I do not know anything about them. The substance of the motion is set out in two cases. Let me refer to it briefly. The motion states: . . provide the House with a satisfactory explanation in rebuttal of serious public charges made against him in relation to his financial affairs.

Where are the serious public charges? They are contained in the media. They are rebutted by the fact that Mr Finnane has said that there are no charges.

Mr Keating:

– In here.

Mr SINCLAIR:

– The honourable gentleman says that they have been made in here. With what substance have they been made? They have been made on the basis of a gross exaggeration of accounts that I have explained were presented by the accountants and not by me. Even though the honourable gentleman has made what I would regard as grossly derogatory remarks with respect to those accountants, die accounts were drawn up totally independently of me. Those accountants acted not on my instructions, but on the advice of independent accountants who gave them the basis on which the losses by misappropriation should be shown. In that respect they acted against my wish and inclination. So much for the serious public charges.

I have said before that when the matters are settled I will be prepared to explain the nature of that settlement and the basis of the whole affair. Unfortunately that settlement has not yet been achieved. There is no basis in the suggestion that was made by the honourable member for Adelaide (Mr Hurford) that it will be ready next week. As soon as it is ready- if it is ready next week I will be delighted- I hope to be able to comment on it. The claim that the House is rising because there will be a settlement next week is no more substantial than the other charges. The second part of the honourable gentleman’s accusation concerns the justification of taxation claims and misappropriations. The reason for those taxation claims, as I have explained, is that against my personal inclination the accountants prepared the accounts, and I believe quite properly. I have in no way intervened in determining what is contained in those accounts. Had I done so I believe I would have been acting in breach of my responsibility. Indeed I would suggest that what I have done is only what anybody could do in the circumstances. I regret the circumstances that have occurred but I stand by completely the actions that I have taken in trying to ensure that there shall be a complete resolution of this whole matter.

Mr YOUNG:
Port Adelaide

-This matter now dominates the politics of Australia. It is concerned with whether the Prime Minister (Mr Malcolm Fraser) will continue to allow a very senior Cabinet Minister to be treated differently from other members of the Ministry who have been dealt with by the Prime Minister over the past three years. The Minister for Primary Industry (Mr Sinclair) is surviving, not because of bis conduct and not because of the allegations that may not have been proved; he is surviving because Reg Withers was sacked. Reg Withers is saving the Minister for Primary Industry because the Prime Minister does not dare again take the action against the Minister for Primary Industry that he took against the former Minister for Administrative Services. When one compares the offences, allegations and situations in which all the Ministers have found themselves, one would have thought that this Minister whose affairs are under discussion today in this Parliament has more hanging over his head than did the honourable member for Curtin (Mr

Garland), the right honourable member for Flinders (Mr Lynch) and Senator Withers combined.

We from this side of the Parliament are entitled to ask: Why is the Prime Minister making a different decision? Obviously he has weighed up the politics of the matter and has decided that he dare not take action against the Minister for Primary Industry, in spite of all the allegations, that he took against Senator Withers because the disruption to the coalition that would be caused by that action cannot be tolerated. The Minister for Primary Industry says that he is waiting on a report from the Corporate Affairs Commission in New South Wales. That is not the point at all. That is a quite independent investigation that is being undertaken in New South Wales. As the honourable member for Adelaide (Mr Hurford) has pointed out, an investigation has been going on for 34 months by the Minister’s accountants. What has happened to that report? The Minister for Primary Industry signed a document in 1977 in which he stated:

Losses by misappropriation by persons unnamed.

He signed it ‘Ian Sinclair’. Not too many people are associated with the company who could have had their hands in the till. We want to know which person it was. Was it the Minister for Primary Industry? If it was not, why does he not tell us? We gave him 22V4 minutes in which to do so. We are prepared to sit here all day. All we want to know is: Was the Minister for Primary Industry a person unnamed? He signed the document. That is all we want to know. Perhaps he has told the Prime Minister that he was not involved and perhaps that is why the Prime Minister does not take any action. But what if he tells the Prime Minister that he was involved? What if that is the result of either of these inquiries? Why has it taken 34 months? Honourable members opposite take a very peculiar stand on this matter. They say that it is no business of ours that this misappropriation became the subject of a tax rebate. Not only did someone have his hand in the till but the taxpayers of Australia had to make up the losses. We just put a surcharge on the taxpayers of Australia. What did we put on that surcharge for? To pay all the crooks who misappropriate money from their companies? Is that what we have the surcharge for?

We are entitled to know on this side of the House. It is quite simple, we did not take a point of order on the Minister for Primary Industry quite deliberately. We wanted to give him all the time he had. He got up and spoke about the prayers and the end of democracy and the order of business in the Parliament, what a decent fellow he is and what terrible people we are on this side of the House. But he did not tell us how he can explain this statement Let me say it again: Losses by misappropriation by persons unnamed’, signed Ian Sinclair. It is as simple as that. Is there another Ian Sinclair who we have not been told about? We took it on this side of the House that as that report was signed in 1 977, that would have been long enough to find out who had his hand in the till. One would have thought that by now the Minister for Primary Industry could come in here, as a senior Minister in the Australian Parliament, and say: ‘It was not me. I did not receive any benefit and I am not associated with the misappropriation.’ We do not want to hear his views on the prayers that are said before the Parliament sits. We have all been through that and we all know it pretty well. We want to know who misappropriated the money from the companies and who got the benefit of the tax rebate.

There are two very simple questions, and the Minister for Primary Industry ought to be able to tell us. We will allow him to get on his feet again if he will promise to tell us who misappropriated the money and who were the persons unnamed in 1977. Of course, the Minister for Primary Industry says that it was quite legal, that he got the rebate quite legally to the companies on losses. Of course the Taxation Commissioner pays on losses. He pays if a payroll is knocked off. He pays on all sorts of losses. But who made the misappropriation in the first place? We are quite entitled to ask that Fancy honourable members opposite having a double value on this. Can one imagine anybody on that side of the House sitting quietly and saying that it is none of his business if any one of my colleagues had been involved in this scandal? If anybody on this side of the House had been involved in this theft, this scandal, could one imagine them all sitting there and saying: ‘It is none of our business*? They would be on their feet every day.

The Minister for Primary Industry told us the last time we moved this motion that it was not important because we had not asked a question. We are asking a question today and we are going to go on asking it, as are people throughout Australia: ‘Losses by misappropriation by persons unnamed,’ signed Ian Sinclair, and the taxpayers had to make up the losses. So there were two lots of people- the people who were not sharing in the misappropriation, some of the company directors, and the people who did not share in the tax rebate that was given because of the misappropriation. We are entitled to know.

The Prime Minister tried to shelter this whole scandal by taking a point of order for five minutes in order to limit the time given to the honourable member for Blaxland (Mr Keating). That is how important he thinks it is to cover up. Poor old Reg Withers. I wonder what he thinks about all this? He made a telephone call -

Mr SPEAKER:

-Order! The honourable member will remain relevant to the motion.

Mr YOUNG:

– This is relevant to the values of the Prime Minister and the way he is treating the Ministers. The members of the Liberal Party ought to look at it more seriously than anybody else because their colleagues have all been hung. The Prime Minister said he saw the report on Phil Lynch and that he did nothing wrong, but he was sacked. Eric Robinson was stood down. Garland was stood down. Reg Withers was dismissed. The Minister for Primary Industry is associated with the misappropriation of large sums of money and he is sitting there smiling because he is a member of the National Country Party. What strange values they are prepared to tolerate on that side of the House, and they say we are not to ask questions and that it is no business of the Parliament. They have got to be joking. As I said at the outset, this matter is dominating politics in Australia. People want to know what sort of values this Prime Minister has. How can he sit there day after day with a cloud hanging over the head of one of his three or four senior Ministers, a person who has been associated with this scandal right from the start?

Do not worry about the investigation in New South Wales, worry about the investigation that has been set alight by the Minister through his own accountants. That has been going on for 34 months. If we are going to get the Parliament up early in order to avoid debate on this question we will never come back. That accountant must be the slowest accountant in the world. He has had 34 months to look at these books, and the matter was signed in September 1977 saying that the money had been knocked off. Honourable members opposite ought to have Darcy Dugan look at it He could tell them what has happened and he could probably tell them in five minutes who has got it. He could probably tell them why the Minister for Primary Industry is always smiling. It is an absolute joke that this matter is allowed to continue. The Minister for Primary Industry ought to explain. He ought to use the time we are prepared to give him to tell us where the money went and why this action with the Taxation Office was taken by the company. ‘Money misappropriated by persons unnamed’- let me just imprint that on the minds of honourable members. It was written by the Minister for Primary Industry in September 1977. Why is no action taken? No one is named and nothing is done. The Prime Minister puts up with it, and I finish on that note. The Prime Minister puts up with it because of Reg Withers. Poor old Reg Withers is sitting over there on the back bench of the Senate, sacked for making a phone call to the electoral commissioner of Queensland. I will tell Government members what they have to do to survive under Malcolm Fraser Join the Country Party.

Mr KILLEN:
Minister for Defence · More ton · LP

– The censure motion -

Mr Hurford:

– After the organ grinder, the monkey.

Mr SPEAKER:

-Order! The honourable gentleman will withdraw.

Mr Hurford:

– I withdraw.

Mr KILLEN:

– The censure motion which has been put down this morning has two limbs to it. One relates to what is described as being serious public charges. We are not told who has made them, we are told that they are serious public charges. The accuser is not known to us, but they are serious public charges. That is the first limb of the censure motion. The second relates to what is described as taxation claims for misappropriations made by companies. We are not given the precise evidence to support that. I want to deal as I can within the constraints of time with both of those limbs, but I go back to the manner in which this thoroughly disgraceful proceeding started. It started with quite one of the meanest speeches ever made in this House by the honourable member for Adelaide (Mr Hurford). What he said to the House this morning was this: Let me whimper a contemptible accusation and upon that I will build a pavilion of truth. ‘

What has the honourable gentleman done this morning? He has done two things- whether he is conscious of them or not I do not know. On the first hand, he has forever forfeited any claim to respect in this House for simple fealty. What is the second thing he has done this morning? He has not put on trial the Leader of the House (Mr Sinclair), he has put on trial the Australian Labor Party. He has put it on trial this morning because out of his mouth has come such a cataract of confession that forever we will ignore the rules of natural justice. That is the central feature of this debate. The Standing Orders, the whole catalogue of precedents that the British parliamentary system has built up, may say forever, No, this does not infringe the sub judice rule’, and I will say something on that later. But the rules of natural justice are there. They bind us all in everything we do in this world, whether we like it or not, and the whole body of natural justice must revolt against this proceeding. Where was the evidence? It started with what purported to be transcript of a proceeding. There was no certificate before this House to say: “This is the transcript from a proceeding being conducted by the Corporate Affairs Commissioner.’ A photostat copy of what purported to be a transcript was brought in here. How do we know that it was not picked up in the park? Would the honourable member for Adelaide (Mr Hurford) or the honourable member for Port Adelaide (Mr Young) like to have his status, his reputation, assailed on the basis of an unidentified transcript?

If we make the assumption that the transcript was in fact a bona fide one, how do we know that the whole character of the man whose evidence it purports to be was not destroyed by the 20-odd witnesses? When we seek to put a man on trial, when we seek to take away his liberty, when we seek to diminish his status as a simple citizen, we do not look at one piece of evidence; we look at the whole body of evidence. How do we know how this man Creighton Walsh appeared to the Corporate Affairs Commissioner at the end of the day if 20 witnesses came in and all of them condemned him? It is as fundamental to natural justice as anything else that I can conceive that evidence which has not been cross-examined is not worth very much. We have had no opportunity to see Mr Creighton Walsh, no opportunity to know whether he can look a person in the eye, no opportunity to know whether in fact he is telling the truth. The honourable member for Prospect (Dr Klugman) laughs. Our people have not trudged across the centuries to build up justice for simple-minded people, malevolently minded people such as the honourable member to wash those efforts away. I am bound to say this to the honourable member for Prospect: If the Treasurer ever put a tax on brains the honourable member for Prospect would get a refund.

I want my friend, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Hayden), to consider the gravity of what we are doing here today and what we have done in the past few weeks. Please, I beg of honourable members opposite, do not laugh this away. It has been the tactic of people down through the years to laugh and to scorn when high principles are put in jeopardy. Honourable members opposite will not be allowed to put these in jeopardy without complaint from me. I say this to the honourable gentleman who laughs: How would he like to be the subject of a proceeding before a man- we do not know what procedure he follows; he is hearing evidence in camera- when day after day after day there is public debate on the subject of the proceedings before that man? It would take a super effort indeed by any human being to ignore the inflammatory remarks that have been made. I suggest to all my honourable friends in this House: Surely not one of us would relish the idea of our status and our future being put in jeopardy by such a proceeding. That is the precise matter that we are deciding today.

I do not know anything about the private affairs of my right honourable friend. I do not seek to know. He has stated to this House that when the inquiry is finished the results will be put before us. The Prime Minister (Mr Malcolm Fraser) has described the inquiry as a quasijudicial proceeding. Whether one accepts that or not, I do not think it greatly matters. But the primary hearing is going on and we are having a public debate in the Parliament and a debate in the newspapers. Since when is a man to be put on trial by newspapers or by Parliament? A jury decides this. That is a great principle and we cannot water that principle down without washing it away.

Now I come to the matter of misappropriation, the second limb of this censure motion. What does the Opposition do with respect to that? It is not my right honourable friend ‘s integrity which is impugned; it is the integrity of the Commissioner of Taxation. What is being said in effect is that the Commissioner of Taxation, by one means or another- by blandishment, cajolement or threat- has succumbed to the right honourable gentleman. The letter written by the Commissioner of Taxation states:

As you know, the Minister has taken these matters up with my office.

Is that not a display of candour? It was not left to the Commissioner of Taxation to take up the matters. The right honourable gentleman himself went to the Commissioner of Taxation and said: ‘Here are the facts as I see them. You give your adjudication upon them’. Mr Speaker, I want to come to the sub judice rule because I believe that it is of the greatest importance to this House today and, as I see it, for the future. With respect, Sir, I agree with the ruling that you have made upon the sub judice rule, but I do say that it is within the possession of this House to create a precedent relating to the sub judice rule. I quote from page 333 of the Nineteenth Edition of May ‘s Parliamentary Practice.

By a Resolution of the House matters awaiting or under adjudication in a criminal court or a court-martial, and matters set down for trial or otherwise brought before a civil court may not be referred to in any debate or question . . .

Mr Finnane’s proceeding is not criminal in character. It is not a court in the strict sense, but it is a tribunal, the adjudication of which can in a very significant way affect the right honourable gentleman concerned. In recent years we have seen a whole paraphernalia of administrative tribunals created. All of them can put at risk and can affect the status of any individual involved before them. I submit to the House that in the very near future the House should turn its attention to this matter and should seek to fill what appears to be a palpable gap. I commenced by saying that we do not know who makes the public charges which are the subject of this motion. I ask honourable gentlemen opposite: Since when is anonymity accepted as a body not merely capable of making a charge but capable of making a very severe charge, capable of making a charge which can affect in a very direct and real way the status of the right honourable Leader of the House? He is not on trial today; this House is on trial today. This House commenced today’s proceedings with a very mean, very shabby proceeding. It will be a proceeding which will continue to haunt the Australian Labor Party for years to come.

Mr WEST:
Cunningham

-Thank you, Mr Speaker-

Motion (by Mr Bourchier) put:

That the question be now put.

The House divided. (Mr Speaker-Rt Hon. Sir Billy Snedden)

AYES: 73

NOES: 33

Majority……. 40

AYES

NOES

Question so resolved in the affirmative.

Question put-

That the motion (Mr Hurford’s) be agreed to.

The House divided. (Mr Speaker-Rt Hon. Sir Billy Snedden)

AYES: 34

NOES: 74

Majority……. 40

AYES

NOES

page 3418

HUMAN RIGHTS

Notice of Motion

Mr HODGMAN:
Denison

– I give notice that on the next day of sitting I shall move:

That this House condemns and censures the procommunist Victorian State ALP for its shameful and disgraceful abrogation of its responsibilities to uphold basic human rights by its failure to deplore the continuing persecution of dissidents within the Soviet Union.

page 3418

CONDUCT OF MINISTERS

Notice of Motion

Mr ARMITAGE:
Chifley

-I give notice that at the next sitting I shall move:

That this House is of the opinion that no Minister should continue to discharge his ministerial duties upon becoming the subject of an official inquiry where, in the opinion of the House, the issue of the propriety of the Minister’s conduct arises and the Minister should remain suspended until the inquiry is completed and the matter determined.

page 3419

TAXATION LIABILITY

Notice of Motion

Mr ARMITAGE:
Chifley

-I give notice that at the next sitting I shall move:

That all members of this House be required to disclose arrangements they have entered into for the purpose of minimising their tax liability, and that full details of such arrangements be recorded in a register available for public inspection, as a means of ensuring that the decision making process is not utilised for a personal pecuniary benefit

page 3419

BILLS

Mr SPEAKER:

-I present a paper entitled Bills not passed into law and Bills which lapsed but subsequently passed- sessions 1901-02 to 1977’. This publication lists Bills not passed into law and Bills which originally lapsed but subsequently passed from 1901 to 1977. It covers Bills introduced in both Houses, indicating the short title of each, the sponsor of the Bill, the session, whether one or both Houses considered the Bill and the outcome. The list was last publised in 1970. Officers of the House of Representatives Department have now brought the material up to date.

Ordered that the report be printed.

page 3419

PIG MEAT PROMOTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Mr SINCLAIR:
Minister for Primary Industry · New England · NCP/NP

– For the information of honourable members I present the interim report of the Pig Meat Promotion Advisory Committee for the year ended 30 June 1 978.

page 3419

QANTAS AIRWAYS LTD

Mr NIXON:
Minister for Transport · Gippsland · LP

– For the information of honourable members I present the report and financial statements for Qantas Airways Ltd for the year ended 31 March 1978.

Mr Charles Jones:
NEWCASTLE, VICTORIA · ALP

– At last! You beauty!

Mr NIXON:
GIPPSLAND, VICTORIA · NCP

-It is a beauty too, Charlie. It shows how good a government we are.

Mr Hayden:

– It is only because you have an Auditor-General who looks at the books.

page 3419

QUESTION

TRANSPORTATION OF WHEAT HARVEST

Mr NIXON:
Minister for Transport · Gippsland · LP

– For the information of honourable members I present a report by the Bureau of Transport Economics entitled ‘Transportation of the Australian Wheat Harvest’. Would the Leader of the Opposition repeat his interjection?

Mr Hayden:

– I said that it is only because your Government has an Auditor-General to look at the books.

Mr NIXON:

– You are a real smartie.

Mr SPEAKER:

-Order! The Minister will resume his seat. The Leader of the Opposition has no need to interject across the table in that fashion.

page 3419

TAXATION STATISTICS

Mr FIFE:
Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs · Farcer · LP

– On behalf of the Treasurer (Mr Howard) and for the information of honourable members I present Taxation Statistics 1976-77, the supplement to the 56th report of the Commissioner of Taxation which was presented to Parliament pursuant to section 14 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 on 2 November 1977.

Ordered that the paper be printed.

page 3419

PAPUA NEW GUINEA STAFF ASSISTANCE

Mr Eric Robinson:
MCPHERSON, QUEENSLAND · LP

– Pursuant to section 21 of the Papua New Guinea (Staffing Assistance) Termination Act 1976 1 present the report on the general administration and operation of the Papua New Guinea superannuation scheme and the contract officers retirement benefit scheme for the year ended 30 June 1 978.

page 3419

SERVICES TRUST FUNDS

Mr Eric Robinson:
MCPHERSON, QUEENSLAND · LP

– Pursuant to section 34 of the Services Trust Funds Act 1947 I present the annual report of the Royal Australian Air Force Welfare Trust Fund, the Austraiian Military Forces Relief Trust Fund and the Royal Australian Navy Relief Trust Fund for the year ended 31 December 1977, together with financial statements and the report of the AuditorGeneral on these statements.

page 3419

LAW REFORM COMMISSION

Mr VINER:
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs · Stirling · LP

– Pursuant to section 35 of the Law Reform Commission Act 1973 I present the report of the Law Reform Commisson for the year ended 30 June 1978.

page 3419

FAMILY LAW COUNCIL

Mr VINER:
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs · Stirling · LP

– Pursuant to section 115 of the Family Law Act 1975 I present the report of the Family Law Council for the year ended 30 June 1 978.

page 3420

SOCIAL SECURITY

Mr HUNT:
Minister for Health · Gwydir · NCP/NP

Pursuant to section 9 of the Social Security Act 1947 1 present the annual report of the DirectorGeneral of Social Security for the year ended 30 June 1978.

page 3420

IMMIGRATION (EDUCATION) ACT

Mr MacKELLAR:
Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs · Warringah · LP

– Pursuant to section 12 of the Immigration (Education) Act 1971 1 present the report on the operation of the Act for the year ended 30 June 1977. I also present the report on the operation of the Act in relation to the adult migrant education program for the year ended 30 June 1978.

page 3420

DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Mr MacKELLAR:
Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs · Warringah · LP

– On behalf of the Minister for National Development (Mr Newman) and for the information of honourable members I present the report of the activities of the Department of National Development for the period 20 December 1977 to 30 June 1978.

page 3420

ATOMIC ENERGY ACT

Mr MacKELLAR:
Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs · Warringah · LP

– On behalf of the Minister for National Development (Mr Newman) and pursuant to section 31 of the Atomic Energy Act 1953 I present the report of the Australian Atomic Energy Commission for the year ended 30 June 1 978.

page 3420

AUSTRALIAN SAFEGUARDS OFFICE

Mr MacKELLAR:
Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs · Warringah · LP

– On behalf of the Minister for National Development (Mr Newman) and for the information of honourable members I present a report covering the operations of the Australian Safeguards Office for the year ended 30 June 1978. In presenting this report I draw attention to the comments on page 5 about the Government’s confirmation of the arrangement that the Office is functionally independent of the Australian Atomic Energy Commission.

page 3420

ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Mr MacKELLAR:
Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs · Warringah · LP

– On behalf of the Minister for National Development (Mr Newman) and for the information of honourable members I present the report of a national survey on energy research and development in Australia in 1976-77.

page 3420

ALBURY-WODONGA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Mr MacKELLAR:
Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs · Warringah · LP

– On behalf of the Minister for National Development (Mr Newman) and for the information of honourable members I present the interim annual report of the Albury-Wodonga Development Corporation for the year ended 30 June 1978.

page 3420

DEFENCE REPORT

Mr McLeay:
Minister for Construction · BOOTHBY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · LP

– For the information of honourable members I present the Defence Report 1978.

page 3420

CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

Mr FIFE:
Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs · Farrer · LP

– On behalf of the Minister for Post and Telecommunications (Mr Staley) and pursuant to section 40 of the Curriculum Development Centre Act 1975 I present the report of the Curriculum Development Centre for the year ended 30 June 1977. The report is late due to a change in the Centre’s accounting method from a cash basis to an accrual basis in order to represent more correctly the financial operations of the Centre. The change has involved a fresh approval from the Minister for Finance (Mr Eric Robinson) to the form of the final accounts and a complete re-structuring of the 1976-77 accounts.

page 3420

AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

Mr FIFE:
Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs · Farrer · LP

– On behalf of the Minister for Post and Telecommunications (Mr Staley) and pursuant to section 33 of the Australian National University Act 1946 I present the report of the Council of the Australian National University for the year ended 31 December 1977.

page 3420

SCHOOLS COMMISSION

Mr FIFE:
Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs · Farrer · LP

– On behalf of the Minister for Post and Telecommunications (Mr Staley) and pursuant to section 53 of the States Grants (Schools Assistance) Act 1976 I present the report of the Schools Commission on financial assistance granted to each State under the provisions of that Act.

CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT CENTRE Mr FIFE (Farrer- Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs)- On behalf of the Minister for Post and Telecommunications (Mr Staley) and for the information of honourable members I present a report by the Curriculum Development Centre entitled ‘A Parents Guide to Social Education Materials Project’ together with a text of a statement by the Minister for Education (Senator Carrick).

page 3421

TERRITORY OF CHRISTMAS ISLAND

Mr ELLICOTT:
Minister for Home Affairs · Wentworth · LP

– For the information of honourable members I present the report of the Territory of Christmas Island for the period 1 January 1977 to 30 June 1978.

page 3421

NATIONAL LIBRARY ACT

Mr ELLICOTT:
Minister for Home Affairs · Wen Worth · LP

– Pursuant to section 27 of the National Library Act 1960, 1 present the report of the Council of the National Library of Australia for the year ended 30 June 1 978.

page 3421

GREAT BARRIER REEF MAKINE PARS AUTHORITY

Mr GROOM:
Minister for Environment, Housing and Community Development · Braddon · LP

– Pursuant to section 60 of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 197S, I present the report of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority for the year ended 30 June 1978.

page 3421

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Mr GROOM:
Minister for Environment, Housing and Community Development · Braddon · LP

– For the information of honourable members I present the report of the Department of Environment, Housing and Community Development for the year ended 30 June 1978.

page 3421

QUESTION

RETIREMENT OF PRINCIPAL PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER

Mr SPEAKER:

-I wish to draw the attention of the House to the fact that the parliamentary career of the Principal Parliamentary Reporter, Mr Kenneth Ross Ingram, who joined the Department of the Parliamentary Reporting Staff 42 years ago, closes with his retirement on 18 December. Mr Ingram was born in Dundee, Scotland, in 1913. In the mid- 1920s he came to Australia with his family and as a schoolboy living in Canberra saw the finishing touches put to the construction of Parliament House and witnessed its opening in 1927. After leaving school he joined the Canberra Times as a cadet journalist and, in 1936, became a cadet reporter on

Commonwealth Hansard. Shortly after the outbreak of war, Mr Ingram joined the Royal Australian Air Force but was recalled to bis Department because of the extreme difficulty being felt at that time by Hansard in maintaining a reporting service to the Parliament due to the lack of staff.

Mr Ingram saw service in the Parliament under 13 Prime Ministers, the first of whom was the Right Honourable Joseph Lyons. When he joined Hansard, at least two of the original members of the Parliament were still occupying its benches. In the Senate there was the Right Honourable Sir George Foster Pearce and in the House of Representatives there was the Right Honourable William Morris Hughes. There are few people who could bridge from today back to the original Parliament. During his parliamentary career, Mr Ingram witnessed many notable events, including three double dissolutions of the Parliament. the appearance of Browne and Fitzpatrick at the Bar of the House of Representatives in 19SS, the advent of daily Hansard in that year and the joint sitting of the Senate and House of Representatives in 1974. He has played a large part in controlling the operations of Hansard since 1968 when he was appointed as deputy head of the Department. In 1970 he was responsible for the establishment and development of the Hansard tape transcription centre without which the present large volume of transcripts of evidence given to the increasing number of parliamentary committees could not have been handled.

Mr Ingram is a man of great personal charm, a man of great personal integrity, a person I have known and liked very greatly over the years I have spent in this Parliament. I have found him at all times most accessible, friendly, and most anxious to help. Sadly, I should say that Mr Ingram has been in indifferent health for some time now and, on medical advice, he has not attended the Parliament for the last two weeks of these sittings. I am sure, however, that every member of the House will join in with me in thanking him for his immense service to the par.liament over the 42 years and that, also, we will wish him good health and a happy retirement.

Honourable members Hear, hear.

Mr SPEAKER:

-I should just point out that Mr Ingram will be succeeded in the position of Principal Parliamentary Reporter by the present deputy head of the Department, Mr John F. Kerr. I am sure that all members will join with me in wishing Mr Kerr as successful a period as head of the Parliamentary Reporting Branch as had Mr Ingram. I have just had a note passed to me which indicates that the wife of Mr Ingram is in the Gallery. I am glad she is and that she can report the warmth of the House towards her husband and carry to him personally our good wishes.

Honourable members- Hear, hear!

Mr SINCLAIR:
Leader of the House · New England · NCP/NP

– Briefly, may I also extend to Mr Ingram and to Mrs Ingram on behalf of the Government our good wishes. I know that the Prime Minister (Mr Malcolm Fraser) wishes to advert to Mr Ingram’s retirement this afternoon in the remarks he will make in the concluding stages of the session. On behalf of all members of the Government parties I would like to say how much we are indebted to Mr Ingram for the years of service to this Parliament. As you remarked, Mr Speaker, 42 years is an incredible time of service, particularly in the history of Australian Federation, transcending as it does more than half of that history and going back to the origins of this place. It is truly a remarkable term. I join with you in wishing him a recovery from his present illness and trust he has many more years of health and happiness ahead of him and that with his family he may now enjoy those years of retirement which he has certainly more than justified.

Mr HAYDEN:
Leader of the Opposition · Oxley

– On behalf of the Opposition I join with both yourself, Mr Speaker, and the Leader of the House (Mr Sinclair) in expressing the greatest appreciation to Mr Ingram for the services he has given this Parliament and also to convey the best wishes of the members of the Opposition, indeed of the Parliament, to both Mr and Mrs Ingram for a happy retirement. It comes as something of a shock to hear the announcement today that Mr Ingram is about to retire. Like most members, indeed if not all, I had come to the situation of being so used to seeing Mr Ingram around the place and accepting him as an essential part of this building, of the services that keep this building going, that it never occurred to me that retirement may be coming fairly soon. It is a matter of regret to me that Mr Ingram is leaving because he has always been a person diligent and capable in his task but, more importantly, as you observed, an extremely genial, friendly man who has been helpful at the personal level. I must say for the record that although his services have been diligent and of a consistently high order, I am not always certain that he has given a consistently faithful record of what has taken place in the Parliament because when I read the parliamentary debate it is too consistently lucid to persuade me that that could be consistently true.

He went from journalism to politics- I leave it to honourable members to make a judgment as to whether it was progress or some other way- but in coming here he contributed right through the development of the Hansard services, from the point before the introduction of the daily Hansard, to the introduction of the daily Hansard which was a massive task at that time and a most valuable record of what takes place in the Parliament. Parliament is a curious institution. For lengthy periods it can proceed with its duties and its responsibilities in a relatively uneventful way and suddenly one will find oneself projected into the centre of high drama. I know that has certainly been so in my case in the 17 years I have been here. Mr Ingram has been here some 42 years and he would have seen a very high order of this sort of drama both in the Depression and war time and then later through the post-war period. I wish him and his wife well in retirement. I wish his successor well. I wish his successor every satisfaction in the job he is about to do. All honourable members know Mr Ingram’s successor, Mr Kerr, know him too as a man in the mould that we have come to recognise as part of the staffing qualities of the Hansard service, and those qualities are of a very high order. We are very fortunate to have had them and to continue to have them.

Mr SPEAKER:

– I thank the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition for that support. I am sure that I will be able to report that all members of the House share it.

Honourable members- Hear, hear!

page 3422

BILLS RETURNED FROM THE SENATE

The following Bills were returned from the Senate without amendment or requests:

Excise Tariff Amendment Bill (No. 2) 1978.

Customs Tariff Amendment Bill (No. 4) 1978.

Export Market Development Grants Amendment Bill 1978

Qantas Airways Ltd (Loan Guarantee) Amendment Bill 1978.

Australian Dried Fruits Corporation Bill 1978.

Dried Vine Fruits Equalisation Levy Bill 1978.

Dried Vine Fruits Equalisation Bill 1 978.

Dried Fruits Export Charge Amendment Bill 1 978.

States Grants (Schools Assistance) Bill 1978.

States Grants (Tertiary Education Assistance) Bill 1978.

Sales Tax Assessment (Nos 1-9) Amendment Bills 1978.

National Health Amendment Bill (No. 3) 1978.

New South Wales Grants (Chrysotile Corporation) Bill 1978.

page 3423

NORTHERN TERRITORY LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

Mr SPEAKER:

-I have received the following resolution from the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory:

We, the Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory of Australia, express our thanks to the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia for the Dispatch Boxes which they have presented to the Assembly.

Their interest in the development of the Territory and the aspirations of its people have been evidenced by successive enactments of the Commonwealth Parliament which have brought this Assembly to its present constitutional status, and we accept this generous gift as a further earnest of their continuing concern.

We were proud to receive the Members of the Delegation by whose hands the presentation was made and were glad to welcome them in Darwin. We ask them to convey our greetings to their colleagues in the Commonwealth Parliament.

I present the resolution and record of proceedings of the Legislative Assembly in connection with the gift of the dispatch boxes.

page 3423

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE

Mr CONNOLLY:
Bradfield

-I present the 174th report of the Committee of Public Accounts.

Ordered that the report be printed.

Mr CONNOLLY:

-I seek leave to make a short statement.

Leave granted.

Mr Connolly:

-This report of the Committee relates to the acquisition of automatic data processing systems in the Austraiian Public Service. It is mainly about the acquisition of medium-scale and large-scale computer systems. It also deals with the procurement of equipment to expand existing systems and with maintenance services. It does not look in detail at procurement of software, or services other than maintenance. This report is one of a series in a comprehensive study, by the Public Accounts Committee on major aspects of computer acquisition and usage to be presented to Parliament Others in the series will deal with: The Public Service Board’s Mandata system; the planning and co-ordination of ADP developments; the efficiency and effectiveness of installed computing; and the collection and dissemination of statistical material by the Commonwealth.

During the period 1962-63 to 1977-78, the Australian Public Service spent approximately $150m on the purchase and hire of computing equipment. In the last five years, there has been an average annual growth rate in equipment spending of IS per cent. Some procedures and practices currently in use for ADP acquisition are unduly costly with little compensating benefit. Moreover, they tend to be inflexible, inhibiting the optimum match of vendors’ solutions to the user’s requirements. The major unsatisfactory aspect of present procurement practice is the length of time it usually takes. The Department of Administrative Services has estimated that under new administrative arrangements for the acquisition of computers, the time required to acquire a computer from the beginning of the feasibility study to the beginning of implementation would be in excess of 48 months. From evidence received this is three times greater than the usual time taken in the private sector. We suggest that the Public Service Board should set itself the modest objective of reducing the average time for the acquisition of computer systems in the Public Service by 25 per cent. This would still mean the average would be approximately twice that in the private sector but would produce some $6m per annum in additional benefits and reduced costs.

The Committee has reviewed the interim guidelines produced by the Public Service Board and the Departments of Prime Minister and Cabinet and Administrative Services, and has concluded that, if implemented, they would not result in efficient and effective computer system procurement. The guidelines are largely orientated towards review, approval and checking. They do not deal with the inefficiencies that exist in the present process; indeed if implemented, they would exacerbate many of the present inefficiencies. The interim guidelines which do provide adequate opportunity for ministerial scrutiny during the procurement cycle, for a large amount of interdepartmental committee surveillance and for an independent assessor do not contribute to the achievement of, or recognise the need for, moving the task of computer system procurement more firmly into the hands of departmental management. The great emphasis that they place on review and checking by the IDC on automatic data processing suggests that they may even have the opposite effect- that of further reducing the generally already inadequate level of involvement and control exercised by permanent heads in computer system acquisition.

Currently, a significant component of the time cycle for procurement of large computer systems is the time taken in obtaining the endorsement for approval of departmental proposals by the IDC on ADP. It has been estimated that the IDC could be costing $4.5m in deferred benefits. The

Committee considers it unlikely that the IDC review produces annual benefits of equal magnitude. It is the Committee’s view that review and co-ordinating bodies such as the IDC should be publicly accountable for the costs saved and benefits lost due to their function. New administrative arrangements for computer procurement should be based on a cost/benefit analysis which takes into account the effect of delay on both direct costs and lost benefits.

The Committee has suggested new interim guidelines to ensure that there is adequate opportunity for ministerial scrutiny without the delays in the existing procedures. In brief, the responsibility for the review of departments’ computer proposals would be vested with the Public Service Board. The Board would be charged with responsibility for the speedy processing of all proposals. The Board’s officers would be responsible for drawing Cabinet’s attention to proposals which involve possible difficulties such as conflict of interest. The Committee is anxious to ensure that fairness, honesty, free competition and more open negotiation prevail in all procedures developed. In all, the Committee made 40 recommendations which it feels will improve the acquisition of ADP systems in the Public Service.

This has been the first major review undertaken relating to the acquisition of ADP systems in the Australian Public Service. The Committee wishes to express its appreciation of the cooperation and assistance accorded to it by staff of the Public Service and suppliers of computer equipment and services. The information and material provided has greatly assisted the Committee in its prompt presentation of this report. The Committee would also like to acknowledge the outstanding contribution of its technical advisor, Mr Peter MacGregor of P. K. MacGregor and Associates, in the preparation of this report.

I seek leave to incorporate the Committee’s recommendations and the remainder of my remarks on the Committee’s activities for 1978, in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The documents read as follows-

page 3424

SUGGESTED NEW GUIDELINES

The Committee recognises that the Department of Administrative Services has a role in the procurement of computer systems and related services. This role derives from the Administrative Arrangements Order and the Government’s decision that the Purchasing Division of the Department should assume responsibility for the procurement of computers. It may be necessary for the Department of Administrative Services to acquire or develop additional skills to enable it to perform the computer purchase operation effectively. It is also recognised that in order to implement the following procedures it will be necessary to raise the level of computing technology skills within the Public Service Board.

1.4. SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS

The following recommendations derive from the foregoing sections 1.1 to 1.3:

The recommendations below follow from evidence and arguments presented in later sections of this report

page 3426

ACTIVITIES OF THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE

In 1976 1 commenced the practice of informing the Parliament of the activities during the past year of the Joint Parliamentary Committee of Public Accounts.

As we are rarely given the opportunity of debating the numerous reports which are tabled, I believe it is important that the parliament should be given details of our activities. 1978 has been a record year in terms of meetings of the Committee and the general areas which it has reported on. In all there were 45 meetings of the full committee and 29 meetings of sub-committees, a total of 74 meetings.

In addition to our regular reporting on items such as the Auditor-General’s reports, and our investigation and subsequent reports to Parliament on the Advance, of the Minister of Finance we also finalised our enquiry into ownership and leasing of overseas property by the Commonwealth, and we commenced a most significant examination into the use of computers in the public sector.

The report on overseas property was tabled last Tuesday and today, I have tabled the first of a series of reports on computerisation in the public sector with regard to the acquisition of ADP systems. This will be the first of a series in a comprehensive review by the Committee on major aspects of computer acquisition and usage.

Next year, we will present reports on the Public Service Board Mandata system, planning and co-ordination of ADP development, the efficiency and effectiveness of installed computer services, and the collection and use of statistics by the Commonwealth.

We believe that these reports will give the Parliament a substantial basis upon which to assess the role of the public sector in this most significant and expensive area of administrative development.

The committee has also decided to undertake early in the new year a comprehensive review of the cost effectiveness of services to the unemployed. This examination will take into account the reports of the Norgard and Myers reports into the Commonwealth Employment Service. The review will test the effectiveness of specific schemes in terms of established Government policy.

The work of the Committee was significantly helped during the year by the secondment of officers from the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Public Service Board and the Auditor-General’s Office. The Committee believes that the continuation on a regular basis of the secondment of officers from other departments is very useful, both to the Parliament and to the departments concerned, as it enables middle-ranking officers to obtain valuable experience and insight into the financial affairs and administration of a wide range of other departments. It also enables them to gain an appreciation of the role of the Committees of the Parliament in financial scrutiny.

During the year, the Committee also commenced the appointment of outside advisers, not only to help us with specific enquiries, but as a means of ensuring that the secretariat has access to specialists in areas of relevance to the committee. Accordingly, we appointed Mr Peter MacGregor as our consultant in the area of automatic data processing. Mr K. C. O. Shan, C.B.E.-up until recently Chairman of the Public Service Board- and Mr R. Jay, a specialist in government accounting and federal state financial relationships, have accepted appointments as special advisers and I hope to be soon in a position to announce that a retiring justice of the supreme court of New South Wales will also take up a similar position with us. 1978 saw an extension of the Committee’s interest in developing associations with similar Committees in the parliaments of our near neighbours. Following a visit to Canberra by a delegation of the PAC of the Parliament of Papua New Guinea, arrangements were made to second the previous secretary of the Committee to help the Papua New Guinea Parliament for a period of six months. We understand that the secondment of this officer has been of immense value.

We also received a delegation from the Public Accounts Committee of the Parliament of the Solomon Islands and they are interested in maintaining a close relationship with us. Upon their attaining self-government, we also had discussions with the Government of the Northern Territory and we stand ready to assist them should they wish to establish a committee for financial scrutiny in that legislature.

The Committee is encouraged by the growing interest internationally as well as in the State Parliaments of Australia, in more effective scrutiny of public expenditure. During the year the chairman and secretary were invited to give evidence before a committee of the NSW Parliament and we have reason to believe that the PAC in the NSW Parliament will be significantly strengthened. The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association has established a working party made up of PAC chairmen from a number of member parliaments, including our own- they will be reviewing progress in London next September.

Amendments to the Audit Act and introduction of efficiency auditing are seen by the committee as being of great significance. We regret that is has not been possible for the Parliament to pass the enabling legislation during this session. Following discussions with the Government, it was agreed that PAC and the Expenditure Committee of the House of Representatives would consider all efficiency audit recommendations and reports made by the Auditor-General. It is the PAC’s preliminary view that we would be interested in acting as an arbiter in cases where departments are unable to agree to recommendations made by the Auditor-General and we have already commenced this role.

We have noted with some concern the growing tendency of Committees of the Parliament and even Ministers, to question publicly the recommendations made by the Auditor-General in his reports. We believe that the integrity of the Auditor-General should be safeguarded at aU times and we fear that any major public criticism of him would not be in the best interests of the Parliament, nor assist the efficiency of government administration. Nevertheless there is a heavy responsiblity on the Auditor-General to ensure that his reports are at all times balanced and fair. The PAC has always found this to be the case.

In my 1977 report, I foreshadowed a number of significant amendments to the PAC Act. Unfortunately, little progress has been made on this matter, but we are assured by the Minister that enabling legislation will be passed during the autumn session.

The Committee is concerned with the need to improve relations between the Parliament and the public service as a whole. We are conscious of a lamentable lack of appreciation by the latter of the work of Parliament, and of the tendency for public servants to forget that both the administration of government policy and Parliament’s right to protect the interests of electors, are in fact closely related. We are both indispensable parts of the same system of government, the efficiency of which should be of common interest to us all. As in previous years, the Chairman of the Committee and the secretary were invited to speak at a number of seminars conducted by the Public Service Board for medium and senior officers of the Public Service. We have also continued our close relationship with the Royal Institute of Public Administration. The Committee has decided to take a further initiative in this field by establishing on an annual basis a seminar for medium ranking officers of the Public Service, where members of both Houses of Parliament especially those who are involved in the work of committees such as the Senate Committee on Finance and Government Operations, and the Expenditure Committee, can join with us in discussing issues of relevance with middle ranking officers of the Public Service. The first seminar will be held in Canberra during the second week of the autumn session.

It is my hope that during 1979, we will also be able to build further regular contacts with professional organisations in the private sector, in particular the Institute of Auditors and the various State branches of the Society of Accountants.

While we do not question the need for an independent career public service, nevertheless there is a constant need for a greater degree of co-operation between the private and pubUc sectors, not only at the level of staff transfers and secondments, but just as important, the establishment of a regular means of more effective communication.

I would like to conclude by thanking the Auditor-General, the Chairman of the Public Service Board and the Secretary of the Department of Finance, as well as their officers for the considerable support they have so willingly given us during the year.

I must also, on behalf of my colleagues, thank our extremely hard working secretariat, ably led by Mr Michael Talberg; without their dedication, the effective performance of our task would be quite impossible.

Mr CONNOLLY:

-I thank the House. I commend the report to honourable members.

Mr Barry Jones:
LALOR, VICTORIA · ALP

-by leave-This is an extremely important report by the Joint Committee of Public Accounts. It is the first of a series which aims to inform the Parliament and the people of Australia about the significance of automatic data processing in the public sector. The worst thing that could happen would be for this report to be presented, to be accepted with expressions of goodwill on all sides, and then for it to lie unread, undebated, lodged in some comfortable pigeon hole. The full Public Accounts Committee and the sectional committee which worked on this report, worked extremely hard. The report in its way is a text book, one of the most significant documents presented, certainly in the brief time that I have been a member of the House of Representatives. However, if the report is not read and debated at length in this place and then acted on it might just as well have never been written at all.

I hope that the Government will undertake to set time aside in the autumn session to ensure that there is adequate debate on this extremely important report. The implications of the report are serious. Conceptually, ADP is a very difficult area to work in, particularly for laymen. It illustrates for many members of parliament, who are laymen and generalists in most areas, the problem of the fragmentation of knowledge. I have spoken about this before in this House. As the volume of accessible knowledge increases exponentially and as it becomes increasingly difficult for members of parliament to be able to comprehend the range and depth of government activity, we may fall increasingly into the hands of technocrats with tunnel vision who understand their area absolutely. But we will find that the range of members of parliament are unable to understand it and cannot find the time to acquire the information to argue out on policy and administrative matters in equal terms.

I draw attention again to the 40 recommendations referred to by the Chairman, or the 40 steps. I remind honourable members of the story which they may know of Voltaire’s comment about St Denis, the patron saint of Paris. According to the legend, when he had his head cut off he picked up his head and put it under his arm and walked for 40 steps. Voltaire said: ‘I really am prepared to accept most of the story’. He said: ‘I am certainly prepared to accept that he walked perhaps 39 steps but in fact it is really only the first step that I am worried about’. I think in this case we need to make sure that the first, the second, the third, right up to the 40th of those steps, is understood, debated in this place and acted on.

page 3428

ABORIGINAL HOUSING

Discussion of Matter of Public Importance

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Millar) Mr Speaker has received letters from the honourable member for Lalor (Mr Barry Jones) and the honourable member for Indi (Mr Ewen Cameron) proposing that definite matters of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion today. As required by Standing Order 107, Mr Speaker has selected one matter; that is, that proposed by the honourable member for Lalor, namely:

The questionable administration of the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs in relation to the housing of Aboriginals.

I therefore call upon those members who approve of the proposed discussion to rise in their places.

More than the number of members required by the Standing Orders, having risen in their places.

Mr Barry Jones:
LALOR, VICTORIA · ALP

– I refer first to the-

Motion (by Mr Fife) proposed:

That the Business of the Day be called on.

A division having been called for, and the bells being rung-

Mr Charles Jones:
NEWCASTLE, VICTORIA · ALP

– This matter of public importance will expose Fraser as a crook.

Mr Bourchier:

– You had better withdraw that.

Mr Charles Jones:
NEWCASTLE, VICTORIA · ALP

– Do you want me to?

MrBouchier- Yes.

Mr Charles Jones:
NEWCASTLE, VICTORIA · ALP

– Ask me to.

Mr Bourchier:

- Mr Deputy Speaker, a comment was made on the other side of the House which should be withdrawn. I heard it from here.

Mr Charles Jones:
NEWCASTLE, VICTORIA · ALP

– Do you want me to repeat it? This matter of public importance would have exposed Fraser as a crook. You are trying to cover it up and you know it

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER:

– Order! The honourable member for Newcastle is engaging in unparliamentary behaviour. I ask him -

Mr Charles Jones:
NEWCASTLE, VICTORIA · ALP

– There is nothing unparliamentary about it.

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER:

– Order!

Mr Bourchier:

– I ask that the honourable member for Newcastle withdraw that remark.

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER:

– I ask the honourable member for Newcastle to withdraw the remark.

Mr Charles Jones:
NEWCASTLE, VICTORIA · ALP

– The honourable member for Lalor had a matter of public importance before this Parliament which would have exposed the conduct of the Prime Minister.

Mr Bourchier:

- Mr Deputy Speaker-

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER:

– Order! The honourable member for Newcastle and the honourable for Bendigo will resume their seats for the moment.

The bells having been rung-

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER:

– Before putting the question, I am required to deal with the point of order raised by the honourable member for Bendigo when he called upon the honourable member for Newcastle to withdraw a remark which was unparliamentary, which he considered to be offensive and which is in contravention of the Standing Orders. I therefore call upon the honourable member for Newcastle to withdraw the remark.

Mr Charles Jones:
NEWCASTLE, VICTORIA · ALP

– What I said to the House was by way of interjection.

Mr Bourchier:

- Mr Deputy Speaker-

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER:

– Order! I have asked the honourable member for Newcastle to withdraw the remark.

Mr Charles Jones:
NEWCASTLE, VICTORIA · ALP

– My colleagues want to know what I said. What I said was that the motion that Government Business-

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER:

-Order! The honourable member for Newcastle will not press the matter. His colleagues who were in the House will be aware of the remark. It is not necessary-

Mr Uren:

– What did you say?

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER:

-Order! The honourable member for Reid will cease interjecting. The honourable member for Newcastle is not required to repeat his statement. He is required by the Chair to withdraw the remark. The honourable member for Newcastle is aware of the remark and it is not necessary to repeat it. I ask him to withdraw it without qualification.

Mr Charles Jones:
NEWCASTLE, VICTORIA · ALP

– I withdraw the remark.

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER:

– I thank the honourable member for Newcastle.

Question put:

That the Business of the day be called on.

The House divided. (Mr Deputy Speaker-Mr P. C. Millar)

AYES: 69

NOES: 34

Majority…….35

In division:

AYES

NOES

Question so resolved in the affirmative.

page 3430

BROADCASTING AND TELEVISION AMENDMENT BILL (No. 2) 1978

Second Reading

Debate resumed from 15 November, on motion by Mr Staley:

That the Bill be now read a second time.

Dr BLEWETT:
Bonython

-The Broadcasting and Television Amendment Bill (No. 2) 1978 is essentially a machinery Bill which endeavours to deal with a set of apparently unforseen difficulties which arose out of the major changes made to the Broadcasting and Television Act following the Green report. Those changes were made in 1977. A principal change was to transfer the power to grant and renew licences for broadcasting and television from the Minister for Post and Telecommunications to the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal. In addition the 1977 Act also laid down specific times for the lodgement of applications and renewals and for submissions relevant to those applications and renewals. These were two changes that emerged in 1977.

This Bill is designed to clear up the administrative chaos that followed those changes. Let me detail some of the chaos that was involved this year in the effort to carry through those changes. There was considerable confusion, in part created by the Chairman of the Broadcasting Tribunal, as to the appropriate form which public radio licence applications should take. As a result of this and other matters some 26 applications were not formally correct. In addition, with reference to the public broadcasting applications, there seems to have been a failure of the Tribunal regularly to clear its post office box, as evidenced in articles in the National Times in early September. The problem in relation to television renewals arose from an inconsistency in the original Act which stipulated that new licence applications should be lodged with the Tribunal, but that renewal applications should be lodged with the Minister. As a result of this inconsistency all the Adelaide renewals were mistakenly lodged with the Tribunal and not with the Minister as the Act required.

Although it is beyond the Bill to ensure that the Tribunal clears its post office box regularly, the Bill does seek to clear up the chaos which has arisen in the other fields. It does this firstly by introducing much greater flexibility in the procedural arrangements for lodging original and renewal applications and related submissions and documents; secondly, it ensures that all applications for licences and renewals will in future be directed to the Broadcasting Tribunal and not to the Minister; and thirdly, it includes sections to validate retrospective the public broadcasting applications and the televison renewal applications.

The Opposition welcomes these amendments as both necessary and desirable. We believe that the direction of licence renewals to the Tribunal and not to the Minister is hopefully a further depoliticisation of licensing matters. We certainly welcome that change. We also welcome the greater flexibility with respect to applications and submissions which will be of benefit in our view both to the applicants and to the Tribunal. But the Opposition would fail in its duty if it did not deplore the administrative mess which gave rise to these amendments and to these retrospective changes. The retrospective changes themselves indicate the failure of the Minister in the middle part of this year to ensure that proper procedures were observed when licence applications and renewals were lodged. I think it is important to deplore this failure because these public radio licence hearings marked the very first occasion of such licence grants by the Tribunal. Equally, the television licence renewals were of great significance as the first public renewal hearings held by the Tribunal. As such they were central elements in the concept of pubhe accountability of licence holders. It is disturbing that in both of these pioneering undertakings by the Tribunal, considerable irregularities occurred.

What were the reasons for the irregularities that took place? I think two major points seem to have been neglected in the original legislation and are perhaps not fully covered even by this legislation. The Tribunal does not appear to have sufficient administrative and legal competence to ensure that the provisions of the Act are properly observed. That seems to be one major weakness which explains many of the irregularities that took place in May, June and July of this year. Secondly the Tribunal perhaps did not fully understand the inconsistency I have already mentioned between renewal and application procedures. When the applications were heard in Adelaide the Tribunal clearly did not realise or did not appear to realise that there was an inconsistency in the Act under which it was operating. This anomaly meant that the applications for the licence renewals for the Adelaide stations were lodged, quite incorrectly with the Tribunal. Under the Act, they should have been lodged with the Minister. Moreover, as I have said, the Government’s embarrassment and the Minister’s embarrassment were further compounded by the administrative incompetence of the Tribunal which failed to ensure that in regard to the public broadcasting applications its post office box was regularly cleared. It seems that simply because of this omission a number of applications were received by the Tribunal after the appropriate date.

As I have said, the Opposition welcomes the amendments which give the Tribunal greater discretionary powers to extend any deadlines for submissions, applications, renewals, evidence or replies to submissions. We welcome this kind of power in the hands of the Tribunal to see that in future we will have fair and relatively impartial hearings conducted with a degree of administrative flexibility which this Bill endeavours to provide. But we are worried about some of the factors that have led to its introduction. This is another sign of the incompetence at the administrative level that we are finding in many places under this Government. We welcome the corrections that have been made. We would like to draw attention to what still seem to be weaknesses in the legal and administrative support staff of the Tribunal, but we believe that at least this Bill is a start in correcting the anomalies that turned up in the middle of this year.

Mr JULL:
Bowman

– It is true that the amendments that are before the House today have been introduced to tighten up aspects of the Broadcasting and Television Act which has caused difficulty in the staging of public hearings for the renewal of licences over recent months. I too welcome these amendments which are certainly going to make things a lot easier than they have been in the past. I think the amendment relating to the lodgement of renewals with the Tribunal rather than with the Minister is one to be commended. Previously, in the days of the old Australian Broadcasting Control Board, the applications went to that Board. I think the industry is probably also at fault in not reading some of the rules and regulations in the right way and in posting the applications to the Tribunals as a matter of expediency. The passing of this Bill will certainly overcome this problem. There will be a number of public licence hearings coming up in the course of the next few weeks. I was very interested to follow closely the public hearings that were conducted recently in Adelaide for the renewal of commercial television licences. I think anyone who followed those public hearings could not help feeling some concern at what was happening. If we read the Act and consider what happened in Adelaide I am sure we will acknowledge that there are many problems and many bugs that must be ironed out of the Act so that the industry can operate completely and utterly to everyone ‘s satisfaction.

I noted at these hearings the fact that although the Act provides that where in the opinion of the Tribunal licence holders who have not breached the law can have their licences automatically renewed, this did not necessarily happen in the case of the Adelaide television station. The other thing that was of particular concern to me at the Adelaide hearings was the fact that members of the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal seemed to take a lot of submissions from the floor. I wonder whether the Act should be tightened specifically so that if people want to make submissions they will have to be made in writing under the same terms and the same conditions as the television stations that lodge their renewal applications. Giving submissions from the floor caused a great deal of heartache for some of the witnesses who appeared before that Tribunal. Also I would like to voice some criticism of some members of the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal for the way in which they conducted themselves at the public hearings.

After looking very closely at some of the transcripts of the hearings I wonder whether some members of the Tribunal were in breach of the Act because of some of the questions they posed and some of the allegations they made against the people who appeared on behalf of the television stations that were seeking to have their licences renewed. I know that a lot of the members of the television stations expressed concern at the way in which those hearings were conducted. I think the last thing we would ever want to see with this form of renewing television licences is a major legal battle. If the type of behaviour that was displayed in Adelaide is any indication, one can see that at future major hearings representatives, whether they be of commercial television stations, commercial radio stations or indeed the public broadcasting sector, will have to have legal counsel to work out their rights.

Indeed I would believe that if that was the case members of the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal would have to have legal counsel as well. One could imagine that these public hearings could well develop into a major legal battle going on for days, weeks and months at a time. This disturbs me because this certainly is not in the spirit of the Act as it stands at the moment. I think we all applauded the fact that the public had an input into radio and television in Australia with the implementation of the new Act. It would be a very great shame indeed if that input was lost because of the nature of the conduct of the particular hearings and in fact if these legal battles raged in the cases of some of the major licence renewals that will be held in coming months.

The other point which concerned me and which seemed quite obvious was that the members of the Austraiian Broadcasting Tribunal, when they began the hearings in Adelaide, really did not have too many clues as to exactly the form that the hearings should take. It would seem that not enough preparation was done, whether by members of the Tribunal or members of the department concerned, in having the members completely briefed on what their role was to be. Another criticism that was voiced was the fact that the industry could not obtain official forms on which to make their applications from the Postal and Telecommunications Department even though their applications were filed on time. Obviously this matter will be cleared up now but we must express concern if this type of thing is to go on within the operation of government. In coming months there will be quite a number of public hearings for the renewal of radio and television station licences. I wonder if all members of the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal should be expected to undertake all those hearings. Even if two members at a time go to the different centres the work load will be quite incredible if the hearings in Adelaide were any indication. I believe that there could be quite a good case made out for the establishment of part-time member positions of the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal to overcome that work load. It is a most extensive industry. A lot of technological development is taking place at the moment and there is a lot of work for the Tribunal to do. There are a number of areas in which I think some action should be taken very soon indeed.

One of the areas that I think is well worth investigation is the quality of television reception that is being received on the Queensland Gold Coast. In fact some areas of the Gold Coast have some of the worst television reception in Australia. For a number of years there has been a great deal of debate in this most important part of Queensland- after all it is the tourist capital of Australia- as to what should be done to overcome the difficulties in television reception. Two notions have been put forward, the first being that that area should have its own commercial television station to service the area. The second notion is that translators should be provided to bring a television signal from Brisbane to be beamed on the Gold Coast Bearing in mind that this debate has now been taking place for seven or eight years and that no real action has been taken in this direction in that time, perhaps this could be a task for the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal to undertake, that is, to check on the actual viability of having a commercial television station to service that area or whether it may be a better proposition to relay programs from all four Brisbane commercial television stations to the Gold Coast

As I said, some of the areas of the Gold Coast, particularly those areas around Burleigh Heads, have some of the worst television reception in this country. It would seem to be very strange to me that a city such as the Gold Coast with 80,000 permanent residents and almost 250,000 people in peak holiday time does not have quality television reception available to it. I would like to stress to the Minister this aspect so that perhaps he could undertake some investigation with the Broadcasting Tribunal as to how this matter can be overcome. Basically the principle of these amendments that are before the House today will streamline the procedures. I believe there must be a settling down time for the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal. I would hope that we do not see in future hearings some of the anomalies that certainly came up during those Tribunal hearings in Adelaide in recent weeks. I commend the amendments to the House.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill read a second time.

Third Reading

Leave granted for third reading to be moved forthwith.

Bill (on motion by Mr McLeay) read a third time.

page 3432

INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES AMENDMENT BILL 1978

Second Reading

Debate resumed from 15 November, on motion by Mr Macphee:

That the Bill be now read a second time.

Mr HURFORD:
Adelaide

-As it has been at least a few days since the Industrial Research and Development Incentives Amendment Bill 1978 was introduced to the House, I would like to say something about it in a descriptive way before getting down to my detailed comments on it. The House will remember that the purpose of the Bill is to amend the Industrial Research and Development Incentives Act 1976, in other words, an Act that has been with us for only a couple of years. The amendments were foreshadowed by the Minister for Industry and

Commerce (Mr Lynch) and the Minister for Productivity (Mr Macphee) in a joint statement on 16 August this year, shortly after the Budget was introduced. The main thrusts of this Bill are three in number Firstly, an increase in the size of grants payable to eligible companies; secondly, the revamping of various elements of the Act, aimed at simplifying the procedures governing the application by companies for grants and the processing of these applications by the Industrial Research and Development Grants Board; and, thirdly, a change to the date on which the grant rates are set for a particular grant year.

The proposed change in the grant rates encompasses both project and commencement grants. Firstly, project grants have been increased from 25 per cent of company expenditure, subject to an overall limit on grant payments to any company of $250,000, to the rate of 50 per cent, subject to a new annual limit of $500,000 for any company. Secondly, commencement grants have increased from 25 per cent of eligible company expenditure with an annual limit of $ 1 5,000 to a 50 per cent rate with a new annual limit of $25,000. This simplification of the Act involves amendments to various key definitions, including eligible contract expenditure, eligible expenditure, eligible plant expenditure and eligible salary expenditure. Also, the section relating to joint industrial research and development projects will be altered to allow the Board to enter into a single agreement with companies undertaking joint industrial research and development rather than being required to enter into a separate agreement with each participant as is currently the case.

Finally, the Bill proposes that grant rates be set by 3 1 March preceding the start of each grant year, compared-with the current date of 30 September, a date which falls three months into the grant year. This change will give companies advance warning of the rates that will apply for the next grant year. This foreshadowing of grant rates is a step in the right direction since it should allow management time to set cash flows and plan IRD for the next financial year. So much for the purpose, as the Opposition sees that purpose, of this Bill. I would now like to make some comments on it, hastening to say, however, that the Opposition is not going to oppose the Bill and in principle we support it. According to the second reading speech of the Minister for Productivity, the new Government policy on IRD is aimed at: . . preventing further wastage of Australian research and development resources, and to contribute advances in productivity, innnovation and sound industry development.

Those are fine words with which we agree. On the face of it, it seems that the Government may at last have woken up in relation to its policy attitudes towards IRD. But a leopard never changes its spots, and we have a number of critical comments to make. We in the Opposition are concerned that the Government may not actually achieve the grand purpose it would have us believe that it seeks to achieve. We need to examine whether the Government is guilty of glossing over some of the real problems which remain for industrial research and development in Australia.

The Government is guilty of a stop-start approach to IRD and of shoddy treatment to reward the Industrial Research and Development Grants Board. Funding in the past has been erratic under various conservative governments. In contrast, during the Whitlam years funding was far more stable, with the 1975-76 Budget allocation being an all-time high of $ 19m. Of course, that is in 1975-76 prices, and when making a comparison with what is being appropriated today we would have to update that amount of $19m by the amount relating to inflation. The Fraser Government reduced this allocation to $15m in 1976-77 and reduced it again to $14m in 1977-78, this in spite of increases in the cost of materials, with the price of materials used in manufacturing going up by 21 per cent during that two-year period. This means that the level of IRD expenditure by the Fraser Government as a percentage of gross domestic product has declined steadily.

The effect of this erratic and neglectful policy has been significant in a number of ways, and I want to list them. Firstly, the Industrial Research and Development Grants Board has not been able to meet its commitments, resulting in long delays in the payment of grants to qualifying companies. Secondly, companies have continually decreased their participation in the scheme. Thirdly, because of previous commitments and first priority being given to commencement grants, funds have not been available for new IRD projects. The last point I want to make under this heading is that excessive selectivity has been forced upon the Board in its allocation of the shrinking funds made available to it by the Fraser Government. Because of these facts, the much-heralded substantial increase- I am now quoting from the ministerial statement- of 75 per cent in the 1978-79 Budget allocation is not what it might otherwise seem to be. The Government’s neglect of IRD will continue to leave its mark. Of the $24m allocated for this year, at least $8m will be required to bail out the Industrial Research and Development Grants Board from the predicament the Board has found itself in because of the Government’s attitude hitherto to the funding of industrial research and development in Australia. This $8m is required so that the Board will be able to pay it existing debtsgrants which have been awarded but not yet paid to qualifying companies. For this reason alone the grandstanding associated with the socalled 75 per cent increase- the increased allocation of funds- borders on the deceptive. In reality, the Government has allocated only $16m for new grants this year, an increase of only $2m over the previous year and a figure which still falls a good deal short of the allocation of $ 1 9m in the Whitlam Labor Government’s final Budget in 1975-76.

A further consequence of the limited funding has been the setting of guidelines by the Board when determining which companies are eligible for project grants. Such selectivity means that the best interests of this country may not always be served. Lack of funds forces the Board to make a choice between widely differing proposals, and that is just not good enough. This is not the only legacy of past neglect which IRD policy will have to bear. In past years, because of financial restrictions, the Board has been unable to provide funds for IRD projects as they have taken second place to commencement grants. Because companies are aware that grants are not available for specific projects they have ceased approaching the Board and/or have let their IRD divisions run down. For this reason, one injection of funds will not be enough to restore the business community’s faith in the Board or in the policy of the Fraser Government in this area. In fact, the Government must follow this year’s increase with further increases in funds over the next few years.

While on this point, it may be worth while questioning the merit of separate IRD funding between commencement on the one hand and project grants on the other hand. This distinction may place an artificial restriction on the potential contribution which government promotion of IRD in Australia pursues. Many companies undertake IRD on a more casual basis than the formal project work as denned in the Act. Research is undertaken but without the formalisation of a forward program required by the Board. Such work is ineligible for a project grant as well as being ineligible for any alternative commencement grants. These companies tend to be small, but it is these companies which have the reputation for being more innovative. Surely we should look at the point I have just raised. Surely the Government should examine additional ways in which it can assist small innovative companies.

In conclusion, may I summarise the points I have made. The past performance of the Fraser Government in die area of industrial research and development has been very poor. The figures now do not in any way compare with the amount appropriated in the last Whitlam Labor Government Budget. The erratic nature of the Government’s funding of the Industrial Research and Development Grants Board has had a detrimental effect on the level of IRD in Australia, causing a general decrease in the levels undertaken and undermining the stated intentions of the Board. The business community, we believe, has lost faith in the Board, and it will take more than an announced new policy, more than an increase in funding in one Budget year, for the Government to make up its lost ground. Let us hope that this Bill is a genuine attempt by the Government to redress the faults of the past. There is no doubt that in the search we must all join to create new jobs in Australia industrial research and development are absolutely vital. I have much pleasure in supporting the Bill, but with the qualifications that I have made in this speech.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill read a second time.

Third Reading

Leave granted for third reading to be moved forthwith.

Bill (on motion by Mr McLeay) read a third time.

Sitting suspended from 1 to 2.15 p.m.

page 3434

DISCHARGE OF ORDERS OF THE DAY

Motion (by Mr Sinclair) agreed to:

That the orders of the day, government business, for the resumption of the debate on the motions to take note of the following papers, be discharged:

Science and the Environment- Senate Standing Committee- Report on annual reports- Government response- Ministerial statement.

Foreign Investment in Australia- Paper.

Legal aid- Revised guidelines and solicitors’ feesMinisterial statement and papers.

United Nations- General Assembly- Special session on disarmament- Report of Australian Delegation- Paper.

Nuclear energy agreements- Papers and ministerial statement.

Defence force personnel entitlements- Ministerial statement

Immigration policies and Australia’s populationMinisterial statement and papers.

Population and Australia- Paper

Uranium export policy- Ministerial statement

Welfare and health-Paper.

Migrant services and programs- Paper.

Australia- Japan relations- Paper.

Consular services for Australians overseas- Ministerial statement

Borroloola land claim- Paper.

Parliamentary committee reports- Ministerial statement.

Aboriginal communities in the Northern TerritoryImpact of mining royalties- Paper.

Health care costs- Ministerial statement

Australia-Papua New Guinea maritime boundaries and other matters relating to Torres Strait- Ministerial statement and papers.

Australia-Papua New Guinea maritime boundaries and proposed Torres Strait projected zone- Ministerial statement

Foreign policy- Ministerial statement.

Croation Embassy ‘-Ministerial statement.

Trade relations with the European Economic Community- Ministerial statement

Tactical fighter force project- Ministerial statement

Police resources in the Commonwealth area- Report.

Security and counter-terrorism- Ministerial statement.

page 3435

ERECTION OF A VIEWING PLATFORM, CAPITAL HILL CANBERRA

Motion (by Mr Viner) agreed to:

That, in accordance with section S of the Parliament Act 1974, the House of Representatives approves the following proposal: Erection of a viewing platform on the summit of Capital Hill, Canberra.

page 3435

CONSTRUCTION OF STAGE I DEVELOPMENT, BONEGILLA ARMY SITE

Approval of Work: Public Works Committee Act

Mr McLeay:
Minister for Construction · BOOTHBY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · LP

– I move:

That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, it is expedient to cany out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the Committee has duly reported to Parliament: Construction of stage 1 development, Bonegilla army site, Vic

The proposal is for the construction of new permanent living, working and recreational facilities to accommodate the Army Apprentices School at present located in sub-standard accommodation at Balcombe, Victoria; the School of Military Survey presently located in temporary accommodation at Bonegilla, Victoria; and recruit training for the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps, presently in temporary accommodation at George’s Heights, Sydney, New South Wales. The estimated cost of the proposed works examined by the Committee was $29.5m at July 1978 prices.

In reporting favourably on the proposal the Committee has made two recommendations. In recommendation 4 the Committee has recommended that the proposed 50 metre 9 lane swimming pool be heated and covered with some space for spectator seating at an estimated additional cost of $330,000. The objective of this recommendation is to ensure maximum utilisation of the pool for training and recreation purposes by the large number of Army personnel in the Bonegilla-Bandianna area. In the short time available before the House adjourns it is not possible to examine the full implications of this recommendation and confirm that it is acceptable. However, the merit of the recommendation is recognised and will be taken into consideration as the proposal is further developed. The Committee will be advised when a decision is taken.

In recommendation 6 the Committee recommends that the Department of Construction should undertake a thorough examination of the proposal regarding project management put to the Committee by Civil and Civic Pty Ltd. This proposal was examined in some detail by the Department during the course of the Committee’s inquiry. The project management concepts put to the Committee by the company do not seem to add to the techniques that the Department has available to it and uses for the planning, design and construction of government works. The company’s specific proposal in relation to Bonegilla is one which the Department has adopted previously, where appropriate, and is not new. However, I have asked the Department of Construction to examine the proposal in more detail. Upon the concurrence of the House in this motion, detailed planning can proceed in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

page 3435

REPORTS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STANDING COMMITTEE ON ROAD SAFETY

Ministerial Statement

Mr NIXON:
Minister for Transport · Gippsland · LP

– by leave- In May of this year the Prime Minister (Mr Malcolm Fraser) announced new procedures for the formal consideration of parliamentary committee reports. I have pleasure in tabling a document summarising action the Government has taken or proposes to take on the recommendations contained in the last three reports of the House of Representatives

Standing Committee on Road Safety. These reports are on passenger motor vehicle safety, tabled in May 1976; heavy vehicle safety, tabled in April 1977; and motorcycle and bicycle safety, tabled in June 1978. Before dealing with the reports in detail, I propose to describe briefly what has been achieved and is being done in the field of road safety.

Throughout the decade of the 1960s there was a continuing increase in road accident casualties, with more than 30,000 people killed and 760,000 injured on Australia’s roads. This trend reached a climax in 1970 with a record toll of 3,798 killed and over 91,000 injured. Since 1970, however, there has been a marked departure from this upward trend. In each of the years from 1971 to 1977 fewer people were killed on the roads than in 1970, despite increases of over 1.5 million in population and two million in motor vehicles. Since 1970, some 4,200 more people would have been killed had the trend from 1960 to 1970 continued. These figures show that significant gains have been made in recent years, but there are no grounds for complacency. In 1977, the fatality rate per 10,000 registered vehicles was 5.2. While this compares very favourably with the figure of 7.9 of a decade earlier, it is nevertheless still higher than the 1976 figures for the United States of 3.3, for New Zealand of 3.7 and for the United Kingdom of 3.8.

As honourable members are aware, most of the direct action possible in the road safety field is the responsibility of the State government, the principal role of the Commonwealth Government being one of support and co-ordination. Co-ordination is achieved through the Australian Transport Advisory Council and its associated committees. Council is known as ATEC and it comprises State and Northern Territory Ministers with responsibility for transport, and the Commonwealth Minister for the Capital Territory and Minister for Transport. It is a forum for seeking and implementing national solutions to transport problems. The Council has played an important role in road safety; it is through its work and that of its technical committees that much of the progress made so far in vehicle safety, road safety publicity and roaduser performance has been achieved. The Government attaches considerable importance to this work.

In 1969, the first safety design rule for passenger cars was introduced. Australian Design Rules, as they are called, have been progressively extended to trucks, buses and motorcycles, and cover matters such as seat belt and braking systems, collapsible steering columns, burstproof door locks, and side impact protection. The Government, through the Department of Transport, provides the technical and secretarial resources to the ATAC committee which develops the design rules, as indeed it does to all the advisory committees of ATAC. The improvement in safety during the 1970s has flowed in no small measure from the Government taking a more active role in identified problem areas. For example, over $27m was provided to the States in the years 1976-77 and 1977-78 for road and traffic engineering improvements to specific locations with high accident records or significant traffic congestion. A further $14m has been allocated for expenditure during this financial year. There can be no doubt that this concentration of funds on low-cost, but highly costeffective, projects has made a substantial contribution to improving safety in Australia’s road system.

Other important examples of the Government’s commitment include the establishment of the Office of Road Safety in the Department of Transport and the funding of extensive road safety research and promotion programs. Some $800,000 will be spent by the Office this financial year on research and education to further road safety in Australia. The introduction of legislation by the State and Territory jurisdictions to require the compulsory wearing of seat belts has given Australia a special place in road safety in the eyes of the world. Not only has the legislation been remarkably effective, but also the Australian initiative has encouraged many overseas countries to introduce similar legislation. The Government believes the wearing of restraints to be of key importance, and considers that continued effort should be directed towards maintaining the benefits flowing from this legislation.

The Standing Committee on Road Safety has also played a significant role, with five reports completed and a sixth inquiry- covering alcohol and drugs- now under way. The Chairman and members of the Committee are to be congratulated, and I look forward to receiving the results of the current inquiry. There can be no doubt that foremost in the road safety problem is the role played by the excessive use of alcohol. In Australia about one-half of drivers killed, about one-quarter of pedestrians killed, about onequarter of motorcyclists killed, and about onefifth of passengers killed have blood alcohol concentrations of 50 milligrams per 100 millilitres or greater; that is 0.05 or above. When you apply these proportions to the road toll in Australia in 1977 you find that about 1,000, or one in every three adults killed, has an elevated blood alcohol level. No other single factor approaches the importance of alcohol as a contributor to serious road crashes.

Recognising the importance of developing effective countermeasures to this problem, the Government joined with the International Committee on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety to host the Seventh International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety in Melbourne in January, 1977. Some SOO delegates attended from universities, governments and research bodies throughout the world. The conference provided an international forum for the updating of knowledge, assessment of new techniques, the development of public awareness as to the nature and size of the problem, and the suggestion of effective countermeasures. The Government strongly supports therefore the Committee in its current investigation into alcohol, drugs and road safety.

I revert now to the three reports which are the subject of the document I now table. About twothirds of the recommendations contained in the three reports- the recommendations total over 100- relate to the activities of ATAC and its technical committees. Just under one-quarter relate to the Department of Transport and other Commonwealth departments, and the remainder refer to a range of industry and other organisations. To assist in the Government’s consideration of the reports, comment was sought from appropriate departments, from the States and Territories, and from a range of other organisations. In summary, the Government supports about 50 per cent of the recommendations and considers that a further 30 per cent require additional investigation before a final attitude can be determined. Action is proceeding on a number of fronts to commission research, to review and to upgrade design and operational requirements, and to encourage initiatives by the States and Territories and industry and other groups. Projects already in progress include a review of the effectiveness of bicycle ways and preparation of a code of safe loading practices for heavy vehicles. New projects are planned to study motorcyclist spinal injuries and the handling and stability characteristics of motorcycles.

Only 20 per cent of this large number of recommendations cannot be supported. For example, paragraph 247 of the report on motorcycle and bicycle safety recommends investigation of a scheme for the compulsory registration of bicycles. However, the State and Territory registration authorities consider that operational costs and administrative difficulties would far outweigh any benefits which may be derived from such a scheme. Members interested in the Government’s attitude to individual recommendations can refer to the document I have tabled. I conclude by congratulating the Chairman of the Road Safety Committee the honourable member for Kennedy (Mr Katter), who is in the House, and the members of that Committee on their devotion to the work that they do on the Committee. I present the following paper:

Reports of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Road Safety- Ministerial Statement, 24 November 1978.

Mr Charles Jones:
NEWCASTLE, VICTORIA · ALP

-by leave- On behalf of the Opposition, I commend the Government for reporting to the Parliament its intentions in regard to recommendations made by select committees, such as those outlined in the speech just delivered by the Minister for Transport (Mr Nixon). I believe that the Government intends that the responsible Ministers respond to other reports presented to the Parliament. I believe it is a good innovation and it is one which I hope, and I underline that hope, will give honourable members collectively an opportunity at some time to debate at length in the Parliament the Government’s decisions either to accept or to reject- mostly it rejects- committee recommendations. I have found from my experience from being associated with the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Road Safety since its formation that only on very rare occasions- they have been so rare that I cannot bring to mind any particular occasion- have committee members been political in the recommendations that they have made. In the vast majority of cases, the decisions of the Committee have been unanimous. I feel that giving honourable members an opportunity to comment on reports presented to the Parliament, as we are being given today, is a good innovation.

One aspect of the Minister’s speech which I regret is the way in which he has to a limited degree introduced politics into the debate. The Minister has given credit to himself but not to the Labor Government which was responsible for so many of the innovations that were introduced in relation to road safety. For example, the Minister mentioned only the amount that his Government has allocated to the Minor Traffic Engineering and Road Safety Improvements Program; he made no mention of the fact that it was the Labor Government in 1973 which made the first allocation to the MITERS Program and which introduced legislation for that purpose in 1973-74. I am pleased to note that the present Minister has not changed the legislation. He has maintained the existing legislation. The same situation applies to the research and investigation funds that were provided by the Labor Government. I am pleased that his Government has continued the good work that the Labor Government commenced.

However, there is one area of regret. Very early in the life of the Government which was elected in 197S, it abandoned the Labor Government’s Road Safety and Standards Authority. It revoked the legislation. Incidentally, it is quite interesting to note that the Chairman whom I as the then Minister appointed to the Road Safety and Standards Authority, Mr Frank Yeend, is now the head of the Office of Road Safety in the Minister’s Department Obviously, the Authority was not abandoned on the score that the person whom I had appointed was unsuitable for the position that he held then since he is not considered unsuitable for the position he holds now. Therefore, I regret that the Minister has seen fit to fiddle with the Authority and to try to claim political credit for something that his Government did not do.

In relation to the Office of Road Safety, it took the Government from March 1976 to December 1977 to get that Office under way. There was a great deal of talk about it being established. There was quite an amount of information available in the Department to help the Minister make a decision if he wanted to change the format of the road safety system, whether by establishing a road safety and standards authority or whether by burying it in the Department as an office of road safety as is the present situation. All the information in the world was available to allow the Minister to make an instantaneous decision. It took the Minister just on two years- one year and nine months, in fact- to make up his mind what to do and how to set up the Office of Road Safety.

We set up the Road Safety and Standards Authority on the recommendations of an expert group, which was not set up by the Labor Government. It was set up by a former Minister for Transport. I believe that was the present Minister for Primary Industry (Mr Sinclair) who is under very strong questioning at the moment and in relation to whose business affairs we moved a censure motion this morning. That expert group he set up made a report to the Parliament in the middle of 1972. That report set out a number of recommendations. One of those recommendations was that a Road Safety and Standards Authority be set up. Another recommendation was that an allocation of funds be made to a road safety program which later became the

MITERS Program. It made a recommendation that there be uniformity in the collection of statistics.

The Labor Government set about implementing those recommendations. The present Minister for Transport was the Minister to whom that Committee reported. As I have said to him time and time again in this place, he could have done something about those recommendations as a member of the McMahon Government. That Government did nothing about the matter. It could have done so and did not. The Labor Government had the opportunity to do something and did so. We were the people who got on with the job of providing the funds for the setting up of a decent Road Safety and Standards Authority in this country. Unfortunately, this Government has abandoned that authority.

I am also sorry to say that at a meeting of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Road Safety on Thursday of this week, our attention was drawn to the fact that it is the intention of the Australian Bureau of Statistics to reduce the volume of statistics that it compiles. The decision was taken to direct the Chairman to write to the Minister and to the Prime Minister (Mr Malcolm Fraser) asking that the present system of gathering information be retained. This Government does not have a good record in regard to road safety. It dithered prior to 1972. It could have done something, but it did nothing. It destroyed the Road Safety and Standards Authority and set up a less efficient organisation. Once again it is going to act contrary to the recommendations made by its own expert group.

I regret the fact that the Minister has brought politics into the question of road safety. It is not a political issue. Road accidents kill Liberals, members of the Country Party and members of the Labor Party. They have no regard for a person or his political belief. Liberals are not immune to road accidents. I ask the Minister to keep politics out of it. Let him find the best method of reducing Australia’s shocking road toll. Even on the Minister’s own figures, Australia has a bad accident rate compared with the United States, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Australia’s record in road safety is fifteenth or sixteenth on the list of the developed countries.

There are a number of other things about which the Government should have done something. I always give full credit to the Victorian Liberal Government for having the courage and being the first Government, I believe in the world, to introduce the compulsory wearing of seat belts. This Government took a long while to catch up. I hope that before very long it will introduce random breath testing of drivers to ensure that people driving under the influence of alcohol will be detected. Those people are a menace. The evidence is quite clear. People under the influence of alcohol are incompetent drivers and cause accidents. I refer honourable members to the Minister’s own statement today as to the effects of alcohol on drivers. It is time that he introduced the necessary legislation to permit the random breath testing in an endeavour to reduce the number of people killed. Alcohol is involved in SO per cent or more of fatal accidents. I hope he takes politics out of the matter and does something.

There are a few items in the paper which the Minister tabled which I would like to refer. The Minister indicated that the Government does not agree with some of the recommendations and is seeking further information on others. The Government’s attitude on a few of the recommendations concerns me. Recommendation 25 in Attachment B deals with heavy vehicle safety. It states:

Materials used in furnishing buses be fireproof and of a material which does not produce toxic gases when subject to heat.

The Minister said that there is insufficient evidence to justify further action in that regard. He is responsible for safety in aircraft. There is clear evidence that people are asphyxiated as a result of fires in aircraft because of the material inside the aircraft. The same thing could apply to heavy vehicles. The Minister also wants further information about the uniform inspection standard for omnibuses. The Government has reservations about the Committee’s proposal and is awaiting further advice. All the Minister has to do is consider the number of tourist buses which have been involved in accidents. I turn his mind back to the Snowy Mountain fatality. A considerable number of old people were killed because of the malfunctioning of the braking system of thenbus. It was an interstate bus. The Australian Government is responsible for interstate transport. All the State Ministers for Transport were in total agreement with the Australian Government taking over responsibility for the testing and inspection of interstate buses. That agreement would not have been confined to testing and inspection. The States would have been prepared to pass the total responsibility to the Australian Government. The Commonwealth Government and State governments have differences of opinion from time to time, but on issues such as this I have always found the State

Ministers to be most co-operative, helpful and desirous of doing the right thing. I hope that this Minister is prepared to do likewise. I now refer to attachment C. Paragraph 68 states:

A requirement for licensing be a demonstration of the effective use of all brakes fitted to the motorcycle particularly the front brakes, and DOT develop advisory performance specifications for this test

There is clear evidence that braking is important whether in motor cars, heavy vehicles, motor bikes or even the lowly push bikes. The Committee was unanimous that something needed to be done about this. I am disappointed in the Government’s attitude. I know that other people want to speak on this matter and on others. There are a lot of other things on which I would like to comment, but having in mind the time of day I will reserve my comments for another occasion.

Mr KATTER:
Kennedy

-by leave-I express the appreciation of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Road Safety to the Minister for Transport (Mr Nixon). An innovation such as this is encouraging to a committee. Past history indicates that when a committee makes recommendations very little is heard about them. The Minister stated that 30 per cent of the recommendations of the Standing Committee on Road Safety need to be looked at again. I assure him that the Committee will do so. It will also reconsider those which were rejected. I thank the staff of the Committee. Mr Frank Hinkley, the Secretary, and his staff have done a splendid job. No Committee has a greater sense of its responsibility than this one. It is dealing with human tragedy involving 10 deaths per day. The Committee’s members have shown cohesion and dedication.

page 3439

MODEL NUCLEAR SAFEGUARDS AGREEMENT

Ministerial Statement

Mr PEACOCK:
Minister for Foreign Affairs · Kooyong · LP

-I table the text of Australia’s model bilateral nuclear safeguards agreement and seek leave to make a statement.

Leave granted.

Mr PEACOCK:

-This is the document that was sent to potential customer countries for Australian uranium late last year as a basis for negotiations with them on nuclear safeguards. Honourable members will be aware of the requirement, described in detail in the statement of the Prime Minister (Mr Malcolm Fraser) of 24 May 1977, for the prior conclusion of stringent bilateral safeguards agreements with countries wishing to import uranium from Australia under new contracts. In the past the Government has declined to make this document public. I explained in the House on 10 April 1978 that it would be contrary to established practice and principle to bring into Parliament matters under negotiation with other governments. I also pointed out that the model agreement simply reflected in draft treaty form the policy on safeguards which the Government has announced.

The situation has moved forward since then; first the Government has signed safeguards agreements with Finland and the Philippines and has concluded an interim agreement with the United States. I have tabled these agreements in Parliament. These agreements, having been finalised and made public, have tended to replace the model agreement as the reference points for negotiations with other countries. The model agreement was merely a negotiating tool to that end.

Second, it is the actual agreements we negotiate, not the model, which count and which have real status as binding legal documents. Honourable members and the public have always been free to compare the agreements, as they are concluded, with the policy requirements set out on 24 May 1977. It is clear that the agreements fully satisfy that policy and are indeed, in some respects, even more stringent. But the Opposition has persisted in trying to confuse and obscure this achievement by dragging in the red herring that the original negotiating tool- the model agreement- has not been made public. By tabling the model today I wish to dispel this irrelevance once and for all. It will be seen that the model text is, as we have always said, a completely faithful reflection of announced policy.

Very satisfactory progress is being made in the negotiation of bilateral safeguards agreements. There is no doubt internationally or in the minds of other governments of Australia’s determination to ensure effective safeguards. In addition to the agreements I have already mentioned, texts have been negotiated at official level with the Republic of Korea and Iran for consideration by governments. Negotiations are underway with the United States and Japan. Officials will soon be commencing negotiations with Sweden. We hope for early commencement of negotiations on safeguards to cover uranium exports to the European Community countries. All these agreements, when completed, will, of course, be tabled in Parliament I present the following paper.

Model Nuclear Safeguards Agreement- Ministerial statement, 24 November 1 978.

Motion (by Mr Viner) proposed:

That the House take note of the paper.

Mr LIONEL BOWEN:
Smith · Kingsford

-We note the fact that at last a model safeguards agreement has been tabled but we think it is the height of impertinence to suggest it is going to be of some value in the last day of Parliament. Let us bear in mind that the Opposition has been seeking details of the proposed Model Safeguards Agreement for almost 12 months. On every other occasion this has been raised we have been denied the opportunity even to have a look at it. I believe it is treating Parliament with contempt in the very last hours to drag this in here on the basis that it will ease the burden of public debate. We were asking questions about this matter many months ago. We are not at all impressed by the fact it is trundled in here today as though it is going to be of some assistance to us. We are well aware of the fact that it was in the Sydney Morning Herald on 23 June last; that is how Parliament is treated from the point of view of being given some worthwhile information.

We are also aware of the fact that it was virtually the same agreement that was tabled by the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr Peacock) on 24 August last relating to the agreements then proposed to be entered into with Finland and the Philippines. It is not good enough just to bring it in here on the basis that it will satisfy the requirements of public debate. We have asked questions of the Minister particularly in relation to the Finnish Agreement and the fact that uranium will be enriched in the Soviet Union- asking about safeguards procedures for toll enrichment- and we are not getting any assistance. From our point of view these are important matters. There is not much point in attacking the Soviet Union on the basis of having bugging devices here as though it is a pleasant exercise and in the same context not telling anything about nuclear safeguards arrangements with that country from the point of view of uranium supplied to Finland.

Let me put the issue clearly because we do not think there is any need for secrecy to the extent it has been indicated to the Parliament In the past, questions asked as to who got the safeguards agreement from the point of view of draft proposals had never been answered. Even today we still do not know to which countries this type of agreement has been forwarded; with which countries we are apparently negotiating. But we do know about some of the countries and I advert to those situations, because we are told that it is going to include the Republic of Korea,

Iran, Sweden, the European Economic Community and Japan. We do not want to single out any one country on any special basis but let us look at it from Australia’s point of view. What about the tragic events that have occurred in Iran in recent weeks? This is important from the point of view of what happens to uranium processes in that country. The real question is not what the Shah’s intentions may be but what bis successors ‘ intentions may be.

We are dealing with a period of time that is going to take us into the 2 1st century. What safeguards are there in those types of countries with all the difficulties that they face at present? Change can take place very rapidly. It is well known that there have been difficulties in the Republic of Korea for some time. They are locked into a situation which is almost a perpetual threat to peace, if not a war and there is a threat to any future proposals to the stability of the region. As a result of a recent report by the United States House of Representatives Committee on International Relations, we know that some study was apparently taking place in relatively recent years on the possibility of nuclear weapons being produced in Korea. The fact is that these preparations were made within the Government in Korea which at that time was party to a Safeguards Agreement with the United States of America. I am told that a major factor in thwarting the move by South Korea in that direction was pressure brought to bear by the United States. This related particularly to the intention of Korea to purchase nuclear reprocessing equipment from France. I want to stress the point that the solution to that problem was that it barely related to the Safeguards Agreement, and related to the fact that the United States decided to exercise its military and political strength to indicate to those governments that it wanted something else done.

We do not want this grandstanding and this posturing on the basis that something can be adequately protected in a series of words which we are not able to debate here. It is not good enough to be talking about this being good politics from Australia’s viewpoint. Let us look at the Model Safeguards Agreement. We have tried to raise this before. We say article 7 of the Model Safeguards Agreement is weak. Under that Model Agreement any signatory country can reprocess our uranium, thereby producing fissile material, with our consent In its agreement with Finland, the Government removed from Article 7 all reference to concern that weapons-usable material should not be stockpiled. Instead, it endorsed reprocessing for waste management. This is a process which, by definition, separates weapons usable material for stockpiling.

It also strengthens Finland’s hand and weakens its own by agreeing in article 10 to an arbitration clause which effectively removes control from Australia.

The Philippines Agreement incorporated the same weaknesses and went further. Article 5 of the Philippines Agreement, which is Article 4 of the Model and Finland agreements, removed from the Agreement any explicit reference to the need for Non-Proliferation Treaty safeguards to be in place. Article 7 of the Philippines Agreement, that is, Article 6 of the Model and Finland texts, weakened the physical security provisions by taking away requirements of earlier texts for review and updating.

The people of Australia do not know why the Foreign Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Anthony) have been anxious to keep the Model Agreement secret. We do not know why, but we know that that has been the situation. It would appear that they did not want to have this matter debated, on the basis that it might affect the opportunity for buyers.

We have yet to see the language of Australia’s proposed Safeguards Agreement with Britain. European Council of Ministers took exception to that agreement and it will not go ahead. One thing to which it took particular exception was the Prime Minister’s announcement that the agreement had been reached, and he said that at a Press Conference during his 1978 European tour. That is the situation; we can hear about it all over the world except in this Parliament. It is becoming clear that this Government’s policies on uranium are not determined by any rational approach but by the pressure of what suits the Prime Minister from the point of view of grandstanding and what might be suiting the Deputy Prime Minister from the point of view of export revenue.

The Prime Minister’s so-called disarmament policies are perverted by the pursuit of uranium contracts. The Deputy Prime Minister’s obsession with the sales of uranium does nothing for our own future energy needs. As I said before, he really weakens the standing of the Foreign Minister. In the context both of them, he stands as a political neuter. What stimulated the Foreign Minister to make this statement today we are at a loss to understand.

It contains no new matter. It is matter which we should have been able to obtain as far back as April this year. The things which have been done by this Government in the uranium field over the last year contribute nothing to nuclear nonproliferation. The problem still exists and continues to expand as nations acquire more nuclear industry and more nuclear material.

Debate (on motion by Mr Roger Johnston) adjourned.

page 3442

DEPARTMENT OF ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS REPORT

Ministerial Statement

Mr VINER:
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs · Stirling · LP

– by leave- I present the annual report of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs for the year ended 30 June 1978. Mr Speaker, in tabling the annual report of my Department for 1977-78, I wish to inform the House that the Government has recently completed a review of certain basic policies in Aboriginal affairs. This review is part of a continuing process of review and assessment in which increasingly Aboriginals themselves will be involved through institutions such as the Council for Aboriginal Development established by the Government for this purpose.

Coalition Government Policies, 1975 Statement

The review of Government policies in Aboriginal affairs took place against the background of the Government parties’ policies, announced in 1975. The 1975 statement committed the Coalition ‘to the principle that all Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders should be as free as other Australians to determine their own varied futures’. It recognised the fundamental right of Aboriginals to retain their racial identity and traditional lifestyle or, where desired, to adopt partially or wholly a European lifestyle. It expressed the intention to finance programs which develop Aboriginal self-sufficiency and which represent initiatives that Aborigines themselves believe will enhance their dignity, self-respect and selfreliance’. It also expressed an intention to promote cross-cultural understanding. In particular, the statement indicated that a Coalition Government would ‘respond with new initiatives ‘ to Aboriginal claims to self-management, land rights, additional funds and self-sufficiency.

In respect of self-management, the parties saw Aboriginals playing a leading role in setting long-term goals and objectives, expenditure priorities and program evaluations, as well as assuming responsibility for the success of the programs adopted. Under the land rights heading, the statement recognised that the rights of some tribal clans and reserve communities in the Northern Territory can be satisfied by granting title to their traditional areas of land. For other

Aboriginals, it looked to alternative forms of land and housing rights to be negotiated. Under the heading of additional funds, the statement referred to an Aboriginal Entitlement Revenue Account for major expenditure on the provision of services and to an Aborigines Entitlement Capital Account, the funds of which were to be invested for the benefit of the Aboriginal people. It placed the provision of these funds in the context of recognition by the coalition parties of ‘the problems flowing from the past dispossession and dispersal of the Aboriginal people and the community’s resulting responsibility’.

Finally, the statement under the heading of Aboriginal self-sufficiency promised continuation of the allocation of substantial funds for expenditure on education, health, housing and employment and on special programs to encourage Aboriginal initiative and enterprise. This Government, I believe, has good reason to be proud of what it has done in the three years since it won office in 1975- that is to say, within the normal life of a parliament. It has fulfilled five major commitments. It has through its policy of self-management given Aboriginals a new hope of controlling their own future in the same way as other Australians; it has restored a national forum for the expression of Aboriginal viewsthe National Aboriginal Conference- and at the same time it has created a formal Aboriginal advisory body to the Government which could in time win greater authority; it has legislated to give Aboriginals title to traditional land in the Northern Territory; it has decided to establish an Aboriginal Entitlement Capital Account; and it has decided to legislate for an Aboriginal Development Agency to carry on and extend the work of the Land Fund Commission and the Loans Fund Commission, and thus encourage Aboriginal initiative and enterprise.

Aboriginal Disadvantages

It is fitting that such a review should have been undertaken this year, the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, when Australia will be celebrating along with other nations, steps which have been taken because of the Declaration to enhance respect for the dignity of man and his right to live in freedom. There have been important gains and achievements since May 1967, when the people of Australia, by an overwhelming 90 per cent majority, supported the constitutional amendment which gave the Commonwealth concurrent power with the States to make special laws for Aboriginals. The near unanimity which the Australian electorate displayed in that referendum has been reflected in the intervening years in the general support for government policies, originating from both sides of this House, designed to bring justice to citizens of this country long denied the basic standards and freedoms which other Australians take for granted.

But important achievements as I have earlier mentioned must not blind us to the tragedy and deprivation which haunt the everyday life of far too many Australian Aboriginal citizens. The significance of such momentous occasions as the handing over of titles to traditional land owners in the Northern Territory has to be set against the facts that Aboriginals as a group have the highest death rate- particularly amongst the very young- the worst health and housing, the lowest educational, occupational, economic, social and legal status of any identifiable section of our population. Australian Governments, both Commonwealth and State, in consultation with our Aboriginal citizens, have a national duty and a moral and political obligation to remedy this extreme state of disadvantage. I propose in this statement to concentrate upon the results of the Government’s review of the basic policies of self-management and self-sufficiency and the need for better co-ordination of our assistance programs. I shall touch upon developments in land rights and related matters, and conclude by looking at the road ahead for Aboriginals over the next decade.

Broad Approach to Aboriginal Policies

Following the review, the Government has reaffirmed its broad approach. This approach seeks to secure for Aboriginals access to government services equal to that accorded other Australian citizens together with additional services appropriate to their state of extreme disadvantage of which I have already spoken. In addition, we have sought to discharge the community obligation, deriving from the past dispossession and dispersal of Aboriginal people, by providing certain limited special benefits not available to other citizens. Because of the unique character of this response, these benefits have for the most part been placed before Parliament for its consideration. An increasingly important and deliberate factor in this general approach is the wish of Aboriginals themselves, which they have conveyed to me, to contribute on an increasing scale to the well-being of the Australian nation as a whole. Effective financial assistance on the basis of welldocumented, community-based programs, together with the recognition by white Australians of Aboriginal values, is opening the way to Aboriginals to enrich Australia’s culture and broaden our national aspirations.

Self-Management

The Commonwealth sees self-management as the key to the implementation of its policies. In essence, the policy of self-management requires that Aboriginals, as individuals and communities, be in a position to make the same kinds of decisions about their future as other Australians customarily make, and to accept responsibility for the results flowing from those decisions. The issue is one of Aboriginals exercising authority with responsibility. The Government sees this policy as offering to Aboriginals a means of breaking out from the state of dependence which has for so long enchained them. In any society, decision-making and responsibility are essential to the restoration of self-respect and to the removal of the social maladies of despondency, inertia and resignation. This policy is generally recognised as appropriate for application to groups of people in a state of dependency as a minority in countries dominated by other cultures.

In advancing this concept of self-management the Government seeks to open the way to Aboriginals to enjoy the same rights as other Australians who, as individuals or in co-operation with others and in some cases with Government support, make choices as to their lifestyle and decide to have a say in their community affairs, to provide services for themselves, to conduct businesses and to make their own decisions within the law of the land, recognising the rights and obligations which flow from that. This policy has been evolving over a period of years. It is a contrast to earlier attitudes in which solutions to Aboriginal problems tended to be imposed upon Aboriginals by governments and officials and missionaries without sufficient thought to the needs and aspirations of Aboriginals as seen by Aboriginals themselves. We believe, as the Prime Minister (Mr Malcolm Fraser) has said, that the day when officials could decide what was good for Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders are finished.

Self-management at National Level

At the national level, the two all-Aboriginal institutions established by this Government- the National Aboriginal Conference and the Council for Aboriginal Development- are completing their establishment phase. They can be expected to take on more responsibilities in the years to come. For example, I expect the National Aboriginal Conference at its annual conference next March to be expressing views about objectives and priorities for expenditure on Aboriginal affairs and about programs which are now under way. The Conference, as a national forum for Aboriginal citizens, will no doubt be making its views known directly through resolutions and delegations to members of this Parliament. I have invited the Council for Aboriginal Development, as the formal advisory body to the Government on Aboriginal policies, to review over the next year or so the whole range of Government policies and to let me have its conclusions. Because of the large scope of this assignment, I have suggested that the first element of the Government policy to be reviewed should be self-management. I have also formally sought the advice of the Council for Aboriginal Development on the principles to be embodied in the legislation to establish the Aboriginal Development Agency.

Regional and State Level

At regional and State level also, the views of Aboriginals are being taken more and more into account. As honourable members will know, the NAC operates at State as well as Federal level. Its State branches are available for consultation with State authorities should they so desire. I understand that, for example, the Northern Territory Government intends to use the State branch of the NAC as an advisory body. I commend this approach to other State governments. NAC members in South Australia are fully involved in the State government machinery for co-ordination and advice on expenditure of Commonwealth grants by State government departments. The publicity given to the negotiations between the Commonwealth Government and the Northern Land Council should not obscure the influence which Aboriginal organisations in such different fields as legal aid, Aboriginal health and the fight against alcoholism are exerting well beyond their initial locations. It is at local level in the 800 or more separate Aboriginal communities in Australia that selfmanagement offers its greatest opportunities and faces its greatest tests.

The Outstation Movement

One notable result of Aboriginals being able to choose their lifestyles is the outstation movement. Outstations involve small groups of Aboriginals, generally family groups, moving away from more established communities in order to live on or closer to their traditional lands and to maintain a tradition oriented lifestyle. There are now 148 outstations and the movement is gathering momentum. It is true that the movement presents some problems for State and local governments whose responsibility it is to provide, for example, educational and medical services. These problems are not only financial. There is also a requirement for flexibility and imagination to ensure that the services provided are appropriate to the needs and wishes of small separate communities and that they utilise the skills available from Aboriginals resident in the outstations. I believe that given good will and imagination, these kinds of problems can be resolved. It is accepted that prior consultation with Commonweath and State authorities should take place before Aboriginals move to outstations and that, in the early stages at any rate, Department of Aboriginal Affairs’ grants should be directed to the provision of basic necessities such as water, shelter, communications and transport. While the responsibility for the provision of essential services to outstation communities lies with State, Territorial and local authorities, it is also accepted that supplementary grants may be considered to those authorities to encourage them to undertake these increased responsibilities.

The Government has endorsed its commitment, and approved guidelines against the background of consultation between departmentsCommonwealth and State- and communities, to the provision of services and support to outstations in a manner that takes account of Aboriginal lifestyles.

Larger Settlements

There are other communities at local level who choose to remain in larger settlements. They too have now the opportunity to manage their own affairs in a variety of ways. They may wish to provide municipal type services. They may wish to join together in housing associations to build and manage groups of houses. They may wish to run a business. There is now the possibility of their incorporating under State or Commonwealth law for these purposes.

Assessment of Progress

No matter what form self-management at local level may take, it offers to Aboriginal communities opportunities to manage their lives in ways acceptable to them and to make decisions affecting their futures. It is sometimes said that the administrative processes required of incorporated bodies whether under State or Federal legislation are too complex for ready application to Aboriginal communities. In a sense this criticism is a misreading of the meaning of selfmanagement, which does not require that Aboriginals immediately administer or manage projects. Control of detailed administration can come later when skills have been developed.

The Government monitors progress in selfmanagement on a regular basis. It acknowledges that the pattern which presents itself is uneven. There are, for example, claims that block grant funding, that is, the handing over of grants to be spent as Aboriginal communities decide, is the only way to promote a full sense of responsibility. But Aboriginal communities already have a large degree of autonomy in determining priorities within a known financial allocation, and increasingly have come to accept, indeed to welcome, their accountability under present financial rules for their disposal of government moneys. There are cases were poor management and exploitation by white employees have occurred leading to loss of interest on the part of Aboriginals who should be taking their responsibilities. But the outlook overall gives grounds for confidence. In this connection, I commend to honourable members a special section of the annual report of my Department entitled Communities with Confidence in the Future’.

Conclusions

In acknowledging that the pattern is uneven, the Government’s response is not to put the clock back but to treat each situation on its merits and to place particular emphasis on training and relevant assistance. The effects of training on any scale may not be evident for some time to come. The Government recognises that the process of achieving self-management at a standard which will not involve frustration and/or the misuse of some Government funds is likely to be slow and painful. It is to be noted that no alternative has been proposed by which Aboriginals may escape the state of dependence without losing their identity and culture. Having reviewed the progress in self-management, the Government has endorsed its commitment to the policy at all levels with appropriate training and development of self-reliance recognising that this will involve consultation and co-ordination between departments, both Commonwealth and State, and with communities themselves.

Self-sufficiency

Turning now to the policy of self-sufficiency, I remind honourable members that before the advent of white settlers, Aboriginal communities in Australia were entirely self-sufficient. They had a stable population. They lived in ways which enabled them to achieve cultural and economic balance. They owed no man anything. Now they find themselves:

Strangers and afraid,

In a world they never made ‘.

Self-sufficiency is the economic face of selfmanagement. It is therefore a question of the Government providing appropriate guidance and assistance for Aboriginal communities and individuals to adapt as circumstances and their needs allow to the new physical and social environment. Aboriginals have no way of going back, through the outstation movement or by any other means, to the economic independence of pre-white settlement times. Self-sufficiency now has to be defined in terms of money incomes and the things in our society like money and property, which are the source of money incomes.

By such a definition Aboriginals, whether in remote, rural or urban areas, find themselves at a disadvantage compared with other Australians. Where they live in areas with little or no economic potential, their prospects for self-sufficiency are minimal. In fact, nearly all remote Aboriginal communities do not wish, for a variety of reasons, mainly cultural, to move to areas of greater economic potential. The only dramatic breakthrough may come from mining and the organised distribution of royalties. There are, therefore, limitations on what it is possible to do by administrative means other than through grants from the Government of the kinds now being made. Nevertheless, Aboriginal selfsufficiency is being encouraged by the following means: Land ownership; expansion of employment opportunities; training programs; support for limited economic initiatives; home ownership; support for outstation movements; increased Aboriginal contributions to financial and other aid projects.

Land Ownership

Land ownership is conferred through legislation such as the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act and by purchases through the Aboriginal Land Fund Commission. I shall refer to these in more detail later in this statement.

The National Employment Strategy for Aboriginals

This Government has designed, and is now putting into effect, a national employment strategy for Aboriginals. My colleague, the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations (Mr Street), and I have together reviewed progress in putting the strategy, I first announced in 1977, into effect. In a period when Aboriginal unemployment is running at probably five to six times the national average, spectacular results cannot be expected m the short term. Indeed it is disappointing to record that the number of Aboriginals unemployed increased by some 20 per cent over the past 12 months and some 15,158 Aboriginals were registered with the Commonwealth Employment Service throughout Australia at the end of October. The Government has established a broadly based National Aboriginal Employment Development Committee under Mr R. K. Miller, General Manager and Director, Hastings Deering (Queensland) Ltd, to oversight a national campaign to stimulate job opportunities and particularly to persuade employers, private and government, to ensure equal job opportunities for Aboriginals. The Government has recently approved expenditure of some $330,000 for the current financial year. We need the cooperation of the whole Australian community in improving Aboriginal job opportunities. The Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations and I reiterate our previous appeal to government authorities, private sector employers, trade unions and the community in general to play a positive role. The Prime Minister has written to State Premiers asking them to support the various initiatives contained in the strategy.

Special Employment Initiatives

Amongst the particular Commonwealth schemes which are in hand to stimulate Aboriginal employment, I single out Community Development Employment Projects. These are developed in response to specific requests from communities for an alternative to unemployment benefits through payment for work done on projects chosen by the communities as being meaningful to them. Employment under Community Development Employment Projects is an alternative to unemployment benefits and where individuals in a community are offered work under such a project, this constitutes a work test and rejection of an offer brings to a close their eligibility for unemployment benefits. The essence of CDEPs is that they are instituted only at the request of communities and are without prejudice to the principle that individual Aboriginals are entitled to exactly the same social security benefits as other Australians. A special campaign has been undertaken by the Commonwealth Employment Service which has resulted in an increase to 7,150 in the number of Aboriginals placed in jobs in the 12 months ending May. The Aboriginal involvement in the National Employment and Training scheme will be extended. This has already grown from 1,298 Aboriginals under training in March 1977 to 2,130 in May 1978 and 2,572 in September 1978. The Commonwealth is taking action through one strand of NESA to improve employment and training opportunities for Aboriginals in its departments and authorities.

Conclusions

As with self-management, the results of the Government’s policies leading to self-sufficiency are uneven. For example, there are some successful pastoral operations and smaller economic ventures. But many economic projects are hampered from the start by lack of training, lack of suitability and lack of motivation, and because they have not been seen as genuine Aboriginal initiatives. Nevertheless, bearing in mind that the project is long term in character, the Government has, as a result of its recent review, endorsed its commitment to the support of selfsufficiency in community development. In so doing, it has taken note of the particular measures being taken to develop skills and resources through education, through the national employment strategy and through further experiments in innovative projects which give communities control over economic assets. The Government believes all these projects should be the subject of proper evaluation and is therefore in consultation with Aboriginal groups, carrying out such evaluations in appropriate circumstances.

Australian Aboriginal Development Agency

In relation to the development of Aboriginal self-sufficiency, the Government attaches considerable importance to its decision of 26 October announced to this House to legislate for the creation of an Aboriginal Development Agency which will embrace the present functions of the Aboriginal Land Fund Commission and the Aboriginal Loans Commission and take over from the Department of Aboriginal Affairs the administration of its enterprise program. The Government will be looking to the Agency not only to carry on existing measures on existing scales but to put forward for consideration new kinds of programs designed to contribute to the self-sufficiency of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities. In company with the decision to create a new agency, the Government has also, in accordance with the coalition parties’ joint policy statement of 1975, decided to establish an Aboriginal entitlement capital account. The new account will be used to fund the operation of the statutory authority. It will receive all the funds currently available to the Aboriginal Land Fund Commission, the Aboriginal Loans Commission and the enterprise vote of the

Department of Aboriginal Affairs. Additional funding to start the process of building up the account will be considered in the 1979 budgetary context. The new agency will provide a means through which Aboriginals may determine thenown needs and priorities and participate in decision-making affecting their economic and social place in the fabric of the nation. I look forward to the support of honourable members on both sides of the House in developing this new Agency.

Land Rights

Before Europeans came to settle in Australia, Aboriginals were the undisputed owners of the land, but European settlement dispossessed the Aboriginal people of their land, and dispersed many from their traditional areas. Our 1975 election platform recognised that the Aboriginals ‘ affinity with the land is fundamental to thensense of identity. This vital element in our Aboriginal affairs’ strategy was given effect within the Northern Territory with the proclamation of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act in January 1977. This Act restored traditional Aboriginal ownership of the areas that had been historically set aside in reserves and allowed Aboriginals opportunities to obtain title to traditional land outside reserves where this had not been alienated. It has opened up for Aboriginals in the Territory important new opportunities for self-management and for self-sufficiency. By giving Aboriginals proprietary rights over their traditional lands, it provides an economic base which Aboriginals may use in ways they wish, and it puts them, rather than government, in a position to shape their own future and protect their own interests as they wish. As I mentioned earlier, I had the great honour in September of this year, of presenting land title documents to Northern Territory communities occupying Aboriginal reserves in ceremonies in Central Australia and Arnhem Land.

Aboriginal Land Commission

The land rights legislation for the Northern Territory provided for the establishment of the Aboriginal Land Commission. I have this week presented to Parliament the first report of the Aboriginal Land Commissioner, Mr Justice Toohey. I therefore now do no more than note the importance of this office in the overall land rights policies for the Northern Territory and convey the Government’s appreciation to the commissioner.

Aboriginal Land Fund

In the Government’s overall approach to land rights, the Aboriginal Land Fund has an important place. It is through this Fund that, in accordance with the policy statement of 1975, the Government has had the opportunity of making lands available, not only to tribal Aboriginals living on or near their traditional areas which are not on reserves, but to non-tribal Aboriginals in rural or urban areas. Purchases by the Land Fund Commission have continued in this Government’s period of office. They will continue when the Land Fund Commission is incorporated into the new Aboriginal Development Agency with the added advantage that the same authority will control not only the funds available for purchases but also the funds available for development of properties purchased.

Assistance Programs

The Government’s aim is to relate its assistance programs directly to the wishes and priorities of Aboriginal communities. A system of consultation has been instituted which increasingly encompasses other Federal and State authorities, and ensures that the totality of aid is a response to community priorities and that there is maximum Aboriginal participation in preparation, planning and implementation of projects. The policy basis for all assistance programs is declared each year in my ministerial directive which is reproduced in the annual report. An essential part of the self-management process is acceptance by Aboriginals of responsibility for the outcome of projects which they have initiated. Accountability through observance of financial rules is being insisted upon and has been widely accepted. In addition, there is now a systematic review of projects conducted by departmental review teams. Since May 1977, 310 projects have been examined. One hundred and forty-five of these projects have been the subject of major reports including appropriate recommendations to regional directors to ensure that projects meet the objectives set by the individual Aboriginal communities affected.

Co-ordination

The Government has in the course of its review endorsed my role in the co-ordination of measures to implement its Aboriginal policies in all fields and has agreed on appropriate coordination procedures. These will include a meeting in December- January of each year of a Commonwealth standing committee of officials at which my Department and functional departments and agencies will be able to discuss their plans and programs. At regional and local levels community reviews are to take place every six months. Officers of my Department will invite all authorities with aid responsibilities to take part, together with the NAC member concerned, so that assistance programs can be co-ordinated, duplication and waste avoided, and outcomes of programs assessed. To enable the Government’s Aboriginal policies to be achieved, my Department’s responsibilities have this year been redefined as:

The development, in consultation with the Aboriginal people, of national policies directed to the advancement of the Aboriginal people, the administration of those policies, and the co-ordination of programs.

None of these responsibilities affects the basic responsibility of Commonwealth and State functional departments and agencies to deliver and finance services to Aboriginals as to other citizens. The Government accepts as a general principle that Commonwealth departments should ensure that in programs administered by them the needs of Aboriginals are accorded due priority on the basis of need. The Aboriginal populations of the States are included in general revenue reimbursement calculations, and the Commonwealth Government expects that the States will provide at least a pro rata share to Aboriginals in their own welfare programs, and in those supported by the Commonwealth, and apply the priority of need principle in respect of Commonwealth funds made available for welfare purposes. I am very conscious of the need for consultation with the State authorities, in particular where financial decisions or new initiatives will affect existing State services. Consultation, co-ordination, accountability and review are elements in the process of upgrading the effectiveness of departmental assistance programs. I have already referred to the action the Government has been taking to increase employment opportunities for Aboriginals.

I seek leave to have incorporated in Han . rel parts of the statement under the following program headings: Training; education; housing; health; alcohol problems of Aboriginals; and civil liberties.

Leave granted

The statement read as follows-

Training

The Government recognises that real Aboriginal selfmanagement and self-sufficiency can only be achieved if adequate and effective training is provided. We are determined that it will be provided. This is why this year’s Budget provides, for the first time, finance for a separate and distinct Aboriginal training program.

Education

In the field of education, it is significant that the 1 97 1 Census revealed that nearly one-quarter of all Aboriginals not then attending schools had never attended school. This is striking evidence of the past neglect and inadequacies which were typical in respect of the provision of almost all services to Aboriginals. By the end of 1977 there had been a substantial improvement. Almost 13,000 Aboriginal children were studying at secondary schools and were receiving Commonwealth study assistance. At the same time, approximately 2,500 Aboriginals- mainly young adults- were studying a variety of courses at technical and tertiary institutions. In contrast to earlier policies, an important element in the development of current educational programs is the encouragement of Aboriginal participation from community to national level, including the establishment in 1977 of the National Aboriginal Education Committee, an all Aboriginal body. This Committee provides Aboriginal advice on education needs and appropriate means of meeting them. A range of special education programs is now available to Aboriginals in all categories from pre-school to technical and further education. Special Aboriginal student assistance schemes encourage Aboriginals to take up educational opportunities.

Housing

The Government gives a high priority to overcoming the effects of years of neglect which have resulted in a deplorable housing situation for Aboriginals. Since 1968 approximately 7,000 houses have been constructed or purchased for Aboriginals using Commonwealth finance, to provide accommodation for between 30,000 and 40,000 people. In addition, over 2,000 hostel beds have been provided through Aboriginal Hostels Limited. The Government has allocated a further $40m for Aboriginal housing programs in 1978-79- some one-third of the total programs allocation to my Department- which demonstrates our priority for housing and determination to sustain our effort.

Health

Although Aboriginal access to health services at all levels has improved markedly in recent years, the general health status of Aboriginals remains low. The Government’s aim is to provide, as soon as possible, equality both of access and outcome for Aboriginals in respect of health services, and to raise the health standards of Aboriginals to those enjoyed by the general Australian community. Aboriginal medical services, managed by Aboriginals, play an effective role in the delivery of health services to Aboriginals. My Department now supports 10 Aboriginal medical services in metropolitan areas and in large country towns. Services now operate in Brisbane, Townsville, Redfern, Kempsey, and Melbourne, Bairnsdale, Shepparton, Port Augusta, Perth and Alice Springs.

In addition, the Government in the past year has supported the establishment of three community-based health services on a pilot basis in the Central Australian region, with the community assuming responsibility for all aspects of planning, management and delivery of services. Among other things, these services employ ngangkaris, or traditional healers, to work as colleagues alongside salaried doctors, nurses and Aboriginal health workers. Initially, the services are giving attention to meeting immediate health needs with the provision of basic health care and curative services, but it is envisaged that they will increasingly move into preventive and promotive activities. Honourable members will be aware that the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs has this year been inquiring into the whole question of Aboriginal health. This inquiry has my full support and I look forward to having its findings and recommendations to assist the Government in overcoming the health problems of Aboriginal Australians.

Alcohol Problems of Aboriginals

The same Committee issued its final report on the Alcohol Problems of Aboriginals in November 1977. This report emphasised the importance of preventive measures in the Aboriginal alcohol program, of supporting community decisions to restrict alcohol consumption and of supporting Aboriginal-run rehabilitation and follow-up services. The Government recognises- as do the Aboriginal people themselves- how crucial it is for Aboriginals as individuals and as communities to limit alcohol abuse and control its effects. Priority is being given to programs in this field. Some 33 Aboriginal-run alcohol rehabilitation centres and related projects are being supported by my Department. It is in part a measure of the effect of alcohol abuse that, on a population basis, Aboriginals are grossly over-represented in our courts, prisons and corrective institutions. Prison statistics indicate that Aboriginals charged with offences in the courts have a much greater probability of being convicted and jailed than other Australians.

Civil Liberties

Eleven independent Aboriginal legal services operating from nearly SO offices in all States and the Northern Territory are providing legal advice and representation for Aboriginals involved in both criminal and civil legal matters. Although a number of measures already exist in the States and the Northern Territory, last year I instructed my Department to promote a strategy, in co-operation with the States and the Northern Territory, for action to overcome problems which Aboriginals encounter in their dealings with police. The strategy encompasses measures such as the establishment of police-Aboriginal liaison systems; recruitment of Aboriginal police and police aides; the institution of training schemes to assist police in recognising the particular needs of Aboriginals; improvement in police complaints procedures; and procedural reforms relating to the detention and interrogation of Aboriginals.

A particular problem area of Aboriginal relations with the law concerns Aboriginal juvenile offenders. My Department, in co-operation with the States, is seeking to promote uniform and adequate protections for Aboriginal juveniles questioned by the police or charged in court. The Australian Law Reform Commission is continuing its study of the possibilities of applying or otherwise recognising Aboriginal customary law in the administration of justice. This reference was given to the Commission in response to requests by many Aboriginal communities in the north for help in handling law and order problems in their communities and for recognition of the problems they face in adapting their traditional forms of social control to their contemporary situation. I believe,, that this kind of initiative by Aboriginal people typifies the quite revolutionary changes that have occurred in Aboriginal life in the past decade.

The Road Ahead

Aboriginals are no longer, as they once were, a silent minority, the largely passive and remarkably tolerant recipients of whatever policies and programs governments and their officials in their wisdom decided were good for them. They have stepped forward to grasp new opportunities, to make their own decisions, to make their voice heard and to make a positive and important contribution to the cultural, social, economic and political life of the Australian nation. They have found a new dignity and a new pride in being Aboriginal. It is this change, rather than the evidence of improvements in educational and health status or figures on the number of houses provided by and for Aboriginals, which really provides a measure of the effects of the Aboriginal affairs’ policies that have been applied over the last decade.

It is this change which, I believe, should give us all, and particularly the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people themselves, great hope for the future.

Mr VINER:
LP

– The recent negotiations of the Northern Land Council on the terms and conditions for mining of uranium at Ranger and Nabarlek, and the leasing of land for the Kakadu National Park, are only the first of many occasions when Aboriginals, with their own expert advisers, will deal with governments and corporations on a basis of equality to negotiate the conditions on which their lands can be used by others. The new political strength of the Aboriginal voice has also been reflected in the attention given to Aboriginal affairs in this Parliament in recent years. It is reflected in the new significance of the Aboriginal vote in elections. Gone is the indifference of political aspirants towards Aboriginals as voters. The Government welcomes these developments and, to ensure that this political involvement is available to aU Aboriginals no matter what life- style they choose to live, has approved a comprehensive program of electoral education for Aboriginal people living in non-urban areas. This program will commence in March next year and is planned to run on a national basis for at least three years.

Today, Australians generally recognise the value of the Aboriginal cultural heritage and the contribution Aboriginals are making to our multi-cultural society. They themselves are very conscious now of their cultural identity and of the extent to which it is everywhere threatened and has in many parts suffered loss through the destructive effects of contact. The Government has been helping Aboriginals throughout Australia to maintain, develop and restore and rebuild their cultural identity through the programs of the Aboriginal Arts Board of the Australia Council and through bi-cultural and bilingual education programs. In this context I mention that, in response to requests from several communities, we have been working on proposals for the development of local communitybased broadcasting services for Aboriginals in their own languages. The Postal and Telecommunications Department is currently developing proposals for public broadcasting stations to be operated by certain Aboriginal communities. These will soon be finalised and applications will be invited, these applications to be considered by the Australia Broadcasting Tribunal. In addition, several Aboriginal groups are already making use of the new public radio stations.

In this modern age, radio and television services are very powerful and influential tools of knowledge and understanding. I have taken steps to ensure that Aboriginals are not deprived of this by directing the Government’s working party on Aboriginal broadcasting to give first consideration to remote communities. Accordingly, the major Aboriginal languages which could be serviced have already been identified. I shall be reporting in due course on the outcome of these new initiatives and on other steps to extend broadcasting services, both radio and television, to remote communities in the north.

Conclusion

In this statement I have presented the results of the Government’s review of its policies. Other aspects of policy will be reviewed from time to time by Aboriginal bodies as well as by the Government. I have tried to give Parliament a balanced picture. I do not underestimate the obvious difficulties yet to be resolved but I believe that there is a firm foundation on which to make progress in future. The Government has prepared this foundation by taking decisive steps to put into effect its policy commitments to selfmanagement, land rights and self-sufficiency. It has established the National Aboriginal Conference and the Council for Aboriginal Development. It has legislated for land rights in the Northern Territory. It has decided to proceed with the Aboriginal entitlement capital account and to legislate for an Aboriginal development agency. It has expanded the scope of existing assistance programs. Its policy initiatives are extending to new areas, such as law reform and special broadcasting facilities.

There is no doubt in my mind that the Government has created conditions in which significant changes in Aboriginal outlook and expectations are taking place. In the changing context of Aboriginal affairs, the Government’s policies are a proper and effective response to die legitimate aspirations of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people. I am encouraged by the marked degree of support which the Government’s initiatives have received in the wider community. Many church and community organisations have indicated such support Many of their statements have urged the Government to do more than it is able to do at present with the funds at its disposal. Indeed, an opinion poll taken earlier this year found that 44 per cent of people surveyed believe that the Commonwealth and the States are not doing enough in Aboriginal affairs. I welcome such interest and good will as a healthy sign of community commitment to our common aims in Aboriginal affairs. With such support from the Australian community, I believe that Aboriginal Australians can look forward with confidence to years of progress ahead firmly based on foundations which this Government has built I present the following paper

Report of Department of Aboriginal Affairs for year ended 30 June 1978- Ministerial Statement, 24 November 1978.

Motion (by Mr Hunt) proposed:

That the House take note of the paper.

Dr EVERINGHAM:
Capricornia

– The pleasant document presented to this House by the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (Mr Viner), as so commonly in this portfolio, highlights his Government’s hypocrisy. It falls far short of his assessment of it as a balanced document. The Government’s 1975 policy on Aboriginal affairs was a hurried attempt before an election to improve its old policy and bring it more into line with the achievements and policies of the Labor Government. This Government’s implementation of that policy has been pathetic. In some respects it has moved the opposite way. There has been an impediment and a dismantling, not implementation. Contrary to what the Minister has said, I believe that this Government has no reason to be proud of what it has done in the area of Aboriginal affairs since it came to office.

The Minister claims that five major commitments have been fulfilled. Let us look at these. The first is self-management Let the Minister tell that to the Aboriginal people of Aurukun and Mornington Island. Let him tell the Maningrida people, whose chosen advisers he personally sacked after consultation not with the Aborigines but with the white cronies of those the Aboriginals did not want. Let him tell the Aboriginal people in his own State that they are selfmanaging when the Western Australian Government has now placed control of entry onto Aboriginal reserves by mining companies into the hands of the Minister for Mines. Let him tell the Oenpelli people, who have got tired of fighting and exposing his deceits. Let him tell the residents of New South Wales reserves that, when he is depriving them until December of the funds allocated this year. Some communities have some self-management, provided by the Minister and his Department. I do not want to knock those communities, but I must stress that wherever the Minister steps in personally to proclaim government initiatives for self-management, Aborigines have learned to watch out for a new act of betrayal and dispossession to help a State, a mining company, or an exploiting European.

The second claim of the commitments the Minister says have been fulfilled is restoration of the National Aboriginal Conference and the setting up of the Council for Aboriginal court which only reason to restore the NAC was that the Government had destroyed the National Aboriginal Consultative Committee. It gave the NAC the same advisory role but allowed it less delegates to fulfil that role- 35 now compared with 41 in the NACC. As usual, this was in line with performance, not policy or promises. The Government has cut everything else in the area of Aboriginal affairs, especially funding. The third claim of a commitment fulfilled related to land rights. We all know what this Government did to the Labor Government’s achievements in the area of land rights. The Labor Government was pressing negotiations for full land rights and equal land rights in the States. What has happened to that under the present Government? There have been no achievements in that area, except the watering down of the Labor Government Bill, making less broad land rights harder to obtain. Let the Minsiter tell the people of Borroloola about bis Government’s achievements in land rights. He sold them out to Mount Isa Mines by delaying purchase of a central pastoral lease, Bing Bong, until the mining interests had made the first bid and bought it.

Mr Viner:

– That is a completely false claim.

Dr EVERINGHAM:

– The Minister again challenges me on this, and this is the third time I have raised it in separate debates. The fact is that his Department knew at least two years before that the the Aboriginals wanted that land. It was within the capacity of the Minister to make the funds available to purchase it, but the Aborigines heard of the purchase of Mount Isa Mines only after the event A white caretaker sits there and the traditional owners retreat to the wooded outskirts. The fourth and fifth commitments claimed to have been fulfilled relate to the establishment of the Aboriginal Development Agency. I have already stated in the House that the Opposition endorses the principle behind the ADA Indeed, stated government policies go far to cover Australian Labor Party policies in just about every area of Aboriginal affairs. Let us hope that some day the major performance will match the major promises. However, I should like to make one point. On Monday, 20 March, an article appeared in the Age newspaper questioning the future of the Aboriginal Land Fund Commission following agreement by the Prime Minister (Mr Malcolm Fraser) to a Queensland demand. The article stated:

Mr Viner told a meeting of senior Aboriginal Affairs officials on March 14 he wanted the commission’s functions incorporated in a new Aboriginal entitlement capital account which would become a type of ‘Aboriginal Development Bank.’

On the same day the Minister and the Prime Minister denied the story. Today it has become Government policy. In the Age of 22 March, a few days later, the Prime Minister denied a report that he had ordered the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs to curb the activities of the Commission following a telex from the Queensland Premier. But the facts and the performance are still there. The Land Fund Commission has not had a purchase approved since the beginning of April of this year. The power of the Queensland Premier highlights the weakness of the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. The Government’s priorities are right there in the Minister’s statement.

Mr Viner:

– That is wrong too. I have recently given approval for the Commission to negotiate.

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Giles:
WAKEFIELD, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

-Order! I invite the Minister to cease interjecting and the honourable member for Capricornia to address the Chair.

Dr EVERINGHAM:

– I am pleased, nevertheless, to have the Minister’s assurance that he has recently approved such a purchase. He spent 24 pages attempting, as always, to kid himself, perhaps his Government, and the Australian people about the Government’s achievements and bona fides, but he puts consultation with the States before consultation with the NAC, and that is the order in which they are mentioned in several of those sentences. He sees the referendum as giving the Austraiian Government concurrent powers with the State governments. Yet he will not ever give Aboriginal requests priority over State demands in such matters. He admits, of course, that Aborigines have the highest death rate, the worst health and housing, higher unemployment- more than 50 per cent- and the lowest educational, occupational, economic, social and legal status of any identifiable section of our population. We submit that the Minister has no reason to be proud of the Government’s response to this disaster area of such magnitude. He approved this year’s Aboriginal housing funding, taking credit for an increase in funds. So there should be an increase in funds. In the first two Budgets after his Government came to office it succeeded in slashing $8m from the level of funding for Aboriginal housing under the Labor Government. This year it is still under that level- 28.5 per cent in real terms- despite the inclusion of a new service category, that is, the training programs the Minister has mentioned today. In real terms, total funding through the Department has dropped by about one-quarter from the level under the last Labor Budget?

This insensitive implementation of presentable policies has created an intolerable backlog in housing provision, leaving thousands of Aboriginal families with no shelter. Under this Government, there is an eight-year waiting list for Aboriginal housing loans. The Minister tells us every week about Aboriginal consultation and assistance programs. What does he do in reality? He got rid of the consultative body for Aboriginal housing, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Panel. Again, the Opposition believes that the Minister has nothing to be proud of. Even the highest need area of Aboriginal Affairs is not immune to the scandals of this Government There has been no tendering for housing contracts, and we have seen intimidation of housing association employees by a company in the electorate of the Prime Minister attempting to exchange VIP treatment for a building contract, the advance supplying of lists of housing associations with building requirements to that firm following intervention by the Prime Minister- a practice that has no precedent-

Mr Viner:

– That is not correct.

Dr EVERINGHAM:

– The Prime Minister did not deny that when I asked him about it.

Mr Viner:

-Yes he did.

Dr EVERINGHAM:

– He said that it was what any member of Parliament would do for a constituent. He did not deny it

Mr Viner:

– It occurred when Stawell was not even in the Prime Minister’s electorate.

Dr EVERINGHAM:

– He did not deny that The firm was in financial difficulties and that was the explanation the Prime Minister gave in this House. The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs claimed that he did not know that the firm was in financial difficulties. I invite him to read the record of conversation in yesterday’s Melbourne Age so that he and the Prime Minister can get their stories co-ordinated. If Rex Connor or Jim Cairns had made such outrageous contradictions they would have been sacked from the Ministry on the spot. The hounds in the coalition and the Press would have been baying for their blood but when these gentlemen on the other side of the House, who are born to rule, make these selfcontradictions it is a pardonable mistake. They are immune from the proprieties expected from Labor people.

The Minister knew about the firm being in financial difficulties, just as he knew that in 1975 the appalling constructions of Stawell Timber Industries Pty Ltd were brought to the attention of the Minister for Health (Mr Hunt) and just as he has received nothing but complaints about the company and about its flimsy constructions. Yet the Minister has allowed that same company to be given a list of housing associations this year so that it can rip off the Aboriginal people for the flimsy funds that they get from the Australian Government. Is this what the Minister means by the achievements of this Government? Mr Deputy Speaker, I seek leave to have incorporated in Hansard a statutory declaration which relates to the guarantees offered by the Prime Minister to Stawell Timber Industries, the building company based in his electorate.

Leave granted.

The document read as follows-

page 3452

AUSTRALIA STATUTORY DECLARATION

I, Michael Heppell, anthropologist, of 7, Walker Crescent Griffith, Canberra, ACT 2603 do solemnly and sincerely declare as follows:

I make this solemn declaration by virtue of the Statutory Declarations Act 1959 as amended and subject to the penalties provided by that Act for the making of false statements in statutory declarations, conscientiously believing the statements contained in this declaration to be true in every particular.

M. Heppell

Declared at Canberra on November 23, 1 978, before me,

R.M. Miller JP

Justice of the Peace

NOTE 1.- A person who wilfully makes a false statement in a statutory declaration under the Statutory Declarations

Act 1959 as amended is guilty of an offence against that Act, the punishment for which is a fine not exceeding $200 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or both if the offence is prosecuted summarily, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding four years if the offence is prosecuted upon indictment

NOTE 2.- A statutory declaration under the Statutory Declarations Act 1959 as amended may be made only before a Chief, Police, Resident or Special Magistrate; Stipendiary Magistrate or any Magistrate in respect of whose office an annual salary is payable; a Justice of the Peace; a person authorised under any law in force in Australia or its Territories to take affidavits; a person appointed under the Statutory Declarations Act 1959 as amended or under a State Act to be a Commissioner for Declarations; a person appointed as a Commissioner for Declarations under the Statutory Declarations Act 191 1, or under that Act as amended, and holding office immediately before the commencement of the Statutory Declarations Act 1959; a Notary Public; a person before whom a statutory declaration may be made under the law of the State in which a declaration is made; or a person appointed to hold, or act in, the office in a country or place outside Australia of Australian Consul-General, Consul, Vice-Consul, Trade Commissioner, Consular Agent, Ambassador, High Commissioner, Minister, Head of Mission, Commissioner, Charge d ‘Affaires, or Counsellor, Secretary or Attache at an Embassy, High Commissioner’s office, Legation or other post

Dr EVERINGHAM:

– The Minister completed his story by claiming that his Government has:

  1. . created conditions in which significant changes in Aboriginal outlook and expectations are taking place.

The Minister must be very one-eyed if he thinks that that statement is to his advantage. Certainly in my view it is an understatement. It is perfectly obvious that the Aboriginal people can expect nothing from this Government except subminimum funding once a year, if they are lucky. The people of Aurukun and Mornington Island, the people of the Kimberleys and of Arnhem Land, an know that they can expect only trickery and sellouts from this Government. I think it is a fitting comment by the Aboriginal people on what this Government gives them that yesterday the Aboriginal Lands Trust of New South Wales passed the following resolutions:

That as from the date of this meeting the Office of the Aboriginal Lands Trust is to cut off all consultation with the offices of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs concerning financial matters until such times as the Aboriginal Lands Trust receives meaningful reply to its request to the Department of Aboriginal Affairs for its full funding program for New South Wales.

That a special investigation committee be resolved to look into financial strangulation of the Aboriginal Land Trust and other Aboriginal organisations.

The Committee is hereby appoined comprising Mr Cruse, M.B.E. and Mr Griffith with the authority to co-opt the services of the Trust as may be required and any other persons whomsoever the Committee deems necessary to look into the financial strangulation of the Aboriginal Lands Trust and other Aboriginal organisations and associated matters.

It is important to note that the Chairman of the Aboriginal Lands Trust of New South Wales, a member of the newly set up Committee, is also the Eastern Region Chairman of the National Aboriginal Council. The Minister’s statement is more than hypocritical. He has forced the New South Wales Land Trust into a position where essential services on reserves have been cut off completely. The reserves have been forced to sack many of their employees including essential Aboriginal field workers. Essential repairs and maintenance for plumbing, sewerage, et cetera have no funds until December. The Minister’s explanation of why he refuses to give the reserves the funds that have been allocated to them in the Budget of last August is that several communities are getting funds direct instead of through the Trust. But several communities are getting nothing. The repair and maintenance funds for the Trust are little better than half the amounts provided for self-managed homes. The Minister has not disclosed why this year’s funds ae being withheld until next month.

What the public and the Aboriginal people were hoping for when this statement was foreshadowed was an announcement of some major achievement or some dramatic breakthrough. They were hoping for a draft lease for Aurukun, or an acknowledgement by the Northern Land Council that it would consult with Aborigines on their ground in their style and time scale, or perhaps an undertaking that there will be a tightening up of mistakes, such as those made in the appointment of the NAC secretary or in the Stawell Timber Industries deals. But no, this statement is one more public relations exercise. It is an exercise in easing the conscience of the Minister perhaps, or simply an exercise in wearing down the voices of protest. The Minister has lost the trust and respect of the people he serves. Instead of singing the dubious praises of his Government, it would do more for this institution if he set about practising what he preaches in his policies and promises and tried to regain what he has lost.

Debate (on motion by Mr Ruddock) adjourned.

page 3453

SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND THE ENVIRONMENT: HERBICIDES, PESTICIDES AND HUMAN HEALTH

Ministerial Statement

Mr HUNT:
Minister for Health · Gwydir · NCP/NP

– by leave- This statement relates to the June 1978 report of the Senate. Standing Committee on Science and the Environment relating to herbicides, pesticides and human health. Honourable members are aware of the deep community interest in the toxic effects on humans which have been attributed to various agricultural chemicals and in particular their alleged connection with birth defects. Two such chemicals have been singled out by the media in this regard- 2,4,5-T and 2,4-D. These, to a large extent, formed the basis of the Senate Committee’s report. It is vital to any consideration of this matter that it be accepted at the outset that many substances, not only herbicides and pesticides, are toxic when used incorrectly or used for a purpose for which they are not designed. Indeed, as one world authority has stated: “There are no harmless substances; there are only harmless ways of using substances’.

The use of agricultural chemicals for pest and disease control has for many years been an essential ingredient in increasing levels and quality of agricultural production not only in Australia but throughout the world. Herbicides and pesticides are by their very nature toxic to certain types of living cells. Indeed were this not so they would be totally ineffective for the purpose for which they are manufactured. The aim must be, therefore, to establish safe usage of herbicides and pesticides. This clearly demands that such substances must be exhaustively tested before being put on the market.

Let me set out at this stage the present procedures for the examination of agricultural chemicals before they are released on the Australian market. Eminent scientific and medical experts in this country study in the utmost detail the results of all the exhaustive tests carried out all over the world. The deliberations and subsequent reports of the various committees and councils on which these experts sit form the basis on which action regarding subsequent use of herbicides and pesticides is taken and on which legislation is based. In this regard I would mention in particular the Australian Agricultural Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council. No agricultural chemical is accepted for registration in any part of Australia without these exhaustive studies having been completed and without the recommendations of these bodies on which sit some of our leading experts. These procedures have been in operation for many years and have proved to be entirely satisfactory and at this time I see no reason to suggest any change.

I now come to the question of the review of all aspects- including safety- relating to agricultural chemicals subsequent to their initial release for general use. It is recognised that it is necessary that all such substances’ should be kept under continuous review to ensure that unexpected or untoward effects which may arise at a later date do not pass unnoticed and that appropriate remedial action is taken. I can assure honourable members that the recommendations of the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Australian Agricultural Council for clearance for registration of agricultural chemicals are kept under constant review and revised as necessary in the light of information obtained from a multitude of worldwide sources.

In recent years the work associated with the review of these substances has increased in volume and complexity. There have been tremendous advances in technology. In line with this, moves are at present afoot to strengthen my own Department’s ability to meet the challenge. A national drug information service with computer facilities has been established and is at present being further developed. Work is already in progress to expand this into a comprehensive drugs and poisons information service and I feel confident that my ministerial counterparts in the States will be happy to give whatever assistance is required to allow this to progress.

Honourable members will appreciate that it is essential for those who use chemicals and other potentially dangerous substances to be fully aware of the restrictions in usage, safety directions, precautions and so forth to ensure safety to themselves and others. This is normally accomplished by appropriate labelling. In Australia labelling is controlled by State and Territory legislation and with agricultural chemicals the inclusion of various statements concerning composition, use, directions, limitation, precautions and safety is mandatory. The language used routinely is English. Unfortunately, some members of our community whose command of the language is not entirely adequate could experience some difficulty and it has been suggested that translations into other languages would be the means of overcoming these difficulties. What is generally not appreciated is that the labelling is frequently lengthy and complex and consequently direct translation into several languages is simply not practicable. Difficulties of this nature are recognised and machinery, including the appointment of ethnic liaison officers, has been set up to look into such problems.

This brings me to the Senate Committee ‘s final recommendation concerning the examination by the Minister for Health of the current machinery for the systematic collection of information on the occurrence and frequency of congenital abnormalities and of types of cancer. Since the tabling of the report, I have carefully examined the situation and I am confident that much can be done to rectify any deficiencies in data collections which are recognised here in Australia. At the same time I would stress that such deficiencies are by no means confined to this continent but are seen as a worldwide problem. Our present weaknesses are seen to be incomplete data collection in some areas and a lack of coordination on a nationwide scale. Some deficiencies in the machinery for the analysis of collected data are also apparent.

A need is seen for the collection of more comprehensive information on toxic effects of substances including the underlying causes of birth defects which are not of genetic origin. Indeed I believe it would not be stressing this aspect too far if I were to say that much of the public concern and indeed alarm which has been generated recently could have been allayed if basic data relating to possible extra-genetic causes of foetal abnormalities had been more extensive.

Whilst recent concern has been concentrated on the possible effects of 2,4,5-T and to a lesser extent 2,4-D, both of which have been extensively researched, there has been little comment on the other environmental factors- some occurring naturally, some generated by man’s inventiveness- which could result in foetal abnormalities. Bearing in mind the need to keep the whole subject in proper perspective, I propose that the following developments should take place: Collection of perinatal statistics should be extended to cover the whole country. This information is currently collected in only two StatesWestern Australia and Tasmania. The next Health Ministers’ Conference in June 1979 was to have discussed this extension. However, I am now suggesting to my colleagues in the other four States that we proceed immediately with those discussions as a matter of priority.

The total cost of extending the data collection system to the other four States is estimated at $ 120,000 per annum which it is suggested should be met on a cost-sharing basis, and the Commonwealth Government is prepared to meet half the cost of this. My counterparts in the States will be approached to obtain their views regarding this. Since the analysis of the data, related to births, from these various statistical systems would need to be performed on a nationwide basis, a national perinatal statistical unit will need to be set up. The cost of this in the next financial year is estimated at $80,000, increasing to $ 100,000 in the following year.

Collection of information on acute poisonings and cancers is already covered reasonably satisfactorily and, whilst some improvement may be necessary in these fields, major restructuring of systems is not envisaged. The analysis of data in relation to these two aspects is an appropriate function of an expanded national drug poisons information service to which I referred a few moments ago. I am confident that the establishment of these systems will allow more extensive monitoring of the incidence of poisonings, congenital abnormalities and cancers and will allow detection at an early stage of change in disease patterns in the community which might be attributable to toxic environmental substances.

In order to concentrate specifically on the effects of various substances on pregnant women, I am asking the National Health and Medical Research Council to advise on the feasibility and the desirability of conducting a prospective study extending over possibly 3 years. If such a study were considered to be necessary- and the comments of the experts on the possible additional benefits will be awaited- there is no doubt that costs would be high and could well amount to over $2m a year.

In the meantime, I reiterate the advice given by the National Health and Medical Research Council in June of this year following a study of all information available at that time regarding 2,4,5-T, 2,4-D and the risks of foetal abnormalities. The conclusions reached by the Council were: Firstly, the use of 2,4-D is not producing any risk to human health; there is no evidence that it is linked to human birth defects; and, secondly, in the light of present knowledge there is no reason to place any additional restrictions on the use of 2,4,5-T. Council could find no substantiated scientific evidence of a causal link between the use of 2,4,5-T and human birth defects. These agricultural chemicals have both been in use for around 30 years and different action to control their use have been taken in various parts of the world. Although a few countries do not use these chemicals, nevertheless, controlled usage has been adopted as the method of choice on a wide scale.

With the extensive information which has been available and with the advice provided to me by the experts, all of whom are held in high esteem in our community, I see no reason at this time for suggesting any changes in current practices. However, all chemicals must be kept under constant review. I am confident that this will continue to be done in this country and that the extensions to the various data collections which I have suggested will provide us with a system which will compare favourably with any other country. I present the following paper

Report of the Senate Standing Committee on Science and the Environment: Herbicides, Pesticides and Human Health-Ministerial Statement, 24 November 1978.

Motion (by Mr Viner) proposed:

That the House take note of the paper.

Dr EVERINGHAM:
Capricornia

-I do not propose to detain the House. I believe that the Opposition spokesman on health, the honourable member for Prospect (Dr Klugman), will be making a statement on the matter later in the day. Two points which occur to me from the statement of the Minister for Health (Mr Hunt) perhaps need to be considered. One is the matter of the prospective study which will cost $2m a year to carry out. It invites a comparison with the retrospective study carried out by Dr McBride on thalidomide. I suggest that it might be fruitful and far cheaper to do a retrospective study of environmental factors in those areas in which birth defects apparently have been endemic in recent times. I have no firm data on which to blame herbicides or anything else, but I know that misleading answers were given by a local authority in my area to parents who were involved in a freak cluster of abnormality occurring over a short period in an area in which there was large scale aerial spraying to destroy water weeds. There is still room for retrospective study in areas where deformities have been clustered.

I would like the Minister to clarify, if not today on some other occasion, the nature of the drug and poisons information service. A service is available at certain poisons information centres. In cases of poisoning doctors can obtain confidential commercial information on the composition of poisons such as cleaning fluids. I wonder whether the time has arrived when the general public is entitled to a more frank accessibility to knowledge about poisons, their effects and their handling. The instructions on the label, particularly in the case I mentioned with regard to the use of herbicides by a local authority is not always obeyed. I believe that there is a need in some cases to tighten up supervision.

Debate (on motion by Mr Bourchier) adjourned.

page 3456

AUSTRAIIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION TO JAPAN

Mr MILLAR:
Wide Bay

-by leave-I present the report of the Australian Parliamen.tary Delegation to Japan in July 1978. A limited number of copies is available from the Table Office.

Ordered that the report be printed.

Mr MILLAR:

– I seek leave to make a brief statement in connection with the report.

Leave granted.

Mr MILLAR:

– I express regret that in the dying hours of this session time limitations prevent me from offering comments appropriate to the occasion, but I accept the situation in which we are placed. I would, however, feel remiss if I did not express the appreciation of the delegation to our Japanese hosts for the manner in which we were received and accommodated and my personal appreciation as leader of the delegation to the delegates who brought their individual talents to a delegation which I think, in all due modesty, may lay some claim to establishing the Australian parliamentary image firmly in the minds of our Japanese hosts. I shan not extend my remarks. Possibly in the future we will take advantage of our tour to refer to the knowledge we gained during that experience.

page 3456

PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE

Mr GILLARD:
Macquarie

-I am pleased to inform the House that I have been elected as Chairman of the Publications Committee. As such, I present the fifth report of the Publications Committee.

Report- by leave- adopted.

page 3456

JOINT COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATIONS

Mr SPEAKER:

– On 20 October 1977 Mr Hodges, on behalf of the Joint Committee on Publications, presented to the House the Committee’s report on its inquiry into the purpose, scope and distribution of the Parliamentary Papers Series. Honourable members will recall that the Committee’s inquiry was the first thorough investigation of the content and effectiveness of the Series since the 1964 examination by the Joint Select Committee on Parliamentary and Government Publications 13 years earlier. I notice that the former honourable member for Ballarat who was Chairman of the Committee is sitting in the Speaker’s Gallery. He will no doubt be very interested in this matter. The report of the Committee has been closely studied by Mr President, me and our respective officers. I now wish to inform the House of the action which we have taken, or propose to take, as a result of the Committee’s principal recommendations. I am sure it will suit the convenience of the House if I have my statement incorporated in Hansard.

Recommendation 1 -Duplication of Distribution and Wastage

Mr President and I have accepted this recommendation and we will shortly be writing to members and senators advising them of the arrangements we propose to make to give effect to the recommendation.

Recommendation 2- encouragement of departments, et cetera, to report to the Parliament

This recommendation is a matter for the Government and we have written to the Prime Minister (Mr Malcolm Fraser) drawing it to his attention.

Recommendation 3- failure to meet statutory requirement to table annual reports

The presentation of annual reports to the Parliament, in accordance with the statutory requirement, has long been of concern. The Committee has recommended that the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Clerk of the Senate advise the Chairman of the Publications Committee where a department, statutory authority, et cetera, has failed to meet its statutory requirement to table its annual report, return or other document within the specified statutory period, or within a reasonable period of time following the completion of the period to which the report refers. Mr President and I are pleased to implement this recommendation and we have advised the Prime Minister that we intend to interpret ‘a reasonable period of time following the completion of the period to which the report refers ‘ as being three months.

Recommendations 6 to 9

These recommendations have been accepted. However, in relation to recommendation 6 concerning the free distribution of the principal parliamentary publications, some concern has been expressed that the number of those eligible for such publications could increase alarmingly and therefore greatly increase production costs. We have determined that the guidelines suggested by the Committee are not significantly different from those currently operative and that the increase in the number of recipients will not therefore become a matter of concern. However, our officers will watch this aspect closely and should problems arise, we will refer the matter to the Publications Committee for reexamination.

Recommendations 10 to 13, IS to 18 and 23

These recommendations fall within the ministerial responsibility of the Minister for Administrative Services (Senator Chaney) and the President and I have drawn his attention to the matters raised by the committee.

Recommendations 19 to 22

Mr President and I have accepted these recommendations and the necessary action will be taken as soon as possible. Mr President and I are pleased to have been able to respond to the report of the Publications Committee and I trust that the actions I have outlined to you will have your support.

page 3457

SECURITY IN PARLIAMENT HOUSE

Mr SPEAKER:

- Mr William Worth came to the Parliament as the interim security coordinator on 16 March 1978. He had the difficult task of bringing in the new and not always appreciated security measures decided upon by Mr President and me. Mr Worth had previously served with distinction in a wide variety of specialist positions. He was for seven years the Deputy Secretary-General of the South East Asian

Treaty Organisation. He managed the Australian participation in Expo 67 in Montreal and Expo 70 in Osaka. He was also the Australian Commissioner General for Expo 74 in Spokane, United States of America, and for Expo 75 in Okinawa. His final appointment in the service was as Administrator of the Territory of Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.

I am grateful that he agreed to come out of retirement temporarily to take on the task of security co-ordinator on an interim basis. His wide experience and quiet pursuit of the objective of a sound security system has been most helpful to me in my endeavour to provide a secure meeting place for the House of Representatives. Mr Worth, by his personal character and quality, has been able to reach a situation in which everybody in the building is prepared to co-operate in the security system. He has made recommendations to us. We have, in turn, made recommendations to the Executive government. It has made money available. Certain changes will be made during the break between now and February which will be designed to make more effective the security system in this House. I will say no more than that. Honourable members and staff of the House will see those changes as they develop. I thank Mr Worth on behalf of the House for the contribution he has made.

page 3457

RETIREMENT OF MR R. HELLYER

Mr SPEAKER:

-Sadly, I have another report to make to the House about a retirement, that is, the retirement of the Secretary of the Joint House Department, Mr Dick Hillyer. Mr Hillyer is such a modest man that he told me he was retiring next year. I was not aware that he would actually have retired before the House resumes. I therefore make a tribute to him. Dick Hillyer has spent a life time, in any ordinary sense, in the service of members of Parliament. He has always been accessible. He has always been anxious to assist. He has always been accessible for our various complaints. There have been many of them to the poor Secretary of the Joint House Department. He has been sustained by a staff anxious to give him loyalty but, more importantly to give loyalty to the people they serve in this place, that is members, senators and their staff.

Dick Hillyer was serving in the armed forces when he saw an advertisement for the position of accountant of the Joint House Department. He applied for that position. He was released from the Services to take the job in 1946. From 1946 to 1979 he will have served us. I found him to be a man of immense integrity. We have been fortunate with the quality of the people who have occupied senior positions in this House. I feel sure that the whole House will agree with me. Dick Hillyer has served us extremely well under very trying circumstances. We appreciate that very much. We hope that he will have a very rewarding and satisfying retirement. We can do no better than wish him health and security in his retirement.

page 3458

SPECIAL ADJOURNMENT

Motion (by Mr Sinclair) agreed to:

That the House, at its rising, adjourn until Tuesday, 20 February next at 2. IS p.m. unless Mr Speaker, or, in the absence from Australia of Mr Speaker, the Chairman of Committees, shall by telegram or letter addressed to each member of the House, fix an alternative day or hour of meeting.

page 3458

VALEDICTORY

Mr MALCOLM FRASER:
Prime Minister · Wannon · LP

– by leave- Before we leave the House for 1978, 1 would like to pay tribute to the hundreds of people, behind and in front of the scenes who ensure that the Parliament functions effectively and efficiently. All members appreciate the manner in which you, Mr Speaker, have performed your official duties. Your patience, firm hand and good humour have guided this House through many hours of somewhat too spirited debate.

You have sought at all times to maintain a high level of dignity, decency and fairness in our proceedings for which, I must say, you do not always get the support that you should from all sections of this House. I would also like to congratulate the honourable member for Wide Bay (Mr Millar) on the way in which he has carried out his task in his first year as Chairman of Committees. You have both been ably assisted by the Clerk of the House and his officers. The smooth running of this chamber is in large measure due to the knowledge and experience of these officers of the Parliament.

We are grateful, too, for the hard work of many other parliamentary officials. The Hansard staff never fail in their duty to report the parliamentary debates promptly and with an elegance of grammar which frequently surprises the honourable members whose words are recorded, when they read them the following day. I wish the new Principal Parliamentary Reporter, Mr John Kerr, every success in his new position. To Mr Ken Ingram, who retires next month, after 42 years service with Hansard I pay a special word of thanks. Over the past decade he has initiated many new procedures which have enhanced the capacity and efficiency of Hansard to report our proceedings. I wish him well in his retirement.

I also wish to note the retirement during this year of Mr Les Moore as Parliamentary Librarian, and the appointment of Mr Harold Weir to succeed him. All honourable members avail themselves of the resources and assistance of the Parliamentary Library. I thank all members of the Library staff for their courteous help to all members, of all political persuasions. The staff of the Table Office, too, deserve our thanks for their attention to members’ request for reports and other essential documents. I thank Roger Webb, the Parliamentary liaison officer, who works diligently to ensure that this chamber functions efficiently.

The First Parliamentary Counsel, Mr Quayle, and his staff receive our thanks for their achievement in preparing for parliamentary consideration Bills of a consistently high standard. Their skill and attention to detail makes our task much easier. Within this building hundreds of people work quietly behind the scenes to provide refreshment and transport facilities and to ensure that security is maintained at all times. I thank all those involved in this essential work. In particular I would like to remember Gordon Pike who has looked after the personal needs of many members for transport over decades. He has served the Parliament and its members well over many years. You, sir, have already referred to Mr Worth who has assisted as co-ordinator of security in this building. We wish him well in his renewed retirement, and Mr Dick Hillyer who has also served the Parliament well and faithfully in a most important capacity.

It is not possible, however, to enumerate all those who contribute to the smooth and efficient running of this House. We are conscious at the close of an arduous period of sittings, as we are throughout the year that without the skilled assistance of many people we would not achieve the legislative and representative goals of this Parliament. The major burden of government and of the carriage of the business of this House falls on the members of the Ministry. To them I would like to place on record my personal appreciation for their hard work, dedication and the way in which they have worked together as a team.

We also owe a debt of gratitude to all the members of the Government parties on whom the Ministry so heavily relies. Their loyalty, energy and contributions to policy and debate are greatly valued by the Government. In these last sittings, we have seen the initiation of an important parliamentary reform- the legislation committees of this House. In the consideration of the seven Bills so far considered by the two committees, honourable members have taken the opportunity to become more fully acquainted with the finer details of complex measures. I am advised that in a non-partisan way in Committee, amendments have been accepted that might well have been difficult to accept through the previous procedures of debate in the Committee of the Whole.

I believe quite certainly that as time passes this committee system will expand and develop further and may well assist in the process of the Budget debates themselves. Some consideration could be given to the possibility of the Committee stage of the Budget being carried forward in committees, two or more, which could sit concurrently enabling more members to express their views on matters of importance to them. Now that the legislation committee system has been developed, that may well be introduced successfully. It may well be that between now and the passage of the next Budget a proposal in relation to that particular matter could at least be examined to see if the Parliament thought it worth implementation and development in the autumn session for use in the next Budget sittings. A number of worthwhile and constructive amendments have been proposed and accepted through the new and proposed procedure for the Committee stages of Bills. I think it is good to see the Parliament develop procedures which enable a less partisan approach to measures which come before the Parliament I would like to thank the Committees’ chairmen, the honourable member for Wakefield (Mr Giles) and the honourable member for Scullin (Dr Jenkins), for their service and their commitment in getting the committees off the ground in a proper and constructive manner.

I trust that all members and their families utilise to the full the coming weeks in their various electorates to the best of their own endeavours and I wish all members and their families for the coming period a happy Christmas and a prosperous new year. I hope that we all return to this place next year reinvigorated- for those who feel the need of rein vigoration- for the autumn session, which I have no doubt will be busy and will take our intelligence and time.

Mr HAYDEN:
Leader of the Opposition · Oxley

– by leave- I join with the Prime Minister (Mr Malcolm Fraser) in expressing conventional tributes which are made at this time of the year each year. Mr Speaker, it has been a busy year- rather euphemistically from your point of view a demanding and challenging year, even a trying year. We all look forward to the break of the festive season to recharge batteries and return invigorated with new ideas, hopefully to contribute constructively to the big challenges that confront this country in so many ways. As the Prime Minister acknowledged to the extent that we are able to do that with success, we can only do it with the support of so many people who work in this Parliament House or work in houses nearby as staff of the House and help us to discharge our duties in various ways. I forget what the relationship is between people who work in support capacities to keep troops in the front line, and troops in the front line. It is quite a high ratio and from time to time has been commented on as being extraordinarily, if not questionably, high. The ratio in this Parliament is even higher.

I am told by the Clerk that there are about 1,000 persons working in Parliament House or in buildings associated with this House providing services to keep us functioning one way or the other. Without that sort of help we would be nothing but a beached hulk, as ineffective as that. We are grateful for it. We appreciate the dedication of the people in the various roles they fulfil in this Parliament House which allow us to keep functioning. I do not intend to enumerate them. I believe the Prime Minister has done that effectively. However, I was pleased to hear the Prime Minister’s speech about the possibility of a further reform in parliamentary procedures designed to try to achieve more bipartisanship in the consideration and discharge of various obligations and duties which we have in this Parliament. From the reports which I have received from my colleagues of the Opposition, I can confirm that the new committee system considering legislation at this stage appears to be working well and has been successful in breaking down a substantial degree of political polarity which otherwise would have been evident within the chamber. I added that I sincerely trust that progress will continue.

I am encouraged by the Prime Minister’s comment about further exploration in this area designed to achieve further progress towards bipartisanship in the things that we have to do here. I said before and I mil say many times again- I hope honourable members will listen to these comments with some patience and restraintthat one of the most encouraging experiences I have had in this Parliament in 17 years was to work on a joint parliamentary committee of inquiry into the pharmaceutical drugs listed under the National Health Scheme. There it was interesting to note the way in which attitudes presented themselves between the various members of the Committee. Some members of the Austraiian Labor Party and some members of the coalition parties would take what we might say would be a more radical view, share it and press it. Some other members of the Labor Party and of the coalition parties would take a more conservative view. Often there would be a shift in that sort of distribution of attitude on the political spectrum.

That was a particularly valuable experience for me because it showed that unlike the situation in this chamber it is possible, in the final result, to get a great deal of bipartisanship in conclusions about a particular matter put before a group of parliamentarians, but more importantly that this could be achieved with a greater cerebral contribution and with much more harmony than we are used to seeing in this chamber. What I am saying is simply that the debating technique of handling matters of such complexity, as we have to do these days, seems the least effective and desirable way of approaching such responsibilities. I have likened it often enough before to a type of 1 9 1 4- 1 8 trench warfare in which people bed down in their trenches and start blasting one another, little progress being made between the two sides, every one in a fixed battlement position and the outcome pretty much resolved before it even starts.

Mr Birney:

– That is what you did this morning.

Mr HAYDEN:

– I am trying to give a fairly open approach to what I think can be done. If the honourable member wants to inject some political partisanship into the discussion I am happy to respond. But let us leave it at this level for this occasion. The honourable member did not do too badly this morning either, if I may congratulate him. What I am saying to the Prime Minister, through you Mr Speaker, is that the Opposition is keen to follow up the suggestion that he has conveyed. We believe that there is room for a wide range of reform in this Parliament. I say this in a purely objective sense. I believe that there is a need for vast improvement in the way in which we handle Question Time in this Parliament. It is defective as it now operates, and it has been all the time that I have been a member of Parliament, regardless of which party has been in government It is very easy for any Minister answering a question to ignore the substance of that question if he wishes. That is not a particularly productive undertaking in my view. It does not contribute at all helpfully to a consideration and better understanding of the great issues before this Parliament and for which we are responsible to the nation. I would like to see a system at Question Time during which questions are put on notice and certain Ministers could appear on certain selective days in this House to answer those questions. Honourable members would have the right to ask supplementary questions. The honourable member for Holt (Mr Yates) I expect would be well aware of this system. I believe that would lead to a much more effective communications system for the public and the Parliament and be a far better test of how well a Minister is handling his responsibility.

There are a range of other matters which we ought to be looking at too in relation to the functioning of the Parliament so that we could reduce the level of artificial polarity that exists in this Parliament. I do not pretend for a minute that I am totally innocent in this respect but I do not accept for a minute that I am totally responsible for it either. It is the nature of our system and the way in which it functions that this exists and will continue to. Accordingly, I would like to see a situation in which we set up a committee of inquiry to investigate very broadly ways in which we can reform the broad perspective of the functioning of this Parliament

I feel that I have gone far enough in that direction. I am really on my feet to join in an expression of tribute to all those people who have helped us. The Prime Minister has commended his Government members. I also commend the members of the Opposition for the assiduous way in which they have fulfilled the various tasks which they have as parliamentarians, for the dedicated way in which they have worked to represent their electorates and for the effective way in which they have performed as an Opposition. I trust that aU families enjoy the festive season. Mr Speaker, I hope you come back in a relaxed frame of mind and are prepared confidently to accept the new challenges that lie ahead of you and the Parliament in the new year.

Mr SINCLAIR:
Leader of the House · New England · NCP/NP

– by leave- I would like briefly to join in the remarks that have been expressed by the Prime Minister (Mr Malcolm Fraser) in commending those who so effectively serve this House. As Leader of the House I have no doubt that it would be impossible for this Parliament to function were it not for those who sit at the table and who assist you, Mr Speaker, in your duties as they do me in mine. To you Mr Speaker, to your Deputy and to those who assist you in maintaining the order and decorum of this House I also extend my thanks. I believe that the task you exercise is made all the more difficult by the activity and behaviour of some members in this place from time to time. We trust that in the new move towards bipartisanship which the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Hayden) has just expressed he might be prepared to take note of some of the remarks that have been made by you and by others exercising your authority.

To my colleague the Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs ( Mr Fife), who has assisted me in my role as Leader of the House, I extend my thanks. It is a job which takes up a good deal of time. I am particularly grateful for the manner and form of his assistance. Of course neither of us would be capable of performing our duties at all if it were not for the work of Roger Webb. I know that next year Roger hopes to move to other things. His successor will come into the House some time during the next session of Par.liament. But in particular on behalf of honourable members I say to Roger that he has our thanks for the way in which he has worked between the Government and the Opposition parties. He has effectively ensured the flow of legislation and parliamentary business.

Many other people help us in this place. Mr Speaker, both you and the Prime Minister have referred to some of them. I do not wish to repeat all the names but in particular I would like to say to Mr John Kerr who is taking over as Principal Parliamentary Reporter that we wish him well in his new responsibility. I said a few remarks today about the retirement of Mr Ingram. The Hansard writers have an important role. We are indebted to the way in which they perform. I wish Mr Kerr well. Mr Speaker, you have mentioned the retirement of Dick Hillyer and Bill Worth. Dick Hillyer has been a stalwart of this place. Again on behalf of the members of the National Country Party I extend to him our good wishes for a happy retirement I have known Bill Worth for many years. He worked with my wife at Expo 67 when she was Chief Hostess and I have been associated with him over the years. We are indebted to the way he assumed the role, out of retirement, of Principal Security Officer in the Parliament. I believe that the work that he has done has ensured that today there is a far greater degree of reasonable security in this place than otherwise would be the case.

I share in the wishes of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition to all members of the House that they come back to this place refreshed for next year’s session. However, I must say that in the discussion of parliamentary reform and the suggestions by the Leader of the

Opposition with respect to Question Time I believe much of the fault lies not in the system but with Opposition members. I remember well, as do many honourable members, the way in which government members of the present Opposition performed at Question Time. The use of Question Time only as a manner and avenue for expressing policy is not the intention of the present Standing Orders. I am interested in the suggestions the Leader of the Opposition has made to change the character of Question Time. Yet I find the degree to which there has been within Questions on Notice some variation from time to time I hope that we can devise a way to ensure the effectiveness of what is a fairly unique system. I think that our system of Questions Without Notice has much to commend it That does not mean that the system cannot be reformed. Perhaps there are some ways of improving both the method of presenting and answering the questions. It seems to me that the area in which there is the best prospect of parliamentary reform is the area to which the Prime Minister has directed his attention. There is no doubt that the effective operation of the legislation committees has been a notable advance in the reforms introduced by this Government. I join with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in wishing all honourable members in this place and all those who are associated with it a happy Christmas. I trust that we will all return to the fight in somewhat better form in the New Year.

Mr YATES:
Holt

-by leave-I do not want to detract from the fact that the House is adjourning for a recess which includes the seven remaining days of November, the whole of December and January, and for 19 days out of February. I do not think we should feel that that is not a good idea. But, unfortunately, events in the world outside will be continuing. At present, the Iran Government is tottering; the Lebanon is in chaos; and Central Africa is in great trouble. As we look around the world, we are beginning to wonder why this Parliament has not had a major debate on foreign affairs this session. Therefore, I ask the Government: Should the United Nations decide to invite this Government to send Australian forces during the parliamentary recess into the Pacific, the Persian Gulf, perhaps into Zambia or elsewhere, will the Government first call the Parliament together. I hope that the Leader of the House (Mr Sinclair) and you, Mr Speaker, will consider this matter seriously. I would not be prepared to permit Australian forces to be committed to the United Nations without a full debate first being held in this House.

I do not in any way detract from the Christmas spirit that is with us. We have our international responsibilities. I ask the Leader of the House to give an undertaking before we pass this motion to honourable members on both sides of the House that, if the United Nations SecretaryGeneral requires the presence of Australian armed forces to assist the United Nations, much as we would approve of such action, the Parliament should be recalled and the debate should take place before such action is agreed to. In that spirit, I thank you, Mr Speaker, very much. I have noticed that your procession is going well. I hope that parliamentary processions will continue. I hope that everybody will enjoy another happy new year.

Mr SPEAKER:

-I should like to raise a couple of matters. I think that 1978 has been the most significant year in our history for the Parliament. There is a number of reasons for this statement. I mention the decision to build the new and permanent Parliament House, upon which I congratulate the Executive Government and the Opposition for their unanimity, is an immense advance. Secondly, we were privileged to have the Presiding Officers’ Conference of the Westminster parliaments here in this chamber a few months ago. Thirdly, we have established legislation committees. I think that the Executive Government is to be very highly complimented for its willingness to adopt tins reform of Parliament. The fact is that, by legislation, rights and obligation are created. It is not in the interests of democracy that those rights or obligations should be created without the closest scrutiny. That cannot be done in the plenary sessions of this Parliament and must be done in committee sessions. I congratulate the Executive Government for agreeing to this action.

It has been a most productive year also for legislation and debate. The quality of debate- I may be challenged on this statement- has been rather high at aU times although there have been certain lapses from that high quality. I do not choose to identify those persons who have been responsible for the lapses. One ought to be careful who might be identified.

The assertion of parliamentary authority to which the Prime Minister (Mr Malcolm Fraser) has contributed so much in this year I think ought to be properly acknowledged. The Prime Minister on 25 May 1978 gave an undertaking that, within six months of the tabling of a committee report, the responsible Minister would make a statement in the Parliament outlining the action that the Government proposes to take in relation to the report If the six-month period expires during a parliamentary recess, the Ministerial statement will be made at the earnest opportunity in the next parliamentary sitting.

I think it is proper to say that this year- I pay tribute to the right honourable gentleman without any qualification- has been one of the most significant years of parliamentary reform in this Parliament ‘s history. Therefore, I was extremely pleased to hear the right honourable gentleman in this debate say that he would like to see a further development of the committee system and would like to see the establishment of committees to deal with the Budget Bills next year. I welcome that statement. I am very pleased to hear it. I am sure that it will be of immense value to this Parliament

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Hayden) in a pleasant aside said to me that he hopes that I come back refreshed and able to meet the challenges which 1979 may present to me. Of course, there will be changes for many people. As the momentum of reform of the Parliament gathers, there is one significant reform which needs to be taken account of by all members of the Parliament from whatever party- that is, the adoption in this Parliament of the Westminster convention of the separation of the Speaker from aU political party activity. It necessarily involves very marked changes in the attitude which parties have hitherto held towards the Speaker’s position.

I propose during the next year to do all possible to achieve in this Parliament the acceptance of the Westminster system. The Westminster system will necessarily mean that the Speaker will continue in office regardless of change of government giving him a continuity which others would not possess. Because of that fact, I cannot be the advocate for the system and the beneficiary of the system. Accordingly, I wish to inform the House that, while I will press for the Westminster system, I would not be willing to be the beneficiary of the adoption of it.

I think that, if we were able to adopt the Westminster system, in a short time after the acceptance of the system we would grow up a century. I am very anxious to see it adopted. I hope that I can count on the support of aU members of Par.liament. I do not suggest that it can be adopted overnight, but adopted it must be, for what honourable members see around them is the fulcrum of parliamentary democracy. Without it functioning as it ought and without the occupant of this Chair not only being impartial but also being seen to be impartial and accepted as being impartial a fundamental tenet of the system is absent I believe that we ought to preserve it. I believe we ought to take action now to ensure that it will be preserved.

I should like to pay a tribute quickly- although it will be done quickly, it is no less important than the other points I have raised- to the Chairman of Committees. I do not see him in the House at the moment He apparently is being refreshed. The honourable member for Wide Bay (Mr Millar) has performed extremely well, as I am sure every honourable member of the House would acknowledge. He was thrown into the position, so to speak, without warning. He has discharged that position excellently. I pay tribute to him for his work.

I wish to commiserate with the Deputy Chairmen of Committees because a decision of Executive Government withheld from them a small remuneration which they would have otherwise received. I am having inquiries made as to whether they have suffered from travelling allowances in Canberra being paid to them at the back bench rate while they themselves are office bearers under the Tribunal’s finding without receiving any remuneration for it I am very pleased at the way in which the Deputy Chairmen of Committees have serviced the House.

To the Clerks at the table and to the House of Representatives staff I express my appreciation. It will come as no surprise to honourable members that the Clerk of the House, Mr Pettifer, is known in my office as ‘the little pet’. That has regard to the fact that he is an ever helpful, ever honest man of immense integrity. It is pretty hard to believe that that chap sitting there on the right-hand side of the Table was flying multi-engined aeroplanes over the Atlantic during the war. To all his staff I give my thanks. I thank the Library staff and the Hansard staff. I thank the Leader of the House for the cooperation I have received at all times. I thank the Manager of Opposition Business for the cooperation I have received from him at all times. I congratulate the party whips on their subdued interjections. I thank the Parliamentary Liaison Officer, Roger Webb, for the co-operation that I have always received. I wish to thank all honourable members for spending half an hour each morning thinking of how they can make life easier for me during the day. For that half hour of contemplation I thank them very much. Had it not been for that half hour of contemplation I do not know what sort of pressures would have been upon me. I am fortunate to have a personal staff the personal quality and efficiency of whom are impossible to describe, but I know many members of this House have personal contact with them. Those members can very readily be a reference to me in my statement of thanks to my staff.

page 3463

DEPARTMENT OF ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS

Mr MALCOLM FRASER:
Prime Minister · Wannon · LP

- Mr Speaker, I seek your indulgence so that I may correct a matter that was introduced into the House a short while ago.

Mr SPEAKER:

-The right honourable gentleman may proceed.

Mr MALCOLM FRASER:

-A statutory declaration was tabled in the Parliament a short while ago. It is alleged to be signed by a Mr Michael Heppell. It refers to conversations that he alleges he had with Mr Illig of Stawell Timber Industries. This statutory declaration said that during the course of a meeting with Mr Illig the question was raised of Stawell Timber Industries being able to finance building contracts, given that receivers and managers had been appointed. The statutory declaration stated:

Mr Illig replied that Stawell ‘s position had never been stronger. On enquiry, he stated that since receivers had been appointed, Stawell Timber Industries had received ‘guarantees’ from the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser . . . Mr Illig was asked if these guarantees were financial, to which he replied in the negative; . . . When asked what kind of guarantees had been given, Mr mig replied that Stawell Timber Industries had been promised a guaranteed market for its products.

Mr Speaker, let me say categorically and absolutely that Stawell Timber Industries has never been given any guarantee of any kind by me. I have sought to assist it as the member for Wannon once the company became part of the electorate of Wannon, but I gave only the private assistance that I would give any constituent or constituency group. The guarantees referred to in the statutory declaration were not given by myself to Mr Illig, to Stawell Industries or to anyone associated in any sense, shape or form with the company. An officer from my staff has this afternoon been in touch with Mr Illig who said that he might have used the word ‘guarantee’ in relation to Stawell ‘s future market but certainly not in relation to me and that he would sign a statutory declaration to that effect. The substance of the allegation, to my knowledge, is totally and absolutely false.

page 3463

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

Mr SINCLAIR:
Leader of the House · New England · NCP/NP

– I move:

That leave of absence be given to every member of the House of Representatives from the termination of this sitting of the House to the date of the next sitting.

I wish to reply to my friend and colleague the honourable member for Holt (Mr Yates) who asked in the course of speaking on the previous motion as to whether the Parliament would be recalled. I can give him no assurance as to the circumstances of its recall, Mr Speaker. That, of course, lies in your hands or in the hands of your Deputy, Mr Chairman of Committees, if you should be absent from Australia. I can assure the honourable member that if the circumstances of the country for any reason require it the Government would certainly hope that you might see fit to issue the invitation in accordance with that earlier motion.

Mr SPEAKER:

-I do not propose to say anything in relation to that point as it would only delay the House, but it is a matter which I will take into consideration.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

House adjourned at 4.52 p.m. until Tuesday, 20 February 1979 at 2.15 p.m. unless Mr Speaker or in the absence from Australia of Mr Speaker, the Chairman of Committees shall, by telegram or letter addressed to each member of the House, fix an alternative day or hour of meeting.

page 3465

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS UPON NOTICE

The following answers to questions upon notice were circulated:

Petroleum Products: Price Increases (Question No. 2279)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs, upon notice, on 27 September 1978:

  1. When, and by which companies, have applications been made to the Prices Justification Tribunal for increases in the prices of petroleum products.
  2. What price increases were applied for in each case.
  3. When were reports made on each application.
  4. What price increases were granted by the Tribunal in each case.
  5. As a result of these increases, what was the maximum price of motor spirit for the company concerned.
Mr Fife:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows: (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) The following companies are required to notify proposed price increases for petroleum products to the PJT:

Amoco Australia Limited

Shell Australia Limited and related companies

Ampol Petroleum Limited and related companies

BP Australia Limited and related companies

Caltex Oil (Australia) Pry Limited and related companies

Esso Australia Limited

Mobil Oil Australia Limited and related companies

Total Australia Limited

H. C. Sleigh Limited

Burmah Oil Australia Limited and Castrol Australia Pry Limited.

Details of price notices lodged by companies are treated as confidential by the PJT unless the notice is examined at a public inquiry. Nine public inquiries have been held by the PJT into proposed price increases for petroleum products and the relevant details relating to those inquiries are contained in Schedule A.

In addition to those details, the PJT has found price increases justified for petroleum products on various occasions without examining the proposed increases at public inquiry.

Schedule B contains details of all price increases found to be justified by the PJT for premium grade motor spirit supplied by the above companies to resellers in the Melbourne metropolitan area, from August 1973 to October 1978. It also shows the resultant maximum justified wholesale prices for premium grade motor spirit supplied by the companies concerned during this period.

Corresponding details of price increases found justified for other petroleum products for each of the above companies during this period would take considerable time and resources to compile, which would not be warranted unless a clear need for the information can be shown.

Parliamentary Question No. 2072 (Question No. 2321)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs, upon notice, on 27 September 1978:

When will the Parliament receive an answer to question No. 2072 appearing on the Notice Paper in my name in relation to a question which was first put on the Notice Paper on 15 August 1978.

Mr Fife:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

I refer the honourable member to the answer provided by me to his Question on Notice No. 2072 (see Hansard, 9 November 1978, page 2685).

Parliamentary Question No. 1675 (Question No. 2366)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Social Security, upon notice, on 28 September 1978:

  1. Will the Minister have another look at the reply to question No. 167S and tell the Parliament why the Munster permits the officer of the Government Department who prepared that reply, to trifle with the Parliament of Australia in the manner represented by that reply.
  2. Will the Minister tell the Parliament the name of the public servant responsible for such a contemptuous reply.
Mr Hunt:
NCP/NP

-The Minister for Social Security has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question.

  1. 1 ) and (2) In the answer which was prepared in response to question No. 167S, the reference to the answer to question No. 1674 was followed by the words. ‘The review mentioned there also covers manuals and internal circulars’. These words were inadvertently omitted from the answer that was given. I am grateful to the honourable member for bringing this accident to notice and enabling the record to be corrected.

While there are some departmental records and rulings which are confidential and it is not possible to give blanket access to all manuals and internal circulars, the greater part of the material in these documents would be available for inspection by members and would be disclosed to any member of the general public who needed access to it. If the honourable member needs advice on any specific matter, and he would be helped by knowing the relevant departmental rulings, he might give me details of his particular interests. I will see what information can be made available to him.

Answers to Parliamentary Questions (Question No. 2367)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Minister, representing the Minister for Social Security, upon notice, on 28 September 1978:

  1. 1 ) Did the Minister read the answer to question No. 1 674 (Hansard, 19 September 1978, page 1174), to which the Minister made reference in reply to question No. 1675 when she approved that reply.
  2. If so, can the Minister explain why she gave a reply consisting of 21 words when the same answer could have been fully covered with one word.
  3. Will the Minister give the Parliament an assurance that the flippancy shown in her reply to question No. 1 675 is never again repeated.
  4. Has the Minister seen the reply given by the Prime Minister to question No. 1561.
  5. If so, does she honestly believe that her reply to question No. 1675 meets the requirements of the Prune Minister’s reply.
Mr Hunt:
NCP/NP

-The Minister for Social Security has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question.

  1. to (5) As the Prime Minister indicated in his reply to your question No. 1561 (Hansard, 12 September 1978, page 901) Ministers are responsible to the Parliament for the answers they give to questions on notice.

Consistent with that responsibility I endeavour to give honourable members accurate information in a form which is succinct and avoids repetition.

Trade Practices Commission Recommendations (Question No. 2546)

Mr Jacobi:
HAWKER, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

asked the Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs, upon notice, on 18 October 1978:

  1. 1 ) What action has he taken towards implementing the recommendations of the Trade Practices Commission in its 4th Annual Report for 1977-78 that the Trade Practices Act be amended (a) to permit a Court on the application of the Commission or Minister to freeze consumers’ funds in the hands of fraudulent promoters pending proceedings, (b) to empower a Court to freeze consumers’ funds and set aside transactions designed to defeat refund claims, (c) to permit the Commission to act on behalf of consumers in seeking compensation for fraudulent practices, (d) to ensure that the knowledge of a company’s directors, servants and agents is imputed to the company so as to make the company responsible for their breaches of the legislation and (e) to provide that the prosecution may appeal against acquittals and on points of law in criminal matters.
  2. How many members of the staff of the Trade Practices Commission are engaged in the administration of the consumer protection provisions of the Trade Practices Act
  3. What action does he plan to take to overcome delays in the investigation and prosecution of sharp operators who are defrauding consumers, as reported in paragraph 4.25 of the Commisson ‘s 4th Annual Report for 1977-78.
Mr Fife:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. The recommendations of the Trade Practices Commission referred to in the question are currently under examination.
  2. There are 43 members of the staff of the Trade Practices Commission at present engaged directly in the administration of the consumer protection provisions of the Trade Practices Act. In addition, in each of six Regional Offices there is a Director responsible for overall supervision, including consumer protection staff, and there are also support staff who form part of common service units, both in Central and Regional Offices.
  3. The Trade Practices Commission, in its fourth annual report, attributes delays in investigation and prosecution of consumer protection matters in part to limited staff resources and to delays caused by constitutional and other challenges in the Courts. Insofar as the delays relate to staff resources the Government considers that the staff resources available to the Trade Practices Commisson reflect a proper provision in the context of the Government’s total budgetary responsibilities and priorities. The allocation of staff resources within this provision is a matter for the Trade Practices Commission.

Strawberry Imports (Question No. 2571)

Mr Jull:

asked the Minister for Primary Industry, upon notice, on 19 October 1978:

  1. 1 ) What quantity of (a) fresh and (b) frozen strawberries were imported into Australia during (i) 1976-77 (ii) 1977-78 and (iii) the period 1 July, 1 978 to date.
  2. From which countries were these strawberries imported and what was the value of the imports for each year and period.
Mr Sinclair:
NCP/NP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

Details of the quantity, countries of origin and value of imports of fresh and frozen strawberries for the years and period requested have been provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Table 1. shows the quantity and value of fresh strawberries (excluding strawberry pulp) imported into Australia, by country of origin for the years 1976-77 and 1977-78 and the September quarter 1978.

No information is available on imports of fresh strawberry pulp, as this commodity is not separately identified in the statistical classifications used to record Australian imports.

Table 2. shows the quantity and value of frozen strawberries (whether or not cooked) imported into Australia, by country of origin for the years 1976-77 and 1977-78 and the September quarter 1978.

Imported statistics for 1976-77 relate only to frozen strawberries containing added sugar. For 1977-78 onwards, import statistics of frozen strawberries relate to frozen strawberries containing added sugar and frozen strawberries which did not contain added sugar. Import statistics of frozen strawberries which do not contain added sugar are not available for 1976-77 (or prior periods) as this commodity was not separately identified in the statistical classifications used to record Australian imports.

National Capital Development Commission: Non-Residential Leases (Question No. 2610)

Mr McVeigh:
DARLING DOWNS, QUEENSLAND

asked the Minister for the Capital Territory, upon notice, on 24 October 1978:

  1. How did the National Capital Development Commission, in conjunction with his Department, seek public reaction to the use of residential leases for non-residential uses which included commercial premises for medical practitioners and others, in January 1975.
  2. How did the National Capital Development Commission seek similar public reaction in December 1976.
  3. How many written answers were received to the December 1976 survey.
  4. What were the results of the written answers of public reaction to its December 1976 survey.
Mr Ellicott:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. The National Capital Development Commission has informed me that the Commission, in conjunction with the Department of the Capital Territory, published a discussion paper and brochure canvassing possible policy guidelines for urban change. The documents, which were produced after consultation with a wide range of government, community and business organizations were published to stimulate public discussion on broad guidelines rather than specific land use changes and to enable public reaction to be gauged. The pamphlet was distributed to over 20,000 inner Canberra households. Members of the public were invited to write or telephone Commission or Departmental officers to register their comments or to discuss any of the issues raised in the publications. Forty-four responses were received.
  2. In December 1976 a further discussion paper, entitled Policies for Urban Change, was published. Members of the public and interested organizations were invited over a period of three months to comment on four suggested alternative policies for more intensive use of existing residential leases and for commercial purposes. The policy proposals received extensive coverage in the media. Commission officers were available to discuss the alternative policies at exhibitions arranged at the major shopping centres as well as at the Commission offices.
  3. Eighty-six written responses.
  4. The results indicated that there was not strong public support for change and that the majority of people and organizations who were sufficiently interested to respond opposed any significant change to the existing character and amenity of residential areas.

Department of Social Security Office, Why alla: Working Conditions (Question No. 2752)

Mr Wallis:
GREY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Social Security, upon notice, on 9 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Has the Minister’s attention been drawn to the extremely crowded conditions under which employees of the Department of Social Security are required to work at the Whyalla SA, office of the Department of Social Security.
  2. If so, are there any future plans to provide adequate accommodation for the Department ‘s staff at Whyalla.
Mr Hunt:
NCP/NP

– The Minister for Social Security has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

  1. Yes.
  2. The approved Leasing Program for 1978-79 for the Department of Social Security includes provision for additional accommodation to relieve the situation in the Whyalla Regional Office. Every endeavour is being made to obtain suitable accommodation to satisfy this need.

Cheese Dumping (Question No. 2770)

Mr Lloyd:
MURRAY, VICTORIA

asked the Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs, upon notice, on 14 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) What progress is being made with the inquiry into the alleged dumping of cheese which was initiated in October 1976.
  2. When is it anticipated that the inquiry will be completed and a decision announced.
Mr Fife:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. My Department has completed overseas inquiries to assess normal value for edam and gouda cheese in each of the countries included in the present dumping complaint and found to be exporting significant quantities of these types of cheese to Australia. The Department is currently continuing its inquiries to assess the complainant’s claims that material injury is being caused to the Australian industry by dumped imports of edam and gouda cheese.
  2. The Department’s assessment should be completed this month. If further action is warranted the Department will arrange for a meeting of interested parties. Following such a meeting a report would be submitted to me for decision as to whether dumping duties should be imposed. In relation to exports from New Zealand, if action were to be proposed, consultations between the New Zealand and Australian Governments would be required in accordance with the New Zealand-Australia Free Trade Agreement. In view of these circumstances, I am unable to give a firm indication as to when a final decision will be announced.

Baillie Psychiatric Hospital: Payment of Pension to Patients (Question No. 2810)

Dr Klugman:

asked the Minister, representing the Minister for Social Security, upon notice, on 16 November.

  1. 1 ) Has the Minister received representations on behalf of 80 patients of the Baillie Psychiatric Hospital at Toowoomba, Qld, who have had their pensions terminated due to being moved from pensionable wards to nonpensionable wards.
  2. ) What has been the saving consequent upon this action.
Mr Hunt:
NCP/NP

– The Minister for Social Security has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question.

  1. The Department has no record of any representation on this matter. A number of pensions were terminated after patients were transferred to areas of the Baillie Henderson Hospital which had not been approved for pension purposes. Steps have now been taken to approve these areas for pension purposes and where appropriate, restore payment of pensions with full arrears.
  2. ) There are no savings.

Review of Australia’s International Civil Aviation Policy (Question No. 2858)

Mr Morris:
SHORTLAND, NEW SOUTH WALES

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce-

  1. 1 ) Did his Department make a submission to the Review of Australia ‘s International Civil Aviation Policy.
  2. If so, (a) what was the substance of the submission and (b) will he release it for the benefit of the Parliament.
Mr Lynch:
Minister for Industry and Commerce · FLINDERS, VICTORIA · LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. Yes.

  2. (a) The general thrust of the Department’s submission was to support the introduction of lower air fares.

    1. No. The submission was confidential.

Review of Australia’s International Civil Aviation Policy (Question No. 2866)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister, representing the Minister for Social Security, upon notice, on 16 November 1978:

  1. Did the Department of Social Security make a submission to the Review of Australia’s International Civil Aviation Policy.
  2. If so, (a) what was the substance of the submission and (b) will the Minister release it for the benefit of the Parliament.
Mr Hunt:
NCP/NP

-The Minister for Social Security has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question.

  1. No.
  2. See answer to No. 1.

International Civil Aviation Policy Review (Question No. 2872)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, upon notice, on 16 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Did his Department make a submission to the Review of Australia’s International Civil Aviation Policy.
  2. If so, (a) what was the substance of the submission and (b) will he release it for the benefit of the Parliament.
Mr McLeay:
BOOTHBY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows-

  1. No.
  2. See (1) above.

New Zealand Budget (Question No. 381)

Mr Lloyd:

asked the Minister for National Development, upon notice, on 7 March 1 978:

  1. 1 ) Has his attention been drawn to the range of energy conservation policies and incentives introduced in the last New Zealand budget
  2. If so, are any of these policies being considered for implementation either by the Commonwealth or by the States in co-operation with the Commonwealth.
  3. Has any consideration been given to the introduction of taxation concessions or grants or an Australia-wide building regulation to encourage the greater use of thermal insulation material in homes, thus reducing the need for internal heating.
Mr Newman:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. Yes.
  2. and (3) One of the energy conservation policies and incentives included in the last New Zealand budget was an increase in tax on petroleum products. In the 1978-79 Australian Budget the price of indigenous crude oil to refiners was raised to world parity thus ensuring that consumers would be paying prices for petroleum products which reflect the full replacement cost of the crude oil.

The Australian Minerals and Energy Council agreed at its meeting on 10 March 1978 to initiate a national programme to conserve energy, with strong emphasis on oil. The Council also established a joint Commonwealth-State Consultative Committee to develop the first stage of the programme.

At its meeting on 1 1 August 1978 the Council received certain recommendations made by the Committee, including recommendations that information on existing energy consumption in buildings should be gathered and that a standard code for energy audits of buildings should be devised. The Council noted the incorporation of energy conservation standards in building regulations as a matter meriting further study. Action in this regard will be considered further by the Council in the future.

Commonwealth Heads of Government Regional Meeting (Question No. 401)

Mr Les McMahon:
SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

asked the Minister for Post and Telecommunications, upon notice, on 7 March 1978:

  1. In order to provide services in connection with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Regional Meeting held in Sydney, how many officers (a) from his Department and (b) from instrumentalities associated with his portfolio, travelled from their home base to another location.
  2. What was the cost of travel involved in these movements.
  3. What was the total cost of travelling and other allowances paid to these officers.
Mr Staley:
Minister for Post and Telecommunications · CHISHOLM, VICTORIA · LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. (a) None.

    1. (i) Australian Postal Commission 3; (ii) Australian Telecommunications Commission 10.
  2. (i) Australian Postal Commission $50; (ii) Australian Telecommunications Commission $ 1 19. 10.
  3. (i) Australian Postal Commission $130.00; (ii) Australian Telecommunications Commission $ 1 ,269.67.

Energy Research: Government Expenditure (Question No. 564)

Mr Cohen:
ROBERTSON, NEW SOUTH WALES

asked the Minister for National Development, upon notice, on 8 March 1978:

  1. 1 ) What is the current level of Commonwealth Government expenditure for research in the following areas: (a) solar energy, (b) coal conversion, (c) wind energy, (d) wave and tidal energy, (e) oil shale energy, (f) nuclear energy and (g) other forms of energy.
  2. Which organisations are responsible for energy research undertaken directly by the Government.
  3. What energy research and conservation programs are currently being carried out by the Government.
  4. What funds has the Government allocated to (a) private industry and (b) universities and other tertiary institutions for research into, and developing of alternative energy sources during the last 5 years.
  5. What action has the Government taken to implement the recommendations of the Report of the Senate Standing Committee on National Resources on Solar Energy and the Report of the National Energy Advisory Committee on Proposals for an Australian Conservation of Energy Program.
Mr Newman:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. and (4) I refer the honourable member to my media release of 25 June 1978 concerning the preliminary results of the 1976-77 survey of energy R and D. Full details of the survey are currently being printed and I will table the information at the earliest opportunity. Comprehensive data for other years is not readily available and I refer the honourable member to my response to question 2559 following.
  2. Within the Commonwealth Government energy research policy is the responsibility of the Minister for National Development who is supported by the National Energy Office in his Department, the National Energy Advisory Committee and the National Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Council.

Energy research is performed within the Commonwealth Government by the:

Australian Atomic Energy Commission ( AAEC)

Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics (BMR)

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation ( CSIRO)

Other Commonwealth organisations are involved in energy research to a much lesser degree where this relates to their overall responsibilities, for example, Australian Telecommunications Commission, National Capital Development Commission et cetera.

  1. The National Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Council has been established to advise me on the national energy research, development and demonstration effort. In addition it will provide advice on the disbursement of funds to expand energy research and development

In the 1978-79 Budget the Government has made a cash provision of $4m for research grants, and to cater for longer term projects, the Government is prepared to commit a further $5m against expenditure in future years. Additionally about$6m, representing accruals and reserves in the Coal Research Trust Account, will be available for coal research.

The Budget also includes a provision of $50,000 for preliminary research and planning for a national energy conservation publicity campaign. The publicity campaign will represent the main activity in the first stage of a co-ordinated national energy conservation program with strong emphasis on oil. It was agreed to by Commonwealth State Energy Ministers at a meeting of the Australian Minerals and Energy Council on11 August 1978 and follows a recommendation by the National Energy Advisory Committee.

  1. The Report of the Senate Standing Committee on National Resources on Solar Energy recommends that solar energy should be considered within an overall energy strategy and that research relating to it be funded on a competitive basis with other energy research. Such a policy has been adopted by the Government The National Energy Advisory Committee is advising the Government on energy policy and the National Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Council is looking at the overall contribution that research can make to the Government’s energy objectives. Solar energy will be funded as part of this program referred to in (3) above.

For information on the Government’s action in relation to the National Energy Advisory Committee ‘s proposals for an Australian Conservation of Energy Program see (3) above.

Energy Policy: Department of National Development (Question No. 1001)

Mr Jacobi:

asked the Minister for National Development, upon notice, on 3 May 1978:

  1. 1 ) How many staff are employed within his Department and related statutory authorities.
  2. What are the sections into which his Department and these statutory authorities are divided.
  3. Which of these sections are involved with the development or implementation of energy policies.
  4. What is the specific function of each of these sections.
  5. How many staff are in the energy policy-making sections and what are their professional qualifications.
  6. Can he say how many staff are employed by Governments on energy policy matters in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) the United states or America, (c) Canada, (d) Japan, (e) New Zealand, (f) France and (g) West Germany.
  7. Is it a fact that most countries of the world have many more employees involved in the implementation of energy policies than Australia.
  8. Will the National Energy Advisory Committee be asked to examine whether a single energy authority should be created, as was recommended by the Australian Science and Technology Council in its report on energy research and development in Australia (paragraph 4.7).
  9. Will the NEAC review the operations of his Department and related authorities to determine whether these bodies have the necessary expertise and human resources to develop and implement the national energy policies recommended by the NEAC.
  10. Does the Government intend to establish an Australian Energy Research Development and Demonstration Authority as was recommended by ASTEC.
Mr Newman:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) At 3 1 July 1 978 the staffing levels (including inoperative staff) of my Department and related statutory authorities were as follows:
  1. There are six Divisions in the Central Office of the Department:

Decentralisation Division

Energy Policy Division

Energy Research and Development Division

Oil and Gas Division

Uranium and General Division

Water Division

The administrative structures of the statutory authorities may be obtained from their respective annual reports.

  1. and (4) The National Energy Office, comprising the Energy Policy Division and the Energy Research and Development Division; Oil and Gas Division.

The Australian Atomic Energy Commission, the Pipeline Authority and the Snowy Mountains Hyro-electric Authority also provide input to the development of energy policies.

  1. National Energy Office 40; Oil and Gas Division 33.

A wide range of professional qualifications is held by the existing staff, including qualifications in physics, chemistry, engineering, fuel technology, geology, mathematics, statistics, computing, economics, accountancy, history, politics and administration.

  1. No. Some figures are available on the staffing of various energy agencies but meaningful comparisons are impossible in the absence of a uniform definition of what constitutes ‘ energy policy matters ‘.
  2. See answer to (6).
  3. and (9) I see no reason to alter the existing administrative arrangements at this stage.
  4. 10) I refer the honourable member to my press release of 26 May 1978 announcing the creation of the National Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Council.

Petroleum Industry (Question No. 1542)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for National Development, upon notice, on 8 June 1978:

  1. Did he seek the advice of the National Energy Advisory Committee on the proposal of the Royal Commission on Petroleum in its 5th report that an agency be established to monitor and control the Australian petroleum industry.
  2. If so, what advice did NEAC provide for the Government.
Mr Newman:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. No.
  2. See (1) above.

Presiding Officers: Request for Facilities (Question No. 1563)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Prime Minister, upon notice, on15 August 1978:

  1. 1 ) Is it a fact that the Executive arm of Government has refused a request by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate for funds to provide Presiding Officers the facilities for normal courtesies of entertaining visiting overseas dignitaries.
  2. Was this decision taken without seeking the views of the Parliament.
  3. What Department, if any, recommended the refusal.
Mr Malcolm Fraser:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows: (1), (2) and (3) In considering with the Parliamentary Departments and Presiding Officers what amounts should be included in Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 1978-79 for the Parliament, the Government had regard to the Presiding Officers’ proposals, to the level of expenditure in 1978-79 and to the background of financial stringency against which the Budget was framed. No specific requests for funds for providing facilities for the normal courtesies of entertaining visiting overseas dignitaries were declined.

Current ‘D’ Notices (Question No. 1581)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 15 August 1978:

Will he table for the information of the Parliament the list of current ‘ D ‘ notices.

Mr Malcolm Fraser:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

The Defence Press and Broadcasting Committee, under whose authority ‘D’ Notices are issued to the media, is currently reviewing the ‘D’ Notices and I will consider whether it would be appropriate to table the revised’D’ Notices themselves when the Committee has completed its review.

Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation: Overseas Activities (Question No. 1595)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 15 August 1978:

Does the Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation have a charter to operate overseas.

Mr Malcolm Fraser:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

The ASIO charter is contained in the ASIO Act Some of the Organisation’s functions require that officers are posted abroad. In all cases they are declared to the host Government In particular, ASIO has a charter ‘To co-operate with such departments and authorities of other countries as are capable of assisting the Organisation in the performance of its functions’.

Any activities of ASIO, at home or abroad, are carried out within the terms of its charter.

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation: Allegations (Question No. 1598)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 15 August 1978:

Is there any rule or statute which entitles a Minister in charge of the administration of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation to sometimes deny, but never confirm, allegations against the Organisation.

Mr Malcolm Fraser:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

The practice of declining to answer questions concerning the activities of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation was commenced by Prime Minister Chifley in 1949 and has been followed by every Government since. The Royal Commission on Intelligence and Security recommended that the present practice, whereby the Prime Minister and the Minister administering the ASIO Act do not confirm or deny allegations, or presumed allegations, in respect of ASIO, continue in force’ (Fourth Report, Volume I, paragraph 78 1 ). In a statement to the House on the 25th October last year I indicated the Government’s acceptance of that recommendation.

There are, of course, compelling reasons in support of such a practice. As Dr Evatt said in the House of Representatives in 1949 ‘The Security Service must be operated with secrecy in order properly to protect the community ‘.

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation: Postal and Telephonic Interception (Question No. 1599)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 15 August 1978:

How many occasions over the past 6 years has the Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation intercepted (a) mails or (b) telephone conversations (i) with and (ii) without, Ministerial knowledge, written authority or approval.

Mr Malcolm Fraser:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

I direct the honourable member’s attention to my answer to Question No. 1598.

Telephone Tapping (Question No. 1600)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Prime Minister, upon notice, on IS August 1978:

Will he give a categorical assurance that no Minister, Member of the Parliament, Judge, or Permanent Head has had his telephone tapped since (a) September 1974 and (b) July 1976.

Mr Malcolm Fraser:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

I direct the honourable member’s attention to my answer to Question No. 1598.

Security Assessment (Question No. 1621)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Prime Minister, upon notice, on IS August 1978:

Is a public servant’s membership of (a) a Communist Party, (b) the Nazi Party or (c) the National Civic Council relevant to the security assessment of that person.

Mr Malcolm Fraser:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

I direct the honourable member’s attention to my answer to Question No. 1598.

Tenders (Question No. 1644)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Administrative Services, upon notice, on IS August 1978:

  1. 1 ) Are any tenders accepted at face value on the grounds that the tenderer is well-known and to what extent are performance reports, current commitments and financial situations taken into account
  2. What discretion does a public servant have in reducing the amount of detail to be included in respect of small and straight-forward projects.
Mr Street:
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations · CORANGAMITE, VICTORIA · LP

– The Minister for Administrative Services has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

  1. Satisfactory past performance, current commitments and financial standing are always factors in contractor selection. Reports on these aspects are sought as necessary.
  2. It is in the Commonwealth’s interest to provide as much information as possible to tenderers to assist them in providing meaningful and competitive offers. Discretion in preparing detailed specifications is primarily the province of the technical authority involved. The role of the purchasing authority in this area is directed towards ensuring that the specification details are such as to ensure that meaningful competition is created wherever possible in calling for quotations or tenders for the requirement

Radioactive Material Near Lucas Heights (Question No. 1729)

Mr Les Johnson:
HUGHES, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

asked the Minister for National Development, upon notice, on 16 August 1978:

  1. 1 ) What are the radioactive material and toxic chemicals buried in the area fenced off by the Australian Atomic Energy Commission in 1959, approximately 1 kilometre northwest of the Commission’s research establishment, Lucas Heights, NSW (question No. 806, Hansard, 25 May 1978, page 2567).
  2. What is the on surface background radiation reading of this site.
  3. What is the radiation reading one third of a metre below the surfance
  4. What is the underground radiation reading immediately above points where radioactivity material is buried.
  5. Are the radioactive material and toxic chemicals buried on the site totally confined to the enclosed area.
  6. If not, (a) what other areas have been affected, (b) how did the radioactive material or toxic chemical waste enter the atmosphere or leave the site and (c) what measures are being taken to ensure that the material is contained within the site.
  7. Does the Government accept the proposition that radioactive and toxic material of the type buried on this site could be safely disposed of at municipal garbage dums
  8. If so, (a) has any material of this type been disposed of in any NSW municipal garbage dump and (b) what is the justification of an annual expenditure of $1,300 on the maintenance of this existing site.
Mr Newman:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. The solid waste consisted of paper, cardboard, plastic sheeting and laboratory glassware which was sealed in fibre drums or fibre-reinforced bitumen impregnated kraft paper bags. The remainder consisted of bulky metal or plastic items which were wrapped in plastic sheeting and sludges which were sealed in steel drums. These wastes were slightly contaminated with a mixture of radioisotopes, uranium and a very small amount of actinide elements. In addition, a quantity of beryllium oxide waste has been buried with the radioactive material.
  2. 0.01-0.02 mr/hr.
  3. 0.02-0.025 mr/hr.
  4. 0.02-0.03 mr/hr.
  5. A number of boreholes has been drilled both inside and outside the fenced area to enable environmental surveillance of the area. In two boreholes outside the fenced area a small amount of water containing a minute amount of tritium has been detected. The level of radioactivity in these boreholes is 7370 of the level permitted in drinking water. No other evidence has been found of any movement of radioactivity or toxic chemicals outside the fenced area.

  6. (a) Groundwater about 50 metres north of the fenced area.

    1. Either in the groundwater or as surface runoff, or both.
    2. The containment detailed in ( 1 ) above.
  7. The policy of the AAEC is that no toxic substances, or material classified as a radioactive substance should be disposed of at municipal garbage dumps.

  8. (a) No radioactive material or toxic material has been disposed of in any NSW municipal garbage dump by the AAEC.

    1. The major part of the expenditure relates to grass cutting to reduce the bush fire risk in the area. A very small amount is expended on maintenance of fences and notices to demarcate the area which is the private property of the AAEC.

Radiation Protection Standards (Question No. 1750)

Mr Uren:

asked the Minister for Environment, Housing and Community Development, upon notice, on 16 August 1978:

  1. Is it a fact that the International Commission for Radiological Protection and the United States Environmental Protection Agency employ quite different criteria in the setting of radiation protection standards.
  2. If so, what are the major differences in the approaches of the I.C.R.P. and the United States E.P.A. in setting radiation standards.
  3. Do the approaches of the I.C.R.P. and the United States E.P.A. result in different safety standards for (a) radon gas in uranium mines, (b) omission of radioactive contaminants into water bodies and (c) emission of radioactive contaminants into the air.
  4. Which approach will be used by the Government in the regulation of uranium rnining in the Alligator Rivers Region.
Mr Groom:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. No. The recommendations of the I.C.R.P. have been followed by the U.S. E.P.A. in formulating environmental radiation protection standards.
  2. There are no major differences in the approaches of the I.C.R.P. and the E.P.A. in setting radiation standards.
  3. (a) The E.PA. has not proposed a standard relating to radon gas in uranium mines.
  4. (b) and (c) The I.C.R.P. does not interpret its recommendations for specific situations. The E.P.A. interpretation of I.C.R.P. recommendations may lead to limits for radioactive contaminants in air and water different to those set by other national authorities depending on national assessments of the level of public health risk considered acceptable taking into account the cost of achieving improvements in public safety and their effectiveness.
  5. Radiation protection standards will be regulated in the Northern Territory through Regulations under the Mines Regulation Ordinance. These Regulations were notified in the Northern Territory Government Gazette of 30 June 1978. The Regulations give effect to the Code of Practice on Radiation Protection in the Mining and Milling of Radioactive Ores, first published by the Australian Department of Health in August 1975, as it is set out in Schedule 1 and as amended from time to time by these Regulations. The Code takes into account the recommendations of the I.C.R.P. and in particular the recommendation that all radiation exposures be kept as low as reasonably achievable.

Oil Shale Resources: Research and Development (Question No. 1857)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for National Development, upon notice, on 24 August 1 978:

In view of the large size of inferred sub-economic oil shale resources in the Toolebuc Formation, as described in the National Energy Advisory Committee Report No. 2 entitled Australia’s Energy Resources, what action has been taken, or is planned, to support as a matter of priority the research and development of in situ processing of these resources.

Mr Newman:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

The National Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Council (NERDDC) advises me on the disbursement of Commonwealth funds made available for expansion of the national energy research, development and demonstration effort.

About $15m is available in 1978-79 to encourage such expansion. The Budget made a cash provision of $4m for research grants expenditure in 1978-79 and, to cater for longer term projects, the Government is prepared to commit a further $5m against expenditure in future years. Additionally about $6m, representing accruals and reserves in the Coal Research Trust Account, will be available for coal research.

In my press statement of 6 November 1978 I announced the result of NERDDC ‘s examination of 157 coal research and development projects. NERDDC is currently actively engaged in assessing over 300 further proposals covering the whole spectrum of energy R, D & D activities. None of the proposals submitted to date covers the in situ processing of the oil shale resources of the Toolebuc Formation.

If at the conclusion of its current assessment NERDDC considers that there is a significant gap in the national energy research, development and demonstration effort it will recommend appropriate action for my consideration.

Oil Shale Resources (Question No. 1858)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for National Development, upon notice, on 23 August 1978:

In view of the comments of the National Energy Advisory Committee in its Report No. 2 entitled ‘Australia’s Energy Resources’ in relation to the assessment of Australia’s oil shale resources, what action has been taken or is planned, to update demonstrated and inferred oil shale resource estimates and to estimate the potential for further discoveries.

Mr Newman:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

I see no immediate need for action to be taken to update demonstrated and inferred oil shale estimates nor to estimate the potential for further discoveries. The need for further assessment of Australia’s total energy resources is, however, under examination. The development of the deposits at Rundle, one of those identified in the Report as appearing to have the highest potential for exploitation, is under active examination by the companies concerned.

Parliamentary Question No. 1662 (Question No. 2058)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 14 September 1978:

When may I expect an answer to question No. 1662.

Mr Peacock:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

I refer the honourable member to the answer provided by me to bis Question on Notice No. 1662 (see Hansard, 21 September 1978, page 1338)

Members of Parliament: Security Files (Question No. 2160)

Mr Barry Jones:
LALOR, VICTORIA · ALP

asked the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 20 September 1978:

  1. Are security files kept on all Members of the Australian Parliament, either by the Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation or by other agencies.
  2. 2) If files are only kept on some Members, what is the criterion used to determine if Members are to be subject to the keeping of files.
  3. Can individual members be given access to their own files in order to check for accuracy. If not, why not
Mr Malcolm Fraser:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. to (3) As the honourable member would know, this Government adheres to the policy established by the then Prime Minister Mr Chifley in 1949, followed by successive Governments since that time, and endorsed by Mr Justice Hope at paragraph 781 of the Fourth Report of the Royal Commission on Intelligence and Security, namely that neither details of the Australian Security Intelligence Organization nor its operations are disclosed. I refer the honourable member to my statements to the House of 24.5.77 and 25. 10.77 wherein I made reference to this policy. I would, however, draw the honourable member’s attention to the comments of Mr Justice Hope on this general topic contained in paragraphs 195 to 199, and 464 to 467 of the first volume of the Fourth Report of the Royal Commission on Intelligence and Security.

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet: Computers (Question No. 2204)

MrHayden asked the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 27 September 1978:

  1. How many computers are (a) owned, (b) operated, (c) in the process of being purchased or (d) rented by bis Department, and statutory authorities and business undertakings under his control.
  2. What is the cost of purchase or rental of each computer.
  3. 3 ) For what purpose is each computer used.
  4. What is the nature of the data stored by each computer.
  5. What interconnections exist or will exist between any of these computers.
  6. Who has access to each computer.
  7. What savings in staff numbers have been achieved or are anticipated as a result of the installation or operation of each computer.
Mr Viner:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and. except for the Public Service Board, the statutory authorities within the Prime Minister’s portfolio do not own, operate or rent, and are not in the process of purchasing computers.

The Public Service Board has supplied the following information in relation to the Board’s M AND ATA project, which services the whole of the Public Service, and the Burroughs Data Centre, Fyshwick, A.C.T. which provides services to the Departments of Administrative Services, AttorneyGeneral and Trade and Resources, co-ordinated by the Board.

MANDATA Project (l)(a) One Burroughs 7700 System Thirty-four NCR 8200’s.

Nil.

Nil.

Nil.

Burroughs 7700 System-purchase cost $3,621,865. NCR 8200’s-purchase cost $1,694,530.

Burroughs 7700- Maintenance of personnel records; provision of management information to departments;

Processing or work on behalf of Departments of the Capital Territory and Immigration and Ethnic Affairs and some limited work for severalother departments.

NCR 8200- Data entry, data validation, distribution of MANDATA information and software development.

Burroughs 7700- Personnel and establishments records for the Public Service as a whole; Accounts records for Department of the Capital Territory

Register of arrivals and departures for Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs.

Data is entered through visual display units located in departmental offices. These units are connected by Telecom lines to NCR 8200 mini-computers located in capital cities. These mini-computers are in turn connected by Telecom lines to the Burroughs 7700 computer in Canberra.

Authorised personnel within the Public Service Board and the MANDATA Program Office for official purposes.

Authorised personnel within departments whose records are maintained by the MANDATA System. Their access is limited to their own department ‘s records.

The Departments of the Capital Territory and Immigration and Ethnic Affairs have access to their own records and once again this is restricted to authorised personnel.

The main impact of the MANDATA System will be in reducing work loads in departmental Personnel and Establishment areas. Direct savings of 10 per cent of staff dedicated to clerical type duties are projected involving a potential saving of some 700 staff spread throughout the Service.

Burroughs Data Centre

  1. The Fyshwick Data Centre consists of one dual processor computer installation. It is hired from Burroughs Ltd under a facilities management contract.
  2. Equipment purchase: $48,526; Equipment Hire: $478,423 p.a.

The equipment purchase costs are shared between the Department of Administrative Services ($13,950) and the Department of Trade and Resources ($34,576).

The equipment hire costs are apportioned between the three Departments in accordance with their respective utilisation of Data Centre facilities. Presently these are as follows:

Department of Administrative Services: 33 per cent

Attorney-General’s Department: 14 per cent

Department of Trade and Resources: 53 per cent

  1. Department of Administrative Services: The maintenance of enrolment data, maintenance of data on property holdings and recording of details of Parliamentarians’ travel expenses.

Attorney-General’s Department: The storage and retrieval of legal information.

Department of Trade and Resources: This Department is using the Burroughs installation at Fyshwick for the following purposes:

Trade statistics analyses

Firms’ details analysis

Correspondence with firms

Tariff item history analysis

Maintenance of unclassified briefing material

  1. Department of Administrative Services: That information which the Commonwealth Electoral Act requires persons eligible to enrol to supply, and from that data, and other data supplied by staff of the Australian Electoral Office, a list of streets, roads etc

Information relating to land and accommodation owned and leased by the Commonwealth in Australia.

Information relating to charges incurred, mode of travelling and routes undertaken by Parliamentarians, their families and staff,

Attorney-General’s Department: Data comprises the full text of the Constitution and Acts of the Australian Parliament as consolidated in 1973, supplemented by the Acts passed during 1974 and1975.

Department of Trade and Resources: Trade economic statistics; Australian firms’ details; Text of letters to firms; Tariff item histories; Unclassified briefing material.

  1. This question is not applicable to the Fyshwick Data Centre as it consists of a single computer installation.
  2. Department of Administrative Services: Authorised personnel within the Department and the Australian Electoral Office.

Attorney-General’s Department: Access is provided for official purposes to authorised personnel of the AttorneyGeneral’s Department and the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

Department of Trade and Resources: Access via terminals is available to authorised personnel of the Department of Trade and Resources, and of the Department of Industry and Commerce, for official purposes.

  1. Department of Administrative Services: There have been no nett savings of staff as a result of the applications being run at the Data Centre. The systems were introduced to increase efficiency, to enable time critical processing to be undertaken e.g. production of electoral rolls, and to provide information that would otherwise not have been available.

Attorney-General’s Department: Since the volume and complexity of Australian law is expanding at an increasing rate, an efficient automated system for legal work is vital if the Department is to avoid a decrease in the quality of service that it provides to the Government There are not, at this stage, any significant savings in staff numbers which could be directly attributed to the use of our existing automated system. For the future, the use of a computerised legal retrieval system is more likely to result in a more efficient service rather than a reduction in staff numbers.

Department of Trade and Resources: The Department of Trade and Resources has introduced computer systems principally to support operations in areas where it is necessary to match the performance of Australia’s trading competitors. Examples include the provision of trade economic statistical analysis to support trade negotiations, and the provision of firms’ details summaries and analyses to support Australia’s competitive marketing efforts.

Because of the nature of this work, the Department does not attribute any direct savings in staff numbers to the use of computer support The benefits of the support are realised in improved analytical capability and increased productivity rather than in cost reductions derived from staff savings.

Department of Business and Consumer Affairs: Computers (Question No. 2227)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs, upon notice, on 27 September 1978:

  1. How many computers are (a) owned, (b) operated, (c) in the process of being purchased or (d) rented by his Department and statutory authorities and business undertakings under his control.
  2. What is the cost of purchase or rental of each computer.
  3. 3 ) For what purposes is each computer used.
  4. What is the nature of the data stored by each computer.
  5. What interconnections exist or will exist between any of these computers.
  6. Who has access to each computer.
  7. What savings in staff numbers have been achieved or are anticipated as a result of the installation or operation of each computer.
Mr Fife:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

Department of Business and Consumer Affairs

  1. (a)17;(b)18;(c)l;(d)l.
  2. Central Computer 1-$2,600,000; Central Computer 2 -$2,400,000; Central Computer 8-$585,000 per annum.

Mini computers (15)- $51 , 000 each; ( 1 ) -$32,500.

  1. Central Computer 1-

Customs administration- checking of import and air passenger documentation;

Creation of customs entries from invoice information supplied by customs agents and importers;

Administration- monitoring of progress of answers to ministerial and other correspondence.

Central Computer 2-

Program development;

Backup to central computer 1;

Compilation of consumer complaint statistics;

Reference list of Australian manufacturers;

Elections and referenda processing;

Processing for the Natural Disasters Organisation in case of an emergency;

As a service bureau to other government Departments.

Central Computer 3-

This computer is being phased in to take over the workload of central computer 2. The workload of central computer 1 will then be spread across 1 and 2.

Minicomputers-

Control of the Australia wide communications network.

  1. Central Computer 1-

Customs import entry data;

Alert lists;

Ministerial correspondence.

Central Computer 2-

Consumer complaint data;

Reference List of Australian manufacturers;

Data owned and processed by other government organisations.

Central Computer 3-

See answer to (3) above.

Minicomputers-

Network control information.

  1. All computers are linked via the Department’s Australia wide communications network.
  2. Authorised personnel within the Department have access to all departmental computers for official purposes. In addition access to computers is restricted to authorised users of specific systems as follows:

Central Computer 1 -

Authorised users of the Department’s COMPILE system; a system which creates import entries from information supplied directly by customs agents and importers via visual display units connected to the Department’s communications network;

Departments involved in passenger processing including the Departments of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, Foreign Affairs and Administrative Services;

Departments and authorities using the correspondence monitoring system, SCRIBE, viz. Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, Prime Minister and Cabinet, Transport, Industry and Commerce, Attorney-General’s and the Public Service Board.

Central Computer 2-

The Australian Electoral Office;

The Natural Disasters Organisation;

Departments and authorities using this computer as a service bureau viz. Administrative Services, Industry and Commerce, Trade and Resources and the Public Service Board.

  1. Computer systems were introduced into the Department to increase the level of control and speed of processing of goods and passengers and to cope with an increasing workload without a corresponding increase in staff numbers.

The identification of staff differences due to computer systems is complex and difficult to establish over the 20 years or more since computers were first used for processing of import trade statistics.

During this period the input of statistical data on imports has changed from data processing operators in the Bureau of Statistics to operators in the Bureau of Customs and recently progressive transfer of this function to Customs agents and importers in the private sector.

Industries Assistance Commission-

  1. (a)2;(b)2;(c)0;(d)0.
  2. $30,000 each.
  3. Communications control and data transfer as part of the CSIRO CSIRONET system.

  4. No data is stored on these computers but they are used to access the following IAC information which is stored in the CSIRONET system:

    1. Economic data for use by the Commission’s econometric models;
    2. Survey data collected in Commission surveys;
    3. Administrative data- registry indexes, library catalogues.
  5. 5 ) The computers are linked via the CSIRONET system.

  6. (a) Canberra minicomputer- authorised personnel within the Commission;

    1. Melbourne minicomputer- authorised personnel within the Commission and staff of the IMPACT project.
  7. None.

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet: Access to Computer Information (Question No. 2233)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 27 September 1978:

  1. 1 ) In respect of each computer owned or operated by his Department and statutory authorities and business undertakings under his control, what information stored therein can be sold, hired, lent or given to any person or organisation other than properly authorised employees of his Department, authority or business.
  2. Under what circumstances can this information be (a) sold, (b) hired, (c) lent or (d) given.
  3. On what occasions, and to whom, has any information been sold, hired, lent or given in the past.
Mr Viner:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and, except for the Public Service Board, the statutory authorities within the Prime Minister’s portfolio do not own, operate or rent, and are not in the process of purchasing computers.

The Public Service Board has supplied the following information in relation to the Board ‘s MANDATA project, which services the whole of the Public Service, and the Burroughs Data Centre, Fyshwick, A.C.T. which provides services to the Departments of Administrative Services, AttorneyGeneral and Trade and Resources, co-ordinated by the Board.

MANDATA Project

None of the information stored on the B7700 or NCR 8200 ‘s is intended to be sold, hired, lent or given to other than the authorised users described in part 6 of Question No. 2204.

Staff associations have been assured that statistical data based on the stored records will be made available to them under the same terms and conditions applied to information currently supplied.

Burroughs Data Centre

  1. 1 ) Department of Administrative Services:

    1. Electoral Data- The information that can be made available is that information which the Commonwealth Electoral Act requires persons eligible to enrol, to supply.
    2. Property Data- The data stored on the computer relates to the management of the Government’s property portfolio and includes details of location, ownership, use, user, rental (expenditure and revenue) and improvements. Information is regarded as confidential and is not sold, hired or lent. Information is used by authorised officers of the Department in the pursuit of their duties and given to some other groups, under certain conditions.
    3. Parliamentarians’ Travel Data- Financial statements showing inter alia the costs of travel by Members of Parliament, families and staff are provided on a confidential basis to individual Members at six monthly intervals. This accords with a recommendation of the Remuneration Tribunal.

Attorney-General ‘s Department:

The data stored at the Fyshwick Data Centre is public information which is generally available in written form from offices of the Australian Government Publishing Service. Information cannot at this time be obtained directly through the Department’s system by other than properly authorised employees of Government or Parliamentary organisations.

Department of Trade and Resources:

The Department of Trade and Resources provides the following categories of information:

  1. Trade economic statistics obtained from the UN and GATT Secretariat
  2. Non-confidential trade economic statistics relating to Australian trade
  3. Non-confidential summary or extract trade economic statistics
  4. Full firms ‘details
  5. Publicly available firms ‘information (a subset of iv)

  6. Text of correspondence with firms

    1. Department of Administrative Services:
  7. Electoral Data- (i) The Commonwealth Electoral Act requires that the Rolls which are produced from the information stored on the computer are available for inspection and are available for sale. The Australian Electoral Office complies with those requirements.

  8. Where an arrangement regarding the keeping of Joint Commonwealth and State Electoral Rolls exists, die information is available for official Commonwealth and State purposes. Where no such agreement exists, the information is available for official Commonwealth purposes.

    1. Property Data- Information can be given to:

User departments for the particular properties which they occupy

The Parliament, in response to questions raised in the House of Representatives or the Senate by Members, Senators and Committees (such as the Senate Estimates Committee, Standing Committees or the Public Accounts Committee). Even in the latter case, the confidentiality of the information provided in the fully detailed printout was observed.

Some departments which have an overall role to play in the Service which requires the provision of limited information regarding property. These include:

Department of Construction ( Maintenance Authority)

Public Service Board (Oversight of locational aspects of Australian Government Employment)

  1. Parliamentarians’ Travel Data- Please refer to the response to part1 of this question.

Attorney-General ‘s Department

Please refer to the response to part 1 of this question.

Department of Trade and Resources:

  1. The Department of Trade and Resources does not sell, hire or lend information. Within the constraints of departmental resources, easily accessible non-confidential material is provided free of charge to interested enquirers. Where an international obligation exists non-confidential information may be sent to overseas bodies. Other information is compiled in booklets and sold at a price which covers printing costs. More detailed information may be provided on request The cost of computer processing to provide information may be recovered from the department or body which requested it

    1. Firms’ information is provided to the Department of Industry and Commerce on request by an authorised officer of that department.
    2. Non-confidential information is provided to other departments and authorities on request by an authorised officer, and subject to the departmental resource constraints.
    3. Non-confidential firms’ information may be provided to other organisations for specific purposes on request, subject to departmental resource constraints. Such information is provided where there is a likely benefit to Australian trading performance.
    4. Department of Administrative Services:
    5. Electoral Data- The occasions on which information has been provided in the circumstances described in the answer to part 2 of this question cannot be enumerated in other than general terms. For example, each time the Rolls are printed, copies are available for sale and are sold during the period between re-prints. Furthermore, where the information is required for official purposes as described above, it is available for those purposes.
    6. Property Data- Information is provided to the Parliament as required, to the Public Service Board annually and to the Department of Construction when required to keep their records up to date.
    7. Parliamentarians’ Travel Data- Please refer to the response to pan 1 of this question.

Attorney-General ‘s Department:

Computerised research on public legal information has been performed by the Attorney-General’s Department on behalf of a number of Commonwealth Government and Parliamentary organisations. The results of such research have been given to the requesting bodies.

Department of Trade and Resources:

  1. Annual issues of trade economic statistics obtained from the UN and GATT Secretariat are provided to the Industries Assistance Commission.
  2. Non-confidential trade economic statistics relating to Australian trade are routinely provided to:

Department of Industry and Commerce

Department of Special Trade Representative

Industries Assistance Commission

Australian Bureau of Statistics

Department of Business and Consumer Affairs

GATT Secretariat ( annually)

  1. Non-confidential summary or extract trade economic statistics appear frequently in departmental publications.
  2. Non-confidential information is supplied on an ad hoc basis in response to enquiries by Parliamentarians, the press and other individuals.
  3. Full firms’ details are provided routinely to the Department of Industry and Commerce. These details are collected from firms by regional office staff jointly serving both Departments.
  4. Publicly available firms’ information (names, addresses, product range) have been made available from time to time to:

Department of Productivity

Department of Business and Consumer Affairs

Qantas

Industrial Design Council of New South Wales Australia- Japan Foundation

  1. Full firms’ details are provided routinely to the individual respondent firms, for verification of information.
  2. The text of correspondence is forwarded to the relevant addresses.

Department of Business and Consumer Affairs: Computers (Question No. 2257)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs, upon notice, on 27 September 1978:

  1. 1 ) In respect of each computer owned or operated by his Department and statutory authorities and business undertakings under his control, what information stored therein can be sold, hired, lent or given to any person or organisation other than properly authorised employees of his Department, authority or business.
  2. Under what circumstances can this information be (a) sold, (b) hired, (c) lent or (d) given.
  3. On what occasions, and to whom, has any information been sold, hired, lent or given in the past.
Mr Fife:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question, which should be read in conjunction with my answer to Question No. 2227, is as follows:

Department of Business and Consumer Affairs

  1. to (3) Information stored on the Department’s computers falls into one of three distinct categories:

Category 1 -information owned by the Department and processed by systems owned by the Department.

Category 2- information owned by other organisations and processed by systems owned by the Department.

Category 3- information owned by other organisations and processed by systems owned by other organisations.

The following Category 1 information is made available to persons or organisations outside the DepartmentCentral Computer 1

Statistical information from customs import entries is given to the Australian Bureau of Statistics daily;

Information required to create customs entries (e.g. tariff rates) is available on demand to customs agents and importers who use the COMPILE system. COMPILE users pay a fee for each dutiable entry created;

Air passenger movement information is given to the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs daily.

Central Computer 2

A reference list of Australian manufacturers is available to the general public at a cost of $ 12 per set per annum.

Central Computer 3

Nil.

Minicomputers

Nil.

Information in the other categories is processed by the Department on a service bureau basis only.

Industries Assistance Commission

  1. to (3) Information held by the Industries Assistance Commission in the CSIRONET system is available to other than Commission personnel as follows:

    1. Economic information obtained from the Australian Bureau of Statistics is available to other Departments and agencies, subject to the approval of the ABS.
    2. Information used to construct the econometric models of the IMPACT project and analytical outputs from these models are available without restriction to the Commonwealth agencies participating in the project, and are available on request to other Commonwealth agencies. In addition, nonconfidential information and analyses may be released to other organisations subject to agreement by the participating agencies and reimbursement of the full costs involved.

Energy Research Funding (Question No. 2272)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for National Development, upon notice, on 27 September 1978:

  1. 1 ) What technical sub-committees have been established to assess submissions for energy research funding.
  2. Who are the members of each of these subcommittees.
Mr Newman:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

The Technical Standing Committees that have been established to assess submissions for energy research, development and demonstration funding and their respective members are as follows:

page 3483

NERDDC TECHNICAL STANDING COMMITTEES

Technology of Fossil Fuel Resource Assessment

Chairman: Mr R. C. Sprigg, Technical Director, Beach Petroleum N.L., Vic.

Members: Mr K. A. Richards, Director, Esso Australia Ltd, NSW; Mr G. Rose, Assistant Under-Secretary (Technical), Department of Mines, NSW; Dr C. T. McElroy, Partner, McElroy, Bryan and Associates Pty Ltd, NSW; Professor Emeritus I. McC. Stewart, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Newcastle, NSW; Dr G. H. Taylor, OIC Fuel Geoscience Unit, CSIRO, NSW.

Coal Mine Site Technology

Chairman: Mr I. E. Newnham, M.B.E., Director, Mineral Research Laboratories, CSIRO, Vic.

Members: Mr E. Davies, Project Manager- Mt Thorley, R. W. Miller & Co. Pty Ltd, NSW; Mr K. J. Figgis, Manager, BHP Central Research Laboratories, NSW; Dr C. M. Gerrard, Acting Chief, Division of Applied Geomechanics, CSIRO, Vic; Mr T. A. Isokangas, Chief Mining EngineerSurface, Utah Development Company, Qld; Mr O. Richards, Director of Mining Research, Australian Coal Industry Research Laboratories, NSW; Mr M. J. Smith, General Manager, Newcastle Wallsend Coal Pty Ltd, NSW.

Technology of Coal Utilisation

Chairman: Dr R. G. Ward, General Manager, Research and New Technology, BHP Co. Ltd, Vic.

Members: Mr V. E. Baker, Chief Engineer (System Planning), State Electricity Commission, Qld; Mr G. E. Edwards, Manager Marketing (Technical), Coal and Allied Industries Ltd, NSW; Mr P. J. Laver, Manager, Coke and Sinter, Australian Iron and Steel, NSW; Mr R. W. Urie, Manager, Research and Development, State Electricity Commission, Vic; Mr F. H. Walker, Chief Control Chemist, Electricity Commission, NSW; Dr T. F. Wall, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Newcastle, NSW.

Technology of Synthetic Fuels

Chairman: Dr D. D. Brown, Deputy General Manager, CSRLtd,NSW.

Members: Mr J. F. Cudmore, Chief Research Scientist, Australian Coal Industry Research Laboratories, NSW: Mr R. S. Higgins, Principal Fuel Technologist, State Electricity

Commission, Victoria; Mr J. E. Kolm, Technical and Research Director, ICI Australia Ltd, Victoria; Mr D. E. Roney, Senior Principal Research Scientist, Division of Mineral Chemistry, CSIRO, Victoria; Dr N. White, Principal Research Officer, BHP Co. Ltd, Victoria.

Solar-Thermal, Conservation and Magneto Hydrodynamics

Chairman: Professor C. N. Watson-Munro, O.B.E., Wills Professor of Plasma Physics, University of Sydney, NSW.

Members: Professor H. K. Messerle, Head, School of Electrical Engineering, University of Sydney, NSW; Mr R. N. Morse, Chairman, Victorian Solar Energy Research Committee, Victoria; Mr D. W. Saunders, Manager, Resources and Planning, State Energy Commission, WA; Dr W. J. McG. Tegart, Manager, BHP Melbourne Research Laboratories, Victoria.

Technology of Nuclear Energy

Chairman: Professor Emeritus S. T. Butler, Director, Research Establishment, Australian Atomic Energy Commission, NSW.

Members: Professor M. H. Brennan, School of Physical Sciences, Flinders University, SA; Mr J. N. Ellis ton, General Manager-Exploration, Peko-Wallsend Ltd, NSW; Mr J. E. Hayes, Chief Engineer, Burmot Aust Ltd, WA; Dr J. L. Symonds, Chief Scientist, Power and Energy, Australian Atomic Energy Commission, NSW.

Solar-Electric, Hydrogen, Transportation, Batteries and Environment

Chairman: Professor L. E. Lyons, Professor of Physical Chemistry, University of Queensland, Queensland.

Members: Dr G. de V. Gipps, Research Manager, Philips Industries Holdings Ltd, NSW; Mr D. Gosden, Division of Science and Technology, Tasmanian College of Advanced Education, Tasmania; Dr M. A. Green, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of New South Wales, NSW; Dr D. F. A. Koch, Chief, Division of Mineral Chemistry, CSIRO, Victoria; Professor R. E. Luxton, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Adelaide, SA.

Nuclear Fuel Cycle Research (Question No. 2274)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for National Development, upon notice, on 27 September 1978:

  1. 1 ) Is he able to say why information on staff numbers involved in nuclear fuel cycle research are not made public by overseas organisations.
  2. Why does he refuse to disclose staff numbers working on aspects of nuclear fuel cycle research at the AAEC.
Mr Newman:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. and (2) The identification of the number of people engaged on particular aspects of nuclear fuel cycle research is of potential commercial value.

National Energy Advisory Committee and the National Energy Research Development and Demonstration Council (Question No. 2386)

Mr Jacobi:

asked the Minister for National Development, upon notice, on 28 September 1978:

  1. 1 ) What was the operating cost of the National Energy Advisory Committee during 1977-78 and what components made up this cost
  2. ) What is the estimated cost for 1 978-79.
  3. What is the estimated cost in 1978-79 for the National Energy Research Development and Demonstration Council and what are the components of this cost.
Mr Newman:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

Education Expenditure (Question No. 2535)

Mr Willis:
GELLIBRAND, VICTORIA

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Education, upon notice, on 18 October 1978:

What has been the real level of (a) total public expenditure and (b) Commonwealth Government expenditure on education ona 1974-75 basis for each year since 1974-75.

Mr Staley:
LP

– The Minister for Education has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

Alternative Energy: Projects and Research (Question No. 2559)

Mr Les Johnson:
HUGHES, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

asked the Minister for National Development, upon notice, on 18 October 1978:

Further to his answer to question No. 21 (Hansard, 21 September 1978, page 1336), (a) why is it not possible to give details of Australian Government funded resource projects in the field of alternative energy sources and (b) what sums have been expended on research into alternative energy sources during each year from 1 966 to 1 978.

Mr Newman:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. Comprehensive information on Australian Government funding of resource projects in the field of alternative energy sources is not readily available and sources such as the Project Score survey of research and development in Australia, conducted by the Department of Science, do not categorize the fields of endeavour in sufficient detail to identify all funds allocated to alternative energy sources.
  2. Comprehensive data on national expenditure on research into alternative energy sources prior to the financial year 1976-77 are not available for the reasons outlined above. Preliminary results of the 1976-77 national survey of energy research and development indicate that $4.06 millions were expended on alternative energy research and development. Due to limitations on the accuracy of the survey, this figure is indicative rather than definitive and completely comprehensive. Figures for subsequent years are not yet available.

Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence Report: The Middle East-Focal Point of Conflict (Question No. 2364)

Mr Jacobi:

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 18 October 1978:

When will he be reporting to the Parliament on the action that the Government has taken and proposes to take in accordance with the Prime Minister’s direction of 25 May 1978 in relation to the report tabled in June 1977 by the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence on The Middle East- Focal point of conflict.

Mr Peacock:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

The Department of Foreign Affairs, in consultation with the Departments of Defence, Prime Minister and Cabinet, Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, Trade and Resources, National Development, and Education, has given detailed consideration to the Joint Committee’s report and its recommendations. A submission to the Government has been prepared and it will be considered at the earliest possible opportunity.

Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Question No. 2567)

Mr Jacobi:

asked the Minister for National Development, upon notice, on 1 8 October 1978:

  1. 1 ) Has his attention been drawn to a report in the Age of 1 1 October 1 978, where the Kuwaiti Oil Minister Ali Khalifa Al-Sabah, is reported as saying that industrialised countries were discouraging and obstructing OPEC countries from participating in the making of finished petroleum products and that officials of OPEC countries threatened to cut oil supplies to industrialised nations unless they helped OPEC countries develop refining capacity and share world markets.
  2. If so, have the major oil companies acted in the best interests of the OPEC countries.
  3. Will these same oil companies act in Australia’s best interests as far as refining is concerned, as was stated in his press release of 1 June 1978.
  4. Does the Government accept the recommendations of the 5th Report of the Petroleum Royal Commission that Australia should maintain self-sufficiency in refining capacity. If so, what action has the Government taken to ensure this goal is met If not, why not.
Mr Newman:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. Yes.
  2. This is not a matter within my portfolio of responsibilities.
  3. and (4) See answer to Question 2545 (Hansard, 15 November 1978, page 2878).

Oil Industry (Question No. 2623)

Mr Jacobi:

asked the Minister for National Development, upon notice, on 25 October 1978:

  1. 1 ) Has his attention been drawn to a report in the Weekend Australian of 14 October 1978 where a spokesman for Caltex Oil (Aust.) Pty Ltd is reported as saying that apart from 1 1 inquiries, the oil industry has been subjected to 7 Royal Commissions since 1973.
  2. If so, (a) who conducted the 18 inquiries or commissions referred to, (b) what was the nature of the inquiries or commissions and (c) when were the results of these studies (i) given to the Government and (ii) released to the public.
  3. Has his attention also been drawn to reported statements by the spokesman for Caltex that the company wanted the whole question of oil prices taken away from the Prices Justification Tribunal and placed in the hands of his Department.
  4. Is the pressure applied by oil companies the reason for the Government’s intended alteration of the operation of the PJT.
  5. When will the Government acquiesce to the oil companies and place oil price decisions with his Department.
  6. What aspects of the oil industry does his Department monitor, as reportedly claimed by the Caltex spokesman, and how many staff are involved in this work.
  7. If his Department monitors the activities of oil companies as claimed by the Caltex spokesman, why did he say m answer to my question No. 621 (Hansard, 12 September 1978, page 986) that detailed information concerning fuel oil sales of individual companies is not available to the Government.
  8. What statistics affecting the oil industry are kept by his Department and what is the source of these statistics.
Mr Newman:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. Yes.
  2. The Royal Commission on Petroleum, established in 1973, made 6 reports on various elements of the petroleum industry. Each of these reports was tabled in Parliament. There was in addition the New South Wales ‘Botany Bay Port and Environmental Enquiry’. I understand that the other enquiries referred to were by the Prices Justification Tribunal.
  3. , (4) and (5) See the statement made in the House by my colleague the Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs on 18 October 1978.
  4. Under a long standing arrangement the oil companies provide the Department with data relating to crude oil production, refinery processing and general information on the distribution of products. The Branch primarily concerned with these matters is the Processing and Distribution Branch of the Oil and Gas Division. It presently has an establishment of 2 1 officers.
  5. Detailed information of the kind sought in Question No. 621 (which related to individual customers of oil companies) is not included in the data provided by companies.
  6. See (6) above. Relevant statistics are published biannually in Petroleum Statistics and biennially in the publication Demand for Primary Fuels.

Government Advertising (Question No. 2786)

Mr Les Johnson:
HUGHES, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Administrative Services, upon notice, on IS November 1978:

  1. What sum for advertising and services was spent on behalf of all Departments by the Government advertising service during 1976-77 and the periods (a) 11 November 1975 to 30 June 1976 and (b) 1 July 1977 to date.
  2. What total sums were paid to each advertising agency and consultants used by the service during the same periods.
Mr Street:
LP

– The Minister for Administrative Services has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

  1. 1 ) and (2) The Australian Government Advertising Service makes no payments for advertising and related services on behalf of Commonwealth departments or authorities.

All such payments to advertising agencies, including amounts to be paid by those agencies to production houses and the media are made by the departments and authorities themselves.

Information relating to these payments during the periods in question has already been provided by Ministers in response to a series of Questions upon Notice asked by the honourable member during February of this year.

Alleged Behaviour of Minister (Question No. 2799)

Mr Humphreys:
GRIFFITH, QUEENSLAND

asked the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 16 November 1978:

Further to his reply to question No. 2487 (Hansard, 9 November 1978, page 2694) in which he stated that he had no knowledge of a report in the National Times of 1 October 1978 that a major airline had complained about the behaviour of a much travelled Liberal Minister during his frequent flights overseas and whose attitude was described as loud and abusive, now that his attention has been drawn to the report, will he make inquiries as to the identity of the Minister referred to and inform the House.

Mr Malcolm Fraser:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

I know of no such complaint

Review of Australia’s International Civil Aviation Policy (Question No. 2856)

Mr Morris:

asked the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 16 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Did his Department make a submission to the Review of Australia ‘s International Civil Aviation Policy.
  2. If so, (a) what was the substance of the submission and (b) will he release it for the benefit of the Parliament.
Mr Malcolm Fraser:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. and (2) No.

Circulation of Documents (Question No. 1568)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 1 S August 1 978:

Are there any circumstances under which the Chief Officer in any Austraiian Government Department would be entitled to direct that any document in his particular Department or any fact known to his Department be withheld from the Executive Councillor for the time being holding the Governor-General’s Commission to administer that Department

Mr Malcolm Fraser:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

A Minister may require production of papers in the custody of his Department which are relevant to his responsibilities for administration of that Department However, by convention, followed by successive governments, Ministers do not normally seek to examine the records of a previous government nor ask officials to disclose the details of a previous Minister’s administration. On any particular matter requiring decision by a Minister, officials have a responsibility to ensure that the Minister has or is aware of all the relevant facts and background in respect of the matter in question.

Public Servants Exercising Discretionary Powers (Question No. 1623)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister, upon notice, on IS August 1978:

Does the Public Service Board require that public servants exercising discretionary powers to observe the common law principle that decisions shall not be made (a) for ulterior or extraneous motives or (b) contrary to a decision likely to be made by an honest person acting bona fide.

Mr Viner:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

Public servants exercising discretionary powers are, of course, bound to exercise those powers in accordance with any applicable statutory and common law rules, including principles of natural justice. Where a member of the public is dissatisfied with the action taken by a public servant including a decision made by him procedures are available for the independent review of that action- see, for example, section 1 5 of the Ombudsman Act 1 976.

Tendering Procedures (Question No. 1651)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Prime Minister, upon notice, on IS August 1978:

Will he allow a joint select committee of the Parliament to study and report upon the desirability of changing the present tendering system to provide for a procedure of public opening of tender boxes at the hour on which tenders for Government contracts close, providing an unsuccessful tenderer with a right of appeal to an independent tribunal and the payment of a deposit which would be forfeited in the event of a tenderer withdrawing.

Mr Malcolm Fraser:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

Whilst information which might be provided at a public opening of tenders could be of some interest to tenderers, where requirements are of some complexity or the tender calls for minimum performance standards in a requirement, little would be gained because the tenders require detailed evaluation in order to determine which tenders comply with the specifications and which tender represents the best value for money.

It is considered that in regard to public access to information on purchases and fairness to tenderers, Commonwealth procedures compare favourably with those of other countries.

Unsuccessful tenderers currently have the right of appeal to the Minister concerned and if an independent review is required they may appeal to the Commonwealth Ombudsman.

It is considered, on balance, that whilst public opening of tenders could be expected to add to administrative costs, no commensurate benefits can readily be demonstrated.

The practice of seeking deposits with tenders is now applied only in respect of special categories of tendering, principally in the construction field. The practice of specifying such deposits adds to the cost of the tender and if applied widely, may well discourage some tenderers thereby reducing competition to supply Commonwealth requirements.

In the circumstances, I would not see any benefit in a joint select committee of the Parliament being established to study and report on the matters raised by the honourable member.

Department of Social Security: Contracts (Question Na 1782)

Mr HOLDING:
MELBOURNE PORTS, VICTORIA · ALP

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Social Security, upon notice, on 22 August 1978:

  1. 1 ) How many contracts entered into by Departments and Statutory Corporations under the Minister’s control for the purchase of equipment contained clauses specifying an offset arrangement with the vendor for the purchase of Australian manufactured goods, components and/or technology during the last 10 years?
  2. What were those contracts?
  3. What was the sum involved in each offset clause and what were the terms of its discharge?
  4. What is the extent to which the terms of these clauses have been implemented specifying in each case the monetary value of the implementation?
  5. What sum is currently available under these clauses for the purchase of relevant Australian manufactured goods, components and/or technology?
Mr Hunt:
NCP/NP

-The Minister for Social Security has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

  1. 1 ) to (5) As the response to the question is quite lengthy I refer the honourable member to the information provided in the Minister for Productivity’s answer to Question No. 1794 which appeared in House of Representatives Hansard, 23 November 1978, page 3351.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (Queensland Discriminatory Laws) Act (Question No. 1951)

Dr Everingham:

asked the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, upon notice, on 14 September 1978:

  1. 1 ) What is the extent of compliance with the provisions of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders ( Queensland Discriminatory Laws) Act 1975 that an Aboriginal or Islander shall not be convicted of an offence by a court established for a Reserve unless the Aboriginal or Islander, if convicted of the offence, would have the same right or rights of appeal against, or review of, the conviction as he would have if a Magistrates Court established under the law of Queensland had jurisdiction with respect to the offence and he were convicted of the offence by the Magistrates Court.
  2. If he agrees with the view of the National Population Inquiry that failure to collect data which will reveal the extent of discrimination or unequal status based on race will in all probability merely allow inequalities to continue unchecked, especially since those responsible can then deny that the inequalities exist, what action has he taken to have Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders separately identified from non-Aboriginals in imprisonment censuses in Queensland as already is done in New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia, and in court statistics in Queensland as already is done in Western Australia (Hansard, 13 October 1977, page 2054).
Mr Viner:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. Section 9(2) of the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders (Queensland Discriminatory Laws) Act 1975 provides a basis for any Aboriginal or Islander convicted of an offence by an Aboriginal or Island court to seek through the Courts to have his conviction set aside. The Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Legal Service is able to advise Aboriginals and Islanders wishing to appeal against convictions. The Service has advised that to date no action has been instituted on the basis of the provisions of Section 9 (2) of the Act.

As a matter of law, courts in Queensland must apply the provisions of the Act coming before them.

  1. The desirability of separately identifying Aboriginals in criminal justice statistics has been raised by the AttorneyGeneral with State Attorneys-General. The matter is being kept under review.

Public Service Working Hours (Question No. 1970)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 14 September 1978:

  1. Are Second Division Officers and Third Division Officers above Class 8 required to furnish a record showing the times they start and finish duty each day.
  2. What arrangements operate to ensure that flextime is not abused in such a way as to leave divisions and sections of departments unmanned for periods during normal business hours.
Mr Viner:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. I refer the honourable member to Public Service Regulation 11 relating to the recording of attendance by officers and employees.

Where an officer or an employee seeks and is granted permission to work under a flexible working hours system, the standard flexible hours attendance record form used in the department should be maintained by the officer or employee.

  1. The Public Service Board has advised that it is the responsibility of individual departmental managements to ensure that the operation of flexible working hours does not impair efficiency and standards of service.

It is a prior condition for the approval of flexible working hours schemes that operational efficiency is maintained. Once introduced, schemes require continued careful attention by departmental managements.

I might add that the Public Service Board is currently undertaking a detailed review of departmental practices associated with the administration of flextime.

Family Law Matters: Queensland (Question No. 2086)

Mr Hodges:
PETRIE, QUEENSLAND

asked the Minister representing the Attorney-General, upon notice, on 19 September 1978:

  1. 1 ) Has the Queensland Government still refused to give the Federal Government full authority over family law matters such as custody, guardianship and maintenance as was reported in the Courier Mail of 10 April 1978.
  2. Has there been any discussion with the Queensland Law Society on this matter; if so, what has been their attitude to the proposed changes.
  3. 3 ) What States have agreed to the changes.
Mr Viner:
LP

-The Attorney-General has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

  1. 1 ) and (3) See my answers to questions without notice in the Senate from Senator Missen on 10 April and IS November 1978 (Hansard, pages 103 1 and 20 12).

  2. In a letter dated 21 September 1977 to the SecretaryGeneral of the Law Council of Australia, who forwarded it to me for my information, the Queensland Law Society indicated that it was the view of the Council of the Society-

    1. that it was desirable to request the States to refer constitutional power to the Commonwealth to deal with those matters presently outside of the ambit of the Family Law Act; and
    2. that it was not desirable for the control of Family Courts to pass from the Commonwealth to the States.

Mining Applications in the Northern Territory (Question No. 2138)

Dr Everingham:

asked the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, upon notice, on 20 September 1978:

  1. 1) Is he able to say whether 31 applications for rnining interests involving vacant Crown land have been granted in the Northern Territory since the freeze on further land alienations was unofficially lifted on 1 July 1978.
  2. Was the Northern Land Council informed of this unofficial lifting of the freeze only after it had occurred.
  3. Does this in effect remove the protection envisaged by the freeze for a large number of possible Aboriginal land claims.
  4. Has either Land Council notified him, or the Aboriginal Land Commissioner, that it would be impracticable for them with their existing resources to do the research necessary to prepare individual claims for every piece of vacant Crown land in the immediate future.
Mr Viner:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. I am advised that the following applications for rnining interests involving vacant Crown land in the Northem Territory were granted between 1 July and 30 September 1978: 242 mining leases; 1 mineral claim; 17 exploration licences.
  2. The Northern Land Council was informed by the Chief Minister in a letter dated 24 August 1978 that the freeze had been lifted.
  3. No. The issue of an exploration licence or rnining interest has no effect on the lodgement of land claims as, under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act, the issue of such a licence or interest does not constitute an alienation of the land.
  4. I have not had such notification from Land Councils.

Parliament House (Question No. 2391)

Mr Scholes:

asked the Minister for the Capital Territory, upon notice, on 28 September 1978:

  1. Has the National Capital Development Commission carried out a survey of the structural condition of Parliament House.
  2. Have estimates been prepared of the practicability and cost of making substantial internal changes to the building.
  3. Has an investigation been made of the alterations necessary to enable effective security arrangements to be implemented.
  4. Will he make available to the Parliament details of any studies.
Mr Ellicott:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows: ( 1), (2), (3) and (4) I am advised by the National Capital Development Commission that various surveys and investigations of the structural condition, internal layout and security of the present Parliament House have been carried out by the National Capital Development Commission and the Department of Construction in the past The results of the most recent investigations of accommodation in the present building and alterations to improve security will now need to be reviewed in the light of the Government’s decision to proceed with the design and construction of a new Parliament House and to restrain expenditure of funds on the present building.

Public Servants: Unsupervised Hours of Duty (Question No. 2443)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 11 October 1978:

  1. Has his attention been drawn to the fact that certain public servants present themselves for work early and receive payment of wages while they read newspapers, make personal telephone calls and generally wile away their time until their supervisors come on duty.
  2. If so, will he consider the advisability of issuing a directive that will put an end to this unsupervised expenditure of public funds.
  3. Does he see merit in the installation of some effective mechanical means of recording the starting and finishing times of public servants.
Mr Viner:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) and (2) It is the responsibility of permanent heads and supervisors at all levels of the Service to see that while on duty staff attend properly and conscientiously to the tasks they are employed to perform. The Public Service Act and Regulations set out and reinforce these responsibilities. I would expect that, where staff, for whatever reason, become less than diligent in attending to their duties, supervisors and managers in the Service would take appropriate action to correct the situation. As part of its detailed review of flextime and its spot checks in various departments, the Public Service Board is giving attention to the management aspects to see that abuses of the system do not occur.
  2. I am advised by the Public Service Board that the possible use of mechanical devices for recording attendance is among the matters to be considered in the course of the Board’s current detailed review of departmental practices associated with administration of flextime. The Board will be reporting on the outcome of that review.

Public Service Invalidity Provisions (Question No. 2502)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 12 October 1978:

  1. 1 ) Is it a fact that if a public servant is invalided out of the Public Service on medical grounds at, say, 59 years of age, he qualifies for a superannuation pension of 50 per cent of salary but receives only 45 per cent if he chooses to retire at 60 years of age and 50 per cent at 65 years of age.
  2. What is the incidence of public servants leaving the Public Service on medical grounds.
  3. What steps are taken to prevent public servants invalided out of the Public Service from taking other employment
Mr Malcolm Fraser:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. Yes, subject to the public servant concerned having sufficient qualifying years of contributory membership of the scheme.
  2. 1,766 officers of the Australian Public Service retired on invalidity grounds in 1977. This is equivalent to an incidence of 1.47 per one hundred officers of the Service at June 1977.
  3. Section 74 of the Superannuation Act 1976 authorises the Commissioner for Superannuation to review the invalidity pension of pensioners who have not attained the age of 65 years. Any employment in which a pensioner has engaged is a matter that is taken into account in such a review.

Public Service: Flextime (Question No. 2504)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 12 October 1978:

Will he ask the Auditor-General to arrange for spot checks of all time sheets to be made at selected places of Australian Government employment in late afternoons to ascertain whether all employees have filled in their time sheets before leaving their places of employment

Mr Malcolm Fraser:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

The Acting Auditor-General has advised me that audit inspections of departmental records normally encompass a review of source documents relating to the payment of salaries and allowances, including evidence of staff attendance. As deemed appropriate, relevant comments would appear in a Report of the Auditor-General transmitted to the Parliament under the provisions of the Audit Act.

The Public Service Board is currently undertaking a detailed review of departmental practices associated with administration of flextime. I am advised that the review program has included provision for spot checks of the type suggested; and that the inspections being undertaken have regard to accuracy of recording attendance generally. The Board will be reporting to me on the outcome of its review.

I ask that the honourable member regard this information as also in further response to the question without notice which he addressed to me on the subject of flextime on 27 September 1978 (Hansard, page 1435).

Nuclear Safeguards (Question Na 2542)

Mr Jacobi:

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 1 8 October 1978:

  1. 1 ) In connection with the nuclear safeguards agreement between Australia and the Philippines signed on 8 August 1978, will Australian yellowcake attract full International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards at the time of shipment.
  2. ) What IAEA safeguards will apply to the production of hexafluoride from Australian yellowcake overseas.
  3. 3) What IAEA safeguards have been arranged for the enrichment of hexafluoride in the United States of America or elsewhere overseas.
Mr Peacock:
LP

– The answers to the honourable member’s questions are as follows:

  1. As the agreement makes clear, both the Philippines and Australia accept International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards on all nuclear material in all peaceful nuclear activities within their territory, under their jurisdiction or carried out under their control anywhere. The nature of the IAEA safeguards accepted by Australia and the Philippines as they apply to different forms of nuclear material are set out in IAEA document 1NFC1RC 153 (available in the Parliamentary Library) and require, in the case of yellowcake, notification to the IAEA of shipments and receipts of material
  2. and (3) Under the INFCIRC 153 safeguards system, the safeguards measures applied to uranium hexafluoride once it leaves the plant or process stage in which it has been produced, and enriched uranium produced from it, include physical inspection and measurement of holdings of nuclear material by IAEA inspectors to verify the materials accounts submitted to the IAEA. This system is required to be applied in all non-nuclear weapon states party to the Nuclear NonProliferation Treaty (NPT). In addition three nuclear weapon states- the United States, Britain and France- have signed safeguards agreements with the IAEA, although the agreements with the United States and France have yet to enter into force.

Mining and Aboriginals (Question No. 2563)

Mr Calder:
NORTHERN TERRITORY

asked the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, upon notice, on 18 October 1978:

  1. What is the (a) definition and (b) status of Aboriginal traditional land-owners,
  2. What is the (a) definition and (b) status of a custodian.
  3. How many traditional landowners are there for (a) Ranger lease area, (b) the Pancontinental lease area and (c) the Nabarlek area, and what are their names.
  4. How many traditional owners live in each of these areas.
  5. What is the estimated annual share of royalties that would accrue to traditional owners in each area.
  6. Are individual trusts to be established to receive these funds.
  7. For what purpose and for whose benefit can this money be used.
  8. What arrangements are envisaged to administer these trusts.
Mr Viner:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1) (a) The Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 contains the following definition: traditional Aboriginal owners’, in relation to land, means a local descent group of Aboriginals who-

    1. common spiritual affiliations to a site on the land, being affiliations that place the group under a primary spiritual responsibility for that site and for the land; and
    2. are entitled by Aboriginal tradition to forage as of right over that land.
    3. Under the Land Rights Act, a Land Council is required, in carrying out its functions in relation to a particular area of land, to have regard to the interests of, and to consult with, inter aiia, the traditional Aboriginal owners (if any) of the land, and in particular not to take any action unless the Land Council is satisfied that the traditional owners of the land understand the nature and purpose of the proposed action and as a group consent to it (see section 23(3)).

Specific provisions of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act provides that a Land Council shall not:

  1. give a direction for the grant, transfer or surrender of an estate or interest in land,
  2. give consent to the grant of a rnining interest, or

  3. give consent to the construction of a road, unless it is satisfied, inter alia, that the traditional owners (if any) of the land concerned understand the nature and purpose of the proposed action and consent to it (see Sections 19 (5), 48 (a) and 68 (2)). In addition, Land Councils are required to pay to the traditional owners concerned amounts equal to any payments in the nature of rents received in respect of particular areas of land (not including amounts received by Land Councils from Consolidated Revenue Fund equivalent to royalties received by the Crown in respect of rnining on Aboriginal land ).

    1. There is no definition of, or other reference to, a ‘custodian’ in the Aboriginal Land Rights Act The term has sometimes been used in various ways referring both to the traditional Aboriginal owners of sites and to other persons who have some traditional responsibilities in relation to sites.
    2. (a) and (b) The Second Report of the Ranger Uranium Environmental Inquiry indicated that evidence presented to the Inquiry showed that the Ranger rnining area and the Jabiluka mine sites were located within the boundary of the local descent group identified as the Mirarr Gundjeibmi and 24 persons were identified as members of this group. Their names are listed at page 28 1 of the Report

  4. I am informed by the Northern Land Council that four principal adult members of the local descent group in whose area the Nabarlek mine site lies have been identified for the purposes of consultation of rnining agreements. I do not have details of the total number of persons, including children, who are members of this group, but I am seeking the information and will inform the honourable member when I have it.

    1. I am advised that no traditional owners live in the Ranger or Pancontinental mining areas, and that approximately 14 traditional owners are living in the Nabarlek area.
    2. No share of royalties is payable to the traditional owners. The Aboriginal Land Rights Act requires, however, that the equivalent of 30 per cent of royalties be paid to Aboriginal Councils and to any incorporated Aboriginal communities or groups living in the area affected by the particular rnining operations (see Section 35 (2)). As indicated in the Second Report of the RUEI, there are some 800 Aboriginals resident in the Alligator Rivers Region, some 600 of whom live at or near Oenpelli
    3. , (7) and (8) It will be for the groups and communities concerned, in consultation with the Northern Land Council, to work out arrangements for handling any share of royalty income that may become payable in this way. Similarly, the use of the income payable to Councils, groups and communities is a matter for decision by the people concerned and no restrictions are imposed by the Aboriginal Land Rights Act. The Act does prescribe that 40 per cent of royalties are to be applied by Land Councils to meet their administrative costs (with any surplus being available for distribution to Aboriginal communities in their areas), and 30 per cent is available in the Aboriginals Benefit Trust Account to be applied as the Minister directs for the benefit of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory as a whole and to meet the expenses of administering the Fund itself.

Ranger Uranium Project (Question No. 2580)

Mr Uren:

asked the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, upon notice, on 18 October 1978:

  1. 1 ) When did negotiations commence between the Commonwealth Government and the Northern Land Council concerning the Ranger Uranium Project.
  2. What was the date and location of each round of negotiations.
  3. What were the names of (a) the participants and (b) observers on behalf of (i) the Commonwealth Government and (ii) the Northern Land Council at each round of negotiations.
Mr Viner:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. The Northern Land Council provided the Government with a first draft of the agreement on 13 October 1977. Detailed negotiations commenced on 8 May 1 978.
  2. 8-11 May 1978-Darwin; 16-17 May 1978-Darwin; 12-16 June 1978-Darwin; 3-5 July 1978-Brisbane; 31 July-4 August 1978-Darwin; 10-11 August 1978- Canberra; 24-25 August 1978-Darwin.

  3. (i) At each of the above rounds of negotiations Mr B. O “Donovan participated for the Commonwealth. Observers for the Commonwealth were as follows: 8-1 1 May-Mr I. Messner, Mr W. Gray, Dr J. Brooks, Mr C. Hill, Mr H. Jacka, Mr M. Farrell, Mr F. Dwyer, Mr K. Thompson, Mr R. Fry, Mr T. Richmond, Mr R. de Ferranti. 16-17 May- Prof. D. Ovington. 12-16 June-Mr I. Messner, Mr W. Gray, Dr J. Brooks, Mr H. Jacka, Mr J. Tysoe, Mr F. Dwyer, Mr R. de Ferranti, Prof. D. Ovington, Mr T. Richmond, Mr V. Kane, Mr F. Gibbons, Mr J. Carroll, Mr W. R. Watson. 3-5 July-Mr I. Messner, Mr W. Gray, Dr J. Brooks, Mr H. Jacka, Mr J. Tysoe, Mr F. Dwyer, Mr V. Kane, Mr T. Richmond, Mr J. Carroll, Mr R. Fry, Mr R. de Ferranti. 31 July-4 August-Mr I. Messner, Mr W. Gray, Dr J. Brooks, Mr H. Jacka, Mr F. Dwyer, Mr V. Kane, Mr R. Fry, Prof. D. Ovington, Mr J. Carroll. 10-1 1 August-Mr I. Messner, Mr W. Gray, Dr. J. Brooks, Mr H. Jacka, Mr F. Dwyer, Mr V. Kane, Mr J. Carroll, Mr F. Gibbons. 25-25 August-Mr I. Messner, Mr W. Gray, Dr J. Brooks, Mr H. Jacka, Mr F. Dwyer, Mr A. Harris.

    1. The Northern Land Council had no observers at the negotiations. On 24 and 25 August it was represented by the following:

Mr S. Zorn, Mr G. Yunupingu, Mr G. Blitner, Mr A. Bishaw, Mr S. McGill, Mr J. Cotton, Mr R. Fordimail, Mr L. Finlay, Mr L. Joshua, Mr R. Marika, Mr H. Wilson.

I do not have details of the people who represented the NLC at the earlier rounds of negotiations but the following persons attended all or some of the earlier rounds:

Mr S. Zorn, Mr G. Yunupingu, Mr G. Blitner, Mr A. Bishaw, Mr S. McGill, Mr J. Mowandjil, Mr D. Mulwagu, Mr T. Gangale, Mr M. Alderson, Mr J. Garadbul, Mr D. Arriu, Mr P. Parmbuk, Mr T. Nandjuk.

Maralinga: Ministerial Responsibility (Question No. 2628)

Mr Les Johnson:
HUGHES, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

asked the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 25 October 1 978:

  1. 1 ) Has his attention been drawn to the statement of the Minister for Defence that he was the custodian of the records relating to the Maralinga Tests and that is where his ministerial responsibilities started and ended.
  2. If so, which Minister has responsibility for (a) the maintenance of the area where waste is buried, (b) the disposal of any radioactive material at Maralinga and other areas such as Emu and Monte Bello and (c) taking the necessary steps to ensure that the full knowledge of the existence of the material is passed from Government to Government and from generation to generation.
Mr Malcolm Fraser:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  2. A number of Ministers share responsibility for different aspects of management of the Maralinga area. Primary responsibility for management of nuclear wastes and of former nuclear test sites rests with the Minister for National Development.

Mossman Gorge and Yarrabah Aboriginal Communities (Question No. 2686)

Or Everingham asked the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, upon notice, on 7 November 1 978:

1 ) Have the Mossman Gorge and Yarrabah communities applied for Commonwealth takeover of their reserves with a view to Aboriginal freehold and effective self-management, including control of expenditure, employment and housing; if so, what response has the Government made and when was it made.

Has the Queensland Government responded by threatening to move people out of Mossman Gorge settlement to Mossman township.

What plans has the Commonwealth Government to establish land councils in Queensland and Western Australia.

Mr Viner:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) In relation to Yarrabah see my answer to Question No. 2455. The Mossman Gorge community has submitted a petition which inter alia requests me to make a declaration under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Queensland Reserves and Communities Self-Management) Act 1978. The request for declaration is receiving consideration.
  2. No. Senator Keeffe has sent me a copy of a letter of 29 August from the Queensland Minister for Aboriginal and Island Affairs, Mr Charles Porter, who provided the following information on his Departmental policies in relation to the Gorge Reserve:

The Gorge Reserve was established in the first instance as a transitional situation for Aborigines wishing to eventually settle in either Mossman or the Cairns and Hinterland areas. Over a period, families who have displayed a wish and ability to cope with suburban responsibilities, have been provided with dwellings, as far as possible, in areas of their choice.

It is not the intention of my Department to expend vast sums of money on a re-housing program at the Gorge Reserve in view of the more advantageous alternatives available in the areas mentioned above. My Department will, however, maintain the Gorge Reserve to a reasonable standard with a view to phasing it out consistent with a respect for the wishes of those who elect to continue to occupy the premises they now have. ‘

  1. There are no proposals before the Commonwealth Government at the present time to establish land councils in Queensland and Western Australia.

East Timor: ‘D’ Notice (Question No. 2690)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 7 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Has a ‘D’ Notice restriction ever been invoked in relation to information concerning Indonesian action or actions in East Timor.
  2. If so, (a) when was it invoked, (b) to what action or actions did it relate and (c) by whom was it issued.
Mr Malcolm Fraser:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. No.
  2. See above.

I also refer the honourable member to the answer provided by me to his Question on Notice No. 1580 (see Hansard, 25 October 1978, page 2324)

Review of Australia’s International Civil Aviation Policy (Question No. 2864)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 16 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Did his Department make a submission to the Review of Australia ‘s International Civil Aviation Policy.
  2. ) If so, (a) what was the substance of the submission and ( b) will he release it for the benefit of the Parliament
Mr Peacock:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is:

  1. Yes, in the sense that the Department of Foreign Affairs was consulted by, and worked with, the Department of Transport on aspects of the International Civil Aviation Policy Review which had implications for Australia ‘s foreign relations.
  2. In tabling the report of the International Civil Aviation Policy Committee in Parliament on 1 1 October the Minister for Transport stated that editing of the report had been made only to protect confidential material supplied by commerical interests and to delete detailed comment relating to issues that impinge upon Australia’s relations with foreign countries. Apart from that qualification the Department’s views were reflected in the report

Review of Australia’s International Civil Aviation Policy (Question No. 2868)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, upon notice, on 16 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Did his Department make a submission to the Review of Australia “s International Civil Aviation Policy.
  2. If so, (a) what was the substance of the submission and ( b ) will he release it for the benefit of the Parliament.
Mr Viner:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. No.
  2. See answer to (1).

Concorde Aircraft (Question No. 2915)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, upon notice, on 2 1 November 1978:

  1. Under what circumstances are his (a) Departmental staff and (b) Ministerial staff authorised to travel on Concorde aircraft between the United States and the United Kingdom.
  2. What is the additional cost per journey.
  3. How many officers of his Department (a) sought approval, (b) were granted approval and (c) were refused approval to travel on Concorde aircraft during (i) 1976-77, (ii) 1977-78 and (iii) 1978-79 to date.
  4. How many officers from his Department or personal staff have travelled on Concorde aircraft without seeking approval.
Mr Viner:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 have not issued any authorisations for Departmental or personal staff to travel on Concorde aircraft between US and UK.
  2. I am not aware of the present cost per journey.
  3. (a) None, (b) None, (c) None.
  4. None.

High Court of Australia Building (Question No. 2934)

Mr Barry Jones:
LALOR, VICTORIA · ALP

asked the Minister for the Capital Territory, upon notice, on 2 1 November 1978:

  1. What is the projected cost of the construction of the new High Court Building in Canberra and what is the estimated date of completion.
  2. Is it a fact that costs have escalated since the building was commenced.
  3. If so, is a major reason for this escalation changes in design which have been initiated by the Chief Justice, Sir Garfield Barwick.
  4. What alterations in design have been recommended by the Chief Justice, and what is the estimated additional cost for each of them.
  5. With regard to the procedure followed when the Chief Justice’s recommendations are made, (a) to whom are they made, (b) are they subject to independent evaluation and, if so, by whom and (c) who authorises the alterations.
Mr Ellicott:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

I am informed by the National Capital Development Commission that:

As at June 1978 the estimated cost of the new High Court Building was $33.6m. The proposed completion date is 30 April 1980.

Yes. However, it was recognised from the outset that the design details would have to be progressively developed throughout the construction period, particularly in relation to the internal layout of the building and the internal finishes. Accordingly, the contract for the construction of the building contains provisional sums for those components not fully documented when tenders were called. These provisional sums are adjusted progressively as the details are finalised and the contract price varies accordingly. Increases have also occurred for other reasons, the most significant being for delays outside the contractor’s control (such as weather conditions, industrial disputes, unexpected underground conditions) and for rise and fall provisions in the contract which take account of variations to industrial awards and conditions.

No.

The development of the design has called for the closest collaboration between the architects, the builder, the National Capital Development Commission and the user, represented principally by the Chief Justice and the Attorney-General’s Department A great deal of reliance has been placed on the user in relation to the functional requirements for the High Court, and in this respect the contribution and continuing interest of the Chief Justice has been of outstanding value. The most significant adjustments to the internal design of the High Court Building have been:

Glazing, window cleaning and sun control ($1,000,000) to incorporate security requirements and acoustic treatment for functional purposes.

Provision of partitions to office areas ($600,000) because the initial design concept envisaged open plan office arrangement which subsequently has been demonstrated to be not functional.

Wall linings, floor coverings, ceilings ($650,000) in lieu of original concept which envisaged that the finish on internal walls would be primarily concrete; as the operations of the courts became more clearly understood by the designers it was agreed that the original concrete wall finishes would not produce a satisfactory internal environment. The courts and judge chambers will now be finished with timber panelling along traditional lines.

(a) The National Capital Development Commission.

The Project Architect evaluates all design proposals taking into account architectural efficiency and cost and then makes recommendations to the National Capital Development Commission.

The National Capital Development Commission.

Department of Social Security: Hansard Index (Question No. 3092)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Social Security, upon notice, on 24 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Does the Department of Social Security or any agency under the Minister’s control prepare an index of Hansard.
  2. ) What is the form of each index.
  3. ) How recent is each index.
  4. To what persons, Departments or agencies are the indices made available.
Mr Hunt:
NCP/NP

– The Minister for Social Security has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

  1. No. However, the Department of Social Security maintains an index of Questions on Notice and Questions Without Notice which are asked of the Minister and Minister representing the Minister where the questions relate to Social Security matters.
  2. The index consists of a listing by subject of questions asked.
  3. Current.
  4. Most officers of the Department have access to the index of questions but in practice it is only used by those concerned with preparing briefing material to answer Parliamentary Questions.

Legal Aid in Victoria

Mr Viner:
LP

-On 26 October 1978, the honourable member for Kingsford-Smith (Mr Lionel Bowen) asked me the following question, without notice:

Is the Minister aware that the funds for legal aid in Victoria are no longer available for any cases at all and that there is a backlog of some 2,400 cases awaiting assistance? Is the Minister also aware that there will be no legal aid for criminal representation in Victoria? In view of the parlous situation in which the people of Victoria find themselves, what does the Government propose to do about the matter?

The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

I draw the attention of the honourable member to my statement in the House on 26 October 1978 (Hansard, page 2413) concerning the steps that had been taken by the Attorney-General to eliminate the backlog of legal aid cases which had been approved by the Australian Legal Aid Office in Victoria and in the other States as of 25 October 1978, but which had not been able to be committed to the legal profession for attention.

I am informed by the Attorney-General that the November 1978 commitment allocation of $205,000 made to the Australian Legal Aid Office in Victoria will be sufficient to meet all applications for legal aid approved by the Office during that month.

Utah Company: Payment of Tas (Question Na 1919)

Mr James:
HUNTER, NEW SOUTH WALES

asked the Treasurer, upon notice, on 12 September 1978:

  1. Does the Double Taxation Agreement applicable to the Utah Company fix the income tax payable by that overseas investor to the Australian Government, on its $91m profit achieved during the last 6 months, at less than $ 1 Sm.
  2. Are Australian taxpayers, both investors and others, required to pay the Australian Government income tax of between $33m and $50m on an annual income of $9 1 m.
  3. Are American, Japanese and other overseas owned companies being treated generously compared with Australian companies; if so, is this making it difficult for competing Australian companies to survive.
Mr Howard:
Treasurer · BENNELONG, NEW SOUTH WALES · LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s queston is as follows:

  1. I am unable to answer the honourable member’s specific question regarding the taxation affairs of the Utah Company because the secrecy provisions of the income tax law do not permit the Commissioner of Taxation to divulge such information to me. Speaking generally, however, the amount of Australian tax payable in respect of the Australian business profits of a foreign-owned company that produced a taxable income here of $91m would, assuming legislation now before the House is enacted, depend on whether the Australian business is carried on through a subsidiary company or through a branch. In either case, primary Australian company tax of $41. 86m would be payable on the taxable income. In the case in which the business is carried on through a subsidiary company, however, dividends withholding tax at the rate of 15 per cent would be payable on dividends declared to the overseas parent company, if resident in a country with which Australia has a double taxation agreement, or 30 per cent if resident in a country with which Australia has no such agreement. The amount of withholding tax would depend on the amount of profits distributed out of profits remaining after payment of primary company tax. In the case in which the business is carried on through a branch, the ‘branch profits tax’ legislation currently being considered by the Parliament would, in broad terms, impose additional tax of 5 per cent on the taxable income of $91 m, in lieu of dividend withholding tax. In each case, of course, further tax would generally be payable in the home country of the parent or other shareholder.
  2. Primary company tax of $41. 86m would also be payable on a taxable income of $91 in derived by an Australian resident company. To the extent that the company distributed profits remaining after the payment of this tax to personal (i.e., non-corporate and non-exempt) shareholders resident in Australia, tax would also be payable on the dividends received by the shareholders at a rate determined by reference to the taxable income of each. (3)I know of nothing to suggest that, when the aggregate tax liabilities I have spoken of are compared, there is any bias in favour of overseas owned companies.

Imports: Letter of Credit (Question No. 1968)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Treasurer upon notice, on 14 September

Is it desirable that the Government and/or the Reserve Bank be supplied with figures which enable it or the Bank to calculate the total amount of letters of credit established for import transactions current at the end of each month.

Mr Howard:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

The Reserve Bank obtains from the trading banks statistics of all documentary letters of credit established by them each month. Figures for letters of credit outstanding at the end of each month are not collected because this would involve extra costs which are likely to exceed the expected benefits.

Imports: Letters of Credit (Question No. 1969)

MrClyde Cameron asked the Treasurer upon notice, on 14 September 1978:

What are the relevant areas of Government which are supplied with (a) the amount of letters of credit established each month for import transactions and (b) the total amount of these letters current each month.

Mr Howard:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. The Reserve Bank supplies the aggregate statistics of documentary letters of credit established by major trading banks to the Treasury, the Department of Overseas Trade and Resources and the Australian Bureau of Statistics each month as soon as the figures are available.
  2. b) These figures are not collected.

Employment Relocation Assistance Scheme (Question No. 2084)

Mr Hodges:

asked the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, upon notice, on 19 September 1978:

  1. Further to his answer to question No. 1387 (Hansard, 26 October 1977, page 2469) how many persons have been relocated in employment under the relocation assistance scheme in each State since its inception in 1 976.
  2. What has been the total sum of allowances paid to these persons.
  3. How many persons have been relocated (a) from different areas within Queensland and (b) from outside Queensland since August 1977.
Mr Street:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. The numbers of persons relocated to employment in each State from 1 October 1976 to 30 June 1978 (the latest detailed figures available) are:
  1. The total amount of relocation allowances paid to 30 June 1978 is $987,153.
  2. Of the 112 persons relocated in Queensland between end-August 1977 and end-June 1978, 88 persons were relocated from different areas within Queensland and 24 from outside Queensland.

Foreign Company Takeovers of Australian Companies (Question No. 2085)

Mr Hodges:

asked the Treasurer upon notice, on 19 September 1978:

  1. Since the Foreign Takeovers Act was introduced in 1976, how many times has the Commonwealth Government intervened to block foreign company takeovers of Australian companies.
  2. What were (a) the names of the companies involved and (b) the dates when the Commonwealth intervened.
Mr Howard:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. Under the Foreign Takeovers Act 1975, the Government has made orders prohibiting proposed acquisitions by foreign interests of Australian businesses on four occasions. Two of the orders have been subsequently revoked.
  2. The parties to the proposed acquisitions referred to in ( 1 ) and the dates on which orders in respect of the proposals were gazetted are as follows:-

Lloyd International Ltd/Trans City Corp Ltd- 18 February 1976.

Marie Allen, Richard Bruitt, Edward Bars, Cornelie Lowndes/Quanbun Downs Pty Ltd- 3 December 1976 (revoked 23 March 1977).

Octopus Books Ltd/Rigby Ltd- 17 October 1977.

Brooke Bond (Australia) Pty Ltd/Bushells Investments Ltd- 6 September 1978 (Press statement announcing revocation, 21 November 1978.

Note: Interim orders may also be made under section 22 of the Act if greater time is required to examine certain proposals. An interim order prohibits the implementation of a proposal for period of 90 days, but may be revoked before the end of that period. To 21 November 1978, 15 interim orders have been made, one relating to a proposal which was subsequently prohibited by a final order, and 3 that have been subsequently revoked. Of the11 remaining proposals for which interim orders were made, 4 were later approved, 5 were withdrawn and 2 remain under examination.

As well as the proposed acquisitions referred to above, in respect of which action to prohibit the acquisitions was available under the Foreign Takeovers Act, the Government, in the period of 8 April 1976 to 30 June, 1978, has declined to approve 6 proposals notified under the Act that were found to be inconsistent with foreign investment policy. The need to maintain confidentiality in these cases precludes the disclosure of information regarding these proposals.

Trading Stock Valuation Allowance (Question No. 2188)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Treasurer, upon notice, on 26 September 1978:

  1. 1 ) What was the cost to revenue of the trading stock valuation allowance (a) for individuals, (b) for companies and (c) in total in (i) 1976-77 and (ii) 1977-78.
  2. 2 ) What is the estimated cost for 1 978-79.
  3. What was the (a) total and (b) average amount of the trading stock valuation allowance claimed by grade of net income together with the number and proportion of taxpayers in each grade for (i) individuals and (ii) companies in (A) 1976-77 and (B) 1977-78.
Mr Howard:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

The cost to revenue of the trading stock valuation adjustment is not recorded separately, but the estimated costs in the 1977-78 and 1978-79 financial years are as follows:

As the trading stock valuation adjustment first applied in respect of the 1976-77 income year, no cost to revenue arose in that financial year.

Statistics of trading stock valuation adjustment in respect of the 1976-77 and 1977-78 income years are not yet available for companies, partnerships or trusts. However, the relevant statistics of assessments of individuals for 1976-77 income year issued to 30 June 1 97 8 are as follows:

Medibank Levy (Question No. 2191)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Treasurer, upon notice, on 26 September 1978:

  1. How many individuals paid the Medibank levy in (a) 1976-77 and(b) 1977-78bygradeofnetincome.
  2. What was the total and average amount paid by grade of net income in (a) 1976-77 and (b) 1977-78.
  3. How many taxpayers paid the levy at the (a) individual rate and (b) family rate m (i) 1976-77 and (ii) 1977-78 by grade of net income.
  4. How many persons, both adults and children, were covered by the Medibank levy in (a) 1976-77 and (b) 1977-78.
Mr Howard:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) (a) Preliminary statistics for the 1976-77 income year indicate that the number of taxpayers who were charged health levy was 1,835,795 out of 5,603,258 tax, insurance and/or levy-payers whose assessments issued in the period from 1 July 1977 to 30 June 1978. A dissection by grade of net income of 5,478,994 assessments of which an estimated 1,797,1 10 were those of levy-payers is as follows:

  1. Figures for 1977-78 income year are not yet available.

    1. Statistics of total and average amount of health insurance levy paid by grade of net income in 1976-77 and 1977-78 have not been tabulated.
    2. Please refer to Answer ( 1 ).
    3. The number of persons covered by the levy is not available from income tax statistical sources.

Department of Social Security: Computers (Question No. 2243)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister, representing the Minister for Social Security, upon notice, on 27 September 1978:

  1. 1 ) In respect of each computer owned or operated by the Department of Social Security and statutory authorities and business undertakings under the control of the Minister, what information stored therein can be sold, hired, lent or given to any person or organisation other than properly authorised employees of the Department of Social Security, authority or business.
  2. Under what circumstances can this information be (a) sold, (b) hired, (c) lent (d) given.
  3. On what occasions, and to whom, has any information been sold, hired lent or given in the past.
Mr Hunt:
NCP/NP

-The Minister for Social Security has provide the following answer to the honourable member’s question.

  1. No information stored in a computer owned or operated by the Department of Social Security is sold, hired or lent to any person or organisation.

  2. Section 17 of the Social Services Act, which governs the confidentiality of of information between the Department of Social Security and its clients, provides for the release of information in the following circumstances:

    1. where the Minister or the Director-General certifies that it is in the public interest;
    2. b ) to any prescribed authority or person; or
    3. when it is considered that the person about whom the information relates has expressly or impliedly authorised its release.

Authorities or persons to whom information is released are subject to the same obligations and liabilities in relation to that information as officers of the Department

The authorities or persons to whom information may be released are set out in Senate Hansard of 16.1 1.76 (pages 1935-37) and Senate Hansard of 17.1 1.76 (pages 2033-38). Since 17.11.76 the following additions have been made to that list:-

  1. In the course of carrying out its responsibilities and functions, the Department is obliged to provide information to other Departments,. Authorities and financial institutions on a continuing basis.

Home Loan Interest Tax Deductibility Scheme (Question No. 2267)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Treasurer, upon notice, on 27 September 1978:

In relation to the Home Loan Interest Tax Deductibility Scheme, (a) how many taxpayers claimed tax concessions, (b) what was the average tax concession granted and (c) what were the average amounts on which claims were made, by grade of income for each of the years 1974-75 to 1977-78, inclusive.

Mr Howard:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

The information sought in relation to taxable individuals (including those subject to health insurance levy only) whose assessments were accounted for in the main income tax statistical tabulations for the income years 1974-75, and 1975-76, in the preliminary statistics for 1976-77 and in early results for 1977-78 (covering assessments issued to 31 October 1978) is summarised in the attached tables. In addition the numbers and amounts of deductions recorded in respect of non-taxable returns which were included in statistics of returns dealt with under the computer-assisted assessing process for these years were as follows:

Wages: Change in Real Value (Question No. 2488)

Mr Humphreys:

asked the Treasurer, upon notice, on 12 October 1978:

For persons who receive weekly wages of (a) $100, (b) $125, (c) $150 and (d) $200, and who have received only wage indexation increases since December 1975, what is the percentage rise or fall in the real value of each wage, that is, in relation to the rise in the CPI since December 1975.

Mr Howard:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

The Australian Statistician has advised that in calculating the increases or decreases in the real value of the wages specified he has assumed that the wages are award rates of pay and hence that each indexation decision would have applied to the full weekly wage. On this basis, for persons now receiving $100 a week the increase in the real value of the wage, that is, in relation to the CPI since December quarter 1975, is 1.3 per cent For persons now receiving $125, $150 and $200 a week the changes are decreases of 0.7 per cent, 1 .9 per cent and 4.3 per cent respectively.

National Income Forecasting Model (Question No. 2511)

Mr Willis:

asked the Treasurer, upon notice on, 17 October 1978:

  1. Did a former Treasurer give explicit instructions in

October 1 975 for a set of forecasts from the National Income Forecasting model to be prepared for publication.

  1. Are there any difficulties which would prevent current forecasts from the model being published.
Mr Howard:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) There have been reports attributing statements of this general kind to the Hon. William Hayden. I do not propose to inquire further as to the nature of communications in October 1975 between Mr Hayden and his then advisers.
  2. The Government provides forecast information about the economy in the Budget Speech and Statement No 2 attached thereto and, from time to time, in Ministerial statements. Among the inputs into the processes leading to such forecasts is material derived from the application of the National Income Forecasting model. The degree of detail provided in published forecasts is a matter for Government decision from time to time.

Imports: Price Elasticity of Demand (Question No. 2514)

Mr Willis:

asked the Treasurer, upon notice, on 17 November 1978:

  1. What is the estimated price elasticity of demand for imports in Australia.
  2. What are the estimated price elasticities of demand for important types of imported goods such as petroleum, passenger motor vehicles, electrical machinery, non-electrical machinery and domestic appliances.
Mr Howard:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. The estimated price elasticity of demand for imports varies with:

    1. the types of imported goods and services to which the elasticity refers;
    2. the interval of time allowed for the change in price to influence the level of imports;
    3. the choice of model of the determination of imports and the choice of sample period over which the model is estimated.

Estimates of the price elasticity of demand for imports can therefore vary considerably. The NIF-7 version of the Treasury- Australian Bureau of Statistics National Income Forecasting Model provides an estimate of around -1.1 for an elapsed time of two to three years, for imports of goods other than government imports and imports of petroleum and civil aircraft. That is, a 1 per cent rise in import prices is estimated (other things being equal) to lead to a 1.1 per cent fall in this category of imports measured at constant prices over this interval of time. Other available estimates range above and below this figure.

  1. Specific estimates of the price elasticity of demand for imports for the separate commodity groups listed are subject to a great deal of variability. In general, for these commodity groups where domestically produced substitutes are important, the estimates of the elasticities tend to be larger than the estimates for total imports.

Balance of Payments (Question No. 2538)

Mr Wallis:

asked the Treasurer, upon notice, on 18 October 1978:

If the monthly trends of the last 3 years in the value of exports, imports and invisibles continue, using trend une or regression analysis, what will be the value of (a) exports, (b) imports, (c) invisibles, (d) the balance of trade and (e) the balance of current account in (i) June 1979 and (ii) June 1980.

Mr Howard:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

The honourable member will appreciate that balance of payments transactions can be greatly affected by variations in domestic supplies of rural commodities and in conditions in overseas markets; as well as by broader economic developments at home and abroad. In these circumstances, the calculations requested, which are of a highly simplistic kind, would produce results of little, if any, practical value. I do not believe, therefore, that the work required to give the figures requested by the honourable member would be warranted.

Illegal Entrants: Social Security Payments (Question No. 2548)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Social Security, upon notice, on 1 8 October 1 978:

  1. Would the Department of Social Security reject a claim for social security benefits in cases where it knew that the applicant had entered Australia without an entry permit.
  2. If so, how many such applicants have been refused social security benefits m the last 5 years.
Mr Hunt:
NCP/NP

-The Minister for Social Security has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

  1. As stated in the reply to Question No. 1676 (page 1884 Hansard, 12 October 1978) the Department of Social Security does not knowingly grant pensions or benefits to persons who entered Australia without any entry permit
  2. Statistics to enable part (2) of the Question to be answered are not available in the Department of Social Security. The Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs has advised that statistics on the number of people who, over the last five years, have entered this country without an entry permit, are not readily available.

Vietnamese Entrants: Social Security Payments (Question No. 2549)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Minister, representing the Minister for Social Security, upon notice, on 1 8 October 1 978:

How many of the Vietnamese who entered Australia without permits, but who were subsequently given temporary entry permits to regularise their immigration status while investigations continue, are now receiving (a) sickness, (b) unemployment and (c) any other social security benefit.

Mr Hunt:
NCP/NP

-The Minister for Social Security has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question.

The Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs has advised that 1684 people have arrived without prior permission in 46 boats, the last of these being on 13 November this year.

The Department of Social Security does not keep separate statistics 07 this group of people and it therefore not known how many of these people are currently in receipt of a benefit from that Department

Public Service Superannuation: Taxpayers’ Contribution (Question No. 2552)

Mr Humphreys:

asked the Treasurer, upon notice, on 18 October 1978:

  1. 1 ) Does each Australian taxpayer contribute approximately $16 per week to meet Public Service superannuation payments.
  2. If so, is the $16 in addition to the $10 a week the employee is paying for his or her own superannuation should he or she be fortunate enough to be among 25 per cent of private enterprise employees covered by superannuation.
  3. Is it his responsibilty to ensure that taxpayers’ money is not handed out in overly generous Public Service superannuation.
  4. When will he review the Public Service superannuation schemes to bring them into line with what the community can afford.
Mr Howard:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) and (2) I am aware of a recent press report in which it was stated that every taxpayer contributes $16 per week to help pay for State and Federal public service superannuation payments. I do not know the basis of that or the other figures quoted in the question, and I am not able to confirm them. But whatever the figures are, it should be understood that the taxpayers from whom taxation revenue is derived include present and retired public servants, and the present public servants also themselves make contributions towards their retirement benefits. Also, private employees belonging to superannuation schemes benefit not only from their own contributions but also from employers’ contributions which are met out of amounts the general community pays, directly or indirectly, for goods or services supplied by the employers.
  2. The Commonwealth Government is responsible for superannuation schemes for its own present and past employees, but not those for State employees who are included in the figures quoted in the press report I have mentioned.
  3. The present Commonwealth superannuation scheme results from changes made in 1976 which were the subject of considerable debate in the Parliament at that time. Estimates of the costs of the new arrangements were outlined in an Explanatory Memorandum circulated with the Superannuation Bill 1976. The costs of the new scheme are much less than those that would have resulted had the Superannuation Bill 1975, introduced by the then Labor Government, been brought into effect.

Post-graduate Scholarships (Question No. 2553)

Mr Humphreys:

asked the Treasurer, upon notice, on 18 October 1978:

  1. 1 ) Have many post-graduate scholars, presently working or researching under post-graduate scholarships and grants, made financial and contractual commitments on the understanding that their salary is not assessed for income tax, and, as a result of the Budget decision to introduce a standard income tax assessment on all post-graduate grants, are many unable to meet those commitments and therefore face the prospect of losing their investments or forfeiting their scholarships.
  2. If so, is any assistance contemplated for these postgraduate scholarship holders.
  3. As Australia now devotes a smaller percentage of its GNP to research than any other country in the western world, will he re-consider this decision.
Mr Howard:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) Changes in taxation can normally be expected to affect some taxpayers more than others. In the absence of a survey of all holders of Commonwealth post-graduate awards, it is not possible to determine whether the Budget decision to tax those awards would have the effects which the honourable member has mentioned.
  2. No additional benefits are being provided under the Post-Graduate Awards Scheme by way of offset to the Budget decision.
  3. I do not consider that the proportion of GNP devoted to research has any relevence to the present matter.

Blair Athol Coal Deposit (Question No. 2557)

Mr Hodges:

asked the Treasurer, upon notice, on 18 October 1978:

  1. 1 ) Has his attention been drawn to the report in the Australian of 12 October 1978, that the Atlantic Richfield Company of the USA is negotiating to buy the 38 per cent interest in the Blair Athol Coal deposit in central Queensland presently held by the Daniel K. Ludwig group.
  2. What is the present level of foreign ownership of the Blair Athol field, and what will the level of foreign ownership be in this field if the Atlantic Richfield offer is successful.
  3. Is this matter being considered by the Foreign Investment Review Board.
Mr Howard:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. Yes.
  2. The rights to the Blair Athol coal deposit are held by Blair Athol Coal Pty Ltd, a company owned as to 62 per cent by Conzinc Riotinto of Australia Ltd and 38 per cent by S & M Fox Pty Ltd, a company of the Daniel K. Ludwig group. As S & M Fox is wholly foreign owned and CRA is owned as to 72.6 per cent by the Rio Tinto-Zinc Corporation of the United Kingdom, the present level of beneficial foreign ownership in Blair Athol is approximately 83 per cent This level would not be changed if another foreign interest were to acquire the share of S & M Fox.
  3. A proposal for a foreign interest to acquire, even from another foreign interest, a substantial shareholding in Blair Athol would be examinable by the Foreign Investment Review Board under the Government ‘s ‘foreign investment policy. All information received by the Foreign Investment Review Board in relation to foreign investment proposals is treated with the strictest confidence and it is not the practice to disclose whether or not a specific foreign investment proposal has been received.

Bankruptcies (Question No. 2558)

Mr Les Johnson:
HUGHES, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

asked the Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs, upon notice, on 18 October 1978:

How many (a) small businesses went bankrupt or into liquidation and (b) non-business bankruptcies or arrangements with creditors occurred during 1 977-78.

Mr Fife:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. There were 1,752 business bankruptcies during 1977-78. Of these 1,750 were small businesses within the terms of the definition that is frequently used for statistical purposes, namely, businesses with fewer than 100 employees m manufacturing and twenty employees in retail, wholesale and other tertiary activities. There are no publicly available figures on the number of company liquidations for the whole of Australia. Such figures, even if they were available, might not show clearly how many incorporated small businesses went into liquidation. For example:

    1. The public documents that are filed in a companies registry do not necessarily disclose whether a particular company is conducting a small business for the purposes of the statistical definition I have referred to. While there is a general assumption that businesses operated by proprietary companies are small businesses, this is not always so.
    2. Not all companies that go into liquidation are either insolvent or carrying on a business.

  2. During 1977-78 there were 1,382 non-business bankruptcies; and 33 non-business arrangements with creditors under Part X of the Bankruptcy Act 1 966.

Commonwealth Government Loan Raising (Question No. 2630)

Mr Les Johnson:
HUGHES, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

asked the Treasurer, upon notice, on 25 October 1978:

  1. What were the gross loan raisings by the Commonwealth Government and Government instrumentalities on a transaction by transaction basis during (a) the period 1 1 November 1975 to 30 June 1976, (b) 1976-77, (c) 1977-78 and (d) the period 1 July 1978 to date.
  2. For each of these transactions (a) what sums were repatriated to Australia and (b) what were the annual rates of interest and charges paid during the same periods and years.
Mr Howard:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question, which is assumed to refer to overseas borrowings, is as follows:

The following tables provide the answers to questions 1 (a) (b) (c) and (d). The annual rates of interest and charges paid during the same periods and years (question 2 (b))are also included in the tables.

  1. (a) In regard to Commonwealth Government borrowings overseas, all foreign exchange proceeds were added to the Commonwealth’s holdings of foreign exchange apart from those funds on-lent to Qantas, the Australian Shipping Commission and the Australian National Airlines Commission and those used to redeem SF45m of the SF50m, 5.5% 1967-82 SF bond issue Le. the SF50m, 3.75% bank loan undertaken in April 1978.

Borrowings by the Commonwealth transport authorities were by and large used to purchase capital equipment overseas; funds not directly used for purchases overseas were added to the Commonwealth s holdings of foreign exchange.

Australia-Japan Trade (Question No. 2649)

Mr Lloyd:

asked the Minister for Trade and Resources, upon notice, on 26 October 1978:

  1. With reference to bis answer to question No. 1910 (Hansard, 19 October 1978, page 2165), has his attention been drawn to a statement by the Right Honourable R. Muldoon, Prime Minister of New Zealand, that Japan has agreed to 12 points which will give New Zealand beef, dairy products, fish and sawn timber special access to Japan.
  2. If so, is he able to say what these 12 points are and what effect they will have on Australian trade with Japan.
Mr Anthony:
Deputy Prime Minister · RICHMOND, NEW SOUTH WALES · NCP/NP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. Yes.
  2. Details of the Agreement between Japan and New Zealand relating to access for Japan to New Zealand’s fishing zone have not been publicly announced. I am aware, however, of reports that the agreement provides among other things for some form of special access to Japan for certain New Zealand products.

The Australian Government is concerned at these reports and is pursuing this issue with the Japanese Government at both the Ministerial and official level. We have continued to seek assurances from Japan that any arrangements entered into between Japan and New Zealand are not discriminatory and that Australian exporters have an equal opportunity to compete for Japanese requirements. I am currently awaiting a response to representations which I have made to the Japanese Government on this matter.

The Australian Government supports very strongly the most-favoured-nation principle in the conduct of international trade and would be concerned at any arrangements between third countries which had the effect of discriminating against Australian exporters.

Unemployment Benefit Payments: Terminations (Question No. 2687)

Mr Connolly:

asked the Minister, representing the Minister for Social Security, upon notice, on 7 November 1978:

  1. How many persons in receipt of unemployment benefits have had benefits terminated on the recommendation of the Commonwealth Employment Service, during each quarter of (a) 1974, (b) 1975, (c) 1976, (d) 1977 and (e) 1978 to date.
  2. How many of those persons appealed to the Social Security Appeals Tribunal during each of the same periods.
  3. How many appeals resulted in the restoration of benefits to the appellant during each of the same periods.
Mr Hunt:
NCP/NP

-The Minister for Social Security has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question. (1), (2) and (3) The Department of Social Security does not keep separate statistics of the persons who have had their benefits terminated on the recommendation of the Commonwealth Employment Service. Although statistics are kept in . relation to appeals to the Social Security Appeals Tribunals and of the decisions given by those tribunals m favour of the appellants, no separate record has been kept of the number of cases which arose out of CES decisions.

The information the honourable member has requested could only be obtained by examining all of the department’s unemployment cases. As there are about a million new unemployment benefit claims each year and the files are destroyed after an applicant has been off benefit for a relatively short time, it would not be practicable to obtain the requested information in the latter years, and it would be impossible to obtain it in relation to the earlier years in relation to which most files would have been destroyed.

Clubs: Income Tax Laws (Question No. 2711)

Mr Hodgman:

asked the Treasurer, upon notice, on 9 November 1978:

  1. 1) Has his attention been drawn to a continuing unjust and iniquitous anomaly in Australia’s income tax laws whereby clubs conducting non-animal sports are not liable to pay income tax but clubs conducting animal sports such as horse racing, trotting and greyhound raring, are liable to pay income tax.
  2. Has his attention also been drawn to the fact that a substantial group of Government Members of the House have formed a committee to work for the abolition of income taxation of racing, trotting and greyhound clubs.
  3. Will he prepare a return to be tabled in this House showing the amount paid in income tax by racing clubs throughout Australia for each of the last 10 financial years in order that an assessment may be made as to the likely favourable impact on capital development and increased employment if income taxation of racing dubs were to be
Mr Howard:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 have had a number of representations seeking amendment of the basis of taxation of animal racing dubs.
  2. Yes.
  3. Statistics of income tax paid by racing, trotting and greyhounds dubs are not available but an indication of the amounts involved may be obtained from the published statistics of taxable non-profit companies classified to the industry ‘Entertainment, sport and recreation (Code 60)’. These figures are available from Taxation Statistics 1975-76, the supplement to the 55th Report of the Commissioner of Taxation and earlier issues. Non-profit companies in Industry code 60 include organisations other than the types of dubs mentioned.

Supporting Parents Benefit (Question No. 2756)

Dr Klugman:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Social Security, upon notice, on 14 November 1978.

  1. 1 ) How many men are at present in receipt of a Supporting Parents Benefit
  2. Do female divorcees or widows in corresponding circumstances receive a pension.
  3. Does this pension entitle them to many fringe benefits, subject to a means test
  4. Do males in receipt of Supporting Parents Benefit receive a concession card, subject to a means test
  5. What benefits are available to those in possession of this card.
  6. If there is discrimination, what are the reasons.
Mr Hunt:
NCP/NP

-The Minister for Social Security has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question.

  1. 1 ) At 4 September 1978 there were 2,378 males in receipt of Supporting Parents Benefit
  2. Yes.
  3. Yes.
  4. Yes. This applies to both males and females in receipt of Supporting Parents ‘ Benefits.
  5. The same Commonwealth Benefits as those provided to holders of the Pensioner Health Benefits Card with the exception of pharmaceuticals.
  6. There is no discrimination between a woman and a man receiving a supporting parents benefit The concessions available to all Supporting Parents are the same as those provided by the Labor Government to female Supporting Parents.

Small Businesses: Taxation (Question No. 2762)

Mr Lloyd:

asked the Treasurer, upon notice, on 14 November 1978:

Is the Government considering an option scheme, such as that existing in the United States of America and New Zealand, and proposed for the United Kingdom and Canada, whereby small businesses can elect to be taxed as a partnership.

Mr Howard:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

The Asprey Taxation Review Committee recommended the introduction of provisions to allow private companies with only a small number of shareholders to elect to be taxed as a partnership. The Government is examining this recommendation along with numerous other recommendations made by the Asprey Committee.

Private Companies: Restriction of Tax-free Allowance (Question No. 2763)

Mr Lloyd:

asked the Treasurer, upon notice, on 14 November 1978:

Is the Government considering measures to overcome tax penalties suffered by private companies because of the restriction of the tax-free allowance for retention of profit

Mr Howard:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

Division 7 of the Income Tax Assessment Aa provides that private companies must distribute a specified minimum proportion of after-tax profits in order to avoid an additional tax at the rate of 50 per cent of the amount by which the actual distribution falls short of the required distribution. For distributions in respect of taxable incomes of the year 1975-76 and subsequent years, the Government increased from 50 per cent to 60 per cent the minimum proportion that can be retained without incurring additional tax.

The purpose of Division 7 is to impose on owners of private companies an overall amount of tax comparable to mat which would be payable if the business were not incorporated, but operated as a sole trader or partnership. The Asprey Taxation Review Committee accepted that, as long as the maximum marginal rate of tax for individuals exceeded the company tax rate, the Division 7 provisions would be necessary to prevent the use of private companies as a means for high-income shareholders to avoid tax.

The Government considers that the present provisions ensure an equitable outcome and, at the same time, allow private companies adequate scope for financing investment by way of retained earnings.

Tax Rebates: Overseas Dependants (Question No. 2777)

Mr Humphreys:

asked the Treasurer, upon notice, on 14 November 1978:

  1. What consideration was given to migrant and ethnic groups during deliberations on the proposal ending tax rebates for overseas dependants.
  2. What was the amount claimed in these rebates for

1977- 78.

  1. Did he give any consideration to revising the rebate system with a view to instituting modifications or changes less final than abolition, or were the only alternatives retention of the former system or abolition.
Mr Howard:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. All relevant factors were taken into account in the 1978- 79 Budget deliberations on the future of the maintenance rebates for overseas dependants.
  2. Statistics of rebates claimed in respect of dependants of migrant and ethnic groups are not compiled separately. However, rebates for parents and parents-in-law would relate almost exclusively to migrant taxpayers. The amounts of rebates allowed for parents and parents-in-law as disclosed in the early statistics for the 1977-78 income year, which relate to assessments issued to 31 October 1978, were $9.1m for taxable individuals and $0.4m for non-taxable individuals. The amounts of rebates claimed would, of course, exceed the amounts of rebates allowed.
  3. The potential for abuse of the former system was such that there were only two courses: to retain the system, with all that implied by way of revenue loss and administrative burden, or to abolish it

Age Pension: Means Test (Question No. 2778)

Mr Humphreys:

asked the Minister, representing the Minister for Social Security, upon notice, on 14 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) What is the estimate of the sum saved this year by the Government through the imposition of a means test on age pension increases for pensioners over 70.
  2. What is the method of calculation by which he arrived at this figure.
  3. 3 ) Is it a fact that, as the 1 978-79 budget cut out the May increase, pensioners receiving increases must now wait up to 1 6 months to catch up on current price rises.
Mr Hunt:
NCP/NP

-The Minister for Social Security has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question.

  1. 1 ) The gross saving in 1978-79 resulting from the imposition of the income test on pension increases for age pensioners aged 70 years and over is estimated to be about $14 million.
  2. The Department of Social Security conducts regular computer surveys of pensioners and beneficiaries. One of the statistics obtained from these surveys is ‘income as assessed ‘.

Using the latest available income distribution of age pensioners it was estimated that 500,000 age pensioners aged 70 years or more would receive the full increase in pension rates, some 20,000 would receive part increases and some 250,000 would not qualify for any increase in pension rates. For pensioners with income not stated it was assumed that they would not be eligible for any income tested increases.

  1. The next automatic pension increase will be in November 1979 and will be based on the movement in the Consumer Price Index between June Quarter 1 978 and June Quarter 1979.

Budget Deficit (Question Na 2779)

Mr Humphreys:

asked the Treasurer, upon notice, on 14 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Has he ever said publicly that during the first 3 months of 1978-79 a rise in the deficit would be expected and that after this period the deficit would be expected to fall. If so, will he explain why this is so.
  2. Do official figures indicate the sum paid in unemployment benefits for the first 3 months of 1978-79 is $21 1,600,000, which is $22,600,000 more than for the first quarter of 1977-78.
  3. Do these figures compare unfavourably with the Government’s budget estimate that unemployment benefits would be cut by $9,600,000 in 1978-79. If so, will he consider issuing a revised estimate for expenditure on unemployment benefits for 1978-79.
Mr Howard:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) My answer to a question without notice on 1 1 October 1978 included the following statement: “The Budget deficit for the first three months of this financial year is $2,50 1 million and it is to be expected that in the normal pattern of seasonal development that will get greater until later on in the financial year when of course it will reduce. ‘

In 1977-78 the Budget deficit peaked in March at around $2,000 million above the full year outcome, and in 1976-77 it peaked in February at about $2,800 million above the full year outcome. There are both seasonal factors and factors specific to this year that would indicate a similar pattern for 1978-79:

The major part of PA YE refunds are paid early in the financial year. Typically, over half total refunds have been paid by end-September and over 80 per cent by endDecember.

Collections of income tax from ‘other’ (non-PAYE) individuals are normally bunched in the last four months of the financial year; in 1976-77 and 1977-78 over 90 per cent of collections were received between 1 March and 30 June.

In some years the pattern of company tax instalments/ collections has resulted in low receipts in the early part of the financial year; in 1976-77 the first major instalment was collected in March and in 1977-78 in November; the seasonal factor is less apparent for 1978-79 as quarterly payments of company tax have been resumed.

Increases to customs and excise duties announced in the 1978-79 Budget did not take effect until after Budget night.

The temporary increase in the standard rate of personal income tax did not come into effect until 1 November and will not influence receipts figures until the month of December.

Changed timing of lump payments to schools and tertiary institutions and for some defence items, boosted outlays in the September quarter.

Payment of the full tax sharing entitlement to local government authorities for 1978-79 was made before 30 September this year.

Changed administrative arrangements for the Northern Territory resulted in larger and earlier disbursements than had been usual in earlier years.

  1. Yes.
  2. The Budget estimate for unemployment and sickness benefits in 1978-79 is $952.0 million, $9.6 million higher than the figure for 1 977-78. The Budget estimate is based on a higher average number of beneficiaries than in 1977-78, but this is partly offset by savings stemming from the review of Department of Social Security’s systems and procedures. These savings (estimated at about $50 million) are expected to be reflected mainly in figures for the latter part of the year.

Income Tax Increase (Question No. 2781)

Mr Humphreys:

asked the Treasurer, upon notice, on 14 November 1978:

  1. Is it a fact that the Commissioner for Taxation has issued instructions that the 1.5 per cent increase in the standard rate of tax for 1978-79 will be raised by increasing the surcharge which applies from 1 November by twelve sevenths.
  2. Will he explain the reasons for compressing payments for a yearly tax surcharge over 7 months when the payments are being made over 8 months.
Mr Howard:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) and (2) It was indicated in Statement No. 4 attached to my Budget Speech for 1978-79 that the temporary increase in the standard rate of income tax to 33V4 per cent, for 1978-79 only, would be reflected in PA YE instalment deductions from 1 November 1978. 1 indicated that from that date, PAYE deductions would increase by an amount designed to make deductions received over 1978-79 broadly equivalent to the increase tax to be assessed on the income of 1 978-79 as a whole. Allowing for a month ‘s lag in PAYE collections (deductions made by an employer in one month are not received by the Taxation Office until the next month) this meant that PAYE deductions for only the seven months from 1 November 1 978 to 3 1 May 1979 would be received in the 1978-79 financial year. Accordingly, in order that receipts in 1978-79 would reflect the full year equivalent of the temporary rate increase, PAYE deductions from 1 November had to be increased by the factor 12/7. The excess deductions in June 1 979, which will be received by the Taxation Office in July 1 979, will form part of refunds which will commence to issue in that month.

Regulations prescribing PAYE deductions calculated on this basis, and incorporating other relevant Budget changes, were duly made. The Commissioner of Taxation arranged for the publication and distribution of tax instalment deduction schedules and notes for employers that set out details of the PAYE arrangements applicable from 1 November 1978, as foreshadowed in the Budget Speech.

Review of Australia’s International Civil Aviation Policy (Question No. 2863)

Mr Morris:

asked the Treasurer, upon notice, on 16 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Did his Department make a submission to the Review of Australia ‘s International Civil Aviation Policy.
  2. If so, (a) what was the substance of the submission and (b) will he release it for the benefit of the Parliament.
Mr Howard:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. No.
  2. Not applicable.

Review of Australia’s International Civil Aviation Policy (Question No. 2867)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister for Finance, upon notice, on 16 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Did his Department make a submission to the Review of Australia ‘s International Civil Aviation Policy.
  2. If so, (a) what was the substance of the submission and ( b) will he release it for the benefit of the Parliament.
Mr Eric Robinson:
MCPHERSON, QUEENSLAND · LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. No.
  2. See answer to (1).

Review of Australia’s International Civil Aviation Policy (Question No. 2878)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs, upon notice, on 16 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Did his Department make a submission to the Review of Australia’s International Civil Aviation Policy.
  2. If so, (a) what was the substance of the submission and (b) will he release it for the benefit of the Parliament.
Mr Fife:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. No.
  2. See answer to(l).

Concorde Aircraft (Question No. 2913)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister, representing the Minister for Social Security, upon notice, on 21 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Under what circumstances are the Minister’s; (a) Department staff and; (b) personal staff authorised to travel on Concorde aircraft between the United States and the United Kingdom.
  2. What is the additional cost per journey.
  3. How many officers of the Department of Social Security; (a) sought approval; (b) were granted approval and) (c) were refused approval to travel on Concorde aircraft during (i) 1976-77, (ii) 1977-78 and (iii) 1978-79 to date.
  4. How many officers of the Department of Social Security or the Minister’s personal staff have travelled on Concorde aircraft without seeking approval.
Mr Hunt:
NCP/NP

-The Minister for Social Security has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

  1. (a) The Public Service Board specifies the form of travel used by departmental staff; (b) The prior approval of the Prime Minister is required for overseas travel by a member of the Minister’s personal staff including any proposal to travel on Concorde aircraft
  2. Not applicable as no such journey has been undertaken.
  3. (a) (i) Nil) (ii) Nil; (iii) Nil; (b) (i) NU; (ii) Nil; (iii) Nil; (c) (i) Nil; (ii) Nil, (iii) Nil.
  4. Nil.

Concorde Aircraft (Question No. 2920)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister for Construction, upon notice, on 2 1 November 1 978:

  1. Under what circumstances are his (a) Departmental staff and (b) Ministerial staff authorised to travel on Concorde aircraft between the United States and the United Kingdom.
  2. What is the additional cost per journey.
  3. How many officers of his Department (a) sought approval, (b) were granted approval and (c) were refused approval to travel on Concorde aircraft during (i) 1976-77, (u) 1977-78 and (iii) 1978-79 to date.
  4. How many officers from his Department or personal staff have travelled on Concorde aircraft without seeking approval.
Mr McLeay:
BOOTHBY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. Circumstances have not arisen whereby (a) Departmental staff and (b) Ministerial staff have been authorised to travel on Concorde aircraft between the United States and the United Kingdom. Public Service Board approval would be required for such travel by Departmental staff and would be given only in exceptional circumstances.
  2. Not applicable, see ( 1 ) above.
  3. Nil.
  4. Nil.

Commonwealth Government Authorities: Receipts and Outlays (Question No. 2943)

Mr Willis:

asked the Treasurer, upon notice, on21 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) What were the total receipts and outlays of Commonwealth Government authorities for each year from 1972-73 to 1977-78.
  2. What was the total deficit of Commonwealth Government authorities for each year from 1972-73 to 1977-78.
  3. In which year did the highest deficit occur for Commonwealth Government authorities taken together.
  4. What are the implications for the money supply and the rate of inflation of the deficit in 1 978-79.
Mr Howard:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) and (2) The information sought is published in Budget Paper No. 10 ‘National Accounting Estimates of Receipts and Outlays of Commonwealth Government Authorities’, August 1978, Table S, page 18.
  2. 1977-78.
  3. The implications for the money supply and the rate of inflation of Commonwealth transactions in 1978-79 are discussed in Statement No. 2 ‘The Budget and the Economy’ pages 47, 48 and 49 attached to the 1978-79 Budget Speech.

Primary Industry Bank (Question No. 2944)

Mr Willis:

asked the Treasurer, upon notice, on 21 November 1978:

Will the trading banks receive a fee for acting as agents of the Primary Industry Bank in its lending activities. If so, how will the fee be calculated.

Mr Howard:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

As mentioned in my Second Reading Speech on the Primary Industry Bank Amendment Bill (No. 2) 1978 (Hansard, 26 October 1978, page 2376) the major trading banks and the four State banks concerned will receive a maximum interest rate margin of l.S per cent per annum to cover administrative costs and risks over the Full period of the long term loans. Thus, under the present arrangements, the Primary Industry Bank will lend to banks at 8.5 per cent in respect of loans below $100,000 and 10.5 per cent in respect of larger loans. This will in turn permit the banks to lend to primary producers within the maximum interest rates of 10.0 and 1 2.0 per cent that have been announced.

No ‘agency’ or other fee is payable by the Primary Industry Bank to the banks under the agreed arrangements. I mention that the banks are not in fact agents of the Primary Industry Bank; the relationship is rather one of ‘prime lender’, and ‘re-finance lender’.

Old Persons’ Units (Question No. 2975)

Mr Barry Jones:
LALOR, VICTORIA · ALP

asked the Minister, representing the Minister for Social Security, upon notice, on 22 November 1978:

  1. 1) Is the Department of Social Security providing funds for the construction of home units for old persons in Francis Street, Yea, Victoria.
  2. If so, to which organisation is the subsidy or grant being made.
  3. What conditions apply to the grant and what procedures were followed in the making of the grant. .
Mr Hunt:
NCP/NP

-The Minister for Social Security has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question.

  1. 1 ) No, but the Department is providing funds for the construction of home units for old persons in Railway Place which is adjacent to Francis Street
  2. The Country Women’s Association, Yea Branch.
  3. The conditions of grant are set out in the Aged or Disabled Persons Homes Act which provides for the formal documentation of a grant by an agreement at the discretion of the Director-General of Social Security. The usual practice is that a standard form of agreement, embodying the terms and conditions of the grant, is drawn and negotiated with the organisation when the grant is authorised.

A similar question was asked by the honourable member on 1 5 August and I refer him to my reply which appeared in Hansard on 12 September 1978, page 903.

Pensions: Payment by the United Kingdom to Residents in Australia (Question No. 2992)

Mr Kerin:
WERRIWA, NEW SOUTH WALES

asked the Minister, representing the Minister for Social Security, upon notice, on 23 November 1978:

  1. What changes have recently occurred with respect to administrative procedures applying to the payment of United Kingdom pensions to residents in Australia.
  2. Is it a fact that moneys paid by the United Kingdom Government have to be converted to Australian currency and that Australian banks and institutions charge for this service.
  3. If so, what are the charges made by the relevant authorities.
Mr Hunt:
NCP/NP

-The Minister for Social Security has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

  1. 1 ) The British Department of Health and Social Security recently decided that the payment of its National Insurance pensions in Australia should be made by order direct from its United Kingdom Central Office in the same way as its pensions are paid in all other countries.

These changed arrangements were the result of initiatives by the United Kingdom authorities and were not sought by the Australian Department of Social Security.

  1. and (3) Bank charges for negotiating United Kingdom pension orders are a matter for determination by banks themselves.

Pensions to sufferers of Asbestos Caused Diseases (Question No. 2993)

Mr Kerin:

asked the Minister, representing the Minister for Social Security, upon notice, on 23 November 1978:

  1. How many persons are on (a) invalid pensions or (b) sickness benefits as a result of asbestos caused diseases.
  2. Are there any special provisions with respect to the payment of benefits for industrially caused diseases such as exposure to asbestos or coke fumes.
Mr Hunt:
NCP/NP

-The Minister for Social Security has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question.

  1. The information necessary to answer this question is not available.
  2. There are no special provisions in the Social Services Act to provide payment for persons suffering from industrially caused diseases such as exposure to asbestos or coke fumes.

Homeless Persons Assistance Centres (Question No. 3026)

Mr Humphreys:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Social Security, upon notice, on 23 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Did the Department of Social Security publish in 1 978 a report, entitled ‘A Place of Dignity’, which reviews homeless persons assistance centres in Australia, and examines the operation of the Homeless Persons Assistance Act.
  2. Does a passage on page 61 of the report state that in general, the program had achieved useful but undramatic improvement of the traditional system of service for homeless persons and even there it had suffered from a bricksandmortar bias and that, for example, more money should go into staff salaries; if so, will the Minister give consideration to this general recommendation.
  3. Does another passage on page 63 of the report state that there is evidence that, as would be expected, the economic conditions that prevented development of the program have also increased the load on services for homeless persons; if so, will the Minister consider increasing financial support to projects designed to provide services for homeless persons.
Mr Hunt:
NCP/NP

-The Minister for Social Security has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question.

  1. 1 ) Yes. The report, A Place of Dignity, was tabled in Parliament on 9 June 1978. It is descriptive only. It does not make specific recommendations to the Government.
  2. and (3) Yes. Those passages appear in the report and submissions from State Homeless Persons Advisory Committees highlight the need for more operational costs to be made available through the program. These views were taken into account in reviewing the program in July of this year. Given the Government’s budgetary policy it was not possible to provide financial assistance in this year’s Budget beyond that presently being made available. The Prime Minister has invited all State Governments to discuss with me future arrangements for the program.

Sankey Litigation

Mr Lionel Bowen:

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the following question without notice, on 16 November

I address a question to the Minister for Industry and Commerce. I refer to the decision of the High Court last Thursday in what is known as the Sankey case. In particular, I refer to the criticism of the Minister by Mr Justice Aiken at page 78 of that judgment, where he dealt with an affidavit of the Minister in which the Minister referred to meetings of the Australian Loan Council. His Honour said:

The deponent . . .’,

The Minister- - does not state that he has himself perused the particular documents. He does not specifically state that the minutes record either in full or in summary form the discussions which took place at those meetings or whether they record merely the decisions arrived at. ‘

His Honour went on to say that he found the affidavit completely unsatisfactory. I therefore ask: Why was the claim of Crown privilege made in such an unsatisfactory form?

Mr Lynch:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

The affidavit that I swore on 11 November 1976 in the proceedings known as the Sankey Case claiming that certain Loan Council documents should be withheld from production to the Court of Petty Sessions at Queanbeyan set out at some length the material upon which I based that claim and which counsel considered sufficient to enable the claim to be properly put before the Court. As the documents subpoenaed were the documents of a previous Government, the Government took the view that they should not be perused by Ministers. This view was reflected in my affidavit and in other affidavits filed in the proceedings.

The Justices of the High Court themselves examined the Loan Council documents. In the result the Court ordered that certain small parts of the Loan Council documents should be produced, being the first nine lines of paragraph 71 of the minutes of the 104th meeting of the Loan Council and the first ten lines of paragraph 10 of the minutes of the 105th meeting.

High Court Judgments (Question No. 1677)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Minister representing the Attorney-General, upon notice, on 15 August 1978:

Will the Attorney-General see that copies of High Court judgments are supplied without cost to those Members of the Parliament wishing to learn how that Court is interpreting the legislative powers of the Commonwealth and the meaning of statutes passed by the Parliament.

Mr Viner:
LP

– The Attorney-General has supplied the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

From the beginning of 1979 my Department will provide the Parliamentary Library at fortnightly intervals with short summaries of the more important judgments of the High Court and also of the Federal Court of Australia, the Territory Supreme Courts and the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. It is proposed that copies of the summaries will be available on request to members of the Parliament With this assistance members will be able to identify the judgments in which they are interested and to study particular judgments if they so wish; five copies of all judgments of the High Court are held in the Library.

Youth Unemployment (Question No. 1697)

Mr Barry Jones:
LALOR, VICTORIA · ALP

asked the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, upon notice, on 15 August 1978:

  1. What is the level of youth unemployment for those aged between 1 5 and 24 and can he give comparisons in percentage terms with the other member nations of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
  2. How many persons (a) in general and (b) between the ages of 15 and 24 are enrolled in courses of continuing education, compared in percentage terms with the other OECD member states.
Mr Street:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. The level of youth unemployment for those persons aged between 15 and 24, in both percentage terms and actual numbers, is contained in the table below. The figures are the latest information available at this time. Caution should be exercised in the use of these figures as in many respects they are not comparable due to slight differences in age groups between the countries.

Furthermore, the information contained in the table is derived from 2 separate sources: firstly the publication ‘Labour Force Statistics’, a quarterly supplement to the OECD Yearbook of Labour Force Statistics, 1977, in which the level of youth unemployment for selected OECD countries is presented; and secondly the publication ‘The OECD Observer’ (issue No. 90/January 1978) where youth unemployment rates for comparable age groups for the year 1976 were published.

  1. (a) and (b) In Australia a student can continue to receive education in a variety of ways after leaving school, formal or informal, and full-time or part-time. However, comprehensive statistics are available only for formal courses at universities, colleges of advanced education (CAE), and technical and further education institutions (TAFE). Tables 1 and 2 below show the numbers of students of all ages and those aged 15-24 years respectively, enrolled full-time and part-time at these institutions in 1977, and the percentage of the population that the students comprise.

Table 3 below contains the proportion of the population aged 15 to 24 years enrolled full-time in post-secondary courses in other OECD member countries, for the most recent year for which such information is available. Similar information is not available for part-time enrolments, nor for persons of all ages.

Care should be exercised when comparing the data between countries, because of differences in education systems, the emphasis placed on part-time education and scope and coverage of the statistics.

Australian Atomic Energy Commission: Lucas Heights Reactor (Question No. 1728)

Mr Les Johnson:
HUGHES, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

asked the Minister for National Development, upon notice, on 16 August 1978:

  1. 1 ) From where does the Australian Atomic Energy Commission obtain its enriched fuel for the H.I.F.A. Reactor at the research establishment at Lucas Heights, N.S.W.
  2. How is the enriched fuel transported to Lucas Heights.
  3. In what form, and in what type of containers is the enriched fuel carried.
  4. What security measures are in force in the transport of the enriched fuel.
  5. What measures does the Government take to ensure that workers involved in the transport of enriched fuel and the general public are (a) provided with adequate security and (b) not exposed to health risks.
Mr Newman:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) The AAEC obtains its fuel from the United Kingdom.
  2. Enriched fuel is transported by air from the United Kingdom and thence by road to Lucas Heights.
  3. Enrichment fuel is transported in the form of fuel elements. Packaging and transport are in accordance with the IAEA Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Materials 1973, Revised Edition.
  4. Security measures are in accordance with the IAEA standards on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material as published in IAEA document INFCIRC/225 (Corrected).
  5. (a) See (3) and (4) above, (b) See (3) above.

Aboriginal Education (Question Na 1756)

Dr Everingham:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Education, upon notice, on 17 August 1978:

  1. What courses are available for Aboriginals (a) in schools run by Aboriginals, (b) in skills particularly in demand by Aboriginals including running repairs for vehicles, plumbing, electrical systems, household appliances and household management, first aid, hygiene, home nursing, elementary bookkeeping and commerce, (c) using traditional Aboriginal techniques rather than formal timetables, (d) in bilingual primary schooling and (e) using Aboriginal teachers.
  2. How many Aboriginals have (a) commenced and (b) completed these courses.
  3. How many of those who have completed these courses are (a) continuing studies or (b) in employment related to these studies.
  4. What encouragement is given to (a) teachers to undertake specialised studies to improve their skills in teaching Aboriginals and (b) Aboriginals to become teachers.
  5. Is the southern division of the Northern Territory teaching service lagging behind the northern division in bilingual teaching; if so, what is the reason and what action will be taken to remedy the position.
  6. Is the teacher appointed to teach fringe camp children in Alice Springs, N.T. teaching in fringe camps; if not, what is the reason and what action will be taken to remedy the position.
  7. What orientation and training is or will be given to teachers posted for the first time to teach Aboriginals.
  8. 8) What constraints or career penalties are applied to discourage registration or transfer applications by those who have found they are unsuited to teaching Aboriginals.
  9. What will be done to remedy the position referred to in part (8).
  10. 10) What classroom construction has been undertaken in the Northern Territory in schools not needing them but which lack adequate toilet facilities and need outstation schooling which is not available in the area.
  11. What has been done to remedy this misapplication of inadequate resources.
Mr Staley:
LP

-The Minister for Education has provided the following reply to the honourable member’s question:

  1. School level- (a) I know of only a small number of schools run by Aboriginals. The Townsville Black Community School and the schools at Strelley and Nookanbah in Western Australia are all controlled by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island groups. In most schools in Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory, which are my direct concern, Aboriginal teaching staff play a very significant part. The teaching programs in these schools are broadly similar to those offered m government schools in the States. Apart from these, schooling is now being provided at a number of socalled outstations, in the Northern Territory and in some of the States.

    1. and (c) The very large majority of Aboriginal students in primary and secondary schools throughout Australia follow programs which are designed to cater for all pupils enrolled. The emphasis which can be given to the special needs of Aboriginal students varies from school to school. Where Aboriginal students comprise a significant part of the school population, it is more common for them to have specially planned teaching programs, and for students to be able to receive additional instruction in practical skills of the type listed. In all schools, emphasis is placed on the need for Aboriginal students to become as proficient as possible in the basic skills of literacy and numeracy as a necessary prerequisite for work and further study.

In Western Australia a number of project classes are operating at the upper primary and lower secondary levels. These classes aim to improve the practical skills of those students who have difficulty in succeeding with a more academically inclined curriculum. In the Northern Territory, schools at the larger Aboriginal communities have postprimary facilities where classes are conducted in a range of manual arts.

Since 1970 the movement to re-occupy traditional lands has intensified and Government support has now aided large numbers of Aboriginals to establish independent settlements known as outstations. My Department has responded to the movement by making provision for educational services at these centres. In many instances the teaching is carried out by Aboriginal teacher assistants who have the benefit of periodic visits by more experienced staff. The location of these outstation schools in traditional settings affords opportunities for pupils to learn traditional knowledge by traditional means. Tune-tabling is flexible to cope with the lifestyles at these centres.

In a number of other Northern Territory schools, timetables have been adjusted to suit the life-styles of Aboriginal people which are of course influenced by seasonal conditions.

  1. An important innovation in Aboriginal education in recent years has been the introduction of bilingual programs. The bilingual program in the Northern Territory now involves 19 schools in Aboriginal communities. Twelve different Aboriginal languages are used along with English in formal programs. In addition a number of schools use the local Aboriginal language in an informal way. At Maningrida, for example, the large number of languages spoken precludes a formal program in any one of them, but it is possible for some of the older children to be introduced to literacy in their own language.

Bilingual programs with characteristics similar to those operating in the Northern Territory are now also operating in several Aboriginal communities in the States including the following: Kowanyama, Aurukun (Qld.), Ernabella, Fregon, Amata and indulkana (SA) and Warburton (WA).

As in the Northern Territory, the local language is used extensively in outstation education wherever this development occurs. Use of the local language on a less structured basis occurs in other communities particularly Yalata (SA), Yandeyarra, Oombulgurri and Strelley (WA).

  1. The Government has actively encouraged the appointment of Aboriginals as teachers and teacher assistants in the Northern Territory. Twelve Aboriginals have now qualified for recognition as permanent teachers by the Commonwealth Teaching Service. A further nineteen have completed two years training to qualify for appointment of temporary teachers, and another group of 57 have completed part of their teacher training course. While the numbers are still not large, they represent a growing and significant involvement of the Aboriginal people in their education. The Roper River school is staffed by Aboriginals, including the first Aboriginal principal in the Northern Territory. In addition, some 300 teacher assistants are employed in Northern Territory schools. There are also some 400 Aboriginals employed in teaching positions in the States. Some SO of these are qualified teachers; the remainder hold positions as teacher assistants.

Post-school level- It is not possible to provide a complete listing of courses available in the practical skills outlined in the question. AU technical colleges offer courses at a variety of levels, and numbers of Aboriginal students are enrolled.

The Aboriginal Study Grants Scheme is a national scheme administered by my Department under which a wide range of special courses are arranged for Aboriginals who are no longer in a formal schooling situation. Many Aboriginal award holders undertake courses designed to improve their practical skills and employment prospects in the fields listed.

  1. and (3) In 1977, a total of 2,451 Aboriginals undertook courses with assistance from the Aboriginal Study Grants Scheme. The large majority enrolled for courses directly related to practical and vocational skills. Of the 2,451 students, 1,067 were accommodated in courses specially arranged with the needs of Aboriginals in mind.

The Aboriginal employment situation is a serious matter, and is one which is receiving priority attention from the Government In the teaching field, as outlined above, there are substantial programs which are providing employment opportunities for large numbers of Aboriginals.

As part of an evaluation of the Aboriginal Study Grants Scheme, my Department is currently seeking information from students on the extent to which assisted programs of study have been useful in helping them secure related employment The results of the evaluation should help in assessing the types of courses which should be encouraged.

  1. (a) Seven colleges of advanced education (Armidale, Canberra, Mt Gravatt, Mt Lawley, Newcastle, Townsville and Torrens) offer Aboriginal education studies in teacher training courses including studies at the graduate level. Mt Lawley CAE offers a Graduate Diploma in Aboriginal Studies for external students. For Commonwealth Teaching Service Scholarship holders in their pre-service training, specialised Aboriginal education subjects are provided by several colleges cf advanced education. These scholarship holders also nave the opportunity to undertake a six weeks practice teaching period m Northern Territory schools during their course of study. In addition, in-service courses are conducted each year for teachers in Northern Territory Aboriginal schools. The Queensland Department of Education provides opportunities for teachers to take the Graduate Diploma in Aboriginal Studies at Townsville CAE.

    1. I have referred in my answer to 1 (e) above to the efforts made by the Government to encourage the employment of Aboriginals in teaching positions. As evidence of the continued effort being made to increase the numbers of qualified Aboriginal teachers, there were in 1977 1 16 Aboriginal students enrolled in teacher training courses, supported under the Aboriginal Study Grants Scheme. Since 1973, 39 Aboriginals have qualified as teachers with Scheme assistance, including four at the graduate level.

Teacher training programs for Aboriginals in the Northern Territory are conducted by my Department and the Darwin Community College. As mentioned in my reply to 1 (e), growing numbers of Aboriginals are qualifying as teachers.

  1. No. Bilingual programs have been introduced to all Southern Region Aboriginal communities which satisfy certain criteria, one of which is a request from the community that such a program be commenced.

Currently five Government schools conduct a bilingual program in the southern region and it is hoped to expand the program to Santa Teresa school in the near future.

  1. No teacher has been appointed specifically to teach in fringe camps at Alice Springs. I am not aware of a specific request for such a teacher. However, a teacher at Traeger Park Primary School does take one class for fringe camp children.
  2. For teachers new to the Northern Territory a short orientation course is provided at the beginning of each year followed by another at the end of first term. Teachers already in the Territory and going to an Aboriginal school for the first time are encouraged to attend these courses also. Principals of Aboriginal schools are required to provide an orientation course relevant to their respective communities for new teachers at the beginning of each year. The effectiveness of these arrangements is being constantly monitored.
  3. and (9) No constraints or career penalties are imposed.
  4. and (11) My Department is not aware of any such situation. It is very conscious of the need for adequate toilet provision. Problems do occur as a result of maltreatment. In most outstation situations no permanent buildings are either provided or requested.

Department of Aboriginal Affairs: Purchase of Equipment (Question No. 1784)

Mr Holding:
MELBOURNE PORTS, VICTORIA

asked the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, upon notice, on 22 August 1978:

  1. 1 ) How many contracts entered into by Departments and Statutory Corporations under his control for the purchase of equipment contained clauses specifying an offset arrangement with the vendor for the purchase of Australian manufactured goods, components and /or technology during the last 10 years.
  2. What were those contracts.
  3. What was the sum involved in each offset clause and what were the terms of its discharge.
  4. What is the extent to which the terms of these clauses have been implemented specifying in each case the monetary value of the implementation.
  5. What sum is currently available under these clauses for the purchase of relevant Australian manufactured goods, components and/or technology.
Mr Viner:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

See the reply given by the Minister for Productivity to Question 1794 (House of Representatives Hansard, 23 November 1 978, page 335 1 ).

Department of Construction: Purchase of Equipment (Question No. 1788)

Mr Holding:

asked the Minister for Construction, upon notice, on 22 August 1 978:

  1. 1 ) How many contracts entered into by Departments and Statutory Corporations under his control for the purchase of equipment, contained clauses specifying an offset arrangement with the vendor for the purchase of Australian manufactured goods, components and/or technology during the last 10 years.
  2. What were those contracts.
  3. What was the sum involved in each offset clause and what were the terms of its discharge.
  4. What is the extent to which the terms of these clauses have been implemented specifying in each case the monetary value of the implementation.
  5. What sum is currently available under these clauses for the purchase of relevant Australian manufactured goods, components and/or technology.
Mr McLeay:
BOOTHBY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

I refer the honourable member to the information provided by the Minister for Productivity in answer to Question No. 1794, House of Representatives Hansard, 23 November 1978, page 3351.

Department of Business and Consumer Affairs: Purchase of Equipment (Question No. 1795)

Mr Holding:

asked the Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs, upon notice, on 22 August 1978:

  1. 1 ) How many contracts entered into by Departments and Statutory Corporations under his control for the purchase of equipment, contained clauses specifying an offset arrangement with the vendor for the purchase of Australian manufactured goods, components and/or technology during the last 10 years.
  2. 2 ) What were those contracts.
  3. What was the sum involved in each offset clause and what were the terms of its discharge.
  4. What is the extent to which the terms of these clauses have been implemented specifying in each case the monetary value of the implementation.
  5. What sum is currently available under these clauses for the purchase of relevant Australian manufactured goods, components and/or technology.
Mr Fife:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

I refer the honourable member to the answer provided by the Minister for Productivity to his Question on Notice No. 1794 (see Hansard, 23 November 1978, page 335 1 ).

Coal Resources Assessment in Queensland (Question No. 1859)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for National Development, upon notice on 23 August 1 978:

In view of the deficiencies of coal resource assessment in Queensland identified in the National Energy Advisory Committee Report No. 2 entitled ‘Australia’s Energy Resources’, what action has been taken, or is planned, to improve coal resource assessments in that State, as a contribution to a more complete assessment of Australia’s total coal resources.

Mr Newman:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

Government support of coal resource assessment is currently under review by Technical Standing Committee No. 1 of the National Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Council. I am advised that within the next few weeks Council will be bringing forward recommendations in respect of this matter. I will be pleased to write to the Leader of the Opposition with advice of the Government’s decision on coal resource assessment funding.

Coal Exploration in New South Wales (Question No. I860)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for National Development, upon notice, on 23 August 1 978:

  1. 1 ) In view of the problem with coal resource assessment in New South Wales identified in the National Energy Advisory Committee Report No. 2 entitled ‘Australia’s Energy Resources’, what action has been taken, or is planned, to improve the ability of the Joint Coal Board to deal with the large volume of coal exploration data being generated by drilling programs.
  2. What action has the Government taken, or does it intend to take, to ensure that the Joint Coal Board has sufficient skilled manpower to perform the resource assessments necessary in relation to coal deposits in New South Wales.
Mr Newman:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. and (2) Government support of coal resource assessment is currently under review by Technical Standing Committee No. 1 of the National Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Council. I am advised that within the next few weeks Council will be bringing forward recommendations in respect of this matter. I will be pleased to write to the Leader of the Opposition with advice of the Government’s decision on coal resource assessment funding.

Visitor Applications from Yugoslavia (Question No. 1906)

Mr Neil:
ST GEORGE, NEW SOUTH WALES

asked the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, upon notice, on 12 September 1978:

  1. How many applications for visitor visas have been made by persons seeking to visit Australia from Yugoslavia in each of the last three years.
  2. How many of these applications were (a) granted and (b) refused.
  3. What were the predominant reasons for refusal.
Mr MacKellar:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. and (2) The information about visitor visas sought is as follows:
  1. Applicants for visitor visas are required to be of good character, to be free of communicable or other diseases likely to endanger public health in Australia, to have adequate funds to maintain themselves in Australia and to be genuinely intending only a visit not involving employment or studies. Statistics on the reasons for refusal are not available but most refusals would have been the result of applicants’ failing to meet one or more of these requirements.

Govermnent Finance (Question No. 1955)

Mr Hodges:

asked the Minister for Finance, upon notice, on 14 September 1978:

  1. What was the state of Government finances on 10 November 1975.
  2. What funds, appropriated by Parliament, were still available to the Government at that date.
  3. For which paydays after that date were funds available for the payment of wages and salaries to (a) members of the public service, (b) employees of statutory authorities and (c) members of the armed forces.
Mr Eric Robinson:
MCPHERSON, QUEENSLAND · LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) to ( 3 ) I am advised that the Department of Finance ‘s central ledger record incorporates only end of month data and that the information sought with regard to amounts expended as at 10 November 1975 is not held in the Department

Parliamentary Question No. 1677 (Question No. 2071)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Minister representing the Attorney-General, upon notice, on 14 September 1978:

When may I expect an answer to question No. 1677.

Mr Viner:
LP

– The Attorney-General has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

Question number 1677 has now been answered.

Refugees (Question No. 2158)

Mr Neil:

asked the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, upon notice, on 20 September 1978:

  1. 1 ) How many refugees have been accepted into Australia (a) in each of the years (i) 1976 and (ii) 1977, and (b) during the period 1 January 1978 to date.
  2. From which countries did they come and how many came from each of these countries.
  3. How many of these refugees are presently registered as unemployed.
Mr MacKellar:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. and (2) Departmental statistics are collated on the basis of financial years, and relate to the admission of specific groups of refugees and displaced persons rather than the countries of first asylum from which these people came. Statistics for refugee and quasi-refugee groups admitted for the financial years, 1975-76, 1976-77 and 1977-78 are as follows:
  1. Government statistics relating to persons registered as unemployed do not distinguish those persons who entered Australia as refugees. 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T Weedicides (Question No. 2164)
Dr Everingham:

asked the Minister for Health, upon notice, on 20 September 1978:

  1. Is he able to say whether the weedicides 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T have been tested by United States authorities under the Pesticides Act or the Toxic Substances Control Act or by British authorities including the Health and Safety Executive.
  2. If so, do the tests include mutagenicity tests on plants and bacteria including S. typhimurium, the Ames test and other in vitro tests.
  3. What validity and reliability have been attributed to these tests by the National Health and Medical Research Council.
  4. What are the probabilities of mutagenicity in humans directly exposed to aerial spraying of these substances.
Mr Hunt:
NCP/NP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reported to have commissioned tests on 2,4-D but to date the results are not available. The EPA has examined data on 2,4,5-T and this is noted in the United States Federal Register of 21 April 1978. The United Kingdom authorities report that they have no test results later than 1 972.
  2. The nature of the United States tests on 2,4-D is not yet available. On 2,4,5-T the EPA noted tests on Drosophila melanogaster, Salmonella typhimurium, in vitro cytogenetic studies on human lympocytes, work on invivo bone-marrow cells of Mongolian gerbils and an invivo study on the cytogenetic effects on bone-marrow cells of Mus musculus. The tests in the United Kingdom are described as in vitro tests made before the more sensitive ‘activated’ tests became available.
  3. The National Health and Medical Research Council has not made any statement on the validity and reliability of these tests.
  4. Direct exposure of humans should be kept to a minimum whatever the mode of application. There is no evidence of mutagenicity occurring in humans from the use of these chemicals applied by aerial spraying.

Rural Industry Subsidies (Question No. 2201)

Mr Braithwaite:
DAWSON, QUEENSLAND

asked the Minister for Primary Industry, upon notice, on 26 September 1978:

  1. What was the total amount of subsidies paid to rural industries in 1977-78 and what sum has been allocated for 1978-79.
  2. What are the details of the various subsidies paid during 1 977-78 and to be paid during 1978-79.
  3. What were the amounts paid in 1977-78 apportioned between the States.
Mr Sinclair:
NCP/NP

– The answer to the Honourable Member’s questions are as follows:

  1. and (2) I have assumed that the Honourable Member’s interest is in direct financial assistance provided to the rural sector by the Government A detailed account of this assistance is shown on pages 112-121 of the 1978-79 Budget Paper No. 1. 1 suggest that the Honourable Member might refer to this for a comprehensive account of Government measures and, to assist him, I have arranged for preparation of the following summary table which provides to the extent possible a summary of relevant information in the form in which he sought it
  2. Although in some cases expenditures are recorded as payments to individual States, most direct assistance is recorded on an industry basis only and a detailed breakdown by States is not currently available.

Department of Defence: Computers (Question No. 2213)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 27 September 1978:

  1. How many computers are (a) owned, (b) operated, (c) in the process of being purchased or (d) rented by his Department and Statutory Authorities and business undertakings under his control.
  2. What is the cost of purchase or rental of each computer.
  3. ) For what purposes is each computer used.
  4. What is the nature of the data stored by each computer.
  5. What interconnections exist or will exist between any of these computers.
  6. Who has access to each computer.
  7. What savings in staff numbers have been achieved or are anticipated as a result of the installation or operation of each computer.
Mr Killen:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

Department of Defence

  1. (a)90;(b)92;(c)34;(d)2.
  2. Cost of purchase or rental of each computer, see Table

page 3515

A

Accurate details of staff savings, achieved through introduction of computers in the labour intensive areas engaged in the administrative type functions are not available. Such an assessment of the manpower equivalents of each machine would be a costly, long-term exercise offering inconclusive results. The problem arises from the fact that computerization in the Department of Defence commenced in the early 1960’s. No recent basis exists on which to estimate the practical staff level which would be required to perform the now much expanded management facilities and monitoring functions available from the machines, but undoubtedly these would be thousands.

A limited exercise undertaken in 1976 to attempt to assess the staff savings from the use of the Central UNIVAC and Honeywell installations in Canberra indicated that some 1200 staff positions had been released for other duties within the Department These people had formerly provided the Armed Forces Pay, Personnel and Supply functions.

Whilst no staff have been retrenched through the introduction of these computers, they have enabled a limitation of the staff growth which would otherwise have flowed from the increasing complexity of administration of the Armed Forces.

Introduction of computer systems in which estimated staff savings were specifically identified were:

Attorney-General’s Department: Computers (Question No. 2217)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister representing the Attorney-General, upon notice, on 28 September 1978:

  1. How many computers are (a) owned, (b) operated, (c) in the process of being purchased or (d) rented by the Attorney-General’s Department and statutory authorities and business undertakings under the control of die AttorneyGeneral
  2. What is the cost of purchase or rental of each computer.
  3. 3 ) For what purposes is each computer used.
  4. What is the nature of the data stored by each computer.
  5. What interconnections exist or will exist between any of these computers.
  6. Who has access to each computer.
  7. What savings in staff numbers have been achieved or are anticipated as a result of the installation or operation of each computer.
Mr Viner:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

Similar questions have been asked in respect of each Department The Attorney-General has informed me that his Department has no computers and has asked me to refer the honourable member to the replies of the Prime Minister and the Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs.

Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs: Computers (Question No. 2219)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, upon notice, on 27 September 1978:

  1. How many computers are (a) owned, (b) operated, (c) in the process of being purchased, or (d) rented by his Department and statutory authorities and business undertakings under his control.
  2. What is the cost of purchase or rental of each computer.
  3. 3 ) For what purpose is each computer used.
  4. What is the nature of the data stored by each computer.
  5. What interconnections exist or will exist between any of these computers.
  6. Who has access to each computer.
  7. What savings in staff numbers have been achieved or are anticipated as a result of the installation or operation of each computer.
Mr Mackellar:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. (a) One (GCS-2100); (b) As in 1 (a) above: (c) One (a word processor); (d) The Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs is a user of the B7700 computing facility owned by Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, and operated by the Mandata Project Office. The answers to parts (3), (4), (6) and (7) of this question concerned with this Department’s use of that facility have been included in the Prime Minister’s reply to a similar question.
  2. (a) GCS-2100-$70,000 in 1973; (b) Wordprocessor tenders not yet fully evaluated. Cost expected to be of the order of $50,000.
  3. (a) GCS-2100. Used exclusively for data entry, (b) Word-processor (being purchased). To be used to improve efficiency of departmental typing resources.
  4. (a) Data stored on GCS-2100: Personal details relating to passenger movements and citizenship grantees; survey and other statistical data- all temporarily; (b) Data to be stored on word-processor correspondence, reports, etc. submitted for typing.
  5. No interconnections exist between any of these computers, nor, in the foreseeable future, are any envisaged.
  6. GCS-2100: Programming staff and senior data processing operator of my Department; Word-Processor The access controls are yet to be finalised, but will only involve staff of my Department
  7. When the GCS-2100 was installed, 16 staff were reallocated to other duties. The staffing implications of the installation of the word processing equipment will depend on developments in typing workloads in the Department.

Department of Defence: Computers (Question No. 2242)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 27 September 1978:

  1. 1 ) In respect of each computer owned or operated by his Department and Statutory Authorities and business undertakings under his control, what information stored therein can be sold, hired, lent or given to any person or organisation other than properly authorised employees of his Department, authority or business.
  2. Under what circumstances can this information be (a) sold, (b) hired, c) lent or (d) given.
  3. On what occasions, and to whom, has any information been sold, hired, lent or given in the past
Mr Killen:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

Department of Defence

  1. 1 ) and (2) The data holdings on computers owned by the Department of Defence are those integral to the management and operations of the Department and the Armed Forces. Some of this data is classified.

Data holdings of the Department of Defence are made available to external persons or organisations where there is a commitment under military, defence co-operation or exchange agreements or where it is within the objectives of defence policies. Data so supplied is without charge. In the case of military survey data and maps, a charge is made for supply to persons or organisations who are not parties to Map Exchange Agreements.

  1. Details of information passed to other organisations are as follows:

In addition, there is some ongoing inter-Departmental transmission of data where the Department of Defence computerised activities are complementary to the prescribed responsibility of other Departments. Supply of pay and taxation deduction data of the Services to the Departments of Finance and Taxation are examples.

Australian Services Canteens Organisation

  1. Nil.
  2. a., b., c, d. not applicable.
  3. Never.

Attorney-General’s Department: Computers (Question No. 2247)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister representing the Attorney-General, upon notice, on 28 September 1978:

  1. 1 ) In respect of each computer owned or operated by the Attorney-General’s Department and statutory authorities and business undertakings under the control of the AttorneyGeneral, what information stored therein can be sold, hired, lent or given to any person or organisation other than properly authorised employees of the Attorney-General’s Department, authority or business.
  2. Under what circumstances can this information be (a) sold, (b) hired, (c) lent or (d) given.
  3. On what occasions, and to whom, has any information been sold, hired, lent or given in the past
Mr Viner:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

Similar questions have been asked in respect of each Department The Attorney-General has informed me that his Department has no computers and has asked me to refer the honourable member to the replies of the Prime Minister and of the Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs.

Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs: Computers (Question No. 2249)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, upon notice on 27 September 1978:

  1. 1 ) In respect of each computer owned or operated by bis Department and statutory authorities and business undertakings under his control, what information stored therein can be sold, hired, lent or given to any person or organisation other than properly authorised employees of his Department, authority or business.
  2. Under what circumstances can this information be (a) sold, (b) hired, (c) lent or (d) given.
  3. On what occasions, and to whom, has any information been sold, hired, lent or given in the past
Mr Mackellar:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. The only computer owned and operated by the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, a GCS-2 1 00, is an input facility to computers operated by other Departments. No information is available from this system.
  2. n.a.
  3. n.a.

Barrow Island Crude Oil: Import Parity Price (Question No. 2273)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for National Development, upon notice, on 27 September 1978:

  1. 1 ) What was the production of crude oil from each Barrow Island oil field during the periods (a) 17 August to 31 December 1977 and (b) 1 January to 30 June 1978.
  2. Which of these fields attracted the import parity price for the first 6 million barrels of oil produced per annum during the periods (a) 17 August to 31 December 1977 and (b) 1 January to 30 June 1978.
  3. Which of these fields attracted the import parity price for the first 10 per cent of production during the periods (a) 17 August to 31 December 1977 and (b) 1 January to 30 June 1978.
Mr Newman:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows: ( 1 ), (2) and (3) During these periods there was only one producing field. Production during these periods was (a) 4,224,465 barrels (b) 5,616,603 barrels and attracted the import parity price for the 6 million barrel basic allowance.

Crude Oil Production (Question No. 2276)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for National Development, upon notice, on 27 September 1978:

What was the production of crude oil from (a) the Bass Strait oil field, (b) each Barrow Island oil field and (c) other Australian oil fields during the period 1 July 1977 to 16 August 1978.

Mr Newman:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 26,399,351 kilolitres.
  2. 2,004,786 kilolitres. During the period in question there was one producing field.
  3. 69,371 kilolitres.

Parliamentary Question No. 2071 (Question No. 2320)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Minister representing the Attorney-General, upon notice, on 14 September 1978:

When will the Parliament receive an answer to question No. 2071 appearing on the Notice Paper in my name in relation to a question which was first put on the Notice Paper on 15 August 1978.

Mr Viner:
LP

-The Attorney-General has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

Question number 207 1 has now been answered.

Migrants Voting Rights (Question No. 2379)

Or Cass asked the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, upon notice, on 28 September 1978:

1 ) What are the major anomalies in voting rights at (a) the state level and (b) the federal level with regard to those born overseas.

What action does the Government intend to take to fulfil the Galbally recommendation No. 34 which refers to all migrants being placed on an equal footing in regard to their voting rights.

Mr MacKellar:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question, following consultation by my Department with the Australian Electoral Office, is as follows:

  1. 1 ) (a) Voting rights at the state level are a matter for each individual State Government to determine and are outside the sphere of responsibility of the Australian Electoral Office.
  2. (b) The Commonwealth Electoral Act requires all Australian citizens and other British subjects to enrol and vote for federal elections. The franchise so conferred is only concerned with the question whether a particular person has the legal status of an Australian citizen or a British subject and not, per se, with his country of origin.
  3. My Department in conjunction with the Australian Electoral Office is studying the question of all migrants being placed on an equal footing in relation to their voting rights. In relation to Galbally recommendation No. 34, this involves the study of several options for possible alterations to legislation.

The matter has been discussed recently at the Conference of Commonwealth and State Ministers for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs who generally saw a need for a uniform Commonwealth and State approach bearing in mind the confusion that could result through the operation of Section 41 of the Constitution if different approaches and timing were adopted in amending Commonwealth and State legislation.

Ethnic Schools (Question No. 2417)

Dr Cass:
MARIBYRNONG, VICTORIA

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Education, upon notice, on 10 October 1978:

  1. How many ethnic schools are currently operating throughout Australia.
  2. How many of these (a) are regular day schools and (b) operate outside regular school hours.
  3. What is the approximate total enrolment in ethnic schools.
  4. Do any of these schools receive Commonwealth Government funding; if so, which are they.
  5. 5 ) How many State Governments allocate funds to ethnic schools, what were the relevant allocations in each State during 1 977-78 and what will be the allocations during 1978-79.
Mr Staley:
LP

– The Minister for Education has provided the following reply to the honourable member’s question:

  1. 1 ) In 1976 the Committee on the Teaching of Migrant Languages in Schools estimated that there were approximately 600 ethnic schools throughout Australia. Although no nationwide survey has been conducted since, recent estimates suggest that there are now well in excess of that number of schools.
  2. (a) and (b) All but a few of these ethnic schools take the form of part-time schools and classes organised out of normal school hours which are established by ethnic communities to allow the teaching of the traditional language and culture of the community. There are three regular day schools in New South Wales, following recognised school curricula which are attended by particular ethnic groups. These are Our Lady of Lebanon, Harris Park; St Maron’s, Redfern; and the Sydney Japanese School.
  3. The Committee on the Teaching of Migrant Languages in Schools estimated, in 1976, the total enrolment in ethnic schools as50,000. The current enrolment would be somewhat higher.
  4. The three regular day schools mentioned in (2) above, with a total enrolment of 700, receive Commonwealth funding through the Schools Commission’s General Recurrent Grants Program. In addition there are ten Jewish schools with a total enrolment of 4,400 students which receive general recurrent grants.
  5. The governments of New South Wales and South Australia provide funds to ethnic schools in their States. The New South Wales government provided $100,000 in 1 977- 78 to assist ethnic schools and will provide $ 1 30,000 in 1978- 79. The South Australian government provided $59,892 in 1977-78 on the basis of a per capita grant of $12 per annum. It is anticipated that an amount of $80,000 could be provided in 1978-79.

Immigration Applications: Screening (Question No. 2421)

Br Cass asked the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, upon notice, on 10 October 1978:

What are the economic and employment factors against which independent applications for migration are screened.

) What points are allotted to each factor.

Mr MacKellar:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) and (2) The economic factors of numas (which include aspects of employment) and the points assigned to each are as follows:

Motor Vehicles: Components of Prices (Question No. 2461)

Mr Barry Jones:
LALOR, VICTORIA · ALP

asked the Minister for Busi ness and Consumer Affairs, upon notice, on 1 1 October 1978:

Is he able to provide the current relative percentage of the price of passenger motor vehicles attributed to (a) sales tax and (b) import duties in (i) Australia, (ii) the United Kingdom, (iii) the United States of America, (iv) New Zealand, (v) South Africa, (vi) France, (vii) Italy, (viii) West Germany and (ix) Japan?

Mr Fife:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

For Australia there is a 45 per cent import duty and a special additional customs duty of 12.5 per cent both levied on a free on board (fob) basis; sales tax is payable at 15 per cent on the final wholesale selling price of the vehicle. The current percentage of the retail price of passenger motor vehicles attributed to sales tax in Australia is estimated to be about 10 per cent.

Prices of vehicles in the overseas countries named are not readily available.

For these countries I have been advised that the import duty and sales tax rates (or those taxes deemed the equivalent of sales tax) are as follows (based on information held by departments at 2 1 November 1978):

United Kingdom- 1 1 per cent import duty on vehicles from non-EEC countries, levied on a cost insurance and freight (cif) basis; 8 per cent Value Added Tax levied on the duty paid value.

United States of America- 3 per cent import duty on vehicles from Preferential countries; 10 per cent import duty on vehicles from General countries (fob basis). Sales tax rates vary from 3 per cent to 7 per cent between various states and are levied on the total amount of the bill of sale depending on the State in which the vehicle is sold.

New Zealand- 20 per cent import duty on vehicles from Australia and UK. For completely assembled vehicles exported from Canada the following import duties apply.

If the Canadian or Commonwealth content (as defined) is 75 per cent or more- 33.33 per cent

If the Canadian or Commonwealth content (as defined) is less than 75 per cent- 55 per cent

Vehicles from all other sources are subject to an import duty of 55 per cent. All customs duties are based on an fob basis.

Sales tax is levied on the duty paid value and varies with the engine capacity as follows:

Up to 1 350 cc- 30 per cent

Over 1 350 cc and up to 2000 cc- 37.5 per cent

Over 2000 cc and up to 2700 cc-50 per cent

Over 2700 cc- 60 per cent

South Africa- import duty 45 per cent, plus 2 per cent for each R100 (rand) in excess of R1000 value for duty, plus 1 per cent for each 45 kilograms in excess of 1,135 kilograms. Maximum duty leviable is 100 per cent (fob basis).

In addition an Excise duty is levied on the duty paid value, made up of 42 cents per kilogram, plus 5 cents per kilogram for every 25 kilograms in excess of 1,680 kilograms. Maximum duty leviable is R3,50O.

There is also a surcharge of 1214 per cent of the value for duty (ie fob value).

France- 11 per cent import duty on vehicles from non-EEC countries (cif basis); Value Added Tax of 33.3 per cent of the duty paid value on vehicles holding a maximum of 8 passengers or 1 7.6 per cent for all other passenger vehicles.

Italy- 1 1 per cent import duty on vehicles from nonEEC countries (cif basis); Value Added Tax of 14 per cent of the duty paid value except for private vehicles of 2000 cc or less where VAT is 18 per cent of the duty paid value.

West Germany- 1 1 per cent import duty on vehicles from non-EEC countries (cif basis); Import Turnover Tax (VAT) of 12 per cent of the duty paid value.

Japan- no import duty is levied on passenger motor vehicles. This is a temporary measure applying until 3 1 March 1 979. A Commodity Tax of 1 5 per cent for certain small vehicles, 30 per cent for camping cars and 20 per cent for most other passenger motor vehicles is levied on the duty paid (cif) value. The 20 per cent rate has been temporarily reduced from 30 per cent and is expected to remain effective until at least 31 March 1979.

Export Assistance for Californian Agricultural Commodities (Question No. 2462)

Mr lloyd:

asked the Minister for Trade and Resources, upon notice, on 1 1 October 1978:

Is he able to say whether the recently enacted Californian legislation to assist export industries to gain or retain export markets has been invoked to help any agricultural commodities, particularly rice, tomatoes, avocadoes, almonds, canned fruit or fresh fruit

Mr Anthony:
NCP/NP

– In answer to the honourable member’s question, the information available to me is as follows:

Although the current Californian legislation, Assembly Bill No. 2286, is designed to assist the export of any commodity (except almonds) grown in California, to date it has not been invoked by exporters of any of the abovementioned items. The legislation allows agricultural marketing organisations, with official approval, to impose levies on production and use the funds to promote export sales and subsidise export freight costs. Almonds come under Federal jurisdiction and are excluded from the provisions of the Californian legislation.

The earlier legislation. Assembly Bill No. 3428, was invoked between August and October 1977, to assist in the export of canned peaches to Europe. However, due to a short crop and strong existing markets in the United States and Europe, the Californian Cling Peach Advisory Board has not applied to have the provisions of Assembly Bill No. 2286 invoked for the export promotion of Californian peaches. I understand that the levy collected in 1977 by the Cling Peach Advisory Board will not be used to promote exports or subsidise freight, but may be used to stage a national advertising campaign if there is an increased supply of peaches late in the 1978 season.

Air Fares (Question No. 2479)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister for Transport, upon notice, on 1 1 October 1978:

  1. What is the margin currently operating between first class fares and economy class fares of the Australian domestic airlines.
  2. Is he able to say what is the margin currently operating between first class fares and economy class fares in (a) Canada, (b) the United States of America and (c) E.E.C. countries.
  3. What action has he taken to implement the recommendation contained in Part 1 of the Domestic Air Transport Policy Report, dated March 1978, that a detailed evaluation should be undertaken which takes account of real resource opportunity costs with a view to determining appropriate fare differentials between the various categories of fare types.
Mr Nixon:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) and (2) Taking domestic first class fare as the base, the domestic economy class fare as a proportion of that base is: 1 Based on sample of routes and fares. However, it should be noted that in the Benelux countries, Denmark, Britain and Eire there are no domestic first class fares.
  2. Priority has been directed at consideration of the recommendations impinging directly upon the Two Airlines Agreement. Other recommendations contained in the Domestic Air Transport Policy Review Report are to be considered as appropriate.

Industries Assistance Commission (Question Na 2493)

Mr Humphreys:

asked the Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs, upon notice, on 12 October, 1978:

  1. Has his attention been drawn to an article by Mr Richard Doyle of the Administrative and Clerical Officers Association published in that Association’s monthly journal, in which Mr Doyle, referring to the Government’s closure of the Industries Assistance Commission’s Sydney and Melbourne offices, quotes passages from chapter 7 of the report of the Royal Commission on Australian Government Administration.
  2. Upon what advice has the Government based its decision to reject the recommendation of the report of the Royal Commission in this instance.
  3. In consideration of the structural and planning disadvantages faced by industries in Queensland, due to that State’s branch office status, and notwithstanding plans to close the Sydney and MelbourneI.A.C. offices, will he consider establishing anI.A.C office in Brisbane in order that it can review more closely the local circumstances of industries such as Olympic Tyre and Rubber Co., which recently announced closure of its Brisbane Factory.
Mr Fife:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. Yes.
  2. The Chairman of the Industries Assistance Commission has the statutory responsibility to ensure the efficient and orderly conduct of the business of the Commission including such matters as the location of Commission staff. I am advised by the Chairman that discussions concerning closure of the Sydney and Melbourne offices and consolidation of staff resources are currently being held with the Public Service Board. These will cover matters such as industry access to staff, co-ordination of the Commission’s operations, and the appropriate organisation and location of staff consistent with considerations of access, efficiency and costs both to the Government and private enterprise, including the general public
  3. The Commission does not propose to open new offices in other capital cities at this time. However, as was the position before project branches were located outside Canberra, a high proportion of the Commission’s public hearings will continue to be held in Sydney and Melbourne, with some also in other States. In arranging hearing venues the convenience of prospective witnesses will remain a prime consideration.

Departure Tax (Question No. 2532)

Mr Les Johnson has asked the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, upon notice, 17 October 1978:

Has he authorised an advertising campaign designed to inform people of the new departure tax.

If so, (a) what is the cost or anticipated cost of the campaign,

which advertising agents or consultants are to be used,

how many public servants have been involved either directly or indirectly with the administration or collection of the tax, and

what is the anticipated administrative costs of collecting the tax.

Mr MacKellar:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) An advertising campaign was authorised.

  2. (a) $108,000.

    1. The advertising was placed through the Australian Government Advertising Service. Printing of literature was carried out by the Australian Government Publishing Service.
    2. Staff from my own Department involved with tax collection at airport booths, stamp control and accounting in Regional Offices numbers 47. One officer from Central Office, Canberra is responsible for co-ordination and implementation. There is also some involvement in departure tax collection on a part time basis of staff in the Passports Offices and Customs Bureau of the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Business and Consumer Affairs respectively. A number of other Departments have been and will continue to be involved on an ad hoc basis from time to time.
    3. It is not possible to provide an accurate assessment of total administration costs for collecting the tax in 1978-79 pending finalisation of a staff review by the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs and the Public Service Board. However based on existing staff levels the cost during 1978-79 is estimated at $714,000. This includes the cost for providing and furnishing booths at airports, overtime, travelling allowance for officers, security measures for handling moneys collected and salaries of an additional 46 staff.

Aboriginal Education (Question No. 2575)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Education, upon notice, on 19 October 1978:

  1. What is the allocation by the Department of Education for spending on Aboriginal education during 1 978-79.
  2. Is this amount incorporated as a part of the Budget function ‘Government Schools and Pre-Schools in the Territories’.
  3. If so, is a specific proportion of that function’s allocation to be spent on Aboriginals only.
Mr Staley:
LP

– The Minister for Education has provided the following reply to the honourable member’s question:

  1. The Budget estimates for 1978-79 for the Department of Education include the following specific allocations for Aboriginal education:

The funds available for student assistance do not include the salaries and expenses of Departmental staff involved in the administration of the schemes and in the counselling of Aboriginal students receiving assistance. The funds for Government schools and pre-schools in the Northern Territory include the salaries and expenses of school based teaching staff, but not the costs of administrative staff of the Northern Territory Division concerned with the servicing of Aboriginal schools.

In addition to the estimated expenditure by the Department of Education, some $3.7m is estimated to be expended by the Departments of Construction and Administrative Services in respect of building and works, repairs, maintenance, and furniture and fittings for Aboriginal education in the Northern Territory.

  1. The Budget functional heading ‘Government Schools and Pre-schools in the Territories’ includes estimated outlays for 1978-79 in respect of Government schools and preschools in the Northern Territory. This includes estimated outlays by the Department of Education and other Departments (i.e. Construction and Administrative Services), in respect of Aboriginal education.

Outlays in respect of student assistance for Aboriginals are included under the functional heading ‘Special GroupsAboriginals Student Assistance’ whereas the National Aboriginal Education Committee is included under the heading Special Groups- Aboriginals- Other’.

Assistance to Mission Schools in the Northern Territory is included under the heading ‘Schools and Pre-schools in the Territories- Non-Government’.

  1. The functional heading ‘Schools and Pre-Schools in the Territories’ includes the following estimated outlays during 1 978-79 in respect of Aboriginal Education:

The Education functional table in the Budget documents was varied from 1977-78 to 1978-79. In 1977-78 outlays in respect of Aboriginal education in schools in the NT was included under the heading ‘Special Groups’ whereas in 1978-79 these outlays are incorporated under the heading Schools and Pre-Schools in the Territories ‘.

Defence: School Cadets (Question No. 2615)

Mr Scholes:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 25 October 1978:

  1. What contribution is made to Australian defence preparedness by school cadets.
  2. Is it appropriate that cadets are a charge against the Department of Defence vote.
Mr Killen:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member ‘s question is as follows:

  1. The new Australian Services Cadet Scheme introduced by this Government is designed to encourage young people to develop the qualities of leadership, discipline, self reliance and loyalty. These attributes are very helpful in maintaining our defence preparedness.
  2. The Cadet Forces Regulations which are the operating authority for the new scheme are made under the Defence Act It is, therefore, appropriate that the costs of the scheme are a charge against the Defence vote.

Galbally Review (Question No. 2625)

Dr Cass:

asked the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, upon notice, on 25 October 1978:

  1. 1 ) Which ethnic community leaders were represented at discussions with Commonwealth officials regarding the implementation of the Galbally Review’s recommendations in Melbourne on 10 October 1 978.
  2. Which ethnic community leaders were included at similar discussions held in Adelaide on 1 1 October and in Perth on 13 October 1978.
Mr MacKellar:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. and (2) Commonwealth officials involved in the implementation of the Galbally Report on Migrant Services and Programs held discussions on the Report with State

Government officials in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth during the week 9- 1 3 October.

The officials held informal small group discussion meetings on the Galbally Report with representatives of a number of ethnic community groups and other community organisations working amongst migrants. The meetings were part of the continuing consultations with ethnic and community organisations on the implementation of the Galbally Report.

The following persons attended the meetings (some others who had been invited were unable to attend):

Melbourne-9 October 1978-Mrs D. Batzias, Mr A. Beaver, Mr A. Borg, Mr F. Chuah, Dr B. Deschamps, Mr E. Gaud, Mr O. Hallak, Dr R. Jade, Mr M. Liffman, Mr W. Lippman, Mr G. Martini Piovano, Mr S. Moraitis, Mr N. Polites.

Adelaide- 1 1 October- Mr A. Carlini, Father J. Foale, Mr J. Gulbis, Mr N. Jovanovic, Mr I. Kalnins, Mr N. Manos, S.M., Mr N. Minicozzi, Mr P. Varma, Mr J. Kiosoglous, Mr G. Killington, Mr B. Griffiths, Rev. M. S. Sawyer.

Perth- 13 October-Mr C. Angelkov, Mr C. Berbatis, Mr D. Sang, Mr B. Shroy, Mr J. Silva, Mr M. Srdarov, Mr A. Bertogna, Rt Rev. M. Challen, Rev. B. Hickey, Mr A. Lutero.

United States Defence Installations in Australia (Question No. 2631)

Mr Les Johnson:
HUGHES, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 25 October 1978:

  1. How many times and on what occasions and dates have US Defence installations in Australia been placed on alert status since 1965.
  2. On which occasions was the Prime Minister informed.
Mr Killen:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. and (2) The US Government does not publicise changes in the alert status of its forces. It is concerned that the information could be used to advantage by potentially opposing military forces. There is also the risk that the significance of such changes might be misinterpreted by the public and might thus impart a quite unwarranted sense of danger. I agree with that approach. I do not therefore propose to answer the honourable member’s question in the detail which he has sought I can advise him, however, that there have been no changes in the alert status of US forces at Joint US/Australian Defence Facilities in Australia since October 1973.

Supply of Doctors (Question No. 2651)

Mr Lloyd:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Education, upon notice, on 26 October 1978:

  1. Has the Minister’s attention been drawn to a possible oversupply of doctors, with the resultant increase in medical and hospital costs.
  2. If so, what is being done to restrict the undergraduate intake.
Mr Staley:
LP

-The Minister for Education has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

  1. and (2) The Tertiary Education Commission commented on the medical manpower situation in Volume 1 of the Report for 1979-81 Triennium. The Commission noted that in the light of information currently available, there will almost certainly be a higher doctor/population ratio than had been previously predicted. Accordingly, the Commission considered that it would be difficult to justify any further expansion of medical education, and recommended that universities should not increase the intake of undergraduate students into medical courses. In addition, a proposal to establish a new medical school at the James Cook University of North Queensland has not been implemented. Universities have for some time applied strict quotas to the intake of students into this field of study. The Commission however expressed caution in relying on manpower predictions and will be closely monitoring future trends in the provision of medical manpower.

In recognition of a potential oversupply of doctors, a committee has been established to examine and report on the supply of medical manpower and the implications of the current and projected levels of supply. This committee comprises officers of the Departments of Education, Health, Employment and Industrial Relations and Immigration & Ethnic Affairs and the Tertiary Education Commission. I understand that its report to the Government is now in the final stages of preparation.

Australian Services Canteens Organisation (Question No. 2670)

Mr Humphreys:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 26 October 1978:

  1. Has each or any of the air bases in Australia been requested to submit an official or semi-official base view on the services provided by the Australian Services Canteens Organisation or any other aspect of the Organisation.
  2. Has the air base at Amberly, Queensland, submitted any statement outlining its collective opinion of the services offered by the Organisation.

  3. Is it a fact that opinion at the air base as outlined in an official statement or as held informally,

    1. is favourable toward the Organisation,
    2. expresses reservations about any alternative and
    3. expresses support for the retention of the Organisation.
Mr Killen:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) No; it is not customary to make decisions concerning the Defence Force on the basis of plebiscites.
  2. No.
  3. Any views properly offered by the air base at Amberley would be taken into account as appropriate.

Department of Defence Canteens (Question No. 2671)

Mr Humphreys:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 26 October 1 978:

With reference to his answer to question No. 2328 (Hansard, 17 October 1978, page 1983) will he state in detail what are the sort of canteen systems that are more closely aligned to the basic and essential needs of the defence force in the present socio-economic circumstances.

Mr KILLEN:
MORETON, QUEENSLAND · LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

Proposals for canteen systems to meet the basic and essential needs of the defence force are still being examined.

Army and Air Force Welfare and Amenities Programs (Question No. 2672)

Mr Humphreys:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 26 October 1 978:

With reference to his answer to question No. 2326 (Hansard, 17 October 1978, page 1982), will he provide a detailed list of the welfare and amenities programs of both the Army and Air Force, which have been assisted by the $10m profit made by the Australian Services Canteens Organisation since 1959.

Mr Killen:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

The following is a list of the Army and Air Force welfare and amenities programs which have been assisted by the disbursement of ASCO profits since 1959:

Army

The Army Central Amenities fund has been involved in the following main areas of expenditure:

  1. Provision of funds for military district and unit amenity funds.

  2. Provision of monetary grants and/or loans for major amenities projects of a capital nature for use by military personnel. The following have been provided:

    1. Mandalay (holiday flats) Cairns
    2. Amaroo (holiday flats) Magnetic Island
    3. Mallaraba (holiday flats) Bilinga
    4. Bulwarra (holiday flats) Terrigal
    5. Alpine Lodge Thredbo
    6. Caravan Park Lake Eppalock
    7. Alpine Centre Mt Buller
    8. Holiday homes Queenscliff
    9. House boats Lake Eildon
    10. Holiday homes Goolwa
    11. Holiday homes Rottnest Island.
  3. Provision of monetary grants for amenities where Army is involved in support of such activities as the Cendrawasih Survey Operations in Indonesia, the Trachoma project in Australia, and the Tasmania Military Tattoo, when amenities are not available from Government or other sources.
  4. Provision of monetary grants to newly raised Australian Regular Army and Army Reserve units for the provision of basic amenities.

  5. Provision of assistance for sporting activities such as:

    1. Army Orienteering Championship,
    2. registration and hiring charges for Butterworth Rifle Company Sporting Teams.
  6. Provision of assistance for approved concert parties which visit isolated bases in Australia and overseas.
  7. Provision of a subsidy to provide reduced motel accommodation rates under the Privileged Accommodation Scheme for Soldiers (PASS). This assistance ceased in 1977.
  8. Financing of the production cost of the Army Newspaper.
  9. Provision of funds for amenities in military villages eg, repairs and maintenance of the ‘Village Hall’ in the ANZAC Village, Holsworthy.
  10. Provision of 10 per cent of all ASCO disbursements to the Australian Military Forces Relief Trust Fund. This fund provides interest free loans to assist soldiers meet financial problems under a number of specific circumstances.

Air Force

RAAF Central Welfare. RAAF Central Welfare receives income on behalf of RAAF members from various sources, including ASCO. Disbursements are made according to an annual program of welfare assistance to Commands, Bases and Units on the basis of need. In general, funds are loaned or granted for the provision and up-keep of amenities and sporting facilities for RAAF personnel in Australia and overseas. Recreational and inter-Service sporting activities, together with large projects having majority benefits at particular locations, are also supported.

The RAAF Welfare Trust Fund. The RAAF Welfare Trust Fund provides loans to eligible RAAF members to assist with the purchase of housing and furniture. In special circumstances, loans and grants are made available to meet personal welfare needs. A quarterly grant from RAAF Central Welfare is extended for this purpose.

The RAAF Welfare Recreational Company. The RAAF Welfare Recreational Company provides holiday accommodation at Coffs Harbour, NSW for Service personnel and their dependants at competitive rentals. The facility was established in 1972 using welfare funds derived from ASCO profits: it is currently receiving RAAF Central Welfare loan benefits, but in all other respects it is self-supporting.

Australian Services Canteens Organisation (Question No. 2674)

Mr Humphreys:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 26 October 1978:

With reference to bis answer to question No. 2330 (Hansard, 17 October 1978, page 1983), what were the results of discussions with the Public Service Board and the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations regarding the relocation of the staff of the Australian Services Canteens Organisation.

Mr Killen:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

The Public Service Board and the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations have been alerted to the potential redundancy of staff of the Australian Services Canteens Organisation.

Preliminary planning action has been taken by those authorities in readiness to provide assistance to ASCO staff as and when it becomes necessary. Guidelines have been developed for the application to eligible ASCO staff of the RAGE Scheme where the need arises.

Mercury Levels in Fish (Question No. 2717)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for Health, upon notice, on 8 November 1 978:

  1. 1 ) Is it a fact that mercury levels found in several of the fish samples purchased in the National Health and Medical Research Council 1976 market basket survey exceeded the recommended maximum residue limits.
  2. What mercury levels were found in fish purchased in each city in each season of purchase during the 1976 market basket survey.
  3. In which specific cases were mercury levels found in 1976 in excess of those found in previous market basket surveys.
  4. What is the Council’s recommended maximum residue limits for mercury in fish.
  5. What action has been taken or is planned to ensure that mercury levels do not rise in future, and that the excessive contamination offish by mercury is prevented.
Mr Hunt:
NCP/NP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. There was only one sample that was considered to be slightly above the recommended maximum level when allowance is made for loss of moisture in cooking.
  2. The mercury levels, expressed in miligrams per kilogram of cooked fish, found m summer, autumn, winter and spring respectively for each of the capital cities are as follows:
  3. Levels found in the 1976 survey for summer, winter and spring conducted in Hoban exceeded levels found for those seasons in Hobart in any previous NH & MRC Market Basket Survey.
  4. The Council’s recommended level for mercury in fresh fish is 0.5 milligram per kilogram. However, this figure increases to 0.8 to 0.85 milligram per kilogram of cooked fish due to water loss during cooking.
  5. Where high levels of mercury or any other deleterious substance are found in the food samples, the results are brought to the attention of the State health authorities responsible for administering food legislation incorporating the NH & MRC recommended maximum residue limits.

Australian Safeguards Office: Staff (Question No. 2731)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for National Development, upon notice, on 8 November 1978:

  1. What are the names, positions and responsibilities of all staff of the Australian Safeguards Office.
  2. What is the professional field of training of each of these staff members.
  3. Which of these staff members has had professional experience in their current field of responsibility outside the Australian Atomic Energy Commission.
Mr Newman:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

In respect of each of the officers of the Australian Safeguards Office the following is provided:

1) F. Bert, Director. Responsible for overall operation of and planning for ASO including, in particular, advice to Government on safeguards.

Metallurgical engineering.

Acted 2V4 years as Assistant Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Department Director ASO since May 1974.

R. Ryan, Deputy Director. Responsible for research and development on safeguards techniques, in particular on non-destructive assay. Shares responsibility for administration of ASO, including preparation of advice to Government.

Science and engineering.

16 years with CSIRO and University of NSW on computer and instrument research and development

J. Ikenberg, Nuclear Materials Accountant Responsible for ensuring adequacy of nuclear material records and accountancy in Australia, for compilation and submission of nuclear material accountancy reports to IAEA, for advising on and implementation of safeguards requirements in relation to uranium exports.

Arts, education.

Attended IAEA seminars on state systems of accounting for and control of nuclear material m 1975-76-77. To take up two year appointment in IAEA Department of Safeguards and Inspection from 1 December 1978.

J. Bellinger, Assistant Nuclear Materials. Accountant Assists the Nuclear Materials Accountant

Applied nuclear physics.

Six years of nuclear materials accountancy with Central Electricity Generating Board, UK.

J. Bardsley, System Evaluation Officer. Responsible for evaluation of effectiveness of safeguards systems.

Metallurgy.

Five years research and development on plutonium metallurgy with UK Atomic Energy Authority. Three years as safeguards inspector with IAEA.

Australian Atomic Energy Commission: Research (Question No. 2732)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for National Development, upon notice, on 8 November 1978:

  1. Has the Atomic Energy Commission made any proposals to him to conduct research on matters other than those related to the nuclear fuel cycle.
  2. If so, (a) what requests have been made, (b) on what field of research were requests made and (c) on what dates were requests made.
  3. ) Which of these requests has he agreed to.
Mr Newman:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows: (1), (2) and (3) The position has not changed since the answers provided to questions No. 595 and 1250.

Departure Tax: Collection (Question No. 2736)

Mr Jull:

asked the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, upon notice, on 9 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) How many persons have been employed by the Department specifically to collect the $ 10 departure tax.
  2. How many of these persons are employed, at each departure point and in the Department ‘s city locations.
  3. What is the estimated cost of the wages and salaries of these extra staff over a twelve-month period.
Mr Mackellar:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) 47 persons at November 1978.
  2. Airports: Sydney-22, Melbourne-12, Perth-4, Brisbane- 6, Darwin- 1 .

City offices: Sydney- 1, Melbourne- 1.

  1. The numbers and classification of staffing for collection of the departure tax is under review by the Department and the Public Service Board, and will be the subject of consultations with staff associations. However based on current staffing, extra salary and wage costs for twelve months is estimated at $500,000.

Departure Tax: Collection (Question No. 2737)

Mr Jull:

asked the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs:

  1. 1 ) Was consideration given to the concept of airline and shipping companies collecting the $10 departure tax on behalf of the Commonwealth at departure points from Australia. If so, why was this concept rejected?
  2. ) Do any other countries use the same methods of collection as Australia. If so, what countries?
Mr Mackellar:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) Consideration was given to requiring airline and shipping companies to collect the $ 10 departure tax on behalf of the Commonwealth. Unlike the situation in many overseas countries, where airport specific purpose charges are collected by airline or airport authorities for services, the Australian departure tax is a general revenue tax. It was decided that by virtue of its nature it should be collected by the Government The collection system developed does, however, permit third parties including carriers to pay the tax or claim exemption on behalf of passengers.
  2. Exact details of other countries’ methods of collection are not known.

Australian National Railways Homes (Question No. 2757)

Mr Wallis:

asked the Minister for Transport, upon notice, on 14 November 1978:

  1. How many of the older type homes owned by Austraiian National Railways in the immediate area of Port Augusta, SA, have been demolished over recent years.
  2. As these homes were on land already provided with services, but owned by ANR, what steps can be taken by ANR to release these building blocks to either individuals or possibly the South Australian Housing Trust so that they can be further utilised for building purposes.
Mr Nixon:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 17 houses have been demolished in Conwaytown, Port Augusta.
  2. Three of the homesites have been incorporated into a stores storage area and are not likely to be offered for sale.

Services to all of the sites are presently provided by ANR who have advised that it would be necessary for the Port Augusta Council to assume responsibility for the maintenance of roads and effluent drainage and for the Engineering and Water Supply Department to assume responsibility for the water mains before any blocks are sold. ANR have advised the Port Augusta Council and the South Australian Housing Trust of their intention to consider selling the vacant Conwaytown sites when more of the older residences become vacant and are demolished.

Milk Payment (Question No. 2759)

Mr Lloyd:

asked the Minister for Primary Industry, upon notice, on 14 November 1978:

What is the present position with the proposal to change the basis of payment for manufacturing milk.

Mr Sinclair:
NCP/NP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

The Standing Committee on Agriculture has resolved that implementation of the recommendations of the Basis of Payment for Milk Committee is a matter for each State to act upon.

In some States, legislative amendments will be required to enable payment for milk for manufacture to be made on a basis other than fat content

In other States, for example New South Wales, and Tasmania, legislation already provides that payment for milk for manufacture may be made on the basis of fat and protein content In these two States, however, very few factories have so far elected to make payment for manufacturing milk on a fat/protein basis.

In respect of milk for manufacture, the recommendations of the Basis of Payments for Milk Committee were:

that the price paid for milk for manufacturing purposes should be based on the mass of fat and the mass of protein contained in the milk; and

that no provisions be made in the payment formula for inclusion of a volume factor based on processing costs; however, the farmer should be charged on a volume basis for the cost of transport of his milk.

Pringle of Scotland (Question No. 2760)

Mr Lloyd:

asked the Minister for Primary Industry, upon notice:

  1. 1 ) Has Pringle of Scotland purchased all available ‘finest Australian merino lambs wool held in stockpile by the Australian Wool Corporation for the production of lamaine
  2. Does this company have an arrangement to purchase all available supplies from the Corporation during 1 978.
  3. 3 ) Is it a fact that the price gap between cashmere and the best lambs’ wool has widened due to the scarcity of cashmere. If so, has the Corporation obtained the best price for this type of lambs ‘ wool
Mr Sinclair:
NCP/NP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) The Australian Wool Corporation does not sell wool to Pringle of Scotland. Presumably wool sold by the Corporation to other customers reaches Pringle in the form of tops or yarn.
  2. Pringle do not have an arrangement to purchase supplies from the Corporation in 1 978.
  3. The difference in price between lambswool and cashmere has widened significantly due to the shortage of cashmere. This is being reflected in increasing prices for best lambswool. The recent relatively high prices have resulted in only limited quantities of lambswool entering the Wool Corporation’s stockpile and these have been sold in Australia to Australian-based firms at ruling market rates. The ultimate destination of this wool is not known.

Dairy Factories: Code of Practice (Question Na 2765)

Mr Lloyd:

asked the Minister for Primary Industry, upon notice, on 14 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) What progress has been made with the uniform application of the Code of Practice for Dairy Factories in Australia.
  2. In which States is the Code most advanced.
Mr Sinclair:
NCP/NP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) The Australian Code of Practice for Dairy Factories was prepared through a co-operative effort of State and Commonwealth Government dairy officers, in consultation with dairy industry organisations and factory management The Code applies to factories in all States.

Dairy factory premises are, at intervals, inspected by State officers either alone or in company with officers of my Department During these inspections, establishments are checked for compliance with Code provisions.

Almost all Australian dairy factories had been inspected under the Code at least once by October 1978. Those not so far inspected include a number of very small establishments and new premises built to Code specifications.

Progress in implementing the hygiene, plant and equipment provisions of the Code has been most satisfactory. Progress towards implementation of Code provisions covering buildings and structures has been somewhat slower, since full compliance may entail significant modification of existing premises.

  1. It is not feasible to make comparison between States, as to the degree of advancement of implementation of the Code in each.

Progress on inspection can only be used as a pointer to progress on implementation and this varies from State to tate. For example, in Tasmania, all second round inspections have been completed and some third round inspections commenced. In Victoria approximately 80 per cent of second round inspections and over SO per cent of third round inspections have been undertaken. Inspection rounds in other States are not as far advanced.

At their October 1978 meeting, Commonwealth and State Chief Dairy Officers agreed that a full round of joint (Commonwealth/State) inspections will be undertaken in all States during 1979.

Kampuchea (Question No. 2793)

Mr Barry Jones:
LALOR, VICTORIA · ALP

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 15 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) What stage has been reached in negotiations to restore diplomatic relations with Kampuchea.
  2. What information can he provide about the current situation in Kampuchea, with particular reference to shortages of food, shelter and medical supplies.
  3. On what main sources of information is the Government relying to assess the current situation in Kampuchea.
Mr Peacock:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. Australia recognised the Government of Democratic Kampuchea on 17 April 197S but has not yet established diplomatic relations with it. In response to a recent approach from Kampuchea to enter into diplomatic relations the Kampuchean Ambassador in Peking was told that Australia attached importance to the maintenance of Kampuchea’s independence and territorial integrity, that we did not rule out the possibility of establishing diplomatic relations in the future and that we wanted to continue to maintain contact through our Embassies in Peking The matter continues to be kept under careful review.
  2. Information available on the current situation in Kampuchea is at best sketchy. However, it seems that production, storage and distribution of food in Kampuchea has been hard hit by recent abnormally heavy wet-season flooding, which also seriously affected Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. In a speech in Phnom Penh on 7 November, visiting Chinese Vice Premier Wang Tung-Hsing referred to the Kampuchean people fighting the worst flood for 70 years.
  3. Australian representatives have occasional contact with Kampuchean representatives, principally through our respective Embassies in Peking and our Missions to the United Nations in New York. We also are in contact with diplomatic representatives of other countries who are accredited to Phnom Penh. Other sources of information include press and refugee reports.

Japanese-Australia Uranium Enrichment Study (Question No. 2812)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for National Development, upon notice, on 16 November 1978:

  1. Was the first stage of the joint Japan-Australia uranium enrichment study concluded recently.
  2. If so, what were the findings and conclusions of this part of the study.
  3. Is the second stage of the study due to begin soon.
  4. What are the terms of reference to the second stage of the study.
Mr Newman:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s quesions is as follows:

  1. Yes.
  2. , (3) and (4) The Report has been submitted to both governments. Any release of the contents of the Report and further studies are a matter for agreement by both Governments.

Kominic Solvent-refined Coal Conversion Study (Question No. 2837)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for National Development, upon notice, on 16 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Can he say whether the Victorian Government intends to go ahead with proposals by Kominic to establish a solvent-refined coal conversion plant
  2. If so, what relationship will this proposal have with the joint Australia- West German coal liquefaction study.
  3. What is the estimated cost of the joint Australia- West Germany study.
  4. What is (a) Australia’s and (b) the Commonwealth’s share of this cost
Mr Newman:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) No. The decision to go ahead will depend on the results of the Kominic feasibility study which is currently underway.
  2. ) The Kominic study and the joint Australia-FRG study are concerned with different technologies and different products. The Kominic study is concerned with production of solvent refined coal, a potential additive to coke-making blends of coal. The joint Australia-FRG study will investigate production of liquids for transportation fuels.
  3. DM8m (approximately $A3.6m at current exchange rates).
  4. (a) DM4m; (b) DMI Wm.

Review, of Australia’s International Civil Aviation Policy (Question No. 2859)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister for Primary Industry, upon notice, on 16 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Did his Department make a submission to the Review of Australia’s International Civil Aviation Policy.
  2. If so, (a) what was the substance of the submission and (b) will he release it for the benefit of the Parliament
Mr Sinclair:
NCP/NP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) and (2) The Department of Primary Industry did not make a submission to the Review of Australia’s International Civil Aviation Policy.

Review of Australia’s International Civil Aviation Policy (Question No. 2860)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Education, upon notice, on 16 November 1978:

  1. Did the Department of Education make a submission to the Review of Australia’s International Civil Aviation Policy.
  2. If so, (a) what was the substance of the submission, and (b) will the Minister release it for the benefit of the Parliament
Mr Staley:
LP

-The Minister for Education has provided the following reply to the honourable member’s question:

  1. The Department of Education did not make a submission to the Review.
  2. Not applicable.

Review of Australia’s International Civil Aviation Policy (Question No. 2869)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister representing the Attorney-General, upon notice, on 16 November 1978:

  1. Did the Attorney-General’s Department make a submission to the Review of Australia’s International Civil Aviation Policy.
  2. ) If so, (a) what was the substance of the submission and (b) will the Attorney-General release it for the benefit of the Parliament
Mr Viner:
LP

– The Attorney-General has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

  1. No.
  2. See answer to (1).

Review of Australia’s International Civil Aviation Policy (Question No. 2874)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister for National Development, upon notice, on 16 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Did his Department make a submission to the Review of Australia’s International Civil Aiviation Policy.
  2. ) If so, (a ) what was the substance of the submission and (b) will he release it for the benefit of the Parliament
Mr Newman:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. No.
  2. See answer to (1).

Private Overseas Students: Resident Status (Question No. 2895)

Dr Cass:

asked the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, upon notice, on 1 7 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) How many private overseas students acquired resident status during each of the last 5 years.
  2. Under which immigration category were they admitted and what was their nationality at the time of acceptance.
  3. Does the policy of allowing private overseas students to acquire resident status contradict the guidelines regarding their eligibility for admission as private overseas students, which require that they enter Australia on a temporary basis for study purposes only and will depart from Australia on the completion of their approved course of study or if they abandon their studies.
Mr MacKellar:
LP

– The answer to the Honourable Member’s question is a follows:

  1. The numbers of private overseas students granted a change of status, mainly to resident, in the past5 years are as follows:
  1. The applicants would have been admitted to Australia under the Government’s private overseas student policy. Change of status within policy applying prior to 7 June 1978 enabled students who had successfully completed a course of study and were economically viable or who had married an Australian resident to remain permanently. Current policy requires that a student seeking change of status must satisfy the normal criteria for migration. The Government would prefer such people, having acquired skills, to return to their countries of origin, but the honourable member would be well aware of the persuasive arguments many people advance in support of remaining in Australia.

Statistics by nationality for students granted change of status are available only for the past two financial years and are as follows:

  1. The policy allowing private overseas students to acquire resident status is not seen as a contradiction of the guidelines regarding their eligibility for admission.

The objective of the private overseas student policy is to provide opportunities for the youth of other countries to study in Australia thus fostering good relations and cultural exchanges. This objective, whilst preserving the temporary nature of student entry neither prevents nor directly encourages settlement in Australia by persons eligible under Government policy.

On successful completion of their studies private students may indicate that their intentions regarding their return home have changed and that they wish to seek the grant of resident status. In considering the categories of applications mentioned it is Government policy to counsel the students in respect of the policy objectives, the undertakings they have signed and when relevant, the interest expressed by their home government in their return.

Concorde Aircraft (Question No. 2907)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Education, upon notice, on 21 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Under what circumstances are the Minister’s (a) Departmental staff and (b) personal staff authorised to travel on Concorde aircraft between the United States and the United Kingdom.
  2. What is the additional cost per journey.
  3. How many officers of the Department of Education (a) sought approval, (b) were granted approval and (c) were refused approval to travel on Concorde aircraft during (i) 1976-77, (ii) 1977-78 and (iii) 1978-79 to date.
  4. How many officers from the Department or personal staff have travelled on Concorde aircraft without seeking approval.
Mr Staley:
LP

– The Minister for Education has provided the following reply to the honourable member’s question:

  1. Staff may not travel on Concorde aircraft without specific approval from the Public Service Board. Such authorisation has never been requested either for my Department or personal staff.
  2. Not applicable.
  3. and (4) Nil.

Concorde Aircraft (Question No. 2927)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister for Home Affairs, upon notice, on 2 1 November 1978:

  1. Under what circumstances are his (a) Departmental staff and (b) Ministerial staff authorised to travel on Concorde aircraft between the United States and the United Kingdom.
  2. What is the additional cost per journey.
  3. How many officers of his Department (a) sought approval, (b) were granted approval and (c) were refused approval to travel on Concorde aircraft during (i) 1976-77, (ii) 1977-78 and (iii) 1978-79 to date.
  4. How many officers from his Department or personal staff have travelled on Concorde aircraft without seeking approval.
Mr Ellicott:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) ( a) and ( b) under no circumstances.
  2. Not applicable.
  3. (a) Nil; (b) and (c) Not applicable.
  4. Nil.

Concorde Aircraft (Question No. 2928)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister for the Capital Territory upon notice, on 2 1 November 1 978:

  1. Under what circumstances are his (a) Departmental staff and (b) Ministerial staff authorised to travel on Concorde aircraft between the United States and the United Kingdom.
  2. What is the additional cost per journey.
  3. How many officers of his Department (a) sought approval, (b) were granted approval and (c) were refused approval to travel on Concorde aircraft during (i) 1976-77, (ii) 1977-78 and (iii) 1978-79 to date.
  4. How many officers from his Department or personal staff have travelled on Concorde aircraft without seeking approval.
Mr Ellicott:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1) (a) I am informed by my Department that no Departmental staff are authorised to travel on Concorde aircraft between the United States and the United Kingdom.

    1. None of my Ministerial staff are authorised to travel on Concorde aircraft between the United States and the United Kingdom.
  2. See answer to ( 1 ) above.
  3. (a) nil, (b) nil and (c) nil.
  4. nil.

Victorian Nurse Registration: Acceptance in New South Wales (Question No. 2947)

Mr Lloyd:

asked the Minister for Health, upon notice, on 2 1 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Has his attention been drawn to the refusal by New South Wales Authorities to accept Victorian nurse registration and the considerable problems this is creating along the border between the States.
  2. If so, what is being done to establish Australia-wide uniform standards for nurse training and registration, or at least acceptance by each State of other States ‘ certification.
Mr Hunt:
NCP/NP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. My Department is aware of the recent reinterpretation of the Nurses Registration Act, New South Wales. I understand that the action taken by the New South Wales authorities applies only to the registration of Nursing Aides whose training was undertaken outside that State. The Hospital and Allied Services Advisory Council considered this matter at its most recent meeting held in October 1978. Council was informed that the Nurses Registration Act, New South Wales was in the process of being amended so as to rectify the situation.
  2. The issues of uniform standards for nurse training and reciprocity of registration are the prerogative of State and Territory nurse registration authorities.

Both matters are currently under consideration by the Australasian Nurse Registration Authorities Conference which meets biennially.

Translators and Interpreters: Accreditation (Question No. 2956)

Or Cass asked the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, upon notice, on 22 November 1978:

Has the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) produced guidelines for the accreditation of interpreters and translators in Australia; if so, what are they.

Mr Mackellar:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

The National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters has determined five levels of competence at which accreditation will be conferred. These range from the incidental use of a second language to aid simple communication (Level 1 ) to the high degree of proficiency required for work as a simultaneous interpreter or technical translator in an international context (Level 5). 8,000 copies of the Authority’s statement on levels are being printed in booklet form and should be available shortly for distribution. As soon as printing is completed, a copy of the booklet will be forwarded to the honourable member.

Motor Vehicle Plan

Mr Hurford:

asked the Prime Minister the following question, without notice, on 19 October 1978. The Prime Minister replied that he would treat the question as though it were on notice and ask the Minister for Industry and Commerce to give a full reply:

My question should be directed to the Acting Minister for Industry and Commerce, but in his absence I ask the Prime Minister Is it a fact that the 30 per cent devaluation of the Australian dollar in relation to the Yen has meant a higher Australian content requirement under the motor vehicle plans than was the intention when the plans were formulated? Is it a fact that the adjustments announced by the Minister yesterday do not offset completely the effects of the 30 per cent devaluation and have left Chrysler Australia Limited and possibly other motor vehicle manufacturing companies paying large penalties for factors over which they had no control?

It is also a fact that these large penalties may result in a further disastrous loss of employment? Is it true that General Motors-Holden’s Ltd and Ford Motor Co. of Australia Ltd can now reduce their local content from over 90 per cent to 85 per cent, thus creating more unemployment? Without wishing in any way to support or criticise the changes made yesterday but seeking information, I ask the Prime Minister why the Government has not allowed a full adjustment for the 30 per cent devaluation and why he has allowed the abolition of reversion control procedures?

Mr Lynch:
LP

– The answer to the honourable members question is as follows:

The effect of appreciation of the Yen against the Australian dollar has caused difficulties for some companies in meeting their local content obligations under the Motor Vehicle Plan, but it has not caused difficulties for others. Thus it is not a fact that the Yen appreciation has generally caused a higher Australian content requirement as calculated under the Plan rules than when the Plan was formulated. Whilst appreciation of the Yen has caused componentry sourced from Japan to be less economic than at the time the Plan was formulated, conversely it has improved the competitiveness Of componentry sourced from Australia compared to imports from Japan. For some producers this will mean physically incorporating into their vehicles more local components than they had originally envisaged. However, the Motor Vehicle Plan content requirements are not based on meeting specific requirements as to the actual componentry incorporated in vehicles. Content is calculated on a value basis with the decision as to which componentry to source locally being a matter for commercial decision making.

It should be noted that if there were to be a devaluation against the dollar in the currency of a country supplying components to an Australian car manufacturer, then that manufacturer would be able to reduce his local component sourcing and still meet the local content levels prescribed in the Plan.

The adjustments announced by the Government on 18 October 1978 recognise the difficulties brought about for certain companies by the rapid appreciation of the Yen and the fact that resourcing of components cannot be achieved quickly because of the necessary lead times involved.

The Government’s action was in conformity with the Plan’s provisions that circumstances beyond a company’s control which have caused or contributed to its failure to comply with the Plan may be taken into account in considering whether or not penalties should be applied.

Passenger motor vehicle manufacturers who were affected by major foreign currency appreciations will be allowed to adjust their local content calculation for the purpose of application of penalty duties under the Plan on the basis of a 12 month lag in the application of exchange rates.

The adjustment will have effect from 1 July 1978 and will expire on 31 December 1979 when all Plan manufacturers will be required to be at 85 per cent company average local content on the basis of exchange rates applicable at that time.

This action is not intended to eliminate the need for penalty payment by these companies for failing to meet their local content commitments. Any penalty liability which companies may incur for failing to meet their commitments for reasons other than the Yen appreciation will not be affected.

There is no basis in speculation in the media and elsewhere that employment in the industry will be affected by any penalties for which motor vehicle manufacturers may be liable.

The Government decided to abolish the reversion control because it has now served its intended purpose. This was to provide a means of avoiding major disruption in the component sector during the phasing period of the present Plan while the local content levels in certain vehicles entered in former plans was being reduced.

The average local content levels of General MotorsHolden’s Ltd and the Ford Motor Company of Australia Ltd have already been significantly reduced towards 85 per cent and the opportunities for reversion to overseas sources of componentry have thus become very much limited.

At the same time the component industry has been receiving substantial additional business from the new manufacturers as they increase the local content of their vehicles in accordance with their commitments under the Plan.

Reversion control was never intended to be a permanent feature of the Motor Vehicle Plan. This was clearly indicated by the Government when the motor vehicle policy was announced in the Parliament on 30 March 1976 and again in a further statement by the then Minister for Industry and Commerce on 9 June 1976.

To introduce reversion control as an integral part of the Motor Vehicle Plan would constitute a major change to the Plan; and major investment decisions have been made in the confident expectation that the rules will not be changed.

The basic thrust of the Government’s motor vehicle policy is to facilitate the development of a more viable and competitive industry by reducing Government intervention in commercial decision making and giving the vehicle builders more flexibility in making their own component sourcing arrangements within the overall 85 per cent company average local content requirement.

Household Support Scheme (Question No. 2463)

Mr Sinclair:
NCP/NP

– An earlier answer given by me (House of Representatives Hansard of 9 November 1978) to the question asked by Mr Lloyd, upon notice (Question No. 2463, House of Representatives Hansard oi 1 1 October 1978) inadvertently contained incorrect information. The following figures indicate the correct position, updated to 30 September 1978:

Parliamentary Question No. 2013 (Question No. 2291)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, upon notice, on 27 September 1978:

When will the Parliament receive an answer to question No. 2013 appearing on the Notice Paper in my name in relation to a question which was first put on the Notice Paper on 15 August 1978.

Mr Street:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

I refer the honourable member to the answer provided by me to his Question on Notice No. 2013 (See Hansard, 22 November 1978, page 3257).

Education: Disarmament and the Arms Race (Question No. 2784)

Mr Les Johnson:
HUGHES, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Education, upon notice, on 17 November 1978:

What allocations have been made or are intended to be made to each of the States and Territories for the preparation of school material designed to contribute towards a greater understanding and awareness of the problems created by the arms race and of the need for disarmament.

Mr Staley:
LP

-The Minister for Education has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

Discussion of the arms race and the need for disarmament is included in many social studies programs in Australian schools, at both primary and secondary levels. The issues arise in relation to topics such as world government, international peace and understanding, and the role of the United Nations and its specialised agencies.

There are no Commonwealth programs which make specific allocations for the purpose of preparing school material related to the arms race and the need for disarmament Australian schools do, however, have access to material of a high standard produced both by the United Nations and Unesco, a considerable amount of which has been distributed in recent years by the Australian National Commission for Unesco.

Department of Primary Industry: Contracts (Question No. 1776)

Mr Holding:

asked the Minister for Primary Industry, upon notice, on 22 August 1 978:

  1. 1 ) How many contracts entered into by Departments and Statutory Corporations under his control for the purchase of equipment, contained clauses specifying an offset arrangement with the vendor for the purchase of Australian manufactured goods, components and/or technology during the last 10 years.
  2. What were those contracts.
  3. What was the sum involved in each offset clause and what were the terms of its discharge.
  4. What is the extent to which the terms of these clauses have been implemented specifying in each case the monetary value of the implementation.
  5. What sum is currently available under these clauses for the purchase of relevant Australian manufactured goods, components and/or technology.
Mr Sinclair:
NCP/NP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

I refer the honourable member to the answer provided by the Minister for Productivity to Question on Notice No. 1 794 (See Hansard, 23 November 1 978, pages 335 1 and 3352 ).

Review of Australia’s International Civil Aviation Policy (Question No. 2883)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Administrative Services, upon notice, on 16 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Did the Department of Administrative Services make a submission to the Review of Australia’s International Civil Aviation Policy.
  2. If so, (a) what was the substance of the submission and (b) will the Minister release it for the benefit of the Parliament.
Mr Street:
LP

– The Minister for Administrative Services has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

  1. No.
  2. See answer to (1).

Queensland Members and Senators Relief Staff (Question No. 2675)

Mr Humphreys:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Administrative Services, upon notice, on 26 October 1 978:

For how many days and on what dates since December 1977, has each Queensland Member of the House of Representatives and each Queensland Senator received (a) Parliamentary relief staff for relief duties and (b) extra assistance, as opposed to relief, and what has been the cost to the Commonwealth of providing these services to each Member and Senator.

Mr Street:
LP

– The Minister for Administrative Services has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question.

Details of staff allocations from the Brisbane pool of relief Electorate Secretaries for the period 1 December 1977 to 31 October 1978 are shown in the table below prepared by my Department

It is not possible to allocate costs to each Senator or Member individually. However, the total cost of operating the Brisbane pool during this period was $49,861. This includes salaries, travelling allowance and fares.

Department of Administrative Services: Computers (Question No. 2232)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Administrative Services, upon notice, on 27 September 1 978:

  1. How many computers are (a) owned, (b) operated, (c) in the process of being purchased or (d) rented by the Department of Administrative Services and statutory authorities and business undertakings under the control of the Minister.
  2. What is the cost of purchase or rental of each computer.
  3. For what purposes is each computer used.
  4. What is the nature of the data stored by each computer.
  5. What interconnections exist or will exist between any of these computers.
  6. Who has access to each computer.
  7. What savings in staff numbers have been achieved or are anticipated as a result of the installation or operation of each computer.
Mr Street:
LP

– The Minister for Administrative Services has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

The Department of Administrative Services owns and operates sixteen computers. There are no computers owned or operated in other organisations under the control of the Minister. No computers are in the process of being purchased and none are rented. The sixteen computers serve three different areas and the rest of the answer is given below in respect of each atea separately.

There are other computer services provided to the Department and other organisations under the control of the Minister. However in no case is the computer owned, operated or rented by the Department or organisation.

The Australian Electoral Office

  1. 6 x NCR 8200 computers purchased at a total cost of $478,112.
  2. Entry and printing of electoral data.
  3. Electoral data is stored but only temporarily.
  4. None exist at present; work is currently underway to interconnect the six computers.
  5. Authorised staff of the Australian Electoral Office and the Department of Administrative Services and authorised maintenance staff under the supervision of Departmental officers.
  6. No staff savings have been achieved. Greater speed and economy of operation has been achieved by the provision of decentralised data entry and printing facilities.

The Australian Government Publishing Service

  1. 2 x Digital PDP 11/05 computers at a total cost of $161,474. 2 x Digital PDP 11/45 computers at a total cost of $304,230. 2 x Digital PDP 8 computers as part of computer output microfilm recorders at a total cost of $ 1 95,426. 1 x Burroughs Visible Record Computer $48,207.
  2. Typesetting, production control, cataloguing, provision of microfilming service, costing and preparation of accounts.
  3. Textual data of publications, address lists, statistical data for costing, production control and cataloguing.
  4. The Digital PDP 11/05 and PDP 11/45 computers are interlinked.
  5. Authorised staff of the Department of Administrative Services and authorised maintenance staff under the supervision of Departmental officers.
  6. Computers were installed in the Government Printing Office to help cope with the typesetting workload and to provide a micrographics service for all departments. The visible record computer was installed to assist with increasing demands in the finance area. These tasks could not have been carried out without the introduction of computers; there were no staff savings.

Survey Branch

  1. lxHoneywellDDP516$195,908. 1 x XYNETICS 1100 Automatic Drafting System $80,686. 1 x Digital PDP 1 1 /34 data collection facility $76,875.
  2. Survey computations and mapping applications.
  3. Survey and topographical data.
  4. 5 ) None are linked.
  5. Authorised staff of the Department of Administrative Services and authorised maintenance staff under the supervision of Departmental officers.
  6. Computers were first introduced into the Australian Survey Office in 1961. The rapid growth in the workload and change in its nature in the late 1960s and early 1970s make impracticable the estimation of staff savings from that date. However, a broad estimate of nett savings in staff has been made for the period commencing with the installation of the latest generation of equipment in the early 1970s. This estimate suggests that overall staff savings could be of the order of55.

National Wage Case: Legal Fees (Question No. 1946)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, upon notice, on 13 September 1978:

What were the full legal fees paid to counsel representing the Commonwealth Government in each of the last six national wage cases.

Mr Street:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

Full legal fees paid to counsel in the last six national wage cases were:

For quarter ended

Ramanginning Council: Joint Mining Venture (Question No. 2134)

Dr Everingham:

asked the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, upon notice, on 20 September 1978:

  1. Has the Ramanginning Council been approached to sign an extension of a mining joint venture in respect of EL 130 despite opposition of the traditional land owners concerned. If so, by whom.
  2. Did his Department issue permits for these persons to visit Ramanginning during the week ending 1 8 August 1 979.
  3. Has the Government approved the proposed involvement of the French Atomic Energy Commission in this venture.
Mr Viner:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. Yes. I am informed that the Chairman of Ocean Resources NL and a solicitor spoke to the Council in August 1978 and that the Rammanginning Council declined to sign any agreement without consultation with the traditional owners of the area concerned.
  2. No.
  3. I am informed that the French Atomic Energy Commission is not a party to the venture. Any proposal for direct investment in Australia by a foreign government or its agencies would be examinable under the Government’s foreign investment policy.

Australia/United States of America Air Transport Agreement (Question No. 2890)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister for Transport, upon notice, on 17 November 1976:

  1. 1 ) What are the conditions of the existing aviation agreements between Australia and the United States.
  2. When were they negotiated.
  3. What are the terms of the existing agreements.
  4. What is the process for termination of the existing individual aviation agreements.
Mr Nixon:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. and (2) The Air Transport Agreement currently in force between Australia and the United States of America was signed on 3 December 1946. Amendments to this Agreement were signed and entered into force on 12 August 1957.
  2. The terms of the Air Transport Agreement ( 1946) are fully published in the United Nations Treaty Series Volume 7 page 201 ff. The terms of the amendments concluded in 1957 are published in the Australian Treaty Series, No. 14, 1957.
  3. The provisions for termination of the Air Transport Agreement are specified in Article XII of that Agreement as follows:

It shall be open to either Contracting Party at any time to give notice to the other of its desire to terminate this Agreement Such notice shall be simultaneously communicated to the Provisional International Civil Aviation Organisation or its successor. If such notice is given, this Agreement shall terminate twelve calendar months after the date of receipt of the notice by the other Contracting Party unless the notice to terminate is withdrawn by agreement before the expiry of this period. In the absence of acknowledgement by the other Contracting Party specifying an earlier date of receipt, notice shall be deemed to have been received fourteen days after the receipt of the notice by the Provisional International Civil Aviation Organisation or its successor.

Department of Transport: Contracts (Question No. 1778)

Mr Holding:

asked the Minister for Transport, upon notice, on 22 August 1978:

  1. 1 ) How many contracts entered into by Departments and Statutory Corporations under his control for the purchase of equipment contained clauses specifying an onset arrangement with the vendor for the purchase of Australian manufactured goods, components and/or technology during the last 10 years.
  2. What were those contracts.
  3. What sum is involved in each offset clause and what were the terms of its discharge.
  4. What is the extent to which the terms of these clauses have been implemented specifying in each case the monetary value of the implementation.
  5. What sum is currently available under these clauses for the purchase of relevant Australian manufactured goods, components and/or technology.
Mr Nixon:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) to (5) I refer the honourable member to the answer to Question No. 1794 (Hansard, 23 November 1978, page 3351).

Naval Technical Services Division: Structure (Question No. 2662)

Mr Scholes:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 26 October 1978:

  1. 1 ) Is the present structure of the Naval Technical Services Division derived from recommendations made in a review report by Admiral Callaghan, R. N. and Mr A. Kent in 1 968.
  2. Did the same report recommend regular reviews of the Division’s operation, organisation and technical capacity.
  3. Have any subsequent reviews taken place. If so, by whom and when were the reports received.
Mr Killen:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. Basically yes.
  2. The Review report produced by Rear Admiral Callaghan and Mr Kent did not recommend that there be regular reviews.

  3. There have been no reviews of the NTS organisation but reviews covering specific requirements have been undertaken as follows:

    1. Review of Professional/Sub-Professional Work in Naval Technical Services (Design Division) Phase 1 March 1976.
    2. Professional/Technical Review of Naval Technical Services Phases 2.3.4 May 1 977.
    3. Naval Technical Services- Review of Manpower Requirements to Implement the Five Year Defence Plan Program. November 1977.

Naval Technical Services Division: Callaghan-Kent Review (Question No. 2660)

Mr Scholes:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 26 October 1 978:

Does the Callaghan-Kent recommendation still constitute a satisfactory structural basis for the Naval Technical Services Division.

Mr Killen:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

The structure proposed by the Callaghan-Kent review is still basically satisfactory. Some minor amendments have been made to allow the organisation to function satisfactorily in the re-organised Defence Department

Naval Technical Services Division: Staff (Question No. 2661)

Mr Scholes:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 26 October 1 978:

  1. What is the current staff level of the naval Technical Services Division.
  2. How many levels of job classification exist within the Division.
  3. How many classification levels are above that of the Chief of Naval Technical Services in the Defence structure.
Mr Killen:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. The current staff level of the NTS Division (at 31 October 1978) is 580 civilian staff, 142 service personnel.
  2. There are 65 levels of job classification within the Division including that of the Chief of Naval Technical Services.
  3. In the military sense there are two (Vice Admiral and CDFS). There are three higher Public Service Classifications (Levels 5 and 6, Second Division and the Secretary).

Naval Technical Services Division: Staff (Question No. 2658)

Mr Scholes:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 26 October 1 978:

  1. How many qualified (a) civilian and (b) service engineers are employed in the Naval Technical Services Division.
  2. How many positions in the Division require engineering qualifications.
  3. What criteria is applied in determining suitability for appointment to technician grade positions in the Division.
Mr Killen:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. As at 1 October 1978 there are 147 professionally qualified civilian engineers and 74 Service engineers employed in the Naval Technical Services Division in Canberra.
  2. There are 255 positions in the Division requiring professional engineering qualifications and 252 requiring subprofessional qualifications.

  3. The criteria used in determining the suitability for appointment to the technician grade positions are:

    1. Previous experience in the relevant or associated fields of endeavour.
    2. Aptitude for the particular position.
    3. Technical qualifications.

Naval Technical Services Division: Staff Ceilings (Question No. 2657)

Mr Scholes:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 26 October 1978:

  1. 1 ) Have staff ceilings been applied to technical personnel in the Naval Technical Services Division.
  2. Where total technical staff has been reduced, have the positions to become redundant been selected, or have reductions been determined on an individual personnel basis.
  3. Are ceilings applied without consideration of technical capacity and structural effectiveness, especially in small project terms.
Mr Killen:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member ‘s question is as follows:

  1. Yes.
  2. and (3) Reductions in staff positions have been proposed by various branch and section Heads in response to the Chief of Naval Technical Service’s guidelines. These included the need to preserve a balanced capability in each discipline and in each branch.

Total Australian Surveillance System (Question No. 2505)

Mr Scholes:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 12 October 1978:

  1. 1 ) Has his attention been drawn to claims made on behalf of Mr Alan J. Robinson of Brisbane, that negotiations with the Government in respect of the Total Australian Surveillance System are excessively protracted and could lead to the system being sold outside Australia.
  2. ) Was the TASS made available to the Government free of charge for development
  3. 3 ) Has the Government developed a similar system.
  4. Has Mr Robinson sought a joint development arrangement with the Government.
  5. 5) If so, have these offers now been withdrawn.
  6. What is the current position concerning Mr Robinson’s TASS.
  7. Is the Government interested in its future development.
Mr Killen:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. Yes.
  2. Subject to certain conditions, including provision of an office, staff and facilities by the Commonwealth, TASS was offered to the Government on the basis that the inventor would bear all costs in connection with the design and construction of the prototype and necessary ancillary equipment.
  3. No.
  4. and (5) Yes.
  5. and (7) My Department’s investigations have indicated that Mr Robinson’s TASS proposal offers no practical solution to defence surveillance problems and the Government is not proposing to take up the development of his idea for defence purposes.

Coogee Bay Motel, Sydney (Question No. 2527)

Mr Neil:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 17 October 1978:

  1. 1 ) Has his Department at any stage given consideration to the purchase of Coogee Bay Motel, Sydney.
  2. If so, will he provide (a) details of the ownership of the motel at the relevant time and (b) the names of the person or persons with whom his Department carried out the negotiations concerned.
  3. Has the matter been the subject of consideration or representations by him, any of his predecessors or other Ministers of the present or previous Governments. If so, by whom, and what was the nature of their representations.
Mr Killen:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. Yes. Consideration was given by the Department to the acquisition of the Coogee Beach Motel on two occasions.

    1. in 1972-73 when it was examined as possible accommodation for WRANS;
    2. in 1 975 when consideration was given to its use as accommodation for service and civilian personnel.

  2. (a) Coogee Explanade Surf Motel Pty Ltd;

    1. negotiations were with A. C. Grosvenor Pty Ltd and Mr D. K. Bernhardt of Bernhardt Constructions Pty Ltd.

  3. The matter has not been the subject of consideration by me or representations to me. It would not be proper for me to give information in regard to representations which may have been made to Ministers of other Governments.

Nuclear Tests: British Service Aircraft (Question No. 2676)

Mr Uren:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 26 October 1978:

When were any washings from British service aircraft which participated in nuclear tests at Christmas Island (a) transported to Maralinga and (b) buried at Maralinga.

Mr Killen:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

Washings from British service aircraft which participated in nuclear tests at Christmas Island were transported from Edinburgh Airfield to Maralinga at various times during 1959 and 1960 and the last burials at Maralinga were made in October 1960.

Radioactive Waste: Maralinga (Question No. 2698)

Mr Uren:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 8 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) What works, including fencing, excavation and concrete capping, have taken place at the radioactive waste burial sites at Maralinga since the completion of Operation Brumby.
  2. When were these works conducted.
  3. What were the purposes of these works.
Mr Killen:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows: (1), (2) and (3) In January 1974, on the advice of the Atomic Weapons Tests Safety Committee that there was no surface radiological hazard, fences were removed from around three cemeteries. At the same time two pits in one of the cemeteries were capped with concrete to improve their long term safety.

In October 1978 the pit containing the Vi Kg of plutonium was excavated to determine the recoverability of its contents. After examination of the contents, the pit was restored to its pre-excavation state.

Radioactive Waste (Question No. 2531)

Mr Uren:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 17 October 1978:

  1. 1 ) What was the total expenditure of the Commonwealth before 30 June 1978 in relation to the radioactive waste and contamination resulting from British weapons tests at (a) Maralinga, (b) Monte Bello and (c) Emu.
  2. What was the expenditure of the Commonwealth before 30 June 1978 for (a) security and (b) monitoring and environmental surveys at (i) Maralinga (ii) Monte Bello and (iii) Emu.
  3. What is the estimated cost of security at (a) Maralinga (b) Monte Bello and (c) Emu between 1978 and 2000.
Mr Killen:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. and (2) The Commonwealth has incurred expenditure on the former atomic testing sites since the early 1950s. This expenditure was made by a range of departments, whose respective responsibilities in the matter varied over the years. In some cases these departments no longer exist. To extract the information requested would require very extensive research, and even then there could be no confidence in the validity of the data produced.
  2. No estimate has been made of security costs for the three sites between 1978 and 2000. The possible variables preclude reliable estimating over such a period of time.

National Water Resources Program: Salinity Control (Question No. 2469)

Mr Lloyd:

asked the Minister for National Development, upon notice, on 1 1 October 1978:

  1. 1 ) Is there any uncompleted report or other impediment which would prevent the Commonwealth from making further grants for salinity control measures under the National Water Resources Program to any State which submits a proposal.
  2. ) If so, when will these impediments be overcome.
  3. If not, have any of the Murray River States an outstanding application at the present time.
Mr Newman:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member ‘s question is as follows: (1), (2) and (3) The Commonwealth and the three States have agreed to a co-ordinated approach in dealing with salinity and drainage problems in the Murray Valley. They engaged consultants early this year to assess the extent of these problems. In their interim report, the consultants have identified urgent works ready for immediate implementation and funds have been provided by the Commonwealth this financial year under the National Water Resources Program to commence the urgent works included in the interim report.

Commonweatlh financial assistance under the National Water Resources Program for other works will be considered after the final report becomes available towards the middle of next year.

Manufacturing Industry: Electorate of Lalor (Question No. 2792)

Mr Barry Jones:
LALOR, VICTORIA · ALP

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce, upon notice, on 15 November 1978 the following question:

  1. 1 ) With respect to each industry-class of manufacturing establishments located within each subdivision of the Electrical Division of Lalor how many establishments have been operating during 1978 to date.
  2. What was the average number of (a) males, (b) females and (c) total persons employed in those establishments.
  3. What were these figures for 1974.
  4. What was the estimated value of wages and salaries.
  5. What was the total estimated value added of the products manufactured.
  6. What was the estimated fixed capital expenditure during the 2 most recent years for which figures are available.
Mr Lynch:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) to (6) The information requested is not available from within my Department. However I have written to the Treasurer requesting him to advise you of any assistance he may be able to provide through the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Concorde Aircraft (Question No. 2905)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce, upon notice:

  1. Under what circumstances are his (a) Departmental staff and (b) Ministerial staff authorised to travel on Concorde aircraft between the United States and the United Kingdom.
  2. What is the additional cost per journey.
  3. How many officers of his Department (a) sought approval, (b) were granted approval and (c) were refused approval to travel on Concorde aircraft during (i) 1 976-77, (ti) 1977-78 and (iii) 1978-79 to date.
  4. How many officers from his Department or personal staff have travelled on Concorde aircraft without seeking approval.
Mr Lynch:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. There have been no circumstances under which the staff of my Department or my personal staff have been authorised to travel on Concorde aircraft between the United States and the United Kingdom.
  2. Travel between New York and London on Concorde aircraft costs approximately $130 more than normal first class travel.
  3. Nil.
  4. Nil.

Department of Finance: Computers (Question No. 2245)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for Finance, upon notice, on 27 September:

  1. 1) In respect of each computer owned or operated by his Department and statutory authorities and business undertakings under his control, what information stored therein can be sold, hired, lent or given to any person or organisation other than properly authorised employees of his Department, authority or business.
  2. Under what circumstances can this information be (a) sold, (b) hired, (c) lent or (d) given.
  3. On what occasions, and to whom, has any information been sold, hired, lent or given in the past.
Mr Eric Robinson:
MCPHERSON, QUEENSLAND · LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) and (2 ) My answer to the honourable member’s Question No. 2215 outlines the nature of the Department of Finance computer network. In addition to processing its own work, the Department of Finance provides a range of computerised accounting services to departments and computer facilities to the Treasury, and Auditor-General’s Office, the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Insurance Commissioner.

Amongst the services provided by the department is a computerised payroll service. As well as producing output for user organisations, the Taxation Office and the Australian Government Retirement Benefits Office, the service also produces output listing payees, entitlements or deductions for despatch to banks, credit unions, insurance companies, building societies, health funds, et cetera, as authorised by payees.

Otherwise, information stored in the Department of Finance computer is only available to properly authorised employees within the department and user organisations.

  1. Information is not, and has not been, made available by the Department of Finance on any other basis.

Department of Finance: Computers (Question No. 2215)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for Finance, upon notice, on 27 September 1 978.

  1. How many computers are (a) owned, (b) operated, (c) in the process of being purchased or (d) rented by his Department and statutory authorities and business undertakings under his control
  2. What is the cost of purchase or rental of each computer.
  3. ) For what purposes iseach computer used.
  4. What is the nature of the data stored by each computer.
  5. What interconnections exist or will exist between any of these computers.
  6. Who has access to each computer.
  7. What savings in staff numbers have been achieved or are anticipated as a result of the installation or operation of each computer.
Mr Eric Robinson:
MCPHERSON, QUEENSLAND · LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1) The Department of Finance computer network comprises a medium-large scale central computer and a network of mini-computer configurations which edit and transmit data to the central computer. As the mini-computer configurations comprise up to three closely connected minicomputers the term computer has been interpreted, for the purpose of the Honourable Member’s question, as referring to such a configuration.

    1. Fifteen, viz: one central computer eleven data collection systems one enquiry control processor one mini-computer program development and testing installation one mini-computer data collection and file location system located in the Australian Government Retirement Benefits Office (AGRBO).
    2. Fifteen.
    3. None.
    4. d ) None, although some peripheral equipment is rented.

  2. The cost of purchase and rental of each computer is: central mainframe computer-

Cost of purchase, $2,847,000

Rental (of some items of peripheral equipment) $160,000 pa eleven data collection systems (aggregate cost of purchase) $1,399,000 enquiry control processor (transferred from Public Service Board at no cost to the Department of Finance- the figure indicated is the original cost of this equipment) $53,000 development mini-computer system (cost of purchase) $192,000

AGRBO system (cost of purchase) $92,000

  1. (i) The central mainframe computer is used principally for financial and management accounting, payroll and payments, processing, estimates consolidation and analysis, Superannuation and Defence Forces Retirement and Death Benefits scheme processing, analysis of insurance company statutory returns, investment analysis and econometric modelling.
  2. the data collection systems are used for the collection and editing of financial transaction data, cheque preparation, overseas local payrolls and as communications controllers;
  3. the enquiry control processor is used as a communications controller,
  4. the program development and testing installation is used for the development and testing of programs for the other mini-computer systems;
  5. the AGRBO mini-computer configuration is used for data entry and a file location system.
  6. With the exception of the data collection systems which hold edited financial transaction data temporarily and of the AGRBO system which holds file location data, the only computer in the network on which data is stored is the central mainframe computer. Data stored on this computer is principally data relating to the Commonwealth’s receipts and expenditures, salary payrolls, superannuation and DFRDB contributions, econometric data, audit project management data and data drawn from insurance company statutory returns.

  7. All mini-computers in the network, with the exception of that located in the Accounting Office, Geneva, are linked, or are to be linked, by leased Telecom lines or in-house lines to the central mainframe computer.

    1. (i) Authorised Department of Finance Personnel;
  8. officers of the Treasury, AGRBO, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Auditor-General’s Office, Office of the Superannuation Fund Investment Trust, and Insurance Commissioner, have access only to their own programs and data through a time-sharing system and normal batch processing facilities; and
  9. employees of the computer suppliers and Telecom for maintenance purposes.
  10. The computer based accounting systems, the development of which commenced in 196S on equipment operated by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, achieved substantial staff savings as they were progressively implemented. The savings arose because of the increased productivity of the computer systems and also because separate departmental payroll and ledger systems were largely eliminated. Such staff savings occurred both within the Department of Finance Accounting Offices and departments serviced by the centralised systems, but it is not possible to measure their precise extent

The Department’s central mainframe computer came into operation in 1974. Although the achievement of further staff savings was not its main purpose, it is estimated that net staff savings of the order of 26 operative staff occurred over the period 1974-75 to 1977-78, principally as a result of the introduction of computer controlled data collection systems in the Department of Finance Accounting Offices.

Aboriginal Mousing in Walgett, N.S.W.: Rental Increases (Question No. 2696)

Dr Everingham:

asked the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, upon notice, on 7 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Has his attention been drawn to ( a) a statement signed by 18 tenants of Aboriginal Lands Trust houses in Walgett, N.S.W., objecting to a rise in rents before repairs are effected to a standard acceptable to the Department of Construction, (b) a report dated 12 October 1978 by Edward Simpson, National Aboriginal Conference Member for the NSD Area, of a meeting at his home, 91 Duff Street, Walgett, which stated that (l) the proposed rise would make rentals almost 200 per cent more than 2 years before, (ii) the Lands Trust knew of the plumbing, roofing and door leaks, some due to inaccurate carpentry, and the lack of screens on windows or doors and (iii) non-maintenance was due to lack of Federal funds and other pressures on the Trust since they took over homes from the Housing Commission, and (c) a circular letter dated 28 July 1978 from G. Kolsky, Finance and Planning Officer for the Trust, listing general maintenance and repairs at almost $ 10 per week per house for 1977-78.
  2. If so, what steps have been taken to train tenants in these houses in minor maintenance and household care, to facilitate their purchase of their homes, to provide for adequate rental concessions and to provide housing sites and designs chosen by the Aboriginal community concerned.
Mr Viner:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. (a) Yes. (b) Yes. (c) Yes
  2. The condition of the houses does not necessarily reflect inadequate care on the part of the tenants, but rather inadequate maintenance by the State Government prior to the transfer of the dwellings to the Lands Trust However, my Department’s State Grant program includes funds for the New South Wales Health Commission and the Department of Youth and Community Services to employ 2 Aboriginal health workers and 1 Aboriginal caseworker at Walgett, to provide counselling and guidance on domestic management.

It was a condition of my Department’s funding for upgrading the houses that the Aboriginal Lands Trust make them available for sale to their tenants. The tenants may seek loans from private sources or the Aboriginal Loans Commission to purchase the houses.

The Aboriginal Lands Trust operates a rental rebate system based on my Department’s guidelines of rents not exceeding an economic level or fifteen percent of household income, whichever is less.

The wishes of Aboriginal people concerned are a prime consideration in the development of housing projects.

Ranger Agreement (Question No. 2581)

Mr Uren:

asked the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, upon notice, on 24 October 1 978:

  1. Is it a fact that under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act the Northern Land Council must be satisfied that traditional land owners understand the nature and purpose of the draft Ranger Agreement and as a group consent to it, and that any Aboriginal community which may be affected by the signing of the agreement has been consulted and has had an opportunity to express its views to the Land Council before the Council decides whether to sign the agreement.
  2. Which Aboriginal communities have been provided with details of the draft Ranger Agreement in their own language or in a simplified English form and when were these details provided.
Mr Viner:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) Section 23 (3) of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act provides that the Northern Land Council shall not take any action in respect of Aboriginal land unless it is satisfied that:

    1. the traditional Aboriginal owners (if any) of that land understand the nature and purpose of the proposed action and, as a group, consent to it; and
    2. any Aboriginal community or group that may be affected by the proposed action nas Deen consulted and has had adequate opportunity to express its view to the Land Council.

  2. I am advised by the Northern Land Council that the following documents were sent to all communities on 4 October 1978:

    1. A general explanation of the Jabiru and Nabarlek agreements, including comments on associated documents and relevant legislation;
    2. The agreement with the Commonwealth (re Jabiru) under Section 44 (2) of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976-1978;
    3. The Commonwealth’s authority under Section 41 of the Atomic Energy Act;
    4. The National Park agreement with the Commonwealth;
    5. The National Park Conveyancing document;
    6. Relevant parts of the proposed National Park Plan;
    7. The agreement between the Northern Land Council and Queensland Mines Limited under Section 43 (2) of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1 976-1 978 together with a general explanation of the same.

Each community was asked to decide for itself:

  1. whether the explanation etc. should be translated from English to language;
  2. how it should conduct any meeting thought necessary to consider the matter.

I am also advised by the Northern Land Council that a second and simpler explanation of the Ranger agreement was sent to all communities on 20 October 1978. On the same date the Northern Land Council advised all communities that the expenses of translation by community linguists would be met by the Council should any community wish it to be translated into language. A synopsis of the Ranger agreement prepated by Dr Zorn was also sent out on that day.

Employment Program- Kimberley Region (Question No. 2427)

Mr Dawkins:
FREMANTLE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

asked the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, upon notice, on 10 October 1978:

  1. 1 ) What employment programs does his department support in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia.
  2. How many persons are currently employed under each program.
  3. What is the cost of each program.
  4. What is the average rate of pay paid to participants in each program.
Mr Viner:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows: (1), (2) and (3) In the Kimberley Region of Western Australia my Department supports the following programs.

  1. Wages are paid either at award rates or at rates determined by the Aboriginal community. It is not possible to extract average rates of pay without considerable clerical work.

National Aboriginal Conference: Position of Secretary-General (Question No. 2976)

Mr Barry Jones:
LALOR, VICTORIA · ALP

asked the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, upon notice, on 22 November 1978:

  1. Who told the National Aboriginal Conference Executive Selection Pane] that Mr David Anderson, an applicant for the position of Secretary-General of the NA.C, was proceeding overseas on a study tour.
  2. What evidence was there to support this assertion.
  3. Did the NAC. members involved have, or see, any documented evidence that Mr Anderson was overseas or proceeding overseas. If so, what was its source.
Mr Viner:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows: (1), (2) and (3) Selection of persons to fill positions on the staff of the National Aboriginal Conference is entirely a matter for the Executive of the National Aboriginal Conference. In a statement on 18 October 1978 (Hansard pages 2057, 2058) I indicated that the information concerning Mr David Anderson’s availability was provided by the National Aboriginal Conference members on the selection sub-committee. Particular information concerning the considerations of the interviewing sub-committee is confidential to the National Aboriginal Conference and an approach will be made to the Executive to ascertain to what extent they are prepared to release the information sought.

Queensland Electoral Redistribution (Question No. 1476)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister for Trade and Resources, upon notice, on 6 June 1978:

When and in what manner did he first become aware that the Leader of the Government in the Senate had telephoned the Chief Electoral Officer, Mr Pearson, in relation to the naming of electoral divisions in Queensland.

Mr Anthony:
NCP/NP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

To the best of my recollection I became aware of this matter on 1 7 April 1 978 when Ministers discussed it.

Nuclear Reactors: South Korea (Question No. 2818)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for Trade and Resources, upon notice, on 16 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Is he able to say how many nuclear power reactors are in operation in South Korea and what is their total generating capacity.
  2. Is he also able to say (a) how many nuclear power reactors are forecast to be in operation in South Korea, (b) what is the forecast total generating capacity of those reactors and (c) what is the forecast annual demand for uranium for South Korea during (i) 1980, (ii) 1985, (iii) 1990, (iv) 1995 and (v) 2000.
  3. If so, (a) what is the source of these forecasts and (b) what assumptions are used concerning enrichment tails assay, plutonium recycle and the use of breeder reactors.
Mr Anthony:
NCP/NP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows: ( 1), (2) and (3). See answer to Question No. 28 13.

Nuclear Reactors: West Germany (Question No. 2819)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for Trade and Resources, upon notice, on 16 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Is he able to say how many nuclear power reactors are in operation in West Germany and what is their total generating capacity.
  2. Is he also able to say (a) how many nuclear power reactors are forecast to be in operation in West Germany, (b) what is the forecast total generating capacity of those reactors and (c) what is the forecast annual demand for uranium for West Germany during (i) 1980, (ii) 1985, (iii) 1990, (iv) 1995 and (v) 2000.
  3. If so, (a) what is the source of these forecasts and (b) what assumptions are used concerning enrichment tails assay, plutonium recycle and the use of breeder reactors.
Mr Anthony:
NCP/NP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows: ( 1 ),( 2 ) and ( 3 ). See answer to Question No. 2 8 1 3.

Nuclear Reactors: Canada (Question No. 2820)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for Trade and Resources, upon notice, on 16 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Is he able to say how many nuclear power reactors are in operation in Canada and what is their total generating capacity.
  2. Is he also able to say (a) how many nuclear power reactors are forecast to be in operation in Canada, (b) what is the forecast total generating capacity of those reactors and (c) what is the forecast annual demand for uranium for Canada during (i) 1980, (ii) 1985, (iii) 1990, (iv) 1995 and (v)2000.
  3. If so, (a) what is the source of these forecasts and (b) what assumptions are used concerning enrichment tails assay, plutonium recycle and the use of breeder reactors.
Mr Anthony:
NCP/NP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows: ( 1 ), (2) and (3). See answer to Question No. 2813.

Nuclear Reactors: Switzerland (Question No. 2814)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for Trade and Resources, upon notice, on 16 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Is he able to say how many nuclear power reactors are in operation in Switzerland and what is their total generating capacity.
  2. Is he also able to say (a) how many nuclear power reactors are forecast to be in operation in Switzerland, (b) what is the forecast total generating capacity of those reactors and (c) what is the forecast annual demand for uranium for Switzerland during (i) 1980, (ii) 1985, (iii) 1990, (iv) 1 995 and (v) 2000.
  3. If so, (a) what is the source of these forecasts and (b) what assumptions are used concerning enrichment tails assay, plutonium recycle and the use of breeder reactors.
Mr Anthony:
NCP/NP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows: (1), (2) and (3). See answer to Question No. 2813.

Nuclear Reactors: Italy (Question No. 2817)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for Trade and Resources, upon notice, on 16 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Is he able to say how many nuclear power reactors are in operation in Italy and what is their total generating capacity.
  2. Is he also able to say (a) how many nuclear power reactors are forecast to be in operation in Italy (b) what is the forecast total generating capacity of those reactors and (c) what is the forecast annual demand for uranium for Italy during (i) 1980, (ii) 1985, (iii) 1990, (iv) 1995 and (v) 2000.
  3. If so, (a) what is the source of these forecasts and (b) what assumptions are used concerning enrichment tails assay, plutonium recycle and the use of breeder reactors.
Mr Anthony:
NCP/NP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows: ( 1 ), (2) and (3). See answer to Question No. 28 13.

Community Youth Scheme: South Australia (Question Na 2389)

Dr Blewett:

asked the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, upon notice, on 28 September 1978:

  1. How many Community Youth Support Scheme projects have been started in South Australia since the scheme was established.
  2. What are, or were, the titles of these projects.
  3. What has been the expenditure on each of the projects to date and what expenditure allocations have been made to date for particular projects in 1978-79.
  4. In which electoral divisions in South Australia are, or were, these projects located.
  5. Which of these projects (a) have ceased voluntarily and (b) have been terminated or refused continued funding by the Departmental committees concerned.
  6. What were the reasons in each case for the termination, or the refusal of further funds.
Mr Street:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) As at 30 September 1978, 74 projects.
  2. , (3) and (4) Project titles, expenditure to 30 September 1978, expenditure allocations for particular projects in 1978-79, and the electorates concerned are listed in the following table:

  1. As at 30 September 1978:

    1. the following projects had ceased voluntarily:

Unley Council

YMCAModbury

The Box Factory

Thebarton Recreation Club

District Council of Murray Bridge.

  1. the following projects had been terminated or refused continued funding:

YMCA Elizabeth

Port Augusta Unemployed Service Scheme

Contact Unemployed Service Scheme.

  1. YMCA Elizabeth- unsatisfactory administration; Port Augusta Unemployed Service Scheme- unsatisfactory administration and lack of strict control of finance; Contact Unemployed Service Scheme- unsatisfactory nature of the sponsor’s supervision and performance of project officers.

Family Court of Australia (Question No. 1765)

Mr Barry Jones:
LALOR, VICTORIA · ALP

asked the Minister representing the Attorney-General, upon notice, on 17 August 1978:

  1. 1 ) How many cases per month are dealt with by the Family Court of Australia in Melbourne.
  2. What is the current back-log of cases.
  3. What is the typical waiting time for cases to be dealt with.
  4. What measures does the Attorney-General intend to take to remedy problems caused by delays, given the hardship and suspension of rights involved.
Mr Viner:
LP

– The Attorney-General has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

  1. 1 ) In October 1978 the Family Court of Australia in Melbourne heard 954 applications for dissolution of marriage, and made final orders in 96 1 applications for ancillary relief including 86 defended applications.
  2. As at 3 1 October 1978, the following defended matters were awaiting hearing:
  1. The following are the waiting times between the filing of the application and the hearing or first hearing:

Applications for dissolution of marriage 14 weeks.

Applications for ancillary relief 4 weeks.

Where at the first hearing it is apparent that the application is defended, it is transferred to one of the 3 lists of defended cases referred to in (2) for which the waiting time between transfer to the list and final hearing is as follows:

Short defended list 6 months.

Supplementary defended list 10 months.

Ordinary defended list 18 months.

  1. I am not aware that the waiting time for the hearing of applications for dissolution of marriage and for undefended applications for ancillary relief is regarded as a source of hardship.

With regard to the hearing of defended applications for ancillary relief, I understand that where delay in the hearing of such cases is a cause of hardship to the parties, an application can be made to the Court to have the case placed in the supplementary defended list

During callovers of defended lists in Melbourne in October 1 978 it was found that only in approximately 50 per cent of the cases were all parties ready for a hearing date to be fixed.

In the other SO per cent of cases, the proceedings:

  1. were struck out because of the non-appearance of the parties or their solicitors;
  2. had been settled; or

  3. were adjourned because-

    1. the parties were not ready to proceed;
    2. witnesses were unavailable;
    3. a court counsellor ‘s report was not ready; or
    4. a regulation 99 financial inquiry and report to the Court had not yet been completed.

In those cases where the parties are ready to proceed, I am concerned to see that they face the minimum delay in having their cases heard. Since the use of conferences between parties or their legal representatives and court registrars has proved successful in settling cases or isolating the issues in dispute, action has been taken to appoint an additional Deputy Registrar who will commence duty on 4 December in Melbourne.

I am also currently considering proposals for the greater use of both counselling and registrars’ conferences in defended proceedings in the Family Court

Price Increase: Effect on Primary Industry Petroleum Products (Question No. 2938)

Mr Willis:

asked the Minister for Primary Industry, upon notice, on 2 1 November 1 978:

  1. 1 ) By how much will the increase in prices for petroleum products resulting from the levy introduced in the 1978 Budget, increase average fuel expenditure costs in the (a) pastoral, (b) wheat/sheep, (c) high rainfall zones of the grazing industries and (d) for all farms in the wheat industry.
  2. By how much are the Budget-induced changes to prices of petroleum products estimated to increase average fuel expenditure costs in the period 1976-77 to 1979-80 in the (a) pastoral, (b) wheat/sheep, (c) high rainfall zones of the grazing industries and (d) for all farms in the wheat industry.
Mr Sinclair:
NCP/NP

– The Bureau of Agricultural Economics has provided the following information in answer to the honourable member’s question:

  1. and (2) The table below presents BAE estimates of the impact of the levy on farm fuel costs in the grazing and wheat industries.

The changes to the levy provisions introduced in the 1978 Budget will not have any impact upon farmers’ fuel costs in 1976-77 or 1977-78. Since the changes will not have any further direct impact upon petroleum prices after 1978, no further increases in farmers’ fuel costs, stemming directly from the changes in the levy arrangements, would be expected in 1979-80.

The 1978 Budget Papers contained estimates of the likely price increases arising from the levy and these have been used in the above BAE calculations. The estimated increases in farm fuel costs assume no change in the quantity of fuel used per farm.

Plant Breeders’ Rights (Question No. 2761)

Mr Lloyd:

asked the Minister for Primary Industry, upon notice, on 14 November 1978:

What is the present position regarding the introduction of plant breeders’ rights.

Mr Sinclair:
NCP/NP

– The answer to the Honourable Member’s question is as follows:

The Australian Agricultural Council has agreed in principle to the establishment of a Plant Variety Rights Scheme under which proprietary rights would be granted to breeders of new varieties of plants. Delays have occurred in implementing that decision because some States have queried the legislative basis on which it is proposed to introduce the Scheme. However, the matter is currently under active consideration by the Government and I am hopeful that an announcement concerning the Scheme will be made shortly.

Agricultural Attache: Peking (Question No. 3052)

Mr Lloyd:

asked the Minister for Primary Industry upon notice, on 24 November 1978:

Has there been an agricultural attache recently stationed with the Australian Embassy in Peking; if not, when will one be stationed there.

Mr Sinclair:
NCP/NP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

No; I appreciate the honourable member’s interest and would be pleased to receive from him any submission incorporating his views on the desirability of such an appointment.

National Herd Improvement Scheme (Question No. 2899)

Mr Lloyd:

asked the Minister for Primary Industry, upon notice, on 17 November 1978:

What is the present situation with the proposal to introduce a national herd improvement scheme.

Mr Sinclair:
NCP/NP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

The Standing Committee on Agriculture, during 1976, appointed a four-man Steering Committee to develop the concept of a National Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme. After consulting industry organisations, the Steering Committee presented its Report to the Standing Committee on Agriculture in January 1978. Standing Committee referred the Report to its Animal Production and Animal Health Committees.

Concurrently with the consideration of the proposal by these Committees, the Victorian State Government has approached other States offering access to the computing facilities used by Victoria for sire assessment Discussions are also being held among breed societies aimed at the automatic data processing of their reports in a form that would be compatible with an Australia-wide system for herd improvement

Australian Legal Aid (Question No. 2950)

Mr Jacobi:

asked the Minister representing the Attorney-General, upon notice, on 22 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Is it a fact that the Australian Legal Aid guidelines announced by the Attorney-General on 25 October 1978, requiring a minimum contribution of $20 in all cases, has already had a significant effect on the readiness of people to approach the Australian Legal Aid Office for assistance.
  2. Has the Attorney-General’s attention been drawn to a definition of hardship given by a spokesman of the Australian Legal Aid Office in New South Wales in the Sydney Sun of 20 November 1978, that hardship refers to someone who is really down and out and does not have a penny.
  3. If so, what is the attitude of the Government to this definition.
  4. Has the Government failed to provide guidelines on this matter; if so, why.
  5. Will the Attorney-General consider urgently increases in staff for the Australian Legal Aid Office and the Family Court to assist people in matters of Family Law.
Mr Viner:
LP

-The Attorney-General has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

  1. There is no evidence that suggests that the requirement for a minimum contribution of $20 in all cases has had a significant effect on the readiness of people to approach the Australian Legal Aid Office for assistance. The rninimum contribution is not imposed where it is demonstrated that payment of the contribution would impose a real financial hardship.
  2. Yes.
  3. and (4) The definition attributed to a spokesman of the Australian Legal Aid Office in New South Wales in the Sydney Sun of 20 November 1978 is an illustration of a person who would have no difficulty in demonstrating real financial hardship. It is the policy of the Australian Legal Aid Office to consider each case on its own merits and to deal with each case sympathetically.
  4. The Australian Legal Aid Office will not require additional staff to assist people in matters of Family Law as this assistance will be part of its general problem service of legal advice that has been given to all persons with an element of financial need since the inception of the Office in 1973. The Attorney-General has asked his Department to let him know urgently whether any increase in staff for the Family Court is necessary so that the staff of the Court can advise and assist people in matters of Family Law.

Trade Practices Sub-Office: Staff (Question No. 2544)

Mr Jacobi:

asked the Minister representing the Attorney-General, upon notice, on 18 October 1978.

  1. What is the strength of staff numbers of the Trade Practices Sub-office of the Crown Solicitor’s Division.
  2. How many of the staff of the Sub-office are legally qualified.
  3. What proposals does the Attorney-General have for relieving the heavy strain on the limited resources of the Suboffice as reported at paragraph 1, page 60 of the Commission’s 4th Annual Report for 1977-78.
Mr Viner:
LP

-The Attorney-General has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

  1. 1 ) At present, 10 officers.
  2. 7 officers.
  3. As indicated in paragraph 1.60 of the Commission’s report, legal work arising under the Trade Practices Act is performed in the Trade Practices Sub-office of the Crown Solicitor and also in the offices of the various Deputy Crown Solicitors. The staff of the sub-office has been working under considerable pressure. This was particularly so during a recent period of about 2 months when the officer-in-charge of the Sub-office was detached for other duties. Two officers ( 1 legally qualified) are in the course of being recruited to fill existing vacancies. At present, the staff of the Sub-office is coping with its work. The long-term staffing requirements of the Sub-office are being assessed as part of a review of the Crown Solicitor’s Division of the Attorney-General’s Department

Interception of Telephone Calls (Question No. 2787)

Mr Les Johnson:
HUGHES, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

asked the Minister representing the Attorney-General, upon notice, on 15 November 1978:

  1. Has authority been given to the Commonwealth Police, ASIO or other Government bodies to monitor telephone calls during the period 1 1 November 1 975 to date.
  2. If so, (a) how many times was an authority given, (b) for how long was the authority operative in each case, (c) on what grounds was authority granted in each case, (d) in what (i) suburbs in capital cities and (ii) towns were the monitored telephones situated and (e) how many telephones are being currently monitored under the authority.
Mr Viner:
LP

-The Attorney-General has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

  1. The Telephonic Communications (Interception) Act 1960 provides that the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation is the only Government body that the AttorneyGeneral may authorise to intercept telephone calls and enumerates the circumstances in which interception of telephone calls can be authorised. Section 6 of that Act empowers the Attorney-General, at the request of the Director-General of Security, to authorise the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation to intercept calls: over a telephone service used, or reasonably suspected of being used, in activities prejudicial to the security of the Commonwealth. if the interception is likely to assist the Organisation in its function of obtaining intelligence relevant to the security of the Commonwealth.

In an emergency the Director-General can issue a warrant for the same purposes but the warrant can only remain in force for 48 hours at most.

  1. In accordance with the general practice of successive Governments I do not propose to provide information concerning the operations of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.

Food Exports: Contamination (Question No. 2714)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for Primary Industry, upon notice, on 8 November 1978:

  1. 1) On which occasions since 1970 have foreign importers complained about or reported above limit levels of (a) arsenic in prawns, (b) anatoxins in peanuts and (c) mercury in fish exported from Australia.
  2. What remedial action was taken by Australia in each case.
Mr Sinclair:
NCP/NP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) and (2) I am advised that on no occasions since 1970 have complaints or reports been received from foreign importers of above limit levels of arsenic in prawns, anatoxins in peanuts or mercury in fish exported from Australia.

Women in Transport Study (Question No. 2399)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister for Transport, upon notice, on 10 October 1978:

  1. What are the terms of reference for the ‘Women in Transport’ study referred to on page 74 of the Public Service Board’s Annual Report for 1977-78.
  2. When was the study initiated.
  3. 3 ) When will it be completed.
  4. 4) When does he expect to release the study ‘s report.
  5. Has he received any reports from the study team to date.
  6. What is the name, classification and Department of each member of the study team.
  7. 7 ) What Department chairs the study.
Mr Nixon:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) The terms of reference for the ‘Women in Transport’ study are as follows:

    1. Identify and describe the present situation in regard to women in the Department of Transport, their level of employment and their concentration in various employment areas.
    2. Ascertain the current situation in regard to promotional opportunities for women in the Department.
    3. Identify the personnel development and training requirements of women (and other minority groups) within the Department by investigation and inquiry.
    4. Define Equal Employment Opportunity in accordance with the concepts established by the Public Service Board, particularly in relation to the employment of women in the Department of Transport
    5. Define and recommend an Equal Employment Opportunity strategy for the benefit of women in the Department.
    6. f) Investigate the need for the establishment of an Equal Employment Opportunity Office in the Department of Transport
    7. Develop and recommend a statement of functions for the Equal Employment Opportunity Office.
    8. Develop criteria and monitoring procedures for the evaluation of personnel development and training programs for women in the Department
  2. Develop criteria for the evaluation of the Equal Employment Opportunity program.
  3. The study was initiated in August 1977 by the Secretary to the Department as a personnel development exercise in the Department, and follows a pilot study on the same subject carried out in 1 975.
  4. The study was completed in October 1978.
  5. As mentioned in (2) above the study was commissioned by the Secretary to the Department. I understand that the Secretary and Senior Officers of the Department have yet to consider the report. The question of its distribution will no doubt depend upon their consideration of it.
  6. No.
  7. The Co-ordinating Committee for the study comprised:

Mr R. Thompson First Assistant Secretary Management Services Division Department of Transport

Mr J. Foley First Assistant Commissioner Personnel Management Development Division Public Service Board.

Mr P. Jones Assistant Secretary Personnel Development and Transport Education Department of Transport

Ms G. Radford Director Equal Employment Opportunity Bureau Public Service Board.

The Executive Officer was:

Mr K. Arnold, Air Traffic Control Superintendent, from the Department’s Airways Operations Division, Melbourne.

Mr Arnold was assisted on a part time basis by:

Ms H. Prendergast Clerk Class 9 Assistant Director Equal Employment Opportunity Bureau Public Service Board.

Ms S. Lllewellyn Clerk Class 6 Personnel Practices Officer Personnel Development and Transport Education Branch Management Services Division Department of Transport.

In addition a large number of officers of the Department ‘s Central Office and Regional Offices were involved in providing part-time assistance to the Executive Officer or in the conduct of investigations concerning particular work areas or particular aspects of the study.

  1. The study was conducted by the Department of Transport with some assistance from officers of the Public Service Board.

Technology Export to China

Mr Anthony:
NCP/NP

-The honourable member for Lilley asked the Prime Minister, without notice, on 17 November 1978:

In the absence of the Minister for Trade and Resources, I direct my question to the Prime Minister. I refer to the advice and the hopes made clear by the Government in respect of trade with China, particularly in relation to the export of technology from Australia. I ask the Prime Minister Has the Government an attitude on barter arrangements between China and an Australian exporting firm such as those that have existed with a number of British exporters for whom marketing rights in Great Britain were reserved exclusively by China following the use of the original British technology?

The following is in answer to the honourable member’s question:

China is, of course, anxious to obtain a wide range of westem technology and is adopting a flexible attitude to the means by which it achieves that objective. This includes arrangements where all or part payment for technology is made in goods resulting from the use of the particular technology. The Chinese refer to these as ‘buy back’ rather than barter deals.

Australian suppliers of technology are free to enter into commercial agreements of this type and the marketing arrangements in respect of Australia or other overseas markets are simply a matter for negotiation between the parties. The Chinese party would of course insist on handling the sale of the product within China.

As with any commercial trading arrangement involving the import of products made overseas by or on behalf of an Australian firm the Government cannot give any assurance of continued access to the Australian market The import regulations, tariffs etc applicable to these products do not vary amply because there is some Australian involvement or content in their production abroad.

Although China has paid cash for much of her technology imports in the past, there is growing evidence of payment in kind forming part of her contractual arrangements in more recent deals with European and Japanese suppliers of technology in particular.

Australian companies contemplating ‘buy back’ deals with China, or any other country for that matter, should take early steps to satisfy the Reserve Bank, Treasury and Customs’ officials as to the commercial valuation placed on the goods being accepted as full or part payment for the Australian technology.

Aircraft Defrosting Compounds (Question No. 2892)

Mr Uren:

asked the Minister for Transport, upon notice, on 17 October 1978:

  1. 1 ) Which airlines use Aero Shell Compound 7 or similar glycol/alcohol mixture for aircraft defrosting, at which Australian airports is it used and when did its use commence in each case.
  2. Have any airlines ceased using these compounds for this purpose; if so, when and for what reasons was their use terminated.
  3. In what form and manner are these compounds applied.
  4. Have there been any changes in their application during the last 5 years; if so, what are the reasons for the changes.
  5. How many workers have directly applied these compounds in the defrosting of aircraft.
  6. What protective measures are taken in the application of these compounds.
  7. Have there been any changes in these measures during the last 5 years; if so, when and for what reasons.
  8. Which authority is responsible for regulating and monitoring the health aspects of this activity.
  9. Have there been any incidents of ill health amongst air transport workers which may have been associated with use of these compounds; if so, what are the details of these incidents.
  10. 10) Is he able to say in which other countries is Aero Shell Compound 7 used for aircraft defrosting in a manner and form similar to its application in Australia.
Mr Nixon:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) Aero Shell Compound 07 is used by Ansett Airlines of Australia, Trans Australia Airlines and East West Airlines for defrosting aeroplanes which have been parked overnight on cold airports. AAA and TAA carry out defrosting during winter at Canberra and Hobart EWA use the method at Tamworth. Qantas use the product in the windscreen deicing system of their Hawker Siddeley HS-125. Aero Shell Compound 07 has been used throughout the world since 1938.
  2. Not to my knowledge. The compound was however temporarily withdrawn from use by Shell locally between August 1974 and February 1975 because of a possible fire hazard, suggested by the US Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration, involving Aero Shell Compound 07 or similar products coming into contact with silver or gold plated surfaces carrying an electric current such as electric motor slip rings and gold plated connectors in some avionics equipment The risk was found to be negligible so the product was reinstated by Shell and the airlines.
  3. Aero Shell Compound 07 is a de-icing fluid composed of ethylene glycol, isopropylalcohol and distilled water. It conforms to a British Government Specification DTD406B. It is used for in-flight de-icing of windscreens, propellers, wings, tailplanes, et cetera, on suitably equipped aircraft in a manner similar to motor car windscreen washers. In defrosting parked aircraft it is usually applied by spraying with a stirrup pump a one to one mixture of compound and warm water.
  4. Not to my knowledge. The compound is applied externally by spraying undiluted in extremely low temperature conditions such as occur in the Northern Hemisphere or diluted with water as previously stated. This has been standard world practice for some 40 years.
  5. This is not known. It would involve extensive inquiry of the airlines to ascertain this because of manner in which airline personnel are changed around.
  6. Shell recommends the use of standard wet weather gear. This is primarily because of the non-drying characteristic of the product
  7. The use of wet weather gear and respirators has been a comparatively recent innovation by one airline since October 1978 and I understand that this was a staff request
  8. The Air Navigation Act does not confer on me any powers relating to the health of aircraft maintenance workers. I understand the Shell Company maintains a Toxicology Group in London and also a Health and Safety Department in Melbourne under the supervision of a highly qualified medical officer. The Company maintains a continuing surveillance over the use of all its products from a health viewpoint and has for many years liaised with Commonwealth and State bodies concerned with industrial safety matters.
  9. My Department is not aware of any incidents of ill health directly attributable to exposure to de-icing compounds like Aero Shell Product 07.
  10. Aero Shell Compound 07 is in widespread use throughout the world but I am not able to specify all those countries.

Flag Vessels (Question No. 2785)

Mr Les Johnson:
HUGHES, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

asked the Minister for Transport, upon notice, on 15 November 1978:

  1. What percentage of (a) total exports from Australia and (b) total imports to Australia was carried by Australian flag vessels during each of the years 1 966 to date.
  2. What percentage of Australian mineral exports is carried by Australian flag vessels.
  3. What government measures, direct or indirect, have been taken to assist Australian-owned national merchant shipping.
Mr Nixon:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) Percentages carried by Australian flag vessels for the years 1966-67 to 1976-77 from Australian Bureau of Statistics tabulations are as follows:
  2. The statistics used to prepare the table in question 1 do not provide a breakdown for mineral exports. However, the percentage of Australian exports carried by Tramp/ Bulkships provides an approximate indication.
  3. The Government considers the use of Australian flag shipping in overseas trades to be a commercial operation. Other than protection for an Australian flag operator to engage efficiently and to a reasonable extent in overseas cargo shipping which is contained in Part X of the Trade Practices Act, 1 974; no specific direct or indirect assistance is given for the operation of vessels in the overseas trades. However, the Australian coasting trade is reserved under the Navigation Act 1912 to Australian licensed vessels. This effectively reserves the coastal shipping industry to Australian-registered and manned vessels. In addition, the Government’s shipbuilding assistance arrangements enable overseas shipowners to import ships into Australia for temporary periods only when suitable Australian tonnage is not available, and on a permanent basis only after it has been demonstrated by calling tenders in Australia and overseas that the overseas tender price is less than the Australian tender price after bounty.

Office Accommodation: Qantas Building Sydney (Question No. 2932)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister for Transport, upon notice, on 2 1 November 1978:

  1. What office space has been or is to be occupied by his Department in the Qantas Building Sydney.
  2. What is the (a) area of each office to be occupied, (b) total area, (c) annual rental, (d) cost of refurbishment and (e) cost of provision of furnishings of the accommodation proposed to be occupied.
  3. What is the classification of each officer of the Department of Transport who will be located in the office.
  4. What is the justification for utilising premises in the Qantas building in lieu of space in Departmental buildings elsewhere in Sydney.
Mr Nixon:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. My Department has no plans to occupy any space in the Qantas building, Sydney.
  2. ) , ( 3 ) and ( 4) see answer to ( 1 ).

Aircraft Equipment Breakdowns (Question No. 2855)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister for Transport, upon notice, on 1 1 October 1978:

  1. 1 ) Further to his answer to question No. 2481 (Hansard, 8 November 1978, page 2579), have any aircraft owned by TAA and Qantas been returned to their manufacturers for any reason since 1 January 1976.
  2. If so, (a) which aircraft were returned, (b) on what dates were they returned, (c) what is the present whereabouts of each aircraft and (d) what was the reason in each case for the return of the aircraft
  3. Were any aircraft withdrawn from service as a result of being returned to their manufacturers.
Mr Nixon:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) Since 1 January 1976 no TAA aircraft has been returned to the manufacturer but ten Qantas Boeing 747 aircraft have been returned.

  2. (a) VH-EBA, EBB, EBC EBD, EBF, EBG, EBH, EBI EBJ, EBK

    1. Feb 16-Feb 25 VH-EBA; Feb 25-Feb 29 VH-EBC Feb 29-Mar 3 VH-EBF; Mar 3-Mar 7 VH-EBD; Mar 7-Mar 10 VH-EBG; Mar 10-Mar 14 VH-EBI; Mar 14-Mar 17 VH-EBK; Mar 1 7-Mar 26 VH-EBB; Mar 26-Apr 5 VH-EBH; Apr 5-Apr 13 VH-EBJ-all in 1976.
    2. each aircraft is currently in service with Qantas.
    3. The reason for returning the aircraft was to have ten abreast economy seating installed in lieu of nine abreast seating thus increasing the passenger complement by 33. For convenience while the aircraft was laid up for this installation the opportunity was taken to have incorporated some manufacturer’s service bulletins. Each aircraft had its own list of bulletins and depended on scheduling. The longer down time for aircraft VH-EBA, EBB and EBH was due to installation of water injection equipment.
  3. Each aircraft was taken out of service at the completion of a revenue flight to San Francisco and on completion of the work was returned to Australia on a revenue flight from San Francisco. 20® Mile Fishing Zone (Question No. 2629)
Mr Les Johnson:
HUGHES, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

asked the Minister for Primary Industry, upon notice:

  1. In relation to the proposed 200 nautical mile fishing zone, when will the detailed regulations be drawn up and made available.
  2. Will it be a condition to the granting of a fishing license that the enterprise have a minimum of 5 1 per cent Australian capital.
Mr Sinclair:
NCP/NP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. The Attorney-General’s Department is presently drafting Statutory Rules to give effect to the regulationmaking powers in the Fisheries Act 1952, in respect of the Australian fishing zone, in the manner considered necessary following consultation with other interested Departments. I am informed that the work has priority in the AttorneyGeneral’s Department and will continue to have priority until completed.
  2. Particular regard is given to the welfare of the Australian fishing industry in the assessment of proposals for foreign access to the Australian Fishing Zone. In terms of its foreign investment policy the Government would as a general nile only allow a new fishing project involving an investment of $5 million or more to proceed provided the venture has a rninimum of 50 per cent Australian equity together with at least 50 per cent of the voting strength on the board held by Australian interests. The Government, however, would not wish to hold up worthwhile projects if Australian equity capital is not available. Moreover, extension of Australian fisheries jurisdiction carries with it an international obligation to provide access by foreigners to surplus fish resources not exploited by Australians, on terms and conditions acceptable to Australia.

Proposals for access to the Zone are considered under the following broad categories:

  1. feasibility fishing- being arrangements between Australian and foreign companies for a maximum period of two years to assess the extent and distribution of fisheries resources;
  2. joint ventures- being commercial arrangements between Australian and foreign companies leading to the establishment of an Australian fishing operation; and
  3. licensed foreign fishing- being a wholly foreign fishing operation.

Agricultural Attache (Question No. 2347)

Mr Lloyd:

! asked the Minister for Primary Industry, upon notice, on 27 September 1 978:

  1. 1 ) What is the role of an agricultural attache and in what way does it differ from a Trade Commissioner in matters relating to agriculture or agricultural exports.
  2. Where are agricultural attaches presently located and which additional locations are presently being considered.
Mr Sinclair:
NCP/NP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) The role of a Counsellor (Agriculture), with somewhat differing emphasis in each post, is broadly to evaluate and report on agricultural, forestry and fisheries policy developments; make representations at appropriate level to the host government on agricultural, forestry and fisheries matters; participate in delegations on primary industry issues including negotiations on world commodity arrangements; and assess demand/supply trends and other information on agricultural production and consumption.

The basic role of a Trade Commissioner is to provide commercial intelligence and promotional support to Australian exporters and the Government in the interests of developing and maintaining Australia’s overseas markets. I note that the honourable member has addressed a similar question to my colleague, the Minister for Trade and Resources, who will no doubt respond in more detail on this aspect.

  1. Counsellors (Agriculture) are presently located in Washington, London, Brussels (location of the EEC Headquarters) and Rome (location of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the World Food Council).

The possibility of locating a Counsellor (Agriculture) in Tokyo is at present being considered.

Public Service and Metal Trades Award Pay Hates: Comparison (Question No. 2445)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 11 October 1978:

  1. By what monetary amounts as distinct from percentages, has the salary of (a) Level 1, (b) Level 2, (c) Level 3, (d) Level 4, (e) Level 5 and (f) Level 6 of the Second Division of the Australian Public Service increased since 30 June 1970.
  2. By what monetary amounts as distinct from percentages, have the award rates under the Federal Metal Trades Award increased since 30 June 1 970.
Mr Viner:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. and (2) The Public Service Board has advised me that the monetary and percentage increases that have occurred in the pay rates of Second Division levels in the Australian Public Service and in selected Metal Trades Award classifications over the period 30 June 1970 to 30 June 1978 are as set out in the following table:

Public Service Second Division Officers (Question No. 1608)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 15 August 1978:

What is the number of Second Division Officers now employed in the Departments of (a) Prime Minister and Cabinet, (b) Foreign Affairs, (c) Treasury, (d) Finance, (e) Trade and Resources, (f) Transport and (g) the AttorneyGeneral, compared with the number employed at 30 June (i) 1975, (ii) 1970, (iii) 1965, (iv) 1960, (v) 1955, (vi) 1950 and (vii) 1945 respectively.

Mr Viner:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

The information sought is provided in the following table. There have been considerable changes to the functions of all the departments over the period concerned. For this reason the table gives separate figures for former departments with functions most closely related to those of the departments listed in the question.

Life Expectancy Statistics (Question No. 2754)

Mr Barry Jones:
LALOR, VICTORIA · ALP

asked the Minister for Health, upon notice, on 14 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Is he able to say which 10 nations have the largest life expectancy for (a) men and (b) women and what the figure ism each case.
  2. Is he also able to say whether the Japanese life expectancy has increased dramatically in the past 30 years; if so, will he ascertain the reasons for this increase and advise the House.
  3. Is it a fact that Australia’s expectation of life reached a plateau in the early 1970s and is now falling slightly; if so, will he ascertain the reasons and advise the House.
Mr Hunt:
NCP/NP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) The 10 nations that have the largest life expectancy for men and women and the respective life expectancies are shown in Table 1.
  2. The expectation of life at birth for Japan is shown in Table 2. The large increase is due to a very low life expectancy responding to post-war development and an increase in living standards, bringing life expectancy up to the levels typical of developed countries. As demonstrated in Table 2, the period of large increase was between 1947 and 1958 with an average yearly increase of 1.36 years for males and 1.43 years for females.

However the average annual increase slowed considerably after that period, and since 1 958 the average annual increase has been 0.41 years for males and 0.44 years for females.

  1. Australian expectation of life figures are shown in Table 3. It is not true that Australia’s expectation of life reached a plateau in the early 1970s and is now falling slightly; rather, the trend is one of increasing life expectancy.

Legal Aid (Question No. 3123)

Dr Everingham:

asked the Minister representing the Attorney-General, upon notice, on 24 November 1978:

Will the Government provide legal aid to the farmers whose industry is threatened by the State of Queensland’s franchise agreement with the Queensland cement and Lime Co. if legal action under section 50 of the Trade Practices Act is prolonged by the Company.

Mr Viner:
LP

-The Attorney-General has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

I have not received any applications for legal or financial assistance under section 170 of the Trade Practices Act 1974 from farmers in Queensland in respect of proceedings under section 50 of that Act If an application is received by me it will be considered when all the necessary information is before me.

Review of Australia’s International Civil Aviation Policy (Question No. 2870)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister for Health, upon notice, on 16 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Did his Department make a submission to the Review of Australia’s International Civil Aviation Policy.
  2. If so, (a) what was the substance of the submission and (b) will he release it for the benefit of the Parliament.
Mr Hunt:
NCP/NP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. No.
  2. See answer to (1).

Private Health Insurance Funds: Employment of Former Medibank Staff (Question No. 2555)

Mr Humphreys:

asked the Minister for Health, upon notice, on 18 October 1978:

Has his attention been drawn to any official directive of any private health fund to personnel officers directing them not to employ former Medibank employees.

Mr Hunt:
NCP/NP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

There has been reported an instance where it is alleged that a private health fund did not offer an interview to a

Medibank employee on the basis that the person had formerly been employed with that particular fund. I might mention however that inquiries have been received by the Health Insurance Commission from other private funds seeking to employ Medibank staff.

Atomic Weapons Testing: Health Risks (Question No. 2746)

Mr Uren:

asked the Minister for Health, upon notice, on 9 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Is he able to say whether the health risks encountered by United States personnel during the United States atomic weapons testing program were greater than those encountered by British and Australian personnel at Emu, Monte Bello and Maralinga.
  2. Is he also able to say whether the monitoring procedures undertaken by the U.S. Government during its weapons testing program were less stringent than those undertaken at Emu, Monte Bello and Maralinga; if so, in what way did the procedures differ.
Mr Hunt:
NCP/NP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) and (2) My Department has no detailed knowledge of either the health risks encountered by United States personnel or the monitoring procedures employed during the United States atomic weapons testing program and it is not possible to make a comparison with the tests conducted by the British. However, for nuclear tests conducted within Australia by Britain the most stringent safeguards to the health of personnel were implemented at every level.

Defence Purchasing Policy (Question No. 2663)

Mr Scholes:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 26 October 1978:

  1. Have differences between the Naval Technical Services Division and the Purchasing Division of the Department of Administrative Services on policy and purchasing procedure become a cause for friction.
  2. If so, what action has been taken to remedy the problem.
Mr Killen:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) No. Such differences of opinion which arise from time to time are readily resolved by discussion between the Departments.
  2. See answer to(l).

Military Exercises (Question No. 2888)

Mr Wallis:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 16 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Are there any plans by the Australian Army to utilise the Woomera area for military exercises, in a similar manner to earlier exercises involving Leopard tanks.
  2. Were earlier exercises involving Leopard tanks considered successful
Mr Killen:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. Further use of the area is under consideration but there are no plans for military exercises to be conducted there before June 1980.
  2. Yes.

Australian Services Canteens Organisation: Recruitment Advertising (Question No. 2803)

Mr Humphreys:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 16 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) What reference, either visual or oral, has been made in Government-sponsored advertisements promoting recruitment in the Services to the facilities of the Australian Services Canteens Organisation.
  2. Is it a fact that at least 1 recruitment advertisement indicates that the Organisation’s facilities are part of the attractions of life in the services.
  3. If he proceeds with plans to abolish the Organisation and its service, will the continuation of this advertisement constitute misleading advertising.
Mr Killen:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) No specific reference to the faculties of Australian Services Canteens Organisation as such has been made in such advertising for many years.
  2. No.
  3. No, as it is not applicable.

Consumer Protection (Question No. 2543)

Mr Jacobi:

asked the Minister representing the Attorney-General, upon notice, on 18 October 1978:

  1. Why did the Attorney-General decide not to request the Crown Solicitor to act on behalf of consumers concerned in matters which the Trade Practices Commission has brought before the court.
  2. How many requests for legal or financial assistance in bringing proceedings before the court, under the consumer protection provisions of the Trade Practices Act, did the Attorney-General receive in 1977-78.
  3. How many of those requests have been granted (a) in whole or (b) in part
Mr Viner:
LP

-The Attorney-General has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

  1. 1 ) In August 1 977 the question whether the Crown Solicitor should be requested pursuant to section 55 (E) of the Judiciary Act 1903 to act for consumers who considered that they had suffered loss or damage by reason of a breach or breaches of the consumer protection provisions of the Trade Practices Act 1974 was raised with my predecessor. The question was raised in relation to the case of Wise v. CLM (Holdings) Pty Ltd and others, a case that concerned an auction sale of antiques and objet d’art held at Toowoomba in 1975 and the contents of an advertising brochure mailed to persons thought to be interested in the sale.

The matter was considered at the request of the Chairman of the Trade Practices Commission. No request was made by any purchaser of the items sold at the auction that the Crown Solicitor should act on his behalf.

The view was taken that, as any proceedings to recover the loss or damage suffered by a purchaser would be proceedings by a private individual asserting a private right to recover damages, it would not be appropriate for the Crown

Solicitor to act as solicitor for the individual or individuals concerned.

  1. A total of 124 requests for legal or financial assistance in bringing proceedings before the court, under the consumer protection provisions of the Trade Practices Act, were received by the Attorney-General in 1977-78.

  2. 3 ) Of the requests so received-

    1. 52 were granted in whole; and
    2. 2 were granted in part

Ten requests for legal or financial assistance were still to be determined. One request was withdrawn.

Export of Dairy Products (Question No. 3048)

Mr Lloyd:

asked the Minister for Trade and Resources, upon notice, on 24 November 1978:

  1. Has the EEC suspended export subsidies or restitutions on butter sales pending an inquiry into an attempted sale of French butter to the Soviet Union contrary to the notification procedure introduced after a similar sale in 1 977.
  2. What is the current situation with EEC export subsidies for dairy products.
Mr Anthony:
NCP/NP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) The Commission of the European Communities temporarily suspended export restitutions on butter sales to nonEEC countries from 13 November 1978 pending an examination of proposals from Community traders to export a large quantity of butter to the USSR.
  2. The levels of EEC export restitutions for the major dairy products as at 30 September 1 978 were as follows:

Butter,$A2,300 per tonne;

Skim milk powder, $A950 per tonne;

Whole milk powder, $ A 1,340 per tonne;

Condensed full cream milk, $ A 1,240 per tonne.

EEC expert restitutions on cheese vary according to the cheese variety and the destination involved. The present export restrictions for some of the major cheese varieties entering world trade such as Cheddar, Edam, Gouda, Emmenthaler and Gruyere range between $A725-$A1,050 per tonne to Eastern Europe and between $A 1 , 1 50-$A 1 , 360 per tonne to Australia.

Nuclear Reactors: United States of America (Question No. 2823)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for Trade and Resources, upon notice, on 16 November, 1978:

  1. 1 ) Is he able to say how many nuclear power reactors are in operation in the United States of America and what is their total generating capacity.
  2. Is he also able to say (a) how many nuclear power reactors are forecast to be in operation in the USA, (b) what is the forecast total generating capacity of those reactors and (c) what is the forecast annual demand for uranium for the USA during (i) 1980, (ii) 1985, (ii) 1990, (iv) 1995 and (v) 2000.
  3. If so, (a) what is the source of these forecasts and (b) what assumptions are used concerning enrichment tails assay, plutonium recycle and the use of breeder reactors.
Mr Anthony:
NCP/NP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows: ( 1 ), (2) and (3). See answer to Question No. 2813.

Nuclear Reactors: France (Question No. 2821)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for Trade and Resources, upon notice, on 16 November 1 978:

  1. 1 ) Is he able to say how many nuclear power reactors are in operation in France and what is their total generating capacity.
  2. Is he also able to say (a) how many nuclear power reactors are forecast to be in operation in France, (b) what is the forecast total generating capacity of those reactors and (c) what is the forecast annual demand for uranium for France during (i) 1980, (ii) 1985, (iii) 1990, (iv) 1995 and (v)2000.
  3. If so, (a) what is the source of these forecasts and (b) what assumptions are used concerning enrichment tails assay, plutonium recycle and the use of breeder reactors.
Mr Anthony:
NCP/NP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows: ( 1 ), (2 ) and (3 ). See answer to Question No. 28 1 3.

Nuclear Reactors: Finland (Question No. 2826)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for Trade and Resources, upon notice, on 16 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Is he able to say how many nuclear power reactors are in operation in Finland and what is their total generating capacity.
  2. Is he also able to say (a) how many nuclear power reactors are forecast to be in operation in Finland, (b) what is the forecast total generating capacity of those reactors and (c) what is the forecast annual demand for uranium for Finland during (i) 1980, (ii) 1985, (iii) 1990, (iv) 1995, and (v)2000.
  3. If so, (a) what is the source of these forecasts and (b) what assumptions are used concerning enrichment tails assay, plutonium recycle and the use of breeder reactors.
Mr Anthony:
NCP/NP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows: ( 1 ), (2) and (3 ). See answer to Question No. 2813.

Nuclear Safeguards (Question No. 2727)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for Trade and Resources, upon notice, on 8 November 1978:

Will the Uranium Advisory Council be asked to comment on the bilateral nuclear safeguards agreements negotiated by the Australian Government. If so, at what stage of negotiations will these comments be sought.

Mr Anthony:
NCP/NP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

The terms of reference of the Uranium Advisory Council were set out in my Statement to Parliament on 10 April 1978.

Radioactivity: Monte Bello Islands (Question No. 2677)

Mr Uren:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 26 October 1978:

  1. Has his attention been drawn to the statement made on the ABC program This Day Tonight on 14 October 1978, by a radio operator living in the Monte Bello Islands that he wasn’t aware until recently that any radioactivity remained on the island and had often handled materials remaining from the British nuclear weapons tests which were conducted on the island.
  2. If so, what steps have been taken, or are proposed to be taken, to prevent public exposure to radiation at Monte Bello, Emu and Maralinga.

Mi Killen- The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. I am aware that two men employed to man a transmission station on the Monte Bello Islands were interviewed by the ABC and the interview broadcast on Four Corners on 14 October 1978. The camp set up by the company employing the men is approximately two miles from the nearer of the two points above which the land-based nuclear devices were exploded Le., the ground zeros. The remains of British stores and plant used to construct test facilities are still to be found on the islands.

The islands were declared radiologically safe by the Atomic Weapons Tests Safety Committee in 1968, except for the two areas in the immediate vicinity of the ground zeros. Even these areas are safe for short-term visits. When it sought permission to establish the camp, which was granted, the company was also advised of these areas and told that entry to them could not be permitted.

  1. Access to the Monte Bello Islands, Emu and Maralinga is controlled by the Commonwealth. In the particular case of Monte Bello permission to visit must be obtained from the Naval Officer Commanding, Western Australia. Permission is not granted for access to the areas surrounding the ground zeros.

Review of Australia’s International Civil Aviation Policy (Question No. 2857)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister for Trade and Resources, upon notice, on 16 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Did his Department make a submission to the review of Australia ‘s International Civil Aviation Policy.
  2. If so, (a) what was the substance of the submission and ( b) will he release it for the benefit of Parliament.
Mr Anthony:
NCP/NP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. Yes.
  2. (a) The Department indicated that it would wish to see the continuation of a reliable scheduled aircraft service because of the particular needs of businessmen who need to be able to plan ahead of travel at short notice with confidence that there will be a reasonable choice of flight schedules. Such a service would also provide exporters with a known freight capability. My Department also commented that there would be benefit to the development of Australia ‘s trade, particularly exports, for the maximum possible freedom to be given to airfreight into and out of Australia. My Department would also wish to see the easing of the existing complicated rate determination procedures, although advantage is seen in having a differential rate structure based on the urgency of the freight requirement The comments which my Department have made to the Department of Transport reflect the concern expressed over time to my Department by exporters with whom the Department is in constant contact
  3. (b) The views put forward by my Department are reflected in the final Report tabled in the Parliament.

Bataan Nuclear Plant Project (Question No. 2282)

Mr Uren:

asked the Minister for Trade and Resources the following question, on notice, on 27 September 1978:

Was the Government advised by Westinghouse Corporation that it had received construction permits for the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant Project from the Philippines Atomic Energy Commission when only conditional work authorisations had been granted.

Mr Anthony:
NCP/NP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

A statement on the Bataan Project was made by Westinghouse in March 1978. A copy of the statement was received by the Australian Embassy in Washington. Responsibility for the contents of statements by Westinghouse is a matter for the company.

Australian Manufactured Goods: Purchases by Department of Trade and Resources (Question No. 1774)

Mr HOLDING:
MELBOURNE PORTS, VICTORIA · ALP

asked the Minister for Trade and Resources, upon notice, on 22 August, 1 978:

  1. 1 ) How many contracts entered into by Departments and Statutory Corporations under his control for the purchase of equipment contained clauses specifying an offset arrangement with the vendor for the purchase of Australian manufactured goods, components and or technology during the last 10 years.
  2. What were those contracts.
  3. What was the sum involved in each offset clause and what were the terms of its discharge.
  4. What is the extent to which the terms of these clauses have been implemented specifying in each case the monetary value of the implementation.
  5. What sum is currently available under these clauses for the purchase of relevant Australian manufactured goods, components and/or technology.
Mr Anthony:
NCP/NP

-The answer to the honourable member’s questions is as follows:

I refer the honourable member to the answer provided by my colleague the Minister for Productivity in answer to question No. 1794 (Hansard of 23 November, page 335 1 ).

Nuclear Reactors: Philippines (Question No. 2825)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for Trade and Resources, upon notice, on 16 November, 1978:

  1. 1 ) Is he able to say how many nuclear power reactors are in operation in the Philippines and what is their total generating capacity.
  2. Is he also able to say (a) how many nuclear power reactors are forecast to be in operation in the Philippines, (b) what is the forecast total generating capacity of those reactors and (c) what is the forecast annual demand for uranium for the Philippines during (i) 1980, (ii) 1985, (iii) 1990, (iv) 1995 and (v) 2000.
  3. If so, (a) what is the source of these forecasts and (b) what assumptions are used concerning enrichment tails assay, plutonium recycle and the use of breeder reactors.
Mr Anthony:
NCP/NP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows: ( 1 ), (2) and (3). See answer to Question No. 2813.

Nuclear Reactors: United Kingdom (Question No. 2824)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for Trade and Resources, upon notice, on 1 6 November 1 978:

  1. 1 ) Is he able to say how many nuclear power reactors are in operation in the United Kingdom and what is their total generating capacity.
  2. Is he also able to say (a) how many nuclear power reactors are forecast to be in operation in the UK, (b) what is the forecast total generating capacity of those reactors and (c) what is the forecast annual demand for uranium for the UK during (i) 1980, (ii) 1985, (iii) 1990, (iv) 1995 and (v) 2000.
  3. If so, (a) what is the source of these forecasts and (b) what assumptions are used concerning enrichment tails assay, plutonium recycle and the use of breeder reactors.
Mr Anthony:
NCP/NP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows: ( 1), (2) and (3). See answer to Question No. 2813.

Agricultural Exports (Question No. 2346)

Mr Lloyd:

asked the Minister for Trade and Resources, upon notice, on 27 September, 1978:

  1. 1 ) What is the role of a Trade Commissioner and in what way does it differ from an agricultural attache in matters relating to agriculture or agricultural exports.
  2. Where are Trade Commissioners presently located and which additional locations are being considered.
Mr Anthony:
NCP/NP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) The essential role of Trade Commissioner is to provide the commercial intelligence and support required by Australian exporters and the Government to enable commercial opportunities in overseas markets to be developed and maintained in the manner most suited to Australia’s needs.

Trade Commissioners in the majority of overseas Posts are concerned with trade development in its broadest sense and are well trained and briefed to service the needs of exporters and the Government and develop markets across the full range of Australia’s export commodities and services. They, therefore, concern themselves with trade development and trade policy questions arising from export of manufactured products, agricultural commodities and minerals.

Trade Commissioners (Agriculture) are attached to Missions in Brussels, London, Rome and Washington. In these posts there is sufficient workload because of the agricultural policies of the countries concerned to warrant one officer concentrating upon agricultural matters.

The Trade Commissioner Service is kept under continual review in terms of its staffing level; the location of Posts; and the need to ensure that all export commodities, be they agricultural, mineral or manufactured products, are adequately serviced. Consideration will be given to appointing further Trade Commissioners (Agriculture) where needs exist

  1. Australian Trade Commissioner posts are located at:

Athens; Auckland; Baghdad; Bahrain; Bangkok; Belgrade; Berlin G.D.R.; Berne; Bonn; Brussels; Buenos

Aires; Cairo; Chicago; Christchurch; Geneva; Hamburg; Hong Kong; Jakarta; Jeddah; Johannesburg; Karachi; Kuala Lumpur; Lagos; Lima; London; Los Angeles; Madrid; Manchester, Manila; Mexico City, Milan; Moscow; Nairobi; New Delhi; New York; Osaka; Ottawa; Paris; Peking; Port of Spain; Port Moresby; Rome; San Francisco; Sao Paulo; Seoul; Singapore; Stockholm; Suva; Tehran; Tel Aviv; The Hague; Tokyo; Toronto; Tripoli; Vancouver; Vienna; Warsaw; Washington; Wellington.

It is the Government’s intention to increase Australia’s commercial representation in the Middle East, North Africa, Asia and the Western Pacific. Details will be announced later.

Yellowcake Exports (Question No. 2540)

Mr Jacobi:

asked the Minister for Trade and Resources, upon notice, on 18 October 1978:

  1. 1) In respect of any future exports of Australian yellowcake is it intended that (a) the yellowcake will be converted to uranium hexafluoride in the UK and (b) the uranium hexafluoride will be enriched in the USA
  2. If so, how will Australian uranium be identified throughout these processes for safeguards purposes.
Mr Anthony:
NCP/NP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. As no new export contracts for Australian uranium have been entered into since 25 August 1977 it is not known at this stage whether exports under future contracts will be converted and enriched in these countries.
  2. In accordance with arrangements made pursuant to our Bilateral Safeguards Agreements covering those countries.

Uranium (Question No. 2713)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for Trade and Resources, upon notice, on 8 November 1978.

Will the Uranium Advisory Council be asked to comment on the agreement made between the Ranger parties and the Northern Land Council. If so, at what stage of negotiations will this comment be sought.

Mr Anthony:
NCP/NP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

Negotiation of the agreement between the Northern Land Council and the Commonwealth, pursuant to sub-section 44 (2) of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976, in respect of the Ranger uranium deposits has already concluded. The agreement was executed by the Northern Land Council and the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (on behalf of the Commonwealth) on 3 November 1978.

Data Bank (Question No. 2984)

Mr Jacobi:

asked the Minister for Trade and Resources, upon notice, on 23 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Are the activities of a data bank to collect, monitor and analyse national and international market trends for primary products essential if markets are to be effectively exploited and the national interest protected.
  2. Does the Government maintain such a data bank; if not, will he take urgent steps to establish one so that this information may be accessible to Australian companies.
  3. Would such a data bank be of greater benefit to Australian companies than the Government’s export guidelines.
Mr Anthony:
NCP/NP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. and (2) The Department of Trade and Resources maintain.; a data bank, which includes statistics of Australian production, imports and exports of primary products. Information is similarly collected where available on world markets and other countries’ production, exports and imports. Within the limits of the Departments resources, this statistical information is available to interested Australian firms.
  2. 3 ) Both a data bank and export guidelines exist.

Nuclear Weapon Tests: Mururoa Atoll (Question No. 1821)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for Trade and Resources, upon notice, on 23 August 1978:

When did he first become aware that France had conducted nuclear weapons tests at Mururoa Atoll during 1 978.

Mr Anthony:
NCP/NP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

In London on 27 July 1978 when an item in the Radio Australia news bulletin circulated from Australia House was drawn to my notice.

Nuclear Reactors: Iran (Question No. 2822)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for Trade and Resources, upon notice, on 1 6 November 1 978:

  1. 1 ) Is he able to say how many nuclear power reactors are in operation in Iran and what is their total generating capacity.
  2. Is he also able to say (a) how many nuclear power reactors are forecast to be in operation in Iran, (b) what is the forecast total generating capacity of those reactors and (c) what is the forecast annual demand for uranium for Iran during (i) 1980, (ii) 1985, (iii) 1990, (iv) 1995 and (v) 2000.
  3. If so, (a) what is the source of these forecasts and (b) what assumptions are used concerning enrichment tails assay, plutonium recycle and the use of breeder reactors.
Mr Anthony:
NCP/NP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows: ( 1), (2) and (3). See answer to Question No. 28 13.

Naval Reserve Cadet Training (Question No. 1692)

Mr Neil:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 15 August 1978:

  1. Have any directions been issued to school cadet units to stop recruiting until further notice; if so, what is the reason for the direction.
  2. Are any cadet units hiring .303 rifles from commercial organisations for training purposes. If so, (a) which are the schools, (b) how many rifles have they hired, (c) from whom, (d) at what price and (e) what is the source of funds for payment
  3. Are there any Government stocks of .303 rifles in existence.
  4. Have any been destroyed. If so, are there any plans for further destruction of these rules.
  5. Can these rifles be issued to cadet units in either operable or inoperable condition for training purposes.
Mr Killen:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. No.
  2. Not known. No funds from the Defence Vote are provided for this purpose.
  3. Yes.
  4. A small number of .303 rifles have been disposed of by sale to approved gun dealers or by destruction. A large number of rifles are held pending completion of a review of the policy on the method of disposal.

  5. 5 ) The issue of rifles to cadet units varies as folio ws

    1. Naval Reserve Cadet units, subject to security safeguards being complied with, are issued with inoperable drill purpose .303 rifles as well as operable small bore .303 rifles fitted with .22 Morris Tubes.
    2. Australian Cadet Corps units which have approved armouries may be issued with inoperable drill purpose .303 rifles. For special occasions units without approved armouries may be issued with inoperable drill purpose .303 rifles on a daily basis.
    3. Air Training Corps units are not issued with rifles in either operable or inoperable condition.

Nuclear Testing: Maralinga (Question No. 2577)

Mr Lionel Bowen:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 1 9 October 1978:

  1. Has his attention been drawn to the comments of Sir Mark Oliphant on Maralinga in the Sydney Morning Herald of 17 October 1 978 where he stated that if there was a failure on the part of Australia to insist on the fullest information about every aspect of what was happening on its territory, the fault lay with a complacent Ministry and South Australian Government
  2. On what date and by what means during or after nuclear testing at Maralinga were previous South Australian Governments informed of the presence among items of stored waste of a discrete mass of plutonium weighing half a kilo.
  3. On what date and by what means was the present South Australian Government informed of the presence at Maralinga of a discrete mass of plutonium weighing half a kilo.
  4. By what means should South Australian Governments have been able to ascertain this information.
  5. ) In what part of the Australian Government was this information secreted before it became available to the Minister or Ministers responsible for these matters.
  6. Was the manner in which the information became available such that it could be said that the onus properly rested with the South Australian Government to inquire about it.
Mr Killen:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 have read Sir Mark Oliphant ‘s comments.
  2. This information, although not expressed in the terms used in the member’s question, is found in the Pearce report, a copy of which was passed to the South Australian Director of Mines in 1969.
  3. A further copy was passed to the Senior Hydrologist/ Geologist, South Australian Department of Mines in 197S.
  4. See (2) and (3).
  5. In 1967 the Atomic Weapons Tests Safety Committee (AWTSC) recommended to the Prime Minister distribution of the Pearce Report, the contents of which were summarised by the AWTSC, to all Commonwealth and State authorities likely to be concerned with access to the Maralinga Range even in the distant future. After the Pearce Report was printed it was distributed accordingly. The Pearce Report has been available to Ministers of all governments since.
  6. The Pearce Report was simply a record of the clean-up done at Maralinga and Emu Field under the auspices of the AWTSC. Responsibility for management of the area has rested with the Commonwealth Government.

Naval Technical Services Division Officers (Question No. 2613)

Mr Scholes:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 25 October 1978:

  1. 1 ) What positions were held by Mr W. Wodrow, Mr J. B. James and Mr W. G. Hogan in the Naval Technical Services Division on 1 May 1977.
  2. What positions did each of these officers hold on 1 October 1978.
  3. To what projects were each of the above officers assigned and what were their positions on the projects as at 1 October 1978.
  4. What technical experience and qualifications does each officer possess.
  5. Have any of these officers been threatened with reprisals for having been party to the report on the operation of the Division.
  6. Do all officers occupying higher level positions have similar or superior technical qualifications and experience.
Mr Killen:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. On 1 May 1977 Messrs Wodrow, James and Hogan held the following positions:

Mr W. Wodrow, Engineer Class 3, RAN FFG Project, Co-ordination Section, Naval Materiel Division.

Mr J. B. James, Senior Technical Officer Grade 2, Technical Training Section, Training and Education Policy Branch, Personnel Administration and Policy Division.

Mr W. G. Hogan, Senior Inspector Class 9, Establishments Projects and Development Section, Organisation and Establishments Branch, Establishments Division.

  1. On 1 October 1978 Messrs Wodrow, James and Hogan held the following positions:

Mr W. Wodrow, Engineer Class 3, Technical Training Section, Training and Education Policy Branch, Personnel Administration and Policy Division.

Mr J. B. James, Assistant Inspector Class 7, Establishments Inspection and Control Section, Establishments Inspection Branch, Establishments Division.

Mr W. G. Hogan, Senior Inspector Class 9, Establishments Projects and Development Section, Organisation and Establishments Branch, Establishments Division.

  1. Mr Wodrow. As a project officer reporting to the Director of Technical Training he has been engaged on preparation and co-ordination of training courses and seminars for professional and technical staff of the Department

Mr James. As an establishments officer he has been undertaking establishment reviews and inspections of Army Units.

Mr Hogan. As a member of the Organisation and Establishments Branch he has been engaged on various establishment assignments, appropriate to bis level.

  1. Mr Wodrow graduated in 1969 as a Bachelor of Science (Engineering) with Third Class Honours from the University of London. He has utilised these engineering qualifications during his employment as an Engineer in the Department since December 1970.

Mr James obtained in 1968 a Higher National Certificate in Electrical and Electronic Engineering with endorsement, from the Plymouth College of Technology. He was employed in a technical capacity with the Department from January 1970 until November 1977 when he was promoted to an Assistant Inspector Class 7 (see reply to Question 2).

Mr Hogan graduated in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Australian National University. His normal position is in a non-technical area outside Naval Technical Services.

  1. No.
  2. All technical and professional positions in the Naval Technical Services Division require formal educational or equivalent qualifications. Officers occupying higher level positions have the essential qualifications together with the experience relevant to the positions they occupy.

Navy Staff Ceilings (Question No. 2797)

Mr Armitage:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 15 November 1978:

What are the staff ceilings of both civil and uniform establishments of the Department of Defence (Navy).

Mr Killen:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

The civilian staff ceiling currently allocated to Navy Office is 10,41 1, comprising 5,909 employed under the provisions of the Public Service Act and 4,502 employed under the provisions of the Naval Defence Act. The target approved for uniformed personnel is 16,530 at 30 June 1979.

Defence Tender No. TP79/2 (Question No. 2755)

Dr Blewett:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 14 November 1978:

  1. With reference to tender No. TP79/2, what were the reasons for rejecting a lower bidder.
  2. If estimated delivery was the reason for accepting a higher under, why was urgency of delivery not specified in the original tender.
  3. Has the successful bidder met the quoted delivery time.
Mr Killen:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. The delivery time offered by the lower bidders was unsatisfactory.
  2. Tenderers were asked to specify the earliest possible date for completion. A delivery time of 10- 14 weeks was considered acceptable and the successful tenderer contracted to achieve delivery in 8 weeks.
  3. The first phase of the task has been completed on time and it is expected that the final production will also complete on time.

Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence: Sub-committee on Defence Matters (Question No. 2435)

Mr Scholes:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 1 1 October 1978:

  1. 1 ) Has bis attention been drawn to statements made by the honourable member for Chifley (Mr Armitage) at public hearings in Darwin of the sub-committee of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence concerning briefings given to the sub-committee at Pine Gap.
  2. If so, why was the sub-committee denied adequate and proper briefings.
  3. Is it a fact that the contents of briefings at Pine Gap have not altered in substance for 6 years.
Mr Killen:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. Yes.
  2. The conditions relating to visits of this nature were announced by a former Minister for Defence on 28 February 1973 and are still observed. As the Minister at that time announced, ‘With the exception of the very few people directly associated with the central execution and control of the defence programs of Australia and the United States, no person will have greater access ‘.
  3. The contents of the briefing are updated as required but the essential facts do not change.

Mirage Squadrons in Malaysia (Question No. 2616)

Mr Scholes:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 25 October 1978:

  1. 1 ) Is the cost of maintaining Mirage aircraft and support facilities in Malaysia $18m more than would be the case if the aircraft were relocated in Australia.
  2. If so, can this cost be justified as a priority defence commitment
Mr Killen:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) The annual additional operating cost of stationing the Mirage Squadrons in Malaysia rather than Australia, has been estimated in November 1 978 prices by the Air Force at between $ 14.3m and $20.6m; the amount varying depending on assumptions made about alternative locations in Australia.
  2. Yes. The matter is, of course, reviewed periodically, including in the normal annual process of reviewing the Defence Five Year Rolling Program.

Nuclear Testing (Question Na 2578)

Mr Lionel Bowen:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 19 October 1978:

  1. 1 ) What reports relating to Maralinga and other nuclear test sites in Australia does he expect to receive from departments, advisory bodies or other parties referred to in his statement of 1 1 October 1978 (Hansard, pages 1718-23).
  2. ) When does he expect to receive each report
  3. Will he make public all reports and recommendations immediately they are presented to the Government.
Mr Killen:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) Reports on Maralinga, Emu Field and Monte Bello by the Australian Ionizing Radiation Advisory Council will be received by the Minister for Environment, Housing and Community Development The final report of the joint Australian/British technical assessment team on the buried half Kg of plutonium at Maralinga will be received by the Minister for National Development I will be receiving a report from the Defence element of the joint Defence-AIRAC reconnaissance of the Monte Bello Islands which took place late in October.
  2. See (1) above. The Defence element report on the Monte Bello reconnaissance is expected within a few weeks.
  3. As the Defence element report is not intended to be an authoritative statement on the Monte Bello Islands, but rather to contribute towards the Government ‘s consideration of the future of the Islands, it is not proposed to make this report public.

Defence Cadet Instructors (Question No. 2798)

Mr Scholes:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 1 5 November 1 978:

  1. 1 ) Is it a fact that uniformed instructors attached to cadet units are subject to the control and direction of their respective branch of the Defence Force.
  2. If so, are these instructors paid an allowance for their duties.
  3. 3 ) If they are paid an allowance is it subject to income tax as a second job.
  4. If it is subject to income tax why are these instructors treated on a different basis to other part time members of the Defence Force.
Mr Killen:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) Yes. Regulation 5 ( 1 ) of the Cadet Forces Regulations permits a Chief of Staff in the Defence Force to appoint suitable persons as officers or instructors of cadets to supervise and control the training program for, and activities of cadets.
  2. Yes. The Cadet Forces Regulations provide for the payment of Continuous Training, Home Training and Administration Allowances to eligible members.
  3. The Cadet Forces Regulations do not provide for any exemption from the payment of income tax on the allowances.
  4. Officers and instructors of cadets in the Australian Services Cadet Scheme are all volunteers and as members of the Scheme are not members of the Defence Force. Thus income tax exemptions applicable to some sections of the Defence Force do not apply.

Radioactive Materials (Question No. 2632)

Mr Les Johnson:
HUGHES, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 25 October 1978:

  1. What radio-active material is buried at Emu and Monte Bello.
  2. What is the life span of these materials and of any containers in which the material is buried.
Mr Killen:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) and (2) I am advised that there are no burial pits containing radioactive materials at either Emu or Monte Bello.

Apprentices (Question No. 3007)

Mr Kerin:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Education, upon notice, on 23 November 1978:

  1. Does the Minister’s Department or any bodies or statutory authorities under the Minister’s control normally employ apprentices.
  2. If so, how many persons have been offered apprenticeships in each of the last 6 years by (a) the Department of Education, (b) the relevant bodies, and (c) statutory authorities.
Mr Staley:
LP

-The Minister for Education has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

  1. 1 ) The Australian National University and the Canberra College of Advanced Education are the only bodies responsible to me which employ apprentices.
  2. –

Department of Education: Contracts (Question No. 1780)

Mr Holding:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Education, upon notice, on 22 August 1978:

  1. 1 ) How many contracts entered into by Departments and Statutory Corporations under the Minister’s control for the purchase of equipment contained clauses specifying an offset arrangement with the vendor for the purchase of Australian manufactured goods, components and/or technology during the last 10 years.
  2. ) What were those contracts.
  3. What was the sum involved in each offset clause and what were the terms of its discharge.
  4. What is the extent to which the terms of these clauses have been implemented specifying in each case the monetary value of the implementation.
  5. What sum is currently available under these clauses for the purchase of relevant Australian manufactured goods, components and/or technology.
Mr Staley:
LP

-The Minister for Education has provided the following reply to the honourable member’s question:

I draw the honourable member’s attention to the reply to Question No. 1794 (Hansard, 23 November 1978, page 3351).

Disadvantaged Schools Grants (Question No. 2949)

Mr Lloyd:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Education, upon notice, on 21 November 1978:

  1. Which schools in Victoria have received grants from the Commonwealth Government’s Disadvantaged Schools Program and Country Education Project.
  2. What were the sums received and in what years were payments made.
Mr Staley:
LP

-the Minister for Education has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

  1. 1 ) and (2) Payments in respect of disadvantaged schools for the years 1974-76 are set out in the reports which were tabled in the Senate on the dates listed below:

Report- States Grants (Schools) Act 1972- Financial Assistance granted to each State in 1974-75-19 May 1976.

Report- States Grants (Schools) Act 1972- Financial Assistance granted to each State in 1975-76-2 November 1977.

Report-States Grants (Schools) Act 1972 -Financial Assistance granted to each State in 1976-77-23 February 1978.

Report- States Grants (Schools) Act 1973-Financial Assistance granted to each State in 1974-1 October 1975.

Report- States Grants (Schools) Act 1973- Financial Assistance granted to each State in 1975-30 November 1976.

Report-States Grants (Schools) Act 1973-Financial Assistance granted to each State in 1976- 25 August 1977.

Report-States Grants (Schools) Act 1976-Financial Assistance granted to each State- 23 February 1978.

Information in respect of 1 977 is included in the Report on Financial Assistance to each State under the States Grants (Schools Assistance) Act 1976 which I tabled on 24 November 1978.

Information in respect of 1978 will be published in a future report and I will arrange for a copy to be provided for the honourable member.

The Disadvantaged Country Areas Program was commenced as a pilot program in 1977. It is not practicable to identify funds to individual schools as the program is operated on a joint basis: all schools within the declared area (both government and non-government) participate in the program.

In 1977 $680,500 was allocated to Victoria for this program and $7 1 5,000 has been allocated for 1 978.

Indexing of Hansard (Question No. 3086)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Education, upon notice, on 24 November 1978:

  1. Does the Department of Education or any agency under the Minister’s control prepare an index of Hansard.
  2. What is the form of each index.
  3. How recent is each index.
  4. To what persons, Departments or agencies are the indices made available.
Ms Staley:
Minister for Post and Telecommunications · CHISHOLM, VICTORIA · LP

-The Minister for Education has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

I draw the honourable member’s attention to the answer to Question No. 2638 (Hansard 21 November 1978, page 3156).

Literacy Rate (Question No. 2753)

Mr Barry Jones:
LALOR, VICTORIA · ALP

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Education, upon notice, on 14 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) What is the current rate of illiteracy in Australia.
  2. What steps are being taken to overcome this situation.
Mr Staley:
LP

-The Minister for Education has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

  1. 1 ) It is not possible to state what the current rate of illiteracy is for Australia. The collection of statistics on literacy is made difficult by the problem of the definition of ‘illiterate*. It is not feasible to apply a single measure of literacy to a total population as this implies that there is a single standard of functional need. I refer the honourable member to the reply to Senator Lajovic’s Question Without Notice on illiteracy in the Senate on 14 September 1978, in which I referred to the research in this area carried out in the Sydney Metropolitan area in 1977 by Dr Judith Goyen of Macquarie University. Dr Goyen pointed out that the establishment of a cut-off point to separate illiterates from literates is quite arbitrary, and determined by the researcher. Her study indicated that in the Sydney metropolitan area, 3.7 per cent of adults born in Australia and other English speaking countries, and 43.3 per cent of those born in non-English speaking countries were functionally illiterate.

While this and other research studies do not provide a complete answer as to the numbers involved, it is clear that the problem of illiteracy is a real one for some Australians and, in particular, for Aboriginals and migrants from nonEnglish speaking countries.

  1. In the reply to Senator Lajovic I referred to the report of the House of Representatives Select Committee on Specific Learning Difficulties, and the Review of Post-arrival Programs and Services to Migrants, as a result of which a number of initiatives in research and development are being undertaken. The National Inquiry into Teacher Education established in June this year is charged with the responsibility for examining the effectiveness of techniques of early detection, diagnosis and remediation of learning difficulties.

In response to the report of the Select Committees on Specific Learning Difficulties, which itself was unable to determine the precise number of illiterate adults and children in Australia, the Australian Council for Educational Research was funded by the Government through the Education Research and Development Committee to conduct a national study of literacy and numeracy among 10 and 14 year-olds. In general, the study found no cause for complacency or for immediate alarm and suggested that standards of literacy in these age groups are comparable to the standards in other English-speaking countries.

Programs for teaching illiterate adults are conducted and/or supported by a number of Commonwealth departments and by the Technical and Further Education Council. These departments and the Council are represented on an Interdepartmental Working Party on Adult Literacy and Numeracy convened by my Department The Working Party’s brief is to examine the provision of literacy programs by the Commonwealth with a view to recommending ways of improving coordination and consultation. The Working Party is expected to report in January 1979.

Concorde Aircraft (Question No. 2930)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Administrative Services, upon notice, on 21 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Under what circumstances are the Minister’s (a) Departmental staff and (b) personal staff authorised to travel on Concorde aircraft between the United States and the United Kingdom.
  2. What is the additional cost per journey.
  3. How many officers of the Department of Administrative Services (a) sought approval, (b) were granted approval and (c) were refused approval to travel on Concorde aircraft during (i) 1976-77, (ii) 1977-78 and (iii) 1978-79 to date.
  4. How many officers from the Department of Administrative Services or the Minister’s personal staff have travelled on Concorde aircraft without seeking approval.
Mr Street:
LP

– The Minister for Administrative Services has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

  1. 1 ) (a) and (b) The Public Service Board, which is the approving authority for Departmental travel on Concorde aircraft has informed all Departments that such approval will be given only in exceptional circumstances. Overseas travel by a Minister and accompanying officers is subject to the Prime Minister’s approval.
  2. The additional cost of travelling by Concorde aircraft between New York and London as compared with the cost of an ordinary first class air fare is approximately $A 1 30.

  3. (a) and (b) (i) 1976-77-Nil; (ii) 1977-78-with the Prime Minister’s approval, two officers of the Department of Administrative Services accompanied the Prime Minister from New York to London on the Concorde on 7 June 1978. (iii) Nil.

    1. (i) Nil; (ii) Nil; (iii) Nil.
  4. Nil.

Iron Ore Exports to Japan (Question No. 1886)

Mr Lionel Bowen:

asked the Minister for Trade and Resources, upon notice, on 23 August 1978:

  1. What are (a) the names of Japanese steel mills with whom Australia has long term iron ore contracts, (b) the length of such contracts and (c) the dollar value for each year contracted by grade on an f.o.b. basis for each company.
  2. Is he able to say what are the comparable selling prices fob per Fe content by various grades to Japan from (a) Algeria, (b) India, (c) Brazil, (d) Mauritania, (e) Peru, (f) Chile, (g) Venezuela, (h) Tunisia, (i) Bolivia (j) Philippines, (k) Canada, (1) Sweden, (m) Sierra Leone and (n) Liberia.
Mr Anthony:
NCP/NP

-The answer to the honourable member’s questions are as follows:

  1. (a) Kawasaki Steel Corporation; Kobe Steel Ltd; Nakayama Steel Works Ltd; Nippon Kokan KK; Nippon Steel Corporation; Nisshin Steel Co. Ltd; Sumitomo Metal Industries Ltd.

    1. The length of contracts currently range from 6 years to 25 years with the majority around 10 to 12 years.
    2. Prices are not available for publication, such information is provided to the Government on a confidential basis.

  2. The Australian Government does not have copies of contracts negotiated between Japan and iron ore suppliers other than Australia. However, pricing information with respect to those contracts is reported in the ‘1977- Iron Ore Manual’ published by ‘The Tex Report Co. Ltd’.

Nuclear Reactors: Austria (Question No. 2816)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for Trade and Resources, upon notice, on 16 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Is he able to say bow many nuclear power reactors are in operation in Austria and what is then- total generating capacity.
  2. ) Is he also able to say ( a) how many nuclear power reactors are forecast to be in operation in Austria, (b) what is the forecast total generating capacity of those reactors and (c) what is the forecast annual demand for uranium for Austria during (i) 1980, (ii) 1985, (iii) 1990, (iv) 1995 and (v) 2000.
  3. If so, (a) what is the source of these forecasts and (b) what assumptions are used concerning enrichment tails assay, plutonium recycle and the use of breeder reactors.
Mr Anthony:
NCP/NP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows: ( 1 ), (2) and (3). See answer to Question No. 28 1 3. Nominations for Uranium Advisory Council (Question No. 2712)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for Trade and Resources, upon notice, on 8 November 1978:

  1. Did he say on 10 April that, in the near future, he expected to be inviting various individuals to be made members of the Uranium Advisory Council.
  2. If so, (a) what progress has been made in selecting members of the Council, (b) have nominations been called and (c) when will the Council ‘s membership be announced.
Mr Anthony:
NCP/NP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. and (2) I refer the honourable member to my press statement of 24 November 1978 in which I announced the members of the Uranium Advisory Council.

Nuclear Reactors: Japan (Question No. 2813)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for Trade and Resources, upon notice, on 16 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Is he able to say how many nuclear power reactors are in operation in Japan and what is their total generating capacity.
  2. Is he also able to say (a) how many nuclear power reactors are forecast to be in operation in Japan, (b) what is the forecast total generating capacity of those reactors and (c) what is the forecast annual demand for uranium for Japan (i) 1980, (ii) 1985, (iii) 1990, (iv) 1995 and (v) 2000.
  3. If so, (a) what is the source of these forecasts and (b) what assumptions are used concerning enrichment tails assay, plutonium recycle and the use of breeder reactors.
Mr Anthony:
NCP/NP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows: (1), (2) and (3) I refer the honourable member to data published by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency/International Atomic Energy Agency entitled ‘Uranium Resources, Production and Demand- December 1977’ and data published by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency entitled Nuclear Fuel Cycle Requirements and Supply Considerations through the Long-Term- February 1978’ and Annual Reports of the AAEC. Copies of these publications would be available from the Parliamentary Library.

Nuclear Reactors: Sweden (Question No. 2815)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for Trade and Resources, upon notice, on 16 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Is he able to say how many nuclear power reactors are in operation in Sweden and what is their total generating capacity.
  2. Is he also able to say (a) how many nuclear power reactors are forecast to be in operation in Sweden, (b) what is the forecast total generating capacity of those reactors and (c) what is the forecast annual demand for uranium for Sweden during (i) 1980, (ii) 1985, (iii) 1990, (iv) 1995 and (v)2000.
  3. If so, (a) what is the source of these forecasts and (b) what assumptions are used concerning enrichment tails assay, plutonium recycle and the use of breeder reactors.
Mr Anthony:
NCP/NP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows: ( 1 ), (2) and (3). See answer to Question No. 28 13.

Asian Studies Curriculum Development Award (Question No. 2521)

Mr Wallis:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Education, upon notice, on 17 October 1978:

  1. Was finance made available in 1976-77 and 1977-78 for the Asian Studies Curriculum Development Award for the granting of study awards to teachers for study overseas.
  2. Was Mr R Mutton, of Risdon Park High School, SA, granted an award and was this award subsequently withdrawn.
  3. Had finance been allocated for Mr Mutton’s grant from the Asian Studies Curriculum Development Award.
  4. With the subsequent withdrawal of Mr Mutton’s grant, for what purpose was the finance allocated to him used.
Mr Staley:
LP

-The Minister for Education has provided the following reply to the honourable member’s question:

  1. The Asian Studies Co-ordinating Committee of the Curriculum Development Centre instituted the Asian Studies Curriculum Development Awards Scheme in 1978. From 1972 to 1977 a similar scheme, known as the Asian Studies Travel Grants Scheme, had been administered by the Department of Education.

In 1977-78 an amount of $50,000 was included in the Committee ‘s program for the Awards Scheme.

  1. , (3) and (4) Mr Mutton’s application for an award was considered by a selection committee in March 1978, and he was offered an award subject to revision of his proposal.

The revised proposal was not accepted until 27 June 1978. The award was subsequently withdrawn as funds could not be made available in the 1978-79 financial year, the year in which the award would have been taken up.

Only limited funds are available for the Awards Scheme in 1978-79. It is not possible to fund an overseas award for Mr Mutton, but he has been offered an alternative smaller grant for study in Australia.

Department of Education: Computers (Question No. 2237)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Education, upon notice, on 27 September 1978:

  1. 1 ) In respect of each computer owned or operated by the Department of Education and statutory authorities and business undertakings under the control of the Minister, what information stored therein can be sold, hired, lent or given to any person or organisation other than properly authorised employees of the Department of Education, authority or business.
  2. Under what circumstances can this information be (a) sold, (b) hired, (c) lent or (d) given.
  3. On what occasions, and to whom, has any information been sold, hired, lent or given in the past
Mr Staley:
LP

-The Minister for Education has supplied the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

  1. Department of Education (See my answer to Question No 2208).

    1. 1 ) Benefit Payment Data.
    2. (a), (b) and (c) None.
    1. Department of Finance as required for benefit payment.

Department of Social Security as required for cross checks of eligibility.

Names and course details of assisted students to schools, universities, colleges etc for checks on enrolment and attendance.

  1. See 2(d) above.

    1. Tertiary Education Commissior (See my answer to Question No 2208)

  2. to (3) The data stored in the microprocessor are confined to basic statistics. These are the basis for tabulations included in published reports and bulletins of the Commission which are freely available.

C Australian National University (See my answer to Question No 2208)

  1. to (3) The results of scientific research studies are made public by appropriate publications.

    1. ACT Schools Authority. (See my answer to Question No 2208)

  2. 1 ) to ( 3 ) The ACT Schools Authority provides on request to tertiary institutions and tertiary admission offices information relating to student academic records. In addition each independent school and secondary college receives the information relating to its Year 12 students.

Each student receives a copy of his own academic record at the end of Year 12.

The information was provided in December 1 977.

  1. The Darwin Community College and the Canberra College of Advanced Education have a nil return.

Department of Education: Computers (Question No. 2208)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Education, upon notice, on 27 September 1978:

  1. How many computers are (a) owned, (b) operated, (c) in the process of being purchased or (d) rented by the Department of Education and statutory authorities and business undertakings under the control of the Minister.
  2. What is the cost of purchase or rental of each computer.
  3. ) For what purposes is each computer used.
  4. What is the nature of the data stored by each computer.
  5. What interconnections exist or will exist between any of these computers.
  6. 6 ) Who has access to each computer.
  7. What savings in staff numbers have been achieved or are anticipated as a result of the installation or operation of each computer.
Mr Staley:
LP

-The Minister for Education has provided the following reply to the honourable member’s question:

  1. Department of Education

    1. 13 (12 x Wang 2200B; 1 x Wang 2200T). (b) 13 (as above), (c) None, (d) None.
    1. $ 12,000 each (purchase price).
    2. Processing of education allowances payable under schemes of Student Assistance.
    3. Data on applications for student assistance relevant to the determination of benefits.
    4. None.
    5. Authorised personnel within the Department for official purposes.
    6. As a result of major procedural changes, changes in functions, staff ceilings and the introduction of programmable calculators in 1976 the total variation in staffing in the State Offices has been a decline of 91 (from 764) from 31 December 1975 to 3 1 August 1978. It is not considered feasible to isolate the effect of any one factor.

  2. Tertiary Education Commission

    1. (a) 1 (Wang 2200C Microprocessor), (b) 1 (as above), (c) None, (d) None.
    2. $36,000 (purchase price).
    3. 3 ) Processing of annual statistical collections for each sector of tertiary education. Recording payments of grants to States. Storage and analysis of data relating to Commission investigations.
    4. Basic statistical returns on enrolments, staff numbers, grants etc.
    5. None.
    6. Authorised Commission personnel for official purposes only.
    7. 7) No net savings were achieved.

  3. Australian National University

    1. 1) (a) 31 (see list below), (b) 32. (c) l.(d) 1.
    2. Computer Services Centre, UNIVAC 1100-42 $3,400,000; PDP 1 140 $69,000; PDP 1150 $11 7,000; PDP 1145 $237,000.

Administration, IBM 360-50 $670,000; INFOREX 5000 $254,000.

Library, INTERDATA 8 $ 167,000.

Research School Biological Sciences, NOVA 2/10 $30,000; HP 21 $57,000.

Medical Research, PDP 8 $86,000; HP 2 1 1 $242,000.

Research School Chemistry, PDP 1 1 $45,000; PDP 1 140 $256,000.

Research School Physical Sciences, PDP 10 $182,000; PDP 1 142 $75,000; PDP 15 $100,000; PDP 1 145 $197,000.

Nuclear Physics, IBM 1800 $100,000; HP 2100 $286,000; DEC KA10 $349,000.

Research School Social Sciences, DEC KA10 $422,000; PDP 1 134 $45,000; (on order) DEC KX10 $600,000.

Mt Stromlo Observatory, HP 2100 $210,000; PDP VAX $220,000.

Forestry, HP 21 $87,000.

Economics, NOVA 2 10 $60,000.

Computer Science, BURROUGHS B175 $57,000; TWO NOVA 2 10, TWO SUPER NOVA (all connected) $ 1 10,000.

The above costs are purchase prices.

Rental-$28,000 p.a. (IBM 360).

  1. All computers except for 2 in Administration are for research purposes. The two in Administration are used for payroll, accounts, students records, inventory, stores etc
  2. Data stored is related to the area in which they are located.
  3. There is interconnection between the UNIVAC 1 142 and PDP 1 150 in the Computer Services Centre. UNIVAC 1142 and the HP 2100 at Mt Stromlo Observatory are linked.
  4. Computer Services Centre staff have direct access to service computers. Academic staff and students have access via terminals for research purposes. Administration computers are used only by authorised personnel for official purposes.

  5. The installation of administration computers led to some reduction in the growth of staff employed in the staff office, accounts and student administration. This has been compensated for by increases in programming, operating and data entry staff.

    1. Canberra College of Advanced Education
  6. (a) 1 (Burroughs 6700). (b) 1 (as above), (c) None. (d) None
  7. $1,250,000 (purchase price).
  8. Teaching
  9. Teaching programs.
  10. None.
  11. Authorised personnel at the college.

  12. Not applicable.

    1. ACT Schools Authority
  13. (a) 1 (PDP 11/60). (b) 1 (as above), (c) None.
  14. $181,000 (purchase price).
  15. Processing of work for ACT Schools Accrediting Agency ruminating in the production of the Year 12 Certificate. Educational purposes in schools and secondary colleges. College administration.
  16. Educational and statistical data.
  17. None.
  18. Authorised personnel for official purposes. Students for instructional purposes only.

  19. None. However it is estimated 10 extra staff would have been required to perform this work for the newly introduced ACT Schools Accrediting Agency.

    1. Darwin Community College

  20. 1 ) (a) None, (b) 2 (ICL 2903; PDP 1 104). (c) None, (d)

  1. ICL 2903-$30,595 p.a., PDP 1104- $1,596 p.a. (maintenance only, as machine is loaned).
  2. Teaching, financial management, student administration and library data.
  3. Teaching programs and administrative data.
  4. None.
  5. Authorised college personnel and students for instructional purposes only.
  6. In 1978 and 1979 nil savings were achieved 1980-0.5 EFT saving, 1981-1.5 EFT savings. These savings are on new staff only.

Socially Disadvantaged Persons (Question No. 2804)

Mr Humphreys:

asked the Minister for Health, upon notice, on 16 November 1978:

  1. Has his attention been drawn to an article in the National Times of 14 October 1978, in which a lecturer in Social Administration at the University of Sydney, Mr Alec Pemberton, draws attention to the term ‘socially disadvantaged ‘, the stigma which attaches to that term and those who it describes, and the term’s implication for people so classified.
  2. Has his definition of ‘socially disadvantaged’ been made in terms of financial disadvantage, and not in terms of wider societal interplay of cultural, educational, and psychological factors; if so, will he consider changing that term to financially disadvantaged ‘.
  3. Has his attention also been drawn to the opinion expressed that the new Government proposal to give doctors the right to determine eligibility for direct billing represents an extension of doctors’ medical mandate into an area where they have not special competence or professional skill, that is, m the area of social work or psychological or psychiatric determination.
  4. If so, will he consider moving that role of deciding on social deprivation and therefore eligibility for direct billing arrangements, from doctors to social workers.
  5. Is there widespread uneasiness among many doctors who are now required to arbitrate on matters of degree of social disadvantage; if so will he consider providing explicit guidelines for this determination.
  6. What appellate structure will exist for patients seeking redress for unfavourable decisions made by doctors in regard to their eligibility for direct billing arrangements, based on supposed social disadvantage.
  7. Does he deem any of the following groups to be disadvantaged socially: (a) Aboriginals, (b) homosexuals, (c) migrants and (d) recipients of full-rate social security benefits, for example, people receiving unemployment, supporting parent or sickness benefits at the full rate.
Mr Hunt:
NCP/NP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. Yes.
  2. The term ‘socially disadvantaged’ has not been used either by myself or my Department for some months. Recognizing that the term was an inappropriate one, I directed early in September1978 that in the future the term ‘disadvantage’ be used instead. This decision was, of course, taken well in advance of Mr Pemberton’s article.
  3. and (4) Doctors have traditionally made decisions regarding the capacity of their patients to pay their medical accounts. The relationship between a patient and his doctor is quite unique- indeed quite personal and lends itself to discussion and decision regarding the ability of the patient to pay. I would not wish to change the arrangement to include a third party, e.g. a social worker.
  4. I am not aware of any widespread uneasiness among doctors on this matter. On the contrary the Australian Medical Association supports the current arrangements.
  5. As stated previously doctors have traditionally made decisions in the context of the unique doctor/patient relationship regarding the ability of their patients to pay and I would not wish to take any action which would interfere with this situation.
  6. 7 ) As the term ‘ socially disadvantaged ‘ is no longer used, no purpose would be achieved in offering my opinion as to whether the groups mentioned are or are not disadvantaged socially. Decisions as to whether patients included in the groups mentioned would be regarded as ‘disadvantaged’ would be made in individual cases by doctors in discussion with the patients.

Aflatoxin Levels in Peanuts (Question No. 2718)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for Health, upon notice, on 8 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Is it a fact that aflatoxin levels found in several of the samples of peanuts purchased in the National Health and Medical Research Council 1976 market basket survey exceeds the recommended maximum permitted levels.
  2. What levels of anatoxins were found in peanuts purchased in each city in each season of purchase during the 1 976 market basket survey.
  3. In which specific cases were aflatoxin levels found in 1 976 in excess of those found in previous surveys.
  4. What is the Council’s recommended maximum permitted level ofaflatoxins in peanuts.
  5. What action has been taken or is planned to ensure that levels of aflatoxins in peanuts are reduced.
Mr Hunt:
NCP/NP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. Yes. Aflatoxin levels found in five of 24 samples of peanuts examined in the 1976 Market Basket Survey exceeded the maximum level recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council (N.H. and M.R.C.).
  2. The aflatoxin levels found in peanuts expressed in milligrams per kilogram found in summer, autumn, winter and spring respectively for each of the capital cities are as follows:
  1. No comparison is possible as peanuts have not been examined for aflatoxin in any previous N.H. and M.R.C. Market Basket Survey.
  2. The current maximum level of aflatoxin in peanuts recommended by the N.H. and M.R.C. is 0.005 milligram per kilogram of peanuts. However, this level has not been adopted into legislation by all States as it is not considered achievable at present. It has been suggested that 0.015, a figure used by some other countries, would be more realistic. The matter is still under consideration.
  3. The levels of aflatoxin found in the samples examined in the survey have been brought to the attention of State health authorities. Independent of the N.H. and M.R.C. Survey, government authorities and the peanut industry have taken action designed to overcome the problem.

Australian Research Grants Committee (Question No. 2896)

Mr Burns:
ISAACS, VICTORIA

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Education, upon notice, on 17 November 1978:

  1. It is a fact that Professor Don Aitkin of Macquarie University, Sydney, has been awarded $75,000 for a study of Australian political behaviour, by the Australian Grants Committee.
  2. What were the precise criteria used by the Committee in awarding this grant.
  3. How many grants have been made by the Committee of sums of $20,000, for research in the social sciences, and to whom have they been awarded.
  4. How many full-time and part-time teachers and research workers are employed in Professor Aitkin’s Department
  5. How many post-graduate students were enrolled with that Department in 1978.
  6. In what ways does the Parliament exercise scrutiny over the expenditure of the Committee.
  7. What is the total estimated expenditure by the Federal Government on Macquarie University during 1978.
Mr Staley:
LP

– The Minister for Education has provided the following reply to the honourable member’s question.

  1. Yes. The Australian Research Grants Committee, which is responsible to the Minister for Science, has confirmed that the grant to Professor Aitkin is for a survey of Australian political attitudes. It is part of a continuing study and will update surveys made in 1 967 and 1 969.
  2. In accordance with the terms of reference and selection procedures which have been used by the ARGC since its establishment in 1965, excellence of the project and the investigator were the sole criteria which influenced the recommendation. Professor Aitkin’s project qualified for a share of the available funds in competition with all other applications for support in 1 979.
  3. During the period 1970-79 the following ARGC gants in the social sciences have been for amounts of 20,000 or more in any one year

Professor A. H. Pollard and Dr F. Yusuf- Macquarie University- ‘A survey of family formation in Australia’ (1971 $49,000).

Professors S. B. Hammond and R. F. HendersonMacquarie University-The role of local authorities in the provision of welfare services’ (1971 $26,500).

Professor F. H. G. Gruen and A. A. L. Powell- Monash University- ‘Econometric analysis of protection’ (1970 $27,384, 1971 $30,764, 1972 $32,858).

Professor R. F. Henderson, Professor R. I. Downing and Mr W. J. Byrt- University of Melbourne- ‘Use of manpower in social welfare services’. (1972 $20,161, 1973 $27,319).

Professor R. F. Henderson and Dr R. B. ScottonUniversity of Melbourne- ‘Australian social review: A review of current social developments and policies in Australia’ ( 1977 $22,420).

Dr P. J. Sheehan University of Melbourne;The behaviour of Australian manufactured exports 1963-64-1973-74 ( 1979 $28,268).

Ms L. Richards, Dr D. Edgar and Professor H. Bisno- La Trobe University, Victoria-Mill Park Project a study of the development of a new outer residential suburb from the families and their social networks through to formal decision making structures in the community’ (1979 $20,000).

  1. The Department of Politics at Macquarie University has in 1978 14 full-time teaching and research staff, and the equivalent of a further two full-time positions filled on a part-time basis.
  2. There are 36 post-graduate students enrolled in 1978 in the Department of Politics.
  3. ARGC grants are administered under the States Grants (Research) Act 1965. The Government determines the expenditure allocation for the scheme and the Committee recommends to the Minister for Science support for research to be performed during the following calendar year.

The funds available are appropriated annually by the Parliament and are subject to examination by the Senate Estimates Committee.

The Committee issues reports on its operations and these are tabled in the Parliament for the information of all Members and Senators.

  1. The total estimated grants provided by the Tertiary Education Commission to Macquarie University in 1978 are set out below:

Lower Air Fares (Question No. 2523)

Mr Jull:

asked the Minister for Transport, upon notice, on 17 October 1978:

  1. 1 ) Following his announcement of proposed cheaper air fares between Australia and London, will the implementation of these fares provide a virtual monopoly or duopoly for Qantas and British Airways.
  2. Will Asian and European carriers be able to devise a competitive fare on the Australia-London route; if so, will they be able to sell these fares in Australia and London.
  3. Will Asian and European carriers also be able to market in Australia the proposed no-stopover full economy fare and the newly proposed business class fare between Australian and London.
Mr Nixon:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) and (2) The implementation of the proposed new fare structure for travel between Australia and the United Kingdom will provide a broad range of air fare choices for the travelling public Passengers wishing to avail themselves of point-to-point travel will be able to accommodate their re- quirements on the services of Qantas or British Airways. On the other hand passengers wanting a more complex travel itinerary, such as stopovers or en-route transfers, will have available a wide range of carriers operating services to Australia.
  2. No.

Air Charter Operators (Question No. 2128)

Mr Jull:

asked the Minister for Transport, upon notice, on 19 September 1978:

  1. 1 ) Which charter operators have applied for rights to and from Australia since 1 969.
  2. What were the dates of these applications.
  3. What was the date registered for the formation of the Qantas subsidiary Qantair.
Mr Nixon:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1) and (2) Operators of international non-scheduled services are not granted traffic rights as is the case with international scheduled airlines designated by their own governments under Air Service Agreements Australia enters into with the governments of the other countries concerned. Nonscheduledflights, which include charter flights, are approved on the basis of separate application. There is no central register of applications for non-scheduled flights. Applications for non-scheduled flights since 1969 are estimated to number several thousand.
  2. 15 November 1971.

Domestic Airlines Agreements (Question No. 2891)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister for Transport, upon notice, on 1 7 November 1 978:

  1. 1) When will he inform the Parliament of the Government’s decision on the recommendations contained in Part 1 of the Report of the Domestic Air Transport Policy Review.
  2. ) When was the Review completed.
  3. Is the delay in his making such a statement due wholly or in part to any reluctance on the part of the major domestic airlines to accept those recommendations said to effect significant changes to the 2 airlines agreement
  4. Which recommendations have the airlines found difficult to accept.
  5. Will the Government pursue the implementation of those recommendations in the face of opposition from the airlines.
Mr Nixon:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. The Government has authorised the commencement of negotiations with the parties to the Airlines Agreements on the basis of the recommendations contained in the Domestic Air Transport Policy Review Report Part 1 .
  2. September 1978 following completion of the Second Report of the Committee covering Regional and Local/ Commuter air services.
  3. (4) and (5) Discussions are currently being conducted with Ansett Transport Industries Ltd and the Australian National Airlines Commission. As the matters being discussed are complex and cover a very wide range of issues it is not possible to announce the status of individual aspects until the conclusion of these discussions.

Review of Australia’s International Civil Aviation Policy (Question No. 2862)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister for Transport upon notice on 1 6 November 1 978:

  1. 1 ) Did his Department make a submission to the Review of Australia ‘s International Civil Aviation Policy.
  2. ) If so, ( a) what was the substance of the submission and (b) will he release it for the benefit of the Parliament
Mr Nixon:
LP

-The answer to the honourable Member’s question is as follows:

  1. As my Department had the carriage of the International Civil Aviation Policy Review it was inappropriate that a Departmental submission per se would have been made. There was, however, a significant amount of information provided to the Committee on a day to day basis by various Divisions of my Department, Departmental Regional Offices and the Bureau of Transport Economics.

The Bureau of Transport Economics did, however, make a formal submission to the Review.

  1. A wide range of issues were covered in the Departmental input and these were reflected by the published report of the Review Committee.

The BTE provided information on forecasts, characteristics of demand and supply.

Australia-London Excursion Air Fares (Question No. 2524)

Mr Jull:

asked the Minister for Transport, upon notice, on 17 October 1978:

Under the proposed new arrangements for excursion air fares between Australia and London, will tour packagers be able to negotiate with airlines to create package deals not utilising Qantas and British Airways services. If so, will these package tours be able to be advertised and sold in Australia.

Mr Nixon:
LP

-The answer to the honourable members question is as follows:

Yes.

Nuclear Weapons Testing (Question No. 2958)

Dr Klugman:

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 22 November 1978:

Will he provide all the relevant information that is not confidential referred to in the answer to question No. 2400 (Hansard, 17 November 1978, page 3066), concerning the dates and places of all above ground and underground nuclear explosions carried out during the last three years.

Mr Peacock:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

Reliable information of the type requested is publicly available in, for example, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Yearbooks entitled World Armaments and Disarmament.

Parliamentary Question No. 1611 (Question No. 2446)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 1 1 October 1978:

How many man hours of labour were put into ascertaining that the answer to question No. 1611 (Hansard, 10 October 1978, page 1666), would require calculation and compilation of detailed information in respect of over 2000 designations in the Public Service.

Mr Malcolm Fraser:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

The Public Service Board has advised me that less than one man hour was involved in ascertaining this fact

Commonwealth and State Government Employment: Growth (Question No. 2082)

Mr Hodges:

asked the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 19 September 1978:

  1. Has his attention been drawn to a reported statement of Mr Russ Hinze, the Queensland Minister for local Government and Main Roads, in the Courier-Mail of 1 8 July 1978, that federal bureaucratic extravagance was still a problem and that the Commonwealth should make an effort to trim some of the excess fat off its own bureaucratic carcass.
  2. What has been the rate of growth of Commonwealth Government employment in each year since 1 970-7 1 .
  3. Is he able to say what the rate of growth of State Government employment has been in each of the States since 1970-71.
Mr Malcolm Fraser:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. Yes.
  2. and (3) The Public Service Board has provided the following tables showing the rate of growth of Commonwealth Government and State Government employment since 1970-71:

Review of Australia’s International Civil Aviation Policy (Question No. 2880)

Mr Morris:

s asked the Minister for Home Affairs, upon notice, on 16 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Did his Department make a submission to the Review of Australia’s International Civil Aviation Policy.
  2. If so, (a) what was the substance of the submission and ( b) will he release it for the benefit of the Parliament.
Mr Ellicott:
LP

– the answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. No.
  2. See (1) above.

Computer Crime (Question No. 2383)

Mr Jacobi:

asked the Minister representing the Attorney-General, upon notice, on 28 September 1978:

  1. 1 ) Has the Attorney-General or his Department studied the report of the New South Wales Corporate Affairs Commission into computer crime.
  2. Does he support the initiatives on computer crime control recently taken by the New South Wales AttorneyGeneral, and what support will the Government give to the States to combat crime of this nature.
  3. Have there been any cases of computer crime detected within Commonwealth Government Departments; If so, what was the nature of the crime and what were the sums involved.
  4. What measures has the Government taken to combat computer crime within Government Departments and what action has the Government taken to combat computer crime generally.
Mr Viner:
LP

-The Attorney-General has supplied the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

  1. 1 ) and (2 ) The report of the New South Wales Corporate Affairs Commission is, I am informed, not yet generally available. My Department has, however, made arrangements for a copy of the report to be obtained as soon as possible. A study can then be made of the State’s approach and an assessment of the Government ‘s role facilitated.
  2. I am advised that two instances of computer-related crime have been investigated by the Commonwealth Police Force. Both cases involved the insertion of false particulars into a computer program. In one case unemployment benefit cheques, amounting to $4,794.60, were paid to four persons who were not entitled to them. In the other case a series of cheques, amounting to approximately $130,000, in false names were paid out of the Special Re-adjustment Scheme. In both cases the offenders were convicted and sentenced.
  3. Criminal law in Australia is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments, but the Commonwealth Government has long been concerned in the national aspects of the subject and has contributed substantially to a number of major initiatives. One such measure was the establishment of the Australian Institute of Criminology, which facilitates the co-operation and the exchange of information between the Commonwealth and the States and provides machinery whereby problems and trends in the criminal law, including those related to computer crime, can be studied and discussed. In addition, my Department keeps an overview of developments concerning crime. I am also informed the Commonwealth Police Force has for some time been conducting regular courses on commercial crime. Officers of State and Territory Forces participate in those courses. Further officers of the Auditor-General’s Department receive training with respect to modern concepts of computer control. It is, I understand, proposed to extend that training to internal auditors in relevant Departments.

Civil Marriage Celebrants (Question No. 2704)

Mr Barry Jones:
LALOR, VICTORIA · ALP

asked the Minister representing the Attorney-General, upon notice, on 8 November 1978:

  1. Has his attention been drawn to the following proposals for the administration of civil marriage celebrants: (a) that a course of preparation to be set up for celebrants, (b) that selection of celebrants take place annually following a procedure including interview by a panel including celebrants and representatives of the local community, (c) that the handbook for celebrants be progressively revised and issued in a loose-leaf edition, (d) that fees be set by an arbitrator from the Arbitration Commission and indexed, (e) that celebrants be consulted prior to changes in the Family Law Act or the interpretation of the Act, (f) that the interpretation be consistent at Registrar level throughout the Commonwealth, (g) that more detailed guidelines be established for prescribed authorities in shortening the month’s notice for marriage, (h) that prescribed authorities be appointed from among the civil celebrants and/or independent persons available out of hours, and (i) that celebrants be appointed to the Family Law Council.
  2. If so, what action does the Government propose to take on each of these proposals.
Mr Viner:
LP

-The Attorney-General has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

  1. Yes. Each of the proposals to which the honourable member refers has been brought to my attention by the Association of Civil Marriage Celebrants of Australia.
  2. 1 have asked my Department to conduct a comprehensive review of the administration of the civil marriage celebrants program. Each of the matters raised will be examined in the course of that review.

Medibank Computer (Question No. 1719)

Dr Klugman:

asked the Minister representing the Attorney-General, with notice, on 16 August 1978:

  1. Has the Attorney-General’s attention been drawn to an article on page 24 of the Australian CP. of July 1978 which claims that Medibank computer records can be used by the Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation?
  2. If so, is there any substance in the claim?
Mr Viner:
LP

-The Attorney-General has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question.

  1. Yes.
  2. No.

Laser Fusion Facility (Question No. 1931)

Mr Jacobi:

asked the Minister for National Development, upon notice, on 13 September 1978:

  1. Has the Minister’s attention been drawn to an article in the Canberra Times of 17 April 1978 emphasing that Australia has been offered a working unit of the world ‘s most advanced experimental laser fusion facility, the mother unit of which will produce 1 ,000 times more electric power than it uses.
  2. Is it a fact that for an approximate outlay of $ 10m Australian physicists studying fusion could close the quantum gap and join the ranks of the world’s top fusion technology experts.
  3. In the light of this opportunity to equip Australian scientists with some of the world’s leading technology, does the Government propose to take any action to respond to the offer to purchase this fusion facility and thus place Australia in the forefront of world fusion technology.
Mr Newman:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. Yes.
  2. and (3) I am advised that Shiva-Nova is not expected to become operational until after 1985. 1 am not aware of a proposal for Australia to be offered a working unit of this facility. If the Government was to receive such a proposal I would refer it to the National Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Council to assess it. The Council has a Technical Standing Committee on Technology of Nuclear Energy, which has expertise in this field.

Antibiotics (Question No. 1718)

Dr Klugman:

asked the Minister for Health, upon notice, on 16 August 1978:

  1. Is the increase in antibiotic-resistant pathogens causing concern.
  2. What plans does the Government have for dealing with this problem.
  3. Is the use of antibiotics as animal feed additives a contributing factor.
  4. If so, will he discuss their use with the Minister for Primary Industry.
Mr Hunt:
NCP/NP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) The emergence of organisms resistant to different antibiotics has given rise to general concern and has been the subject of intense study. Expert bodies in several countries have been convened by authorities, including the World Health Organization to advise on this matter. Educational means, restrictions on prescribing under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, and stricter control of antibiotic use within hospitals have been employed in Australia. The National Health and Medical Research Council keeps this matter under continuing review. Two specialist groups have been convened by Council to advise on the use of antibiotics with particular reference to their use in animal husbandry. The most recent statement by Council was made at its 83rd Session in April 1977. Council was of the opinion that the use of therapeutic antibiotics as growth promotants in animal feedstuffs could lead to an impairment of their efficacy in the treatment of human disease. This is of concern. The action it is expected will be taken by the States and Territories is that the recommendations of the Council will be incorporated into their legislation. The recommendations were that several antibiotics, including penicillins, tetracyclines, sulphonamides and chloramphenicol should be prohibited from use as growth promotants in animal husbandry in Australia. The necessary amendments have already been made to the Uniform Poisons Standard of the National Health and Medical Research Council to give effect to these recommendations. I have arranged for a copy of the extract from the report of the 83rd Session of Council to be placed in the Parliamentary Library.
  2. These matters are being pursued with the Department of Primary Industry, and with State and Territory Departments of Agriculture.
  3. There is a consenus that the use of antibiotics in animal feed additives is a contributing factor; this is attested to by the recommendations of the Swann Committee which studied the matter in the United Kingdom, the working group convened by the World Health Organization in 1973, and a Working Party convened by the National Health and Medical Research Council to study antibiotics in human and veterinary medicine.
  4. A close liaison is already being maintained with the Department of Primary Industry. A senior officer of that Department was a member of the N.H. and M.R.C. Working Party. The recommendations of Council have been brought to the notice of the Technical Committee on Veterinary Drugs which is convened by the Department of Primary Industry and on which the N.H. and M.R.C. is represented.

Community Health Nurses (Question No. 1924)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for Health, upon notice, on 12 September 1978:

On an Australia-wide basis, what is the cost of a visit by (a) a domiciliary nurse funded under the Home Nursing Subsidy Act1956 (b) a community health nurse funded under the Community Health Program and (c) a domiciliary nurse funded under the Community Health Program.

Mr Hunt:
NCP/NP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. The latest year for which complete information is available as to the cost of a visit is 1976-77. The average cost across the States for that year was $4.24. The cost by State was:
  1. and (c) Under the Community Health Program block grant arrangements, the detailed administration of approved projects is vested in the respective State health authorities. The following information concerning New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania is therefore based on advice received from the health authorities in those States. In relation to Queensland and Western Australia, the statistics collected by the State health authorities do not enable the cost of home visits by community health nurses or domiciliary nurses to be calculated.

It should be noted that the duties of community health nurses are generally divided between the provision of services in the home and the provision of services at the centre in which the nurses are based. The following figures therefore represent estimates arrived at after allocations of costs between services in the home and services in the centres.

New South Wales (costing period 1 June 1978-30 June 1978)- No distinction is made between community health nurses and domiciliary nurses funded under the Community Health Program. Estimated average cost per home visit: metropolitan- $5.15, rural- $6.83.

Victoria (costing period 1 July 1977-30 June 1978)- Estimated average cost per home visit by community health nurses and domiciliary nurses: $5.00.

South Australia (costing period 1 January 1978-30 June 1978)- Domiciliary nurses are not funded under the Community Health Program in South Australia. Estimated average cost per home visit by community health nurses: $5.81.

Tasmania (costing period 1 July 1978-31 July 1978)- Estimated average cost per home visit by community health nurses and domiciliary nurses: $3.93.

Migration Under Occupationally Eligible Criteria (Question No. 2667)

Dr Cass:

asked the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, upon notice, on 26 October 1978:

With reference to his answer to question No. 1733 (Hansard, 24 October 1 978, page 2242), how is it possible to admit 514 persons under the occupationally eligible category if their occupations are unkown.

Mr MacKellar:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

For statistical purposes, persons in the occupationally eligible category include spouses and children as well as the principal applicant. The selection at overseas posts is on the basis of the principal applicant’s possession of skills or qualifications which are both recognised and in continuing demand in Australia. Once eligibility on occupational grounds has been established and all the other criteria for immigration met, these applicants and their families are approved for immigration and issued visas on which the appropriate eligibility category code is entered. A separate code describing the occupational status of each person is also included in that person ‘s visa.

On arrival of migrants in Australia, primary officers at the port of entry transcribe visa codes onto incoming passenger cards. This visa code information on these cards is the basis of statistical compilation of details on settler arrivals. In a small proportion of cases, the transcribed data is incorrect or incomplete. These with other sources of clerical errors, meant that no occupational information was available on 419 worker arrivalsin 1977-78 in the occupationally eligible category out of the total of 12,482 mentioned in my earlier answer. A further 95 workers were coded as ‘not previously employed ‘ and for whom, therefore, no specific occupational classification could be given.

Review of Australia’s International Civil Aviation Policy (Question No. 2875)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Science the following question, upon notice, on 16 November 1978.

  1. Did the Department of Science make a submission to the Review of Australia’s International Civil Aviation Policy?
  2. If so, (a) what was the substance of the submission and (b) will the Minister release it for the benefit of the Parliament?
Mr Adermann:
Minister Assisting the Minister for Primary Industry · FISHER, QUEENSLAND · NCP/NP

– The Minister for Science has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question: (l)No.

  1. See answer to (1).

Concorde Aircraft (Question No. 2922)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Science the following question, upon notice, on 2 1 November 1978:

  1. Under what circumstances are the Minister’s (a) Departmental staff and (b) Personal staff authorised to travel on Concorde aircraft between the United States and the United Kingdom.
  2. What is the additional cost per journey.
  3. How many officers of the Department of Science (a) sought approval, (b) were granted approval and (c) were refused approval to travel on Concorde aircraft during (i) 1976-77, (n) 1977-78 and (iii) 1978-79 to date.
  4. How many officers from the Department of Science or the Minister’s Personal staff have travelled on Concorde aircraft without seeking approval.
Mr Adermann:
NCP/NP

-The Minister for Science has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

  1. 1 ) Normally, there are no circumstances under which departmental staff or the Minister’s personal staff are authorised to travel on Concorde aircraft between the United States and the United Kingdom. An exception may be granted if a Concorde flight is used to supplement a normal service and no additional cost is involved.
  2. Not applicable.
  3. No officers sought approval, or were refused approval to travel on Concorde aircraft during the years mentioned. One officer from the Department of Science travelled on a Concorde aircraft on 1 1 October 1977 between London and Washington. The normal flight was cancelled due to aircraft failure and the passengers were off-loaded to a Concorde aircraft without additional cost
  4. Nil.

Department of Science: Computers (Question No. 2254)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Science the following question, upon notice, on 27 September 1978.

  1. 1 ) In respect of each computer owned or operated by the Department of Science and statutory authorities and business undertakings under the control of the Minister, what information stored therein can be sold, hired, lent or given to any person or organisation other than properly authorised employees of the Department of Science, authority or business.
  2. Under what circumstances can this information be (a) sold, (b) hired, (c) lent, or(d) given.
  3. On what occasions, and to whom, has any information been sold, hired, lent or given in the past.
Mr Adermann:
NCP/NP

-The Minister for Science has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

Department of Science

Within the Department of Science, the Bureau of Meteorology operates seven computers which are used to process meteorological data. The Space Projects Branch of the Department is in the process of acquiring two computers to support the Australian Landsat Station. These computers will be used to process data received from the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Series of Landsat Satellites which will provide in digital form, photographs of the Australian region for use in surveying resources. In addition, the Ionospheric Prediction Service operates a computer which is used to process ionospheric data.

Answers to the honourable member’s questions as they relate to the Department of Science are as follows.

A. Bureau of Meteorology

  1. 1 ) All meteorological data is made available to the public on request. Although no charge is made for the data itself, a charge is made for the processing and handling of the information. Forecast and warning information is also disseminated on a regular basis.
  2. No other data stored in the Bureau of Meteorology’s computers is sold, hired, lent or given to persons or organisations outside the Bureau of Meteorology.

Computer produced forecast and warning information is disseminated on a regular basis, according to a standard schedule. Other products are transmitted to Regional offices which in turn may pass them on to local users.

Historical meteorological data, or summary data (such as highest, lowest, average temperatures, etc.) is available on request from the general public either individuals or organisations. A charge is calculated for the handling of the data, although this charge may be waived by the Director of Meteorology.

The requests for meteorological data and summary information come from other organisations within the Department of Science, other departments and authorities, universities and institutes, as well as from private persons or organisations. Meteorological data is available on demand and analysis and prognosis information is used to regions and the media daily.

  1. An analysis of the computer processed requests for climatological data in 1977 is provided in the following table:

B. Space Projects Branch

  1. 1 ) The Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Science and NASA requires that the Department will ensure unrestricted public availability of all Landsat data of areas within the range of the Australian Ground Station at a fair and reasonable charge, and in a nondiscriminatory manner.
  2. Landsat data will be sold to the user community as and when orders are received by the Australian Landsat Station.
  3. The Australian Landsat Station is not expected to become operational until March 1980. This section of the queston is therefore not relevant

C Ionospheric Prediction Service

  1. The computer stores data concerned with the state of the ionosphere which is used to predict its future state to assist in radio communications. These predictions are disseminated on a regular basis to radio communicators.

The computer is also used for scientific research into the ionosphere.

  1. Information is provided free of charge to radio communicators and research bodies.
  2. Information is disseminated in the form of regular prediction bulletins.

Statutory Authorities

Statutory Authorities responsible to the Minister for Science which own or maintain computers are the AngloAustralian Telescope Board which owns six computers, the Australian Institute of Marine Science which maintains a computer to assist it in marine science research and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization maintains a major computer system and other computer facilities.

Answers to the honourable member’s questions as they relate to statutory authorities are as follows.

A. The Anglo-Australian Telescope Board

The Anglo-Australian Telescope Board owns six computers.

  1. 1 ) All information collected and stored by the computers owned by the Anglo-Australian Telescope Board is available immediately to the astronomer who undertook the scientific observations. The original data tapes are held at the AngloAustralian Observatory (AAO) and the astronomer is given a copy tape for an indefinite period.
  2. The information may be given to others at the discretion of the Director of the AAO.

  3. 3 ) On all occasions when the Anglo-Australian Telescope has been used, a copy of the data collected by the relevant computers has been given to the astronomer who was allocated observing time on the telescope.

    1. Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)
  4. Scientific information processed by the computer is basically available to ALMS staff. Circumstances arise in the normal course of research for scientists to collaborate with scientists in other research institutions and information is transferred in that way.
  5. See(l).

  6. See(l).

    1. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO)
  7. The CSIRO computing network (CSIRONET) processes a complex range of data for CSIRO units, Commonwealth and State Government Departments and Instrumentalities, Universities and other approved users. The Organization does not allow informaton stored in the network facilities to be sold, loaned or given to any person or organisation. Authorised user groups are provided with a unique identification which allows them access only to data from the project with which they are identified. User groups are protected against unauthorised access of their project by the application of a password protection system.
  8. See(l).
  9. See(l).

Concorde Aircraft (Question No. 2903)

Mr Morris:

asked the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 21 November 1978:

  1. Under what circumstances are his (a) Departmental staff and (b) Ministerial staff authorised to travel on Concorde aircraft between the United States and the United Kingdom.
  2. What is the additional cost per journey.
  3. How many officers of his Department (a) sought approval, (b) were granted approval and (c) were refused approval to travel on Concorde aircraft during (i) 1976-77, (u) 1977-78 and (iii) 1978-79 to date.
  4. How many officers from his Department or personal staff have travelled on Concorde aircraft without seeking approval.
Mr Malcolm Fraser:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s questions is as follows:

  1. The Public Service Board, which is the approving authority for departmental travel on Concord flights, has advised all departments that such approval will be given only in exceptional circumstances. Overseas travel by a Minister, including numbers of accompanying officials, is subject to my approval.
  2. The current fare for a Concorde flight from New York to London is $126.15 above the normal first class fare for a New York- London flight.
  3. With my approval four officials of my Department travelled on a Concorde aircraft with me from New York to London on 7 June 1978. No other officers have travelled, have sought approval to travel, or have been refused approval to travel, on Concorde aircraft, at any other time.
  4. None.

Departmental Food Services: Australian Services Canteens Organisation (Question No. 2490)

Mr Humphreys:

asked the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 12 October 1978:

Has the Government considered plans to follow the closure of the Australian Services Canteens Organisation with a similar running down of Public Service canteens throughout Australia.

Mr Viner:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

There are no such plans before the Government.

Syntec (Question No. 1572)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 15 August 1978:

  1. 1 ) Has he ever noted the similarity between the views expressed by the newsletter Syntec and the confidential submissions put to the Government from time to time by Treasury officials.
Mr Malcolm Fraser:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. 1 ) Yes, but I do not find it surprising that, within the wide range of comment and opinion on economic matters, the views of private economic analysts are similar in many instances to those coming to the Government from its advisers.

Public Servants: Telephone Calls (Question No. 1618)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 15 August 1978:

What are the guidelines relating to the logging of telephone calls by public servants in the course of their public duties.

Mr Viner:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

It is for Permanent Heads of Departments, as part of their responsibilities for the efficient management of their departments, to ensure that all staff are aware of the need to use telephones effectively and economically in the course of their duties.

In 1970 a model set of administrative instructions on the use of telephones was issued for the guidance of Permanent Heads. The general practice is that departmental internal directories contain instructions on telephone use for observance by all staff.

Action has also been taken to ensure strict control of the use of STD calls, including the barring of STD access to the extent consistent with departmental efficiency, where practical and economical.

I am advised by the Public Service Board that while there are no specific guidelines relating to the logging of telephone calls by public servants in the course of their public duties, most departments have their switchboard telephonists log all trunk calls which they connect for staff, both via STD and those booked through the Telecom Truck Line operator.

The latter calls are also listed on departmental telephone accounts. There is no requirement to keep records of local calls beyond that appropriate to the relevant action file.

The telephone system is a major aid to efficiency in public service administration as it enables officers and others to communicate effectively. Officers are encouraged to use the telephone where it helps in the speedy and more effective transaction of official business. To place too stringent controls on its use would therefore be likely to be counterproductive.

Public Service Working Hours (Question No. 1971)

Mr Clyde Cameron:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

asked the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 14 September 1978:

Is he concerned over complaints that some sections or divisions of Government departments sometimes come to a virtual close-down as a result of officers abandoning their posts to carry out personal shopping or to visit hotels to beat the consumer rush of non-Government employees.

Mr Viner:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

I would be most concerned if there were situations of the sort suggested. But I am not aware of any such complaints and the Public Service Board advises me that no such complaints have been received by it It is the responsibility of departmental managers to ensure that operational effectiveness is maintained including in areas where flexible working hours arrangements have been introduced.

Public Service Staff Levels (Question No. 2699)

Mr Uren:

asked the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 8 November 1978:

  1. What was the percentage change in the staff level for (a) the overall public service and (b) each department for each year since 1 July 1975.
  2. What is the percentage difference between the approved staff ceiling for 30 June 1979, and the 1 July 1978 staff level for (a) the overall public service and (b) each department
Mr Viner:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. and (2) The details requested by the honourable member are contained in the following tables supplied by the Public Service Board.
  1. Departments Established- December1975

Administrative Services

Business and Consumer Affairs

Construction

Employment and Industrial Relations

Environment, Housing and Community Development

Immigration and Ethnic Affairs

Northern Territory

November 1976

Productivity

December 1976

Finance

Treasury

July 1977

Special Trade Negotiator

December 1977

Home Affairs

National Development

Trade and Resources

  1. Departments Reatled-December 1973

Agriculture to Primary Industry

Manufacturing Industry to Industry and Commerce

Minerals and Energy to National Resources

Repatriation and Compensation to Repatriation

Science and Consumer Affairs to Science

October 1976

Repatriation to Veterans ‘ Affairs

December 1977

Special Trade Negotiator to Special Trade Representative

  1. Departments Abolished- December 1976

Treasury

December 1977

National Resources

Overseas Trade

September 1978

Northern Territory

  1. The following Statutory Authorities were established in the financial year indicated:

1976- 77

ACT Schools Authority

Administrative Appeals Tribunal

Australian Broadcasting Tribunal

Tertiary Education Commission

1977- 78

Industrial Relations Bureau

Office of National Assessment

Ombudsman

Special Broadcasting Service

  1. 30 June 1976 total includes Ministerial Staff
  2. During 1975-76 Naval Defence Act staff transferred to Public Service Act cover.
  3. Transfer of function to ACT Schools Authority.
  4. Total for EHCD includes Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service and Office of the Supervising Scientist.
  5. Transfer of Defence Services Homes function to Department of Veterans ‘ Affairs 1976-77.
  6. Transfer of functions from Departmental of Social Security to Department of Health 1976-77.
  7. ) Transfer of non Public Service Act staff to Public Service Act cover- plebiscite 1973-76.

  8. Major functions transferred to Department of Productivity, November 1976.

    1. Loss of some functions during 1976-77 to Northern Territory Public Service.
  9. m ) Functions transferred to Department of Trade and Resources December 1977.
  10. Childrens Commission transferred to Department of Social Security December 1 973.
  11. Transfer of Post Arrival Migrant Welfare Services from Department of Social Security to Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs 1977-78.

Mail Freight Rates (Question No. 2850)

Mr Morris:

asked the Minister for Transport, upon notice, on 16 November 1978:

  1. Does the Australian National Railways Commission envisage any increase in rail freight rates.
  2. Has ANR conducted any studies on the future freight rate differentials between rail and road transport
  3. If not, does it intend conducting these investigations in the future.
Mr Nixon:
LP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. Yes. The Australian National Railways Commission reviews freight rates at regular intervals.
  2. Yes. Information about competition is considered when rates are under review.
  3. Not applicable.

Food Contamination: Maximum Limits (Question No. 2715)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister for Health, upon notice, on 8 November 1978:

What are the recommended maximum limits of (a) lead, (b) cadmium, (c) mercury, (d) iodine and (e) organochlorines in (i) milk, (ii) water and (iii) ice cream.

Mr Hunt:
NCP/NP

-The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows: (a), (b) and (c) The National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NH and MRC) recommended maximum limits in milligrams per kilogram or per litre for lead, cadmium and mercury in milk, drinking water and ice cream on a whole product basis are as follows:

  1. The recommended maximum limit for iodine in milk is 0.5 milligram per litre. No levels have been recommended for iodine m water or ice cream.
  2. The NH and MRC has not recommended maximum residue limits for total organochlorine compounds in any food or in water. However, the sum of the specific recommended maximum residue limits for the most commonly detected organochlorine residues, viz., DDT and its derivatives, HCB, endrin, heptachlor and lindane, in milk and ice cream are 0.078 mg/kg and 0.227 mg/kg respectively.

Citizenship Interviews (Question No. 2665)

Or Cass asked the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, upon notice, on 26 October 1978:

Is it a fact that citizenship interviews outside normal working hours are no longer available from his Department’s regional office in Sydney?

If so, why has this service been abandoned?

3 ) How many persons were interviewed at that office outside normal working hours about their application for citizenship?

Over what period were these interviews offered?

How many of the regional offices offer this service at present?

Are there any plans to extend these services to encourage as many citizens as possible to take out citizenship?

Mr Mackellar:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

  1. and (2) Arrangements for conducting citizenship interviews at the Sydney office outside normal working hours have been made when resources permitted but it has not been possible to continue the service.
  2. and (4) The numbers of persons interviewed outside normal working hours at the Commonwealth Centre, Chifley Square where the Sydney office is located are:

1976- 77-467.

1977- 78-993.

1978- 79-123.

  1. None.
  2. The Australian Government is anxious that settlers to Australia should seek Australian citizenship and every encouragement is given to them to do so. Unfortunately it has not been possible recently to arrange for special interviewing programs but the matter will be kept under review as it has been over the years.

Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (Question No. 2105)

Mr Hodges:

asked the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, upon notice, on 19 September 1978:

  1. What co-ordinative and consultative arrangements presently exist between his Department and each of the State Governments.
  2. When were each of these arrangements established.
  3. If any of these arrangements are of a joint committee structure who are the members of the committees and how often do the committees meet
Mr Mackellar:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

I refer the honourable member to the information provided by the Prime Minister on 1 7 October 1 978 in answer to question number 2090 (Hansard, 17 October 1978, page 1972). In addition, I mention the Conference of Ministers for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs which was established in January 1968. It comprises the Commonwealth Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs and State Ministers responsible for immigration or ethnic affairs matters. The Conference meets twice yearly.

The Oder-Neisse Line (Question No. 2789)

Mr Lionel Bowen:

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 15 November 1978:

  1. 1 ) Where is the Oder-Neisse line, what is its historic significance and what is its strategic importance to Australia?
  2. When were the last significant consultations between European Governments about the Oder-Neisse line?
  3. Have any senior Australian officials, in consultation with European Governments during 1978, indicated that the Oder-Neisse line has strategic importance to Australia?
  4. If so, did the official or officials actually intend to refer to the boundary between the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic?
Mr Peacock:
LP

– The answer to the honourable gentleman’s question is as follows:

  1. and (2) The Oder-Neisse line constitutes the recognised boundary between the Polish Peoples Republic and the German Democratic Republic (GDR). It follows the course of the Oder River from its mouth on the Baltic Coast to the confluence of the Neisse River and then along the Neisse River to the frontier of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (CSSR). The Polish/GDR Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation signed on 6 June 1950 accorded formal recognition of the Polish/GDR frontier along the Oder-Neisse Line.

The Oder-Neisse Line has it origins in the agreements concluded between the Allies at Yalta and Potsdam in the closing months of the Second World War. These resulted by 1948 in the division of Europe into Western Europe and the Soviet controlled and dominated states of Eastern Europe. One of the major territorial adjustments effected in central

Europe was the extension of the USSR boundary into what had earlier been Polish territory, with Poland being ‘compensated’ by the shift of its Western boundary into former German territory up to the Thalweg of the Oder and Neisse rivers.

The issues of peace and security in Europe, which have included the questions of recognition and acceptance of Europe’s postwar frontiers, have a central importance to global security which has been recognised by successive Australian Governments. These issues have also been central to the detente process and as such have been the subject of frequent multilateral discussion and consultation. The pursuit by the Federal Republic of Germany of what was known as the policy of Ostpolitik led to the successful conclusion of treaties by the FRG with the USSR ( 1970), Poland (1970), the GDR (1972) and the CSSR (1973). While no formal peace treaty has been concluded, these treaties accorded acceptance of the established boundaries of the FRG, GDR and Poland (including of course the Oder-Neisse line) and paved the way for the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE). This conference resulted in the signing of the Helsinki Accords by thirty-five heads of Government in August 1975. The CSCE consultations, the bilateral treaties which preceded them, and the meeting called to review the Helsinki arrangements in Belgrade in 1977 are the most recent examples of high level consultations on central European frontier issues.

  1. and (4) The Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs held discussions with his counterparts in France, the Federal Republic of Germany and the United Kingdom in February/March 1978 which covered inter alia the political and strategic implications of central European boundaries, including the Oder-Neisse line, which were seen as having significance for Australia as well as for Western Europe.

Mr Carlemo Wacondo (Question No. 3032)

Dr Everingham ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 24 November 1 978:

1 ) Is Mr Carlemo Wacondo a recognised leader of Torres Island people.

Has Mr Wacondo, after a special trip to Canberra and a 3 day wait in that city, been refused an appointment with him on the grounds that only representatives elected under Queensland Government elections will be recognised as Islander spokespersons.

Was Mr Wacondo refused (a) legal aid by the Attorney-General and (b) information on the proposed Papua-New Guinea border agreement by him after written assurances by the Prime Minister that legal advice would be made available to assist a challenge to the border negotiations.

Will he satisfy himself, independently of Queensland Government agencies, of the real concerns of Islanders in consultation with anthropologists and long term residents of the islands whose security is not dependent on the patronage or goodwill of State officials directly or indirectly.

Does the proposed border settlement forfeit possible commercial fishing or other development rights of traditional owners of fishing zones.

Mr Peacock:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows: (1)1 understand the person the subject of the question to be Mr Carlemo Wacando. Mr Wacando is not one of the Chairmen or members of the Torres Strait Island Councils and does not live in the Torres Strait area. I have no evidence that he commands any widespread support

  1. No.
  2. (a) I am advised that the Attorney-General recently reviewed a decision of the Australian Legal Aid Office not to grant aid to Mr Wacando to enable him to institute proceedings in the High Court of Australia and agreed with the Office that this was not an appropriate instance for a grant of aid to be made.
  3. (b) Mr Wacando has not sought information from me on the Treaty settlement I am advised that the Prime Minister has not given ‘written assurances that legal advice would be made available to assist a challenge to the border negotiations. ‘
  4. I have satisfied myself, including making a personal visit to the Torres Strait, that the real concerns of the Torres Strait Islanders about the Treaty settlement have been met The Commonwealth Government has engaged in a continuous process of consultation with the Torres Strait Islanders for a number of years. The views of a wide range of experts has also been taken into account
  5. The Treaty will preserve, as a matter of priority, the traditional fishing rights of the Tones Strait Islanders. A Protected Zone within which those traditional rights will be preserved will be established. Subject to that priority, the Treaty settles the delimitation between Australia and Papua New Guinea fishing zones in the Torres Strait area; within the Protected Zone, it provides for the equitable sharing between Australia and Papua New Guinea of the catch of commercial fisheries, as outlined in my statement to Parliament on 25 May this year.

Establishment of a Nuclear Waste Repository in the Pacific (Question No. 3064)

Mr Uren:

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 24 November 1978:

With reference to Senator Carrick ‘s answer to Senator Mulvihill ‘s question without notice in the Senate of 19 September 1978, regarding the establishment of a nuclear waste repository in the Pacific, in what respect is a regional repository for spent nuclear fuel a different concept from a nuclear waste repository.

Mr Peacock:
LP

– The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

In his reply Senator Carrick drew a distinction between a spent fuel repository and a nuclear waste dump. The latter implies final and permanent disposal of either spent nuclear fuel or separated high level waste. As Senator Carrick explained, a spent fuel repository is essentially a secure storage for spent fuel to prevent its theft or other diversion to non-peaceful uses. This does not imply final and permanent disposal and does not involve separated high level waste.

Foreign Tribunals: Evidence Act (Question No. 1388)

Mr Jacobi:

asked the Minister representing the Attorney-General, upon notice, on 30 May 1978:

  1. Has the Attorney-General’s attention been drawn to the decision of the Victorian Full Court in the case of Ukley v. Ukley (1977) V.R. 121, which suggests that the old Imperial Act known as the Foreign Tribunals Evidence Act 1856, may be still in force in Australia despite its repeal in the United Kingdom.
  2. If so, does this Act need to be altered or repealed having regard, for example, to the Hague Convention on the

Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters, 1968.

  1. Is it a fact that the State Parliaments are legally incapable of dealing with this matter because of the colonial limitations, including the Colonial Law Validating Act 1865 which still continues to bind the exercise of their legislative powers.
  2. If action is needed to change this Act, will the Australian Government consider the possibility of using the external affairs powers in sub-section 5 1 (xxix) of the Constitution.
  3. 5 ) Will he furnish a list of the other areas where the States are also legally incapable because of the colonial limitations and relics which continue to operate in Australia and place legal strictures on the exercise of States’ legislative powers.
Mr Viner:
LP

-The Attorney-General has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

  1. Yes.
  2. The Foreign Tribunals Evidence Act empowers, inter alia, a State or Territory Supreme Court to order the examination of a witness in respect of proceedings before a court or tribunal in a foreign country. It is thus an enabling measure. Insofar as the jurisdiction of State Supreme Courts is concerned, the question whether the Act should continue to apply in a State is a matter for that State. Insofar as the Australian Capital Territory is concerned, the procedure for exercising the authority conferred by that Act on the Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court is set out in Order 39 Rule 38 of the Rules of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory. I am not aware of any difficulties having arisen from the operation of the Act in the Territory and consequently of any need to consider whether it should continue to apply in the Territory. The question whether the Act needs to be altered or repealed having regard to the Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters 1968 has not arisen since Australia is not a party to the Convention.
  3. , (4) and (5) Answers to these questions would, in part, involve the provision of a legal opinion. As to the effect of the Colonial Laws Validity Act 1865 on State Parliaments and their competence to amend or repeal Imperial Acts, the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General has under consideration ways and means of enabling States to exercise legislative powers inconsistent with Imperial Acts notwithstanding the provisions of the Colonial Laws Validity Act.

Department of Science: Computers (Question No. 2224)

Mr Hayden:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Science the following question on notice on 27 September 1978:

  1. How many computers are (a) owned, (b) operated, (c) in the process of being purchased, or (d) rented by the Department of Science and statutory authorities and business undertakings under the control of the Minister.
  2. What is the cost of purchase or rental of each computer.
  3. For what purposes is each computer used.
  4. What is the nature of the data stored by each computer.
  5. What interconnections exist or will exist between any of these computers.
  6. Who has access to each computer.
  7. What savings in staff numbers have been achieved or are anticipated as a result of the installation or operation of each computer.
Mr Adermann:
NCP/NP

– The Minister for Science has provided the following information to the honourable member’s question:

Department of Science

  1. The Bureau of Meteorology owns six computers. These are:

    1. (a) 2 x IBM 360/65 computers
    1. 2 x General Automation SPC 16/65 minicomputers
    2. 1 xGCS 2 100 Data Entry minicomputer

    3. 1 x Hewlett-Packard 2 1 MX minicomputer.

    4. The cost of these computers was:
    1. $4.25m for the dual IBM installation
    2. $129,000 for the dual SPC 16/65 communications computer system
    3. $65,000 for GCS 2 100 Data Entry System

    4. $95,000 for the HP 2 1MX minicomputer system.

    5. (a) The IBM 360 computer systems of the Bureau of Meteorology provide automated support for the National Meteorological Centre, the Australian Numerical Meteorological Research Centre and also for the Melbourne World Meteorological Centre.

The computers are used for weather analysis, the ‘real time’ diagnosis of the state of the atmosphere, numerical modelling of the atmosphere, weather prognosis, research and administrative support tasks.

  1. Two SPC 16/65 computers are used as ‘Line Interface Computers’ in front-end mode to the ‘real-time’ system to provide communications capability for reception of basic weather observation data. They are being developed for the dissemination of products to Regional Forecasting Centres.
  2. A GCS 2 100 computer and disc storage, supporting 16 visual display units with keyboards, is used as a data entry system for transcription of high volume weather observation data from basic documents such as field books for processing on the IBM computer.

  3. A ‘stand-alone’ HP 2 1 MX minicomputer, used to process data received from the Japanese Geostationary Meteorological Satellite.

    1. Most data is processed on the IBM 360/65 installation. This consists of:
  4. Meteorological data used for operational forecasting purposes.
  5. Climatological data used for statistical and research purposes.
  6. Records of technical equipment.
  7. Internal position and establishment information.

The SPC 16/65 communications minicomputer stores up to 18 hours of meteorological messages at any one time. These messages are transferred to the ‘real-time’ IBM computer on demand.

The GCS 2 100 data entry computer stores meteorological data keyed in by data preparation staff. This data is transferred daily to the IBM computers for processing and archival.

The Hewlett-Packard 21MX sectorizer mini-computer stores satellite picture information during processing.

  1. The two SPC 16/65 minicomputers are used as frontend computers to the ‘real-time’ computer in the dual IBM installation. The non ‘real-time ‘ computer acts as standby for the ‘real-time* computer and in the event of a failure in that computer, the two SPC 16/65 minicomputers are switched to the standby computer.

In addition, certain peripherals in the dual IBM configuration can be switched from one computer to the other.

No other interconnections exist or are proposed.

  1. Access to the special purpose minicomputers is restricted to Bureau of Meteorology ADP staff and Bureau users of these machines.

Access to the 360/65s is limited to:

  1. use for processing by staff members for authorised assignments. Approved external organisations may be granted use if work schedule permits and for specific tasks.

  2. operation by trained computer operators only under the supervision of a senior computer operator.

    1. Although no staff members have been made redundant as a result of the installation of computers, some staff savings have been made in two ways:
  3. the replacement of the obsolete card-punch equipment by the GCS 2100 data entry system has increased the productivity of Data Processing Operators, and their numbers have been allowed to fall through natural wastage.

  4. the installation of computers generally has not reduced staff requirements.

    1. Space Projects

The Department is currently establishing an Australian Landsat Station to receive and process data from the United States Landsat Satellites.

  1. 1 ) Two minicomputers are in process of being purchased for the Australian Landsat Station.
  2. $342,461 for the rninicomputers. Total purchase price of the associated system software is $632,248.
  3. Both minicomputers will be used for the processing of data received from the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Landsat series of satellites.
  4. Photographic images of the Australasian region are stored off-line.
  5. The two minicomputers will be interconnected by a shared magnetic disc storage unit
  6. Landsat Station staff only.

  7. Does not apply.

    1. The Ionospheric Prediction Service (IPS) operates one computer
  8. One computer.
  9. $21,853.
  10. Preparation of ionospheric predictions and ionospheric research work.
  11. Ionospheric measurements and secondary data derived from those measurements.
  12. Nil.
  13. IPS staff only.

  14. No saving of staff is involved. IPS is now able to undertake work which would have been impracticable without a computer.

    1. Anglo Australian Telescope Board
  15. The Ango-Australian Telescope Board owns 6 computers.
  16. The total cost of the 6 computers was $791,791. Number 1 cost $234,215, numbers 2 and 3 $188,415, numbers 4 and 5 $346,574 and number 6, $22,588.
  17. One computer is used for control of the telescope at Siding Spring. Two computers are used for both instrument control and for the analysis of scientific observations at Siding Spring. Two computers are used for the analysis of scientific observations, software development, and control of a measuring machine at Epping. One computer is used only for instrument control at Siding Spring.
  18. Astronomical Observations.
  19. Numbers 1, 2, 3 and 6 can be linked together. Numbers 4 and S can also be linked together.
  20. Astronomers from Australian and British astronomical research institutions who have been given observing time on the telescope and staff of the Anglo-Australian Observatory (AAO). Also scientists from other research institutions at the discretion of the Director of the AAO.

  21. The advanced astronomical research carried out at the AAO depends on the computers to the extent that it could not be attempted without them. The computers have no effect in reducing staff numbers. Indeed, a number of staff positions are necessary (electronics and programming) for the efficient use and maintenance of the computers.

    1. Australian Institute of Marine Science
  22. 1 ) The Australian Institute of Marine Science owns one computer.
  23. $150,000.
  24. This computer is used for analysis of scientific data relating to the Institute ‘s work.
  25. Scientific data resulting from laboratory experiments and field surveys.
  26. This computer can be linked with computers at James Cook University and the CSIRO system.
  27. Scientific staff of AIMS.
  28. The computer is an aid to research at AIMS and has not reduced staff requirements.

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

  1. In answering this question, computing equipment within CSIRO ‘s research units which is dedicated to special purpose research requirements has not been taken into consideration. This equipment, which includes numerous small computers, is used as research tools for control of equipment, data logging, data processing and low level computing with CSIRO ‘s Divisions and Units. CSIRO’s main computing facilities are provided by the computing network known as CSIRONET which can be described for the purposes of this question as one computer system. Table A lists CSIRONET equipment which is owned, leased or in the process of being purchased by CSIRO.
  2. The total approximate cost of CSIRO-owned equipment used by CSIRONET is $8,509,000, lease charges amount to $574,2 1 5 per annum and additional equipment is in the process of being purchased at an estimated cost of $350,000.
  3. CSIRONET provides scientific computing services for CSIRO, Commonwealth and State Government Departments and Instrumentalities, Universities and other approved users. The computer is also used for CSIRO administrative processing.
  4. Scientific and technical data and CSIRO personnel and accounting data.
  5. All CSIRONET computer processing is carried out on the host processor which is located at the CSIRO Division of Computing Research, Canberra. Nodes and terminals in the various Australian States and Territories are linked by Telecom lines to the Canberra facilities.
  6. Apart from CSIRO authorised users are listed in Table

page 3585

B

Table B

page 3586

LIST OF NON-CSIRO USERS OF CSIRONET

National Acoustics Laboratories

Bureau of Agricultural Economics

Bureau of Animal Health

Australian Government Analytical Laboratory

Albury- Wodonga Development Corporation

Anglo-Australian Observatory

Australian Radiation Laboratory

Australian Road Research Board

Aeronautical Research Laboratories

Central Studies Establishment

Australian Wool Corporation

Bread Research Institute

Australian Broadcasting Tribunal

Natural Disasters Organization

Australian Bureau of Statistics

Department of the Capital Territory

Australian Development Assistance Agency

Australian Dairy Corporation

Manpower and Requirements Branch, Department of Defence

Department of Construction

Department of Environment, Housing and Community Development

Department of Education

Commonwealth Grants Commission

Australian Wine Research Institute

Industries Assistance Commission

Australian Institute of Criminology

Australian Kidney Foundation

Australian Plague Locust Commission

Department ofEmployment and Industrial Relations

Australian Law Reform Commission

Australian Institute of Marine Science

Royal Military College, Duntroon

Department of National Development

Department of Industry and Commerce

Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation

Bureau of Mineral Resources

Directorate of Survey- Army, Department of Defence

Bureau of Meteorology

National Biological Standards Laboratory

Division of National Mapping

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Department of National Resources

RAN Research Laboratory

Directorate of Aircraft Engineering, Department of Defence

Department of Productivity

Department of Science

Public Service Board

Reserve Bank of Australia

River Murray Commission

ACT Schools Authority

Schools Commission

Australian Survey Office

Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation

Central Studies Establishment

Department of Transport

Telecom Australia Research Laboratories

Bureau of Transport Economics

Department of Overseas Trade

Joint Training Scheme- Department of Defence

Department of Veterans ‘ Affairs

Department of Agriculture, Tasmania

Department of Agriculture, New South Wales, Remote Sensing Section

Department of Agriculture, Western Australia

Department of Agriculture, New South Wales

Department of Agriculture, New South Wales, Agricultural Research Station, Leeton

The Australian Museum

Department of Agriculture, New South Wales, Agricultural Research Station, Grafton

Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works

New South Wales Crown Lands Office

Department of Lands, Queensland, Sir Alan Fletcher Research Station, Sherwood

Public Works Department, Western Australia

State Electricity Commission of Victoria

Environment Protection Authority, Victoria

Victorian Ministry for Conservation

Forests Commission of Victoria

Tasmanian Fisheries Development Authority

Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Western Australia

Health Commission of New South Wales

Department of Health Services, Tasmania

Department of Housing and Construction, Tasmania

Irrigation and Water Supply, Queensland

Department of Mines, Tasmania

New South Wales State Fisheries

Premier’s Department, Tasmania

Premier’s Department, Victoria

Department of Public Health, South Australia

Department of Primary Industries, Queensland

Department of Main Roads, Tasmania

Pollution Control Commission, New South Wales

Department of Public Works, New South Wales

Queensland Forestry Department

Department of Health, Queensland

Department of Agriculture, South Australia

Soil Conservation Authority, Victoria

Soil Conservation Service, New South Wales

Social Welfare Department, Victoria

Tasmanian Transport Commission

Tasmanian Lands Department

Public Transport Commission of New South Wales

Department of Agriculture, Victoria

Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission, New South Wales

Department of Welfare Services, Queensland

Avondale College of Advanced Education

Canberra College of Advanced Education

Australian National University

Capricomia Institute of Advanced Education

Griffith University

New South Wales Institute of Technology

James Cook University

Kuring-Gai College of Advanced Education

University of Melbourne

Mt Gravatt Teachers College

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology

Monash University

Murdoch University

University of New England

University of New South Wales

University of Queensland

University of Tasmania

University of Sydney

Wollongong University

ACI Library Service

Australian Newsprint Mills Ltd

Control Data Australia Pry Ltd

Computer Accounting Services Pty Ltd

Mount Isa Mines Ltd

MBT Research Centre

Technical and Field Survey Pty Ltd

Amalgamated Wireless Australia Ltd

Environmental Studies Pty Ltd

Australian Mineral Foundation

Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Pry Ltd

National Heart Foundation, National Blood Pressure Study

Royal Australian Ornithologists Union

Cite as: Australia, House of Representatives, Debates, 24 November 1978, viewed 22 October 2017, <http://historichansard.net/hofreps/1978/19781124_reps_31_hor112/>.

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