Senate
5 October 1976

30th Parliament · 1st Session



The PRESIDENT (Senator the Hon. Condor Laucke) took the chair at 2.30 p.m., and read prayers.

page 965

MINISTERIAL ARRANGEMENTS

Senator WITHERS:
Minister for Administrative Services · Western AustraliaLeader of the Government in the Senate · LP

– by leave- The Prime Minister, Mr Malcolm Fraser, announced on 22 September that the Department of Repatriation would be renamed the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and would have certain additional functions. I now inform the Senate that the former Department of Repatriation has today been renamed the Department of Veterans ‘ Affairs and that Senator Durack has been sworn in as Minister for Veterans ‘ Affairs. I take this opportunity to mention that the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, with its additional responsibilities for defence service homes and war graves, is identified under its new name in an issue of the Administrative Arrangements Order approved by the Executive Council today.

Various proposals-some with larger effect than others- have been put to the Government from the Administrative Review Committee, and from other sources, which have been accepted as part of the Government’s ongoing objective of achieving economy and effectiveness in its administrative arrangements. Some areas are still subject to examination- for example, by the Task Force on Co-ordination in Welfare and Health. Functions which are being transferred between departments are set out in tabular form in a brief document which I seek leave to have incorporated in Hansard.

The PRESIDENT:

-Is leave granted? There being no objection, leave is granted.

The document read as follows-

Senator WITHERS:

-In addition, I mention the following for the information of the Senate: The Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs responsibility for advancing policies designed to secure integration of migrants for implementation by functional departments is endorsed, and steps are being taken to establish an ethnic affairs unit in the Department; the establishment of a Bureau of Industry Economics in the Department of Industry and Commerce to carry out research work needed to assist the Government in the formation of industry policy. I mention that the citation of the Acts listed in the Administrative Arrangements Order has been revised to accord with the Acts Citation Act 1976.

I inform the Senate that the Treasurer (Mr Lynch) left Australia on 24 September to lead the Australian delegations to the Commonwealth Finance Ministers meeting in Hong Kong and the 1976 annual meetings of the Board of Governors of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group in Manila. He is expected to return on 8 October. During his absence, the Minister for Post and Telecommunications (Mr Eric Robinson) will act as Treasurer.

I also inform the Senate that the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations (Mr Street) left Australia on 2 October to attend the South Pacific Labour Ministers Conference in Nauru. He is expected to return on 7 October. During his absence the Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs (Mr Howard) will act as Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations and Minister assisting the Prime Minister in respect of Public Service matters and women’s affairs.

page 966

PETITIONS

Family Planning

Senator RYAN:
ACT

– I present the following petition from 35 citizens of Australia:

To the Honourable the President and Members of the Senate in Parliament assembled. The humble Petition of the undersigned citizens of Australia respectfully showeth:

That the Family Planning Association and similar organisations throughout Australia contribute to the welfare and well-being of a great proportion of the Australian people both in family planning and in an advisory capacity on the prevention and control of social diseases.

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that urgent consideration be given to a favourable decision on the continuation of Federal Government finance to enable the activities of the Family Planning Associations and like organisations to proceed unimpaired throughout Australia.

And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray.

Petition received and read.

Student Bus Fares

Senator RYAN:

– I present the following petition from 85 citizens of Australia:

To the Honourable President and Members of the Senate in Parliament assembled. The petition of undersigned citizens of Australia respectfully showeth:

Their dissatisfaction with the decision to re-introduce bus fares for students travelling to school in the A.C.T.

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that the Members of the Senate reconsider the decision with the hope that the decision will be reversed or at least modified.

And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray.

Petition received and read.

Education

Senator RYAN:

– I present two petitions, from 82 and 257 citizens of Australia respectively, as follows:

To the Honourable the President and Members of the Senate in Parliament assembled. The humble petition of the undersigned citizens of Australia respectfully showeth:

That the recent budgetary allocations endanger the quality of Australian education, especially for disadvantaged groups and in particular for migrants, Aboriginals and tertiary students from poor backgrounds.

Your petitioners believe that all persons admitted to institutions of tertiary education in Australia have a right to adequate living conditions and that it is the responsibility of Government to ensure that sufficient funds are allocated to protect that right.

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray:

That the quality of education in schools and tertiary institutions be not eroded but extended through the provision of adequate funds.

That in view of the substandard living conditions forced upon many tertiary students as a consequence of the totally inadequate student assistance scheme there is an urgent need for substantial increase and indexation of grants provided

under the Tertiary Education Assistance Scheme to the level of a living wage, and further that the needs-based grants scheme be in no way jeopardised by any other programme of student assistance.

Education

To the Honourable the President and Members of the Senate in Parliament assembled. The humble petition of the undersigned citizens of Australia respectfully showeth:

That the recent budgetary allocations endanger the quality of Australian education, especially for disadvantaged groups, and, in particular, for migrants, Aboriginals and tertiary students from poor backgrounds.

Your petitioners believe that all persons admitted to institutions of tertiary education in Australia have a right to adequate living conditions and that it is the responsibility of Government to ensure that sufficient funds are allocated to protect that right.

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray:

  1. That the quality of education in schools and tertiary institutions be not eroded but extended through the provision of adequate funds.
  2. That in view of the sub-standard living conditions forced upon many tertiary students as a consequence of a totally inadequate student assistance scheme, there is an urgent need for a substantial increase and indexation of grants provided under the Tertiary Education Assistance Scheme to the level of a living wage, and, further, that the needs-based grants scheme be in no way jeopardised by any other program of student assistance.
  3. That in order to preserve the quality of higher education in Australia and so as to prevent discrimination against disadvantaged groups there should be no introduction of fees for overseas students, second degree students, higher degree students or any students.

And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray.

Petitions received, and first petition read.

The Clerk:

– Petitions have been lodged for presentation as follows:

Education

To the Honourable the President and members of the Senate in Parliament assembled: The petition of the undersigned citizens of Ausralia respectfully showeth:

That the recent Budgetary allocations endanger the quality of Australian education, especially for disadvantaged groups and in particular for migrants, Aboriginals and the tertiary students from poor backgrounds.

Your petitioners believe that:

All persons admitted to institutions of Tertiary Education in Australia have a right to adequate living conditions and that it is the responsibility of Government to ensure that sufficient funds are allocated to protect that right.

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray:

  1. That the quality of education in schools and tertiary institutions be not eroded but extended through the provision of adequate funds.
  2. That in view of the substandard living conditions forced upon many tertiary students as a consequence of the totally inadequate student scheme there is an urgent need for a substantial increase and indexation of grants provided under the Ternary Education Assistance Scheme to the level of a living wage and further that the needs based grants scheme be in no way jeopardised by any other program of student assistance.
  3. That in order to preserve the quality of higher education in Australia and so as to prevent discrimination against disadvantaged groups there should be no introduction of fees for overseas students, second degree students, higher degree students or any students.

And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray. by Senator Carrick.

Petition received.

Aboriginal Land Rights

To the Honourable the President and members of the Senate in Parliament assembled. The petition of the undersigned respectfully showeth:

That the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Bill 1976, does not satisfy the Aboriginal needs for land in the Northern Territory.

Your petitioners most humbly pray that the Senate, in Parliament assembled, should:

  1. Extend the freeze on European claims to the unalienated Crown Lands of the Northern Territory until 1 2 months after the passage of the Bill; and to provide for speedy lodging and hearing of Aboriginal Claims. The hearing of Aboriginal claims have been postponed as a result of Government decisions, Aboriginals should not be penalised;

    1. Amend the Bill to ensure:
    1. The removal of all powers to pass Land Rights Legislation from Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, particularly its control over sacred sites, entry permits, control over the seas adjoining Aboriginal land, the fishing rights of non-Aborigines the right of Aborigines to enter pastoral stations and control of wildlife on Aboriginal land.
    2. The control of Aborigines of all roads passing through Aboriginal lands.
    3. The restoration of the Aboriginal Land Commissioner’s powers to hear claims based on need as well as traditional claims lodged by Aborigines.
    4. The restoration of all powers vested in Lands Councils and the Land Commissioner in 1975 Land Rights Bill . . .
    5. A provision that any Government decision to over-ride Aboriginal objections to mining on the basis of national interest be itself reviewed by both houses of parliament
    6. A provision that land-owning groups of Aborigines may apply to form separate trusts if they wish.
    7. The removal of artificial barriers to traditional owners imposed by the Territory Borders on all tribes so affected.

And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray. by Senator Martin.

Petition received.

Medibank

To the Honourable the President and Members of the Senate in Parliament assembled. We the undersigned citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia do humbly submit:

That the Government should withdraw its proposed changes to Medibank.

The United Nations has declared this decade ( 1975-85) as the Decade of Action for the needs of women. It has also declared the health of all people is a basic human right.

Believing that women have a major need for adequate, low-cost health care, the undersigned declare their wholehearted opposition to the changes intended by the present Government to Medibank, and affirm that any changes should be designed to further liberalise the original scheme, not to weaken it.

And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray, by Senator Bonner. Petition received.

page 968

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ORDINANCE

Notice of Motion

Senator WOOD:
Queensland

– I give notice that 10 sitting days after today I shall move:

That the Industrial Relations Ordinance 1976, as contained in Christmas Island Ordinance No. I of 1976, and made under the Christmas Island Act 1 958, be disallowed.

I ask leave to make a statement in relation to this notice of motion.

The PRESIDENT:

-Is leave granted? There being no objection, leave is granted.

Senator WOOD:

-The Regulations and Ordinances. Committee has asked that I make it clear to the Senate that this notice of motion is being given to allow the Committee time to pursue its inquiries in relation to the ordinance, today being the last day for giving notice. Various complex matters have been raised in relation to the ordinance. The Committee has already had correspondence with the Minister for Administrative Services (Senator Withers), and will be taking evidence in relation to the ordinance. I have also been asked to assure the Senate that the Committee appreciates the importance of the ordinance, and that it is not the intention of the Committee to take any action which would prejudice the conduct of industrial relations in the Territory.

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QUESTION

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

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QUESTION

STAFFING INQUIRY REPORT

Senator KEEFFE:
QUEENSLAND

– I ask the Minister for Education: Can he inform the Parliament whether the Neal-Hird staffing inquiry report- which is the Northern Territory report but which also applies to both territories- has been completed? Has the Minister seen a copy of the report? Can he advise whether the report will be made public to enable a full discussion on the findings of the inquiry?

Senator CARRICK:
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister in Federal Affairs · NEW SOUTH WALES · LP

– I have not yet received a copy of the report but my understanding is that it is nearing completion, if it is not already completed. It will, of course, be the subject of discussion by the Government. An announcement will be made when the report has been studied by the Government.

Senator KEEFFE:

– I desire to ask the Minister for Education a supplementary question. The Minister may not have understood the purport of my question. I ask: Will the report be made public at any stage?

Senator CARRICK:

– I am not in a position to state whether it is the intention of the Government to make the whole text of the report public. I will take notice of the honourable senator’s inquiry and will direct it to the Government when we are considering the report.

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QUESTION

STUDENT AND ISOLATED CHILDREN’S ALLOWANCES

Senator DAVIDSON:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA

– I direct a question to the Minister for Education. I refer particularly to Press statements today relating to student allowances and to other educational schemes. I refer also to the Minister’s own statement of 30 September. I inquire specifically about the tertiary education assistance scheme and about the matter of isolated children. In the latter case, the Minister will recall that this was the subject of a recent Senate inquiry. Is the Minister able to give any response to the Press report which appears today? Can he give the Senate any information in relation to the 2 particular areas of education regarding allowances and funding?

Senator CARRICK:
LP

– I hope in the near future to make a detailed statement to the Senate on the 10 or 1 1 individual student allowances which are now current. Included in those allowances will be both the tertiary allowance referred to by Senator Davidson and the isolated children’s allow.ance. The interdepartmental committee which was considering the matter and which has made a report to the Government had the benefit of the Senate standing committee’s report on isolated children. I should add also that the Government has acknowledged that the lack of increase in the tertiary allowances since January 1975 has created hardship amongst those students who wholly or predominantly are forced to live on those allowances. Those matters will be taken into consideration when we announce the new allowances.

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QUESTION

EMPLOYMENT OF APPRENTICES

Senator BISHOP:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA

– I direct a question to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations. The Minister will recall that I have asked questions about staff ceilings and the way in which they affect the employment of apprentices and trainees. I directed a question to the Minister on this matter on 16 September. I asked:

As it is now clear that some positive steps are necessary to ensure the employment of more young people, particularly apprentices and appropriate trainees, will the Minister consult with his colleague with a view to lifting staff ceilings in relation to the employment of young people in particular and to review programs wherever possible which might possibly ensure that young people will be employed?

In addition to the inducements which have been recently announced by the Minister and which might be currently under review by him, can the Minister give any indication that staff ceilings in government departments and /or in statutory authorities might be lifted to allow the induction of more apprentices, even though the level of apprentices might be higher than would be necessary under the apprenticeship Acts?

Senator DURACK:
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs · WESTERN AUSTRALIA · LP

– I acknowledge the very considerable interest which Senator Bishop, and I think also Senator Sibraa, have shown in this matter. Following the previous occasion on which Senator Bishop raised the matter in the Senate I had some inquiries made. I have ascertained that in directions which have been given by the Public Service Board to all departments in regard to their administration of the staff ceilings special note has been taken of the matter which Senator Bishop raised. The Board has requested departments to have regard to the long term needs of the Public Service for high quality and skilled staff. That, of course, takes into account particularly the matter of trainees. The need to recruit trainees in all departments, and presumably in all skills, should not be neglected in the administration of the staff ceilings. This, of course, is within the policy laid down by the Government for staff ceilings this present year.

There is no intention on the part of the Government to abandon this overall ceilings policy, but certainly it is the intention of the Government that departments should have regard to the need to take in an adequate number of people for training purposes. I will however pass on to the Minister the concern expressed by Senator Bishop. In conclusion, I should like to refer also, as Senator Bishop has done, to the new initiative by the Government in the youth employment scheme. I re-emphasise that the subsidy applicable under that scheme is available to participating employers, whether they be in the private or the public sector. So that would be another avenue for enlarging the opportunities for training.

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QUESTION

EAST TIMOR

Senator MISSEN:
VICTORIA

– My question is addressed to the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I refer to the recent action by Telecom officials and other Government officers at Darwin in confiscating the transmitter which provided communication with the resisting Fretilin forces in Timor. Does the Government agree that such government action may well lead to the false assumption by the Indonesian authorities that the Australian Government desires to suppress the disclosure, to Australians and the world, of continued fierce resistance by the East Timorese and of continued Indonesian atrocities in East Timor? What does the Government intend to do to ensure that the Australian public has full access to facts relating to the Timor situation and is not dependent on Indonesian propaganda for news of the war in East Timor?

Senator WITHERS:
LP

-The mere fact that a transmitter was confiscated because it was not being used within Australian law should not give rise to assumptions by anybody overseas that other things flow from that single act.

Senator Georges:

– But it will.

Senator WITHERS:

-Well, the honourable senator seems to know more than most other people. I just make the plain statement that merely because something is being done unlawfully and merely because the Government enforces the law -

Senator Georges:

– Well, make it lawful.

Senator WITHERS:

-The honourable senator should not interrupt. Merely because something is being done unlawfully and the Government enforces the law people should not make assumptions. As the honourable senator well knows, one of the problems is that in this place too many people make assumptions about too many things. As to the latter part of the question, I think the activities of my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, in this area have been such that he, to the best of his great ability and with his enormous energy, has got as much information as he could out of East Timor. I think everybody will admit that the activity of Mr Peacock in this area has been constant, unremitting and uncompromising. All I can add in conclusion is that I am certain that Mr Peacock will continue in the future to use his best endeavours to see that some self-determination is brought about in East Timor.

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QUESTION

UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT

Senator GRIMES:
NEW SOUTH WALES

– My question is directed to the Minister for Social Security. It arises from the case of Miss Kathy Dezso who was refused unemployment benefit last week because she was allegedly unsuitably dressed for an interview for a job. A Melbourne newspaper reported on Saturday last:

A spokesman for Senator Guilfoyle said yesterday that sometimes the dole was cut off as a punitive measure for a short period.

I ask the Minister: In future, will recipients of unemployment benefit who have their benefit withdrawn for reasons such as this be able to give their side of the argument before they lose the dole? Can the Minister say whether precise guidelines have been set down for the length of punishment to be suffered by applicants for benefit who do not comply with dress standards? Do the same people who lay down the dress standards administer the punishment?

Senator GUILFOYLE:
Minister for Social Security · VICTORIA · LP

– The case that has been referred to by the honourable senator is one in which the unemployment benefit was terminated because the recipient had not passed the work test as administered by the Commonwealth Employment Service. With regard to the Press report about unemployment benefit being terminated as a punitive measure, I know of no spokesman who acted for me and made that statement to the Press. The only member of my staff who spoke to the newspaper concerned states that that was not a statement that was made. Therefore, I would have to accept the part of the honourable senator’s question which relates to that report as being irrelevant as it is unsoundly based on a newspaper report which had no foundation.

Regarding statements being made clearly to a person who is seeking unemployment benefit, it would be understood that a person must pass a work test to be eligible for the benefit. In this case, the Commonwealth Employment Service gave a report that the recipient did not pass that work test. For this reason, the unemployment benefit was terminated. At the time when my Department wrote to the recipient attention was drawn to the fact that an appeal may be lodged against that report. An appeal form was sent to her. It would be understood also that a person may reapply for unemployment benefit and then, subject to the work test being satisfactorily completed, be eligible to obtain unemployment benefit in the future.

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QUESTION

TIMORESE MIGRATION

Senator KILGARIFF:
NORTHERN TERRITORY

– I direct a question to the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs. I refer to the problem being experienced by Timorese corning to Australia, in many cases to be reunited with their families in the eastern States of Australia, and also in Darwin, Northern Territory, where several hundred refugees are living. The Age today reports this matter on its front page under the heading ‘Mr Fraser, please bring back our men’, and outlines the problem as being one of not being able to save quickly enough for the fares before the option expired on 30 June. Is not the report erroneous and is not the true situation that, as there has been no contact with Timor for several months, aircraft or shipping cannot go there by either a regular schedule or charter, that the Australian Government has indicated it would permit the Timorese to enter Australia and that, as in the Darwin case, finance would have been and still is available for the chartering of aircraft? Can the Government give an assurance that it is very aware of the plight and hardship in which Timorese refugees are living in Australia and that it is the Government’s intention to find ways and means of assisting communication between Timor and Australia to help the people of Timor, to assist in providing urgently needed supplies and to use its influence to bring Timor back from a’ state of siege?

Senator GUILFOYLE:
LP

– I do not know that I am able to answer all of the questions that were raised by the honourable senator. It will be recalled that the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs announced on 28 May that Timorese evacuees in Australia could apply for resident status and that those evacuees who decided not to apply for resident status would have their tern,porary entry permits extended to 30 June. It is therefore open to those Timorese evacuees who have opted to obtain resident status to nominate their relatives overseas for migrant entry to Australia. This applies whether they are in East Timor or elsewhere. The normal migration entry criteria would apply and spouses, dependent children and parents of the evacuees would be eligible for migrant entry if they satisfied health and character requirements.

The Government is aware of the difficulties of people resident in Timor, and of the evacuees. Those who have not sought permanent residence may still nominate their spouses and minor dependent children for entry to Australia, and this applies to relatives abroad, whether in Timor or elsewhere. However, in keeping with the policies applying generally to sponsorships, other relatives may not be nominated by persons who are not permanent residents of Australia.

The extensive action that has been taken by the Government to facilitate the residence in Australia of Timorese evacuees demonstrates the Government’s awareness of their plight and the hardship they have suffered. As far as the Department of Foreign Affairs is concerned, it has been stated on behalf of the Minister that it has always been the Government’s hope that the situation in East Timor will gradually return to a more normal state. The Government has tried to assist this process by its recent decision to channel assistance to the people of East Timor through the Indonesian Red Cross in the hope that this contribution will help to alleviate some of the difficulties they are in as a result of the upheavals of the past month. Any other matters raised I will refer to the Minister to get an answer for the honourable senator.

page 971

QUESTION

LIBRARIES

Senator Douglas McClelland:
NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

– I ask the Minister for Administrative Services: Has his attention been drawn to a statement by the Executive Director of the Library Association of Australia that Australian public libraries are now at such a critical point that their very survival is threatened and that they now have stagnated or declined to such a degree that without immediate aid to sustain them an investment totalling many hundreds of millions of dollars may well have been squandered? What consideration has the Government given to the report of the Committee of Inquiry into Public Libraries that was tabled in the Parliament last April? Will the Minister agree that unquestionably there is an urgent need for Federal aid to public libraries in Australia?

Senator WITHERS:
LP

-The answer to the first question is no, it has not. The answer to the second question is that the matter is currently under review. As to the third question, I think that is a matter of policy.

page 971

QUESTION

AIR POLLUTION

Senator JESSOP:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA

-Has the Minister representing the Minister for Environment, Housing and Community Development noted recent reports that air pollution levels in Sydney and Adelaide have exceeded safety levels recommended by the World Health Organisation? Has the Government established a national standard as a goal for air quality in Australia? What measures have been taken by the States and the Commonwealth to ensure that air pollution does not pose a threat to public health? Will the Minister ask his colleague in the other place to list this subject on the agenda for discussion with State environment Ministers at the next meeting of the Australian Environmental Council, if that is the appropriate forum, with the object of introducing appropriate legislation in the States and the Commonwealth to deal with this important matter?

Senator CARRICK:
LP

– My attention has been drawn to statements in the media that the level of air pollution in Sydney and Adelaide had reached intolerable levels. I am not aware of the precise national standards that may have been determined. As to the remainder of the questions, my best line is to direct them to the Minister concerned and to seek answers from him. I certainly will invite his attention to the suggestion that these matters be listed for the next meeting of Federal and State Ministers.

page 971

QUESTION

SANDRA BIRCH

Senator McINTOSH:
WESTERN AUSTRALIA

-Will the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs assure the Senate that Sandra Birch, the Western Australian woman who is appealing against a 6-year gaol sentence in Penang, Malaysia, is receiving the best possible assistance and protection from the Australian High Commission in Malaysia? Is it a fact, as stated in the Press, that an officer from the Australian High Commission was able to attend only the first 2 days of Miss Birch’s 3-day trial because Canberra’s cut-back on funds had imposed travel restrictions on the mission?

Senator WITHERS:
LP

– I cannot give that assurance but I will seek the information for the honourable senator from my colleague in the other place. As to whether the second part of the question is a matter of fact or a matter of Press speculation, I will also ask my colleague to answer that for the honourable senator.

page 971

QUESTION

INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES: FUEL

Senator TOWNLEY:
TASMANIA

– I ask a question of the Minister representing the Minister for Transport. Is the Minister able to advise whether it is the practice of some international airlines to take on more fuel than they would safely require for the flight prior to departure from Australia because of our low price for fuel? If so, does that mean that we are subsidising those airlines? Also, are records available to show the amount of fuel that is taken on for each flight? Does the Government have guidelines relating to this matter for the international airlines?

Senator CARRICK:
LP

– My understanding is that this matter has been the subject of Government attention in recent weeks and months. Indeed some suggestions have been made publicly that international airlines have refuelled more heavily than was necessary for them, in order to take advantage of a price differential. I am not fully aware of whether that is true or false. I am not aware whether records are available or whether there are particular guidelines. I will bring the whole question to the attention of the Minister for Transport and invite him to respond.

page 972

QUESTION

TERTIARY EDUCATION FEES

Senator SIBRAA:
NEW SOUTH WALES

– Will the Minister for Education offer an assurance that the Government is not planning to reinstitute fees for all forms of tertiary education in Australia, particularly for students undertaking undergraduate degree courses at a university level?

Senator CARRICK:
LP

-Senator Sibraa and his colleagues are well aware that the Government has given an unqualified assurance that there will be no reintroduction of fees for any students in primary degree or diploma or in primary combined degree or end-on degree.

page 972

QUESTION

OIL INDUSTRY STRIKE

Senator BAUME:
NEW SOUTH WALES

– My question is directed to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations. The Minister will be aware that there is yet another strike in the oil refining industry in New South Wales. Can he advise whether this industrial disturbance is based upon some issue of wages or upon some issue of work conditions or safety? If it is not, can he explain to the people of New South Wales the basis on which they have been threatened with loss of jobs, extra costs and extensive community disruption?

Senator DURACK:
LP

– I understand that the particular dispute to which Senator Baume refers arises out of the question of whether the oil workers desire to be under a State award or a Federal award. The issue of jurisdiction is being litigated in the High Court of” Australia. I understand that the decision from that Court may already have been given today and I am trying to find out what the actual position is at the moment. I may be in a position later in question time to enlighten the Senate further on the matter.

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QUESTION

NATIONAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA

Senator O’BYRNE:
TASMANIA

– My question is directed to the Minister representing the Minister for Environment, Housing and Community Development. By way of preface I would like to point out .that I have received a communication from the Tasmanian section of the National Trust of Australia which is anxious that the buildings in Hunter Street, Hobart previously occupied by Henry Jones and Co. warehouses, which are priceless to the Australian architectural heritage and a symbol of Australia’s commercial history, should be preserved as a unit for posterity. Will the Minister make representations to Cabinet to give close consideration to the acquisition of these eminently satisfactory and ready-made premises for the establishment of the proposed Antarctic Division of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation?

Senator CARRICK:
LP

– I will pass the honourable senator’s question on to the Minister concerned.

page 972

QUESTION

DRUG OFFENCES IN OVERSEAS COUNTRIES

Senator TEHAN:
VICTORIA · NCP

– My question is directed to the Minister representing the Acting Minister for Foreign, Affairs. The Minister may be aware of the growing incidence of Australian citizens serving sentences in foreign gaols for drug offences detected while on overseas travel. In view of the fact that the Philippines, Iran and Turkey have introduced the death penalty for certain drug offences and that the governments of Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia are reported to be contemplating similar legislation, will the Minister consider issuing warnings to all young people about to travel overseas about the penalties which they will incur if they deal with drugs while outside Australia?

Senator WITHERS:
LP

-I shall pass the question on to my colleague.

page 972

QUESTION

RHODESIA

Senator MULVIHILL:
NEW SOUTH WALES

– I direct my question to the Minister representing the Acting Foreign Minister. I refer to the plea that emanated from Bishop Cremin of Sydney on the weekend in relation to the repressive action of the Smith Government in Rhodesia which culminated in the 10-year sentence on Bishop Lamont who is renowned for his activity in bettering the way of life of the coloured people in that country. I ask the Minister, particularly in view of earlier questions, what form of mediation the Australian Government is likely to take.

Senator WITHERS:
LP

-The Government regrets the circumstances in Rhodesia which led to the arrest and conviction of Bishop Lamont. The Government earnestly hopes that the situation in Rhodesia will change soon and that actions of that kind will no longer be necessary. One of our problems is that Australia has no official dealings with the Rhodesian regime, which it does not recognise. Therefore we are really not in a position to convey any protests to the Rhodesian Government.

page 973

QUESTION

DUTY FREE SHOPS AT AIRPORTS

Senator MISSEN:

– My question is addressed to the Minister representing the Minister for Transport, or the Minister for Health, or the Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs, all of whom may be involved in this matter. Is the Minister aware that duty free shops at Australian airports stock only a few brands of cigarettes, all of which have extremely high tar content? In view of the Government’s consistent policy of discouraging the promotion of tobacco sales because of tobacco’s association with lung cancer, will the Minister take steps to see that the duty free shops at least stock competing popular brands of cigarettes which have an acknowledged low tar content?

Senator CARRICK:
LP

-Responding on behalf of the troika, I am unaware myself, and I am not sure whether my colleague in another place is aware, that duty free shops at airports stock only those cigarettes with a high tar content. I shall ask my colleage to have an inquiry made. Should it in fact reveal that to be true, I will ask my colleague whether he will happily refer the matter to the Minister for Health so that the steps as indicated can be taken.

page 973

QUESTION

NORTHERN TERRITORY: BUSH FIRES

Senator ROBERTSON:
NORTHERN TERRITORY

-My question refers to an answer given by the Minister representing the Minister for the Northern Territory on 23 September in reply to a question asked by me concerning the availability of assistance to pastoralists and others who had suffered as a result of the bush fires in the Northern Territory. On that occasion the Minister indicated that where benefits were thought to be necessary they would be made available. I am advised by the Department of the Northern Territory that no funds are available to give financial assistance to victims of the bush fires. Will the Minister indicate what steps are being taken to allocate funds to the Department for that purpose?

Senator WEBSTER:
Minister for Science · VICTORIA · NCP/NP

– I think the question could well be put on notice. It is one for my colleague in another place. I do not know whether an amount of money is to be set aside for the purpose stated.

page 973

QUESTION

NORTHERN TERRITORY LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

Senator KILGARIFF:

– I direct a question to the Minister representing the Minister for the Northern Territory. When will the Government announce the timetable for the transfer to the control of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly of activities additional to those included in the package scheduled for transfer on 31 December 1976?

Senator WEBSTER:
NCP/NP

-The Government has announced its objective of transferring to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly executive responsibility for all State type activities in the Northern Territory. At the present time the Government sees no reason why this schedule cannot be achieved within the time span suggested by the Prime Minister in his policy speech delivered prior to the election held in 1975. The transfers will take place under this Government in an orderly and evolutionary manner and we can be assured that they will take place within the time frame A committee of officers which has been established to facilitate the transfer of the responsibilities will examine and report to the Government on the issues involved in the transfer of particular functions. The reports of that committee undoubtedly will have an important influence on the order in which the transfers take place. Although an indicative timetable for the transfers has been set down more planning is required and the preparation of a planning document is considered to be important. A number of matters could intervene and change the whole timetable and, of course, not the least of these will be the wishes of the people in the Northern Territory that the transfer of functions proceed at either a quicker or a slower rate.

page 973

QUESTION

EFFECTS OF FOOD PRESERVATIVES AND ADDITIVES

Senator GIETZELT:
NEW SOUTH WALES

– Is the Minister for Science aware of the increasing number of reports, articles and statements by scientists, nutritionists and medical commentators drawing attention to additives, preservatives and the like, being included in food and drinks consumed by children? Is it a fact that such additives have a negative effect on young children and that hyperactivity in children is a direct result of adulterated food and drink and that the children’s health is therefore undermined? Can the Minister inform the Senate whether the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, or any other agency, is conducting any fundamental inquiry or investigation into such adulteration and whether these reports have any authenticity? Is the Government contemplating any legislation to control such additives?

Senator WEBSTER:
NCP/NP

– I have noted reports relating to this matter over a number of years. There is a feeling that preservatives and other additives in food and drinks may have some harmful effect on humans. The CSIRO has over a number of years investigated this matter. My understanding of the situation at the present time is that there is no proof that preservatives or additives are harmful substances. I shall refer to the Minister for Health the honourable senator’s question as to whether the Government is proposing legislation on this matter and I shall seek an answer for the honourable senator.

page 974

QUESTION

TELEPHONE ACCOUNTS

Senator TOWNLEY:

– I direct a question to the Minister representing the Minister for Post and Telecommunications. No doubt the Minister is aware that there is concern about the inability of telephone subscribers to check their telephone accounts with any degree of accuracy because of the lack of information given on the accounts. Does the Minister agree that Telecom Australia has meter readings associated with each telephone service and that the inclusion of these readings on telephone accounts would be of some assistance to subscribers?

Senator CARRICK:
LP

– My recollection is that Senator Townley and a number of other honourable senators have raised with me in recent weeks the substance of this very question, that is, the concern of many telephone subscribers that their accounts are not correctly metered or correctly charged. Various suggestions have been made in this chamber as to ways in which correct metering and correct charging might be effected. Since I do not have precise details of this I shall refer the question to my colleague the Minister for Post and Telecommunications and seek his answer.

page 974

QUESTION

PROFESSOR MANNING CLARK

Senator RYAN:

– Can the Minister representing the Minister for Post and Telecommunications confirm reports in today’s Press that a Mr K. Mackriell of the Australian Broadcasting Commission has ordered a Mr A. Ashbolt to check in advance the text of this year’s Boyer lectures to be delivered by Professor Manning Clark? If so, does the Minister agree that this is the first time a Boyer lecturer has been subjected to this kind of interference? Can the Minister inform the Senate who was responsible for this new decision regarding the Boyer lectures and by what procedures the decision was reached? Will he agree that following the biased and unjustified attack on Professor Manning Clark by himself and Senator Sim on 22 September in this chamber, this new decision regarding Professor Clark’s Boyer lectures text is rightly interpreted as an act of political censorship?

Senator CARRICK:
LP

– What the Australian Broadcasting Commission does with regard to its programming and how it checks scripts is a matter entirely for the ABC and nobody else. If the honourable senator wishes to find out why the Australian Broadcasting Commission made this decision and she cares to write to me, I will arrange for her letter to be sent to the Chairman of the Commission for an answer. However, I can assure the honourable senator that this Government in no way ever interferes with the functioning of the Australian Broadcasting Commission. Therefore, what has happened to scripts for the Boyer lectures or in regard to any other administrative action taken by the ABC is a domestic matter for the ABC. I invite the honourable senator to let me have a letter which I will forward on.

page 974

QUESTION

SOCIAL SECURITY APPEALS

Senator COLSTON:
QUEENSLAND

– My question is directed to the Minister for Social Security. I refer to an answer I was given to Senate question No. 922 in which I asked for information about appeals relating to a number of social security benefits. I have been surprised by the wide variation from State to State in the percentage of appeals upheld. Figures for two separate 3-monthly periods, especially for unemployment benefit, show similar State by State variations. Has the Minister or her Department made any study to determine why there is such a wide variation? Can any suggestion be made as to why these variations exist?

Senator GUILFOYLE:
LP

– I have been making an investigation of the functions of the Social Security Appeals Tribunals which have been in operation for some time now, and I have had drawn to my attention the variations that exist from State to State with regard to either the delays in the hearing of appeals or the number of recommendations which are upheld by the Director-General. I have arranged for the Social Security Appeals Tribunal members to meet with me within the next few weeks- I think it is next month- and we will use this as an opportunity to exchange information on how the Appeals Tribunals are functioning in the States. I do not say that we are seeking uniformity among the tribunals because they are bodies which study the needs of their own States and work in their own way, but undoubtedly the experience of the tribunals over the months in which they have been operating will be of interest to members of tribunals in the States and certainly to me. I will look at the matter raised in the honourable senator’s question and in the answer to question No. 922 and will certainly use this as a basis for one of the items of discussion at the meeting we have arranged.

page 975

QUESTION

OFFSHORE RESEARCH AND MAPPING

Senator MESSNER:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA

– My question is directed to the Minister for Science. In the light of the acceptance by Australia of the 200-mUe or 320- kilometre territorial waters limit, can the Minister indicate whether there is a need for increased onshore research and mapping capacity and a greater provision of oceanographic facilities for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation or other agencies within his Department?

Senator WEBSTER:
NCP/NP

-This matter is of great importance to this country. There is a need at present for research capacity in terms of the extended responsibility this country may have when a 200-mile limit is adopted. The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation has planned for many years- I think the first plans were laid down in 1968- for a research vessel of large capacity to be built for this work. It is hoped that, in the not too distant future, this type of vessel can be secured for Australia. Most other countries have a number of research vessels for this type of work. Australia has leant upon the Royal Australian Navy for much of the research work that has been carried out. The honourable senator mentioned oceanographic research work. In modern times a great deal can be gained in this field from the use of satellites. Australia is not backward in taking advantage of the enormous amount of information on our offshore areas that is available through satellites. This matter certainly will be pursued by the CSIRO and other research institutes under the control of the Commonwealth Government.

page 975

QUESTION

DEVALUATION

Senator McLAREN:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA

– The Minister representing the Treasurer will recall my question to him on 2 1 September concerning 2 requests from the leaders of primary industry to the Government for the Australian dollar to be devalued in order to save their industry. Is the Minister aware that, as reported in today’s Adelaide Advertiser, devaluation will be a main agenda item at the Australian Farmers Federation Conference to be held on 14 and 15 October? As Mr Wentworth, a leading member of the Parliamentary Liberal Party, supports the call for devaluation, as reported on page 1241 of House of Representatives Hansard of 21 September, can the Minister say whether Mr Wentworth ‘s remarks indicate that the Australian Treasurer, Mr Lynch, was to have discussions on devaluation with the New Zealand Prime Minister, Mr Muldoon, at the Commonwealth Finance Ministers meeting in Hong Kong during the week commencing 27 September?

Senator COTTON:
Minister for Industry and Commerce · NEW SOUTH WALES · LP

-I also read that fascinating remark from the Australian Farmers Federation about devaluation. I think I read it in the Canberra Times, not the Advertiser. I know Mr Wentworth. I have heard him before. Hong Kong is a long way away.

page 975

QUESTION

STUDENT DEMONSTRATIONS

Senator WALTERS:
TASMANIA

-Has the attention of the Minister for Education been drawn to the fact that the demonstration by students from the University of Western Australia was led by a member of the Communist Party who is not a student at that university but who came to demonstrate and whip up emotions, and finally succeeded in leading the students on an unauthorised march through the city? Can the Minister explain to the chamber the reasons put forward by the students for these demonstrations and what justification, if any, lies behind them?

Senator CARRICK:
LP

– I am not aware of the circumstances regarding the Western Australian demonstration as described by Senator Walters, but I accept the facts as she states them. I am not aware that the march was led by a member of the Communist Party. I understand that Communist Party banners, nevertheless, were used in a number of demonstrations. I am aware that throughout Australia a relatively small proportion of students were involved in the decision to take part in this strike. The proportion of students involved represented less than a fraction of one per cent of the actual enrolment on campus. I am aware that a number of people, including particularly some holding radical views, have been fermenting students on campus. I understand that in one sense some students are suffering hardship. Quite clearly they are suffering hardship because adjustments in their allowances have been delayed unjustly over the years. I equally believe that it is a pity there is not more student participation in the election of office bearers on campus so that we get a truer reflection of the nature and attitudes of students and a greater student participation in decision making. If this were done I think the results would be significantly different from what they are today.

page 975

QUESTION

MISS MICHELLE SANTANGELO

Senator COLEMAN:
WESTERN AUSTRALIA

– My question, which is directed to the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, refers to an article on page 1 1 of this morning’s West Australian regarding a Miss Michelle Santangelo who is desirous of remaining in employment in Kalgoorlie. Being mindful of the number of refugees from various countries who have come to Australia for safety and who would like to remain, and taking into consideration also many migrants who have permanent resident status and many Australian citizens who are unemployed and unable to gain employment and who are consistently being called dole bludgers by supporters of the Government, I ask: What action will be taken against Miss Santangelo, who was refused migration to Australia on the basis that she does not have a skilled trade? I point out that her visa is for 6 months as a visitor only, her passport is clearly stamped ‘Employment Prohibited’ and she was made aware that she was not entitled to seek employment before she left Italy.

Senator GUILFOYLE:
LP

– I do not have any information which would enable me to give the answer that is sought by the honourable senator with regard to Miss Santangelo. I will seek an answer from the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs and will see that it is given to the honourable senator without delay.

page 976

QUESTION

PROPOSED OMEGA STATION

Senator RAE:
TASMANIA

– I ask the Minister representing the Minister for Transport: Has the question of the siting of the proposed Omega station on Macquarie Island been considered? If it has been considered why is the site regarded as unsuitable? Is it solely because that island is partnotwithstanding the fact that it is some 9S0 miles south-east of Tasmania- of the State of Tasmania? Is it true that the State Labor Government in Tasmania- notwithstanding the general acceptance of the report of the all party committee of this Parliament which investigated the question of an Omega station in Australiaremains blindly opposed to the siting of an Omega station anywhere within the State of Tasmania?

Senator CARRICK:
LP

– I was a member of the Joint Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee of this Parliament during the Omega hearings. I am aware of the considerable information that was provided to the Committee regarding Omega. In an appreciation of the question asked by Senator Rae I remind the Senate that it is envisaged that there will be 8 Omega stations throughout the world in countries with different attitudes and philosophies. Each station will be capable of being controlled wholly by the country concerned. It will be able to be turned on and off by the country concerned at any time. The Omega stations will not be able to transmit any messages; therefore they are not of any defence significance. I am aware that it is vital in the use of the Omega system throughout the world that a station should be sited in the south and southeast area, in general, of the Australian continent, so there would be great benefit for navigation by commercial vessels and by commercial aircraft.

I am aware that Macquarie Island was one of the islands considered. I am not aware of the positive rejection of an Omega site by the Tasmanian Government, whether on the island of Tasmania or on Macquarie Island. If a rejection were based upon the threat of some retaliation or because of alleged military uses it would be based on utterly false premises because there is no military significance attached to the establishment of an Omega station. I understand that the sites are now under discussion. Indeed, I have noticed that my colleague in another place, the Minister for Transport, has been talking of sites in the Gippsland area. I will direct the substance of the honourable senator’s question to the Minister for Transport. I will particularly seek clarification regarding Macquarie Island and also will seek clarification of whether there has been a response in the negative from the Tasmanian Government.

Senator RAE:

– I ask the Minister a supplementary question: Can he indicate whether there is any substantiated reason for any State government to reject entirely the siting of an Omega station within its State? Can he state also whether advantages from an economic point of view are to be gained from the siting of an Omega station?

Senator CARRICK:

– Emphatically inquiry, both in this country and elsewhere, has shown that absolutely no disadvantages would accrue to a State from the siting of an Omega station in that State. There would be some very substantial economic advantages, both in the resources spent and in the employment created.

page 976

QUESTION

COMMUNIST PARTY

Senator HARRADINE:
TASMANIA

– Is the Minister representing the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs aware that a telex message concerning the illegal radio transmitter in Darwin, sent yesterday from a Mr Denis Freney of the Campaign for an Independent East Timor to the offices of the Canberra Times, was in fact sent from the offices of the Communist Party newspaper Tribune? ls the Minister aware that the Communist Party has adopted double standards on the matter of self-determination, having refused to support this right for the West New Guineans at the time of the takeover of West New Guinea by the Sukarno regime, which was then in close contact with the Soviet Union, a communist country? Does the Minister have any information on the involvement of the Communist Party in the East Timor issue? Would he agree that the involvement of the Communist Party has hindered moves for Timorese self-determination rather than assist them?

Senator WITHERS:
LP

-I am not aware of the telex referred to, but I accept what the honourable senator says.

Senator Harradine:

– It was in the Canberra Times.

Senator WITHERS:

-I accept that.

Senator Douglas McClelland:
NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

– Did you read that one, Senator?

Senator WITHERS:

-No, I said I was not aware of it. This is a very interesting piece of information and I think the Senate ought to be grateful to Senator Harradine for bringing it forward. He asked me, to my surprise, about the double standards of the Communist Party. Long ago I gave up being surprised at anything the Communist Party did- right from the time of the Stalin-Ribbentrop pact of 1939, which I suppose led to the holocaust of the Second World War in which I forget how many hundreds of millions, but certainly millions, of people perished. Honourable senators should not laugh at that. That war was brought about by the double standards of the Communist Party and the Nazis in getting together in the one bed.

Senator McLaren:

– What about 1961 when they put -

Senator WITHERS:

-The honourable senator should come back to 1939 and all the things that have happened since then. Of course, after the Nazis attacked the Communists it became a different sort of war. We even had the Communists in this country starting to support the war whereas before they did not care overmuch whether the Communists or the Nazis burned Jews or shot them; they were all in the same boat. Therefore, I am never surprised at the double standards of the Communist Party. There have been double standards ever since communists started to be about. I shall pass the other 2 questions asked by the honourable senator to my colleague in the other place and seek the information for the honourable senator.

page 977

QUESTION

RESEARCH VESSEL AT TURTLE BAY

Senator SHEIL:
QUEENSLAND

– I ask the Minister for Science: Has the Government made any progress towards obtaining a research vessel for the Australian Institute of Marine Science to be used at Turtle Bay in Queensland?

Senator WEBSTER:
NCP/NP

-One of the important achievements of the present Government is that during a period of financial restriction it has seen fit to make money available during this financial year for at least the commencement of the building of a vessel for marine science research purposes. The honourable senator, who comes from Queensland, will know that the Institute of Marine Science is located at Townsville and that work commenced under the former Government has proceeded under this Government. I think it was on about 4 September this year that the present Government called for tenders for the building of a research vessel intended to be located at Turtle Bay. It is hoped, and I think some assurance can be given, that the vessel will be completed and available to the Institute in 1977. The vessel is to be of a size of approximately 24.4 metres and has quite heavy associated equipment. I think tenders close on approximately 20 October this year. Those wishing to register should do so with the Shipbuilding Division of the Department of Industry and Commerce in Sydney.

page 977

QUESTION

TELEVISION LICENCE FEES

Senator WALSH:
WESTERN AUSTRALIA

– I direct a question to the Minister representing the Minister for Post and Telecommunications. Has the Minister seen the report in the Perth Sunday Independent of 26 September that the Government is preparing to reintroduce licences for television sets, that the licence fee for a colour television set will be $90 and that licence forms have already been printed? Is there any truth in the report? If not, can the Minister give an unequivocal assurance that the Government will not reimpose this burden?

Senator CARRICK:
LP

-It is to my regret that I have not seen the Perth Sunday Independent or indeed the report to which the honourable senator has drawn attention. However, it is my solace that until now I was not subject to the misinformation that has dogged the honourable senator over the last 24 hours or so. The suggestion is utterly without truth and there is no intention on the Government’s part to reintroduce licences for television sets.

page 978

QUESTION

UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT

Senator GRIMES:

– My question is directed to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations. It refers to the question that I asked earlier of Senator Guilfoyle, who has told us that the work test applied to Miss Dezso of Newcastle was applied by the Commonwealth Employment Service. I ask the Minister: Was the work test in fact merely a report from the potential employer of the girl? Did the Commonwealth Employment Service take the word of the potential employer without checking with the young lady who had applied for the job for her side of the story? What guidelines are issued to Commonwealth Employment Service officers concerning dress and appearance of persons to whom this work test is applied?

Senator DURACK:
LP

– I shall pass on the series of questions asked by Senator Grimes in connection with this matter and endeavour to obtain an early answer from the Minister whom I represent.

page 978

QUESTION

SYDNEY REFINERIES DISPUTE

Senator MULVIHILL:

– I direct a question to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations. It is corollary to the question asked by Senator Baume. By way of preface, I point out that I have a Press release of 3 September by the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, the third paragraph of which refers to joint Commonwealth and State action on common wage agreements. Instead of putting the cart before the horse would it not have been better to advance the work of this working party than to attempt under the guise of a State award to indulge in an industrial hijack of Sydney refinery workers?

Senator DURACK:
LP

-The Government certainly believes and hopes that in all industrial disputes there will be the greatest opportunities for consultation and co-operation. That is no doubt what the efforts of the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations are intended to achieve in many spheres and in particular by the means which Senator Mulvihill has mentioned. I take this opportunity to reply further to both questions asked in relation to this dispute? Earlier in question time I said that I hoped to get some further information. I have obtained that information. I understand that a meeting was held this morning, which was adjourned until tomorrow, and that it is the intention of the State branch of the Australian Workers Union to recommend to the meeting tomorrow that an application be made to the High Court to endeavour to resolve the very vexed and real legal problems which arise in regard to the conflicting jurisdictions of State and Federal laws in these matters. It is to be hoped also, and perhaps expected, that the recommendation of the employees will be to return to work pending the litigation before the High Court. I understand also that the oil companies- the employershave indicated that they will not seek to impede in any way the return to work by these men under whatever jurisdiction is determined, so there is some reason to hope that by tomorrow good sense will prevail and this dispute will be resolved. Presumably the technicalities of this dispute will be resolved in the High Court.

page 978

QUESTION

TRANSPORT ASSISTANCE FOR HANDICAPPED PEOPLE

Senator SIBRAA:

– I ask the Minister for Social Security a question concerning transport assistance for the handicapped. Can she give some indication whether the Government accepts the recommendation of poverty commissioner the Reverend George Martin for the repeal of the sales tax exemption on new cars purchased for the purpose of transporting handicapped working people to and from employment? He recommends in its place the payment of a transport allowance to handicapped persons unable to use public transport, and the provision of subsidy on a $4 to $ 1 basis for the purchase of a car for travel to and from work. As the present provisions are too narrow to enable handicapped persons seeking work to purchase a new car, even if it were financially possible, will she investigate this as a matter of urgency, since persons who are both disabled and unemployed find the present position frustrating and demoralising?

Senator GUILFOYLE:
LP

– I have been interested in the matter that has been raised by the honourable senator. I agree with him that there is a benefit available to those people who are able to purchase cars which assist them in transport and that this benefit is not available to others who are not able either to use cars or to purchase them. I am aware of the recommendations in the Martin report. The National Advisory Committee on the Handicapped has also drawn attention to this aspect. It is a matter that has had some consideration by the Government. I accept many of the things implicit in the question. I hope that in the future we will be able further to assist handicapped people in the matter of transport.

page 979

QUESTION

VISITORS IN THE GALLERY

The PRESIDENT:

– I draw the attention of honourable senators to the presence of 2 honourable gentlemen, former senators Toohey and Drury, in the gallery. They are accompanied by their wives. May we extend to them a very warm welcome back to the chamber and express our pleasure at their company.

Honourable senators- Hear, hear!

page 979

ASSENT TO BILLS

Assent to the following Bills reported:

Family Law Amendment Bill (No. 2) 1976.

Health Insurance Levy Bill (No. 2) 1976.

Health Insurance Levy Assessment Bill (No. 2 ) 1 976.

National Health Amendment Bill (No. 2) 1976.

Health Insurance Commission Amendment Bill (No. 2) 1976.

Health Insurance Amendment Bill (No. 2) 1976.

Social Welfare Commission (Repeal) Bill 1976.

page 979

AUSTRALIAN WOOL CORPORATION

Senator COTTON:
New South WalesMinister for Industry and Commerce · LP

– Pursuant to section 90 of the Wool Industry Act 1972 I present the interim annual report of the Australian Wool Corporation for the year ended 30 June 1976.

Senator GIETZELT:
New South Wales

-by leave- I move:

That the Senate take note of the paper.

I seek leave to continue my remarks.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.

page 979

AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURAL COUNCIL

Senator COTTON:
New South WalesMinister for Industry and Commerce · LP

– For the information of honourable senators I present the resolutions of the 98th meeting of the Australian Agricultural Council held in Bundaberg, Queensland, on 2 and 3 August 1 976.

Senator GIETZELT:
New South Wales

-by leave- I move:

That the Senate take note of the paper.

I seek leave to continue my remarks.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.

page 979

AUSTRALIAN WINE BOARD

Senator COTTON (New South Wales-

Minister for Industry and Commerce)- Pursuant to section 29 of the Wine Overseas Marketing Act 1929 I present the interim annual report of the Australian Wine Board for the year ended 30 June 1976.

Senator GIETZELT:
New South Wales

-by leave- I move:

That the Senate take note of the paper.

I seek leave to continue my remarks.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.

page 979

AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CONTROL BOARD

Senator CARRICK:
New South WalesMinister for Education · LP

– For the information of honourable senators and pursuant to section 28 of the Broadcasting and Television Act 1942 I present the annual report on the operations of the Australian Broadcasting Control Board for the year ended 30 June 1 976.

page 979

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY CONSUMER AFFAIRS

Senator WEBSTER:
Minister for Science · Victoria · NCP/NP

– Pursuant to section 17 of the Australian Capital Territory Consumer Affairs Ordinance 1973 I present the annual report on the operations of the Consumer Affairs Council and the Consumer Affairs Bureau of the Australian Capital Territory for the year ended 30 June 1976.

page 979

DARWIN RECONSTRUCTION COMMISSION

Senator WEBSTER:
Minister for Science · Victoria · NCP/NP

– For the information of honourable senators I lay upon the table an explanation of estimates for the proposed expenditure for 1976-77 for the Darwin Reconstruction Commission.

page 979

LOCKHEED AIRCRAFT CORPORATION

Senator DURACK:
Western AustraliaMinister for Veterans ‘ Affairs · LP

– For the information of honourable senators I present the text of an arrangement between the United States Department of Justice and the Australian AttorneyGeneral ‘s Department dated 13 September 1976 intituled ‘Procedures for mutual assistance in administration of justice in connection with the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation matter’.

Senator Douglas McClelland:
NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

– I seek leave to move a motion.

The PRESIDENT:

-Is leave granted? There being no objection, leave is granted.

Senator Douglas McClelland:
NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

– I move:

That the Senate take note of the paper.

I seek leave to continue my remarks.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.

page 980

PRICES JUSTIFICATION TRIBUNAL

Senator DURACK:
Western AustraliaMinister for Veterans’ Affairs · LP

– Pursuant to section 35 of the Prices Justification Act 1973 I present the annual report of the Prices Justification Tribunal for the year ended 30 June 1 976. Due to the limited number available at this time, reference copies of the report have been placed in the Senate Records Office and the Parliamentary Library. Normal distribution of the report will be made as soon as copies become available.

page 980

QUESTION

JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

Senator KNIGHT:
Australian Capital Territory

– I bring up the report of the Joint Committee on the Australian Capital Territory on the Sixtieth and Sixty-first Series of Proposed Variations to the Plan of Layout of the City of Canberra and its Environs, and move:

That the report be printed.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Senator KNIGHT (Australian Capital Territory)- I seek leave to have a short statement relating to the report incorporated in Hansard.

The PRESIDENT:

-Is leave granted? There being no objection, leave is granted.

The document read as follows-

Mr President, The Report I have just tabled is the first on variations to the plan of lay-out of the City of Canberra to be presented to the 30th Parliament. The previous variations Report was tabled on 7 October 1975. The proposed variations on this occasion consisted of 126 items. Three items were withdrawn and were not considered by the Committee.

Because this is the first such Report to the 30th Parliament from the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Australian Capital Territory, and as there have been some adjustments to the matters dealt with by the Committee, it seems appropriate to refer briefly to the Committee’s responsibilities with respect to variations to the plan of Canberra.

Clause 1 (a) of the Committee’s resolution of appointment makes provision for the Minister for the Capital Territory to refer to the Committee proposed variations to the plan of lay-out of the City of Canberra and its environs, based upon the plan gazetted in November 1925 as subsequently modified or varied.

Section 12a of the Seat of Government (Administration) Act 1910 provides that variations to the plan may be made by the responsible Minister at any time but that the variations are subject to publication in the Government Gazette. Following publication, a 12-day period is provided for, during which no modification or variation can be made and when objections to the proposed variations can be lodged by the public.

Since its establishment on 8 November 1956, it has been the responsibility of the Committee to consider proposed variations to the plan and report to the Parliament upon them. Based upon the Committee’s Report, the Minister for the Capital Territory then tables an instrument by which the Report of the Committee is transferred into legislative authority. It is still possible for either House of the Parliament to pass a resolution within 6 sitting days of the tabling of the Minister’s instrument, disallowing the modification or variation made by the instrument. Should this happen, the variation ceases to have effect.

This procedure provides the Federal Parliament with a continuing oversight of the development of the National Capital. The Joint Committee on the Australian Capital Territory acts as the Federal Parliament’s agent in this regard.

The variations which are the subject of the present Report are a combination of new developments, drafting adjustments and revisions to the plan.

Both the present Committee and its immediate predecessors held discussions with the Department of the Capital Territory to determine a new format for the plan, following criticism by Mr Justice Fox in Kent v. Cavanagh (one of a series of cases concerning the construction of the Black Mountain telecommunications tower). His Honour was of the opinion that the Seat of Government (Administration) Act 1910 required a more meaningful and clearer notice of intention to be given. The Committee noted these comments and has made a recommendation to this effect.

Because the City has grown to the point where it has become impractical for the plan of lay-out to be published as a single item a new format was devised, dividing the plan into several smaller units. This permits the inclusion of more information and greater accuracy. The Committee has requested the inclusion on the plan of-

  1. 1 ) roads in proposed park-lands;
  2. rural roads; and
  3. cycle paths.

The Committee has also asked to be informed of changes or proposed changes to service yards and parking areas. Because of those changes, the authorities who deal with the plan have undertaken a thorough check of all aspects of it as it has been varied since 1925.

As a result, over 80 items included in the Report I have just tabled involve additions to, or corrections of, the plan in respect of existing roads.

There are 3 particular variations which concerned the Committee during its Inquiry and I shall make a short observation concerning each.

The first variation involved the inclusion of the existing alignment of Coppins Crossing Road which forms a link between the Belconnen and Weston Creek districts. An objection was made on the grounds that its inclusion suggested an intention to upgrade and develop the road as a formal connection between the two districts. Officers of the National Capital Development Commission assured the Committee that this was not the present intention. The purpose of the inclusion of the road on the plan was to conform with the Committee’s request that existing rural roads be included.

The second variation sought the modification of the existing alignment of access roads at the summit of Black Mountain. The Committee was concerned that the proposed variation might involve destruction of, or otherwise adversely affect, part of the existing nature reserve. The Committee has been assured by the Department of the Capital Territory that there will not be any interference with the reserve. On this basis, the Committee has approved the variation. Should any encroachment upon the reserve subsequently become necessary during the course of construction of the road, that matter would necessarily require a proposed variation to the City plan, and would therefore be referred to the Committee for consideration. The Committee believes this requirement provides adequate protection for the nature reserve area.

The final variation to which I wish to refer involves the deletion of a section of Currong Street between Ainslie Avenue and Allambee Street in Reid to allow for medium density development and community facilities on this location. The effect of the deletion and closure of the street would be to provide a larger development site. Objections to this proposed variation were received indicating, in particular, concern at the possible effect on traffic flow that such a closure might cause. The Committee considered the objections and has included in its Report each main point of objection and the response of the National Capital Development Commission to those points.

While the Committee has agreed to recommend closure of Currong Street to allow the development to proceed, it has also recommended that public participation in planning should be broadened by the National Capital Development Commission and the Department of the Capital Territory building up their liaison with community groups and individuals with respect to any variation which might affect those groups or individuals. The Committee believes this process is of benefit to the planners, the authorities and the local residents.

The Committee has also made some observations concerning problems for public involvement in proposed variations to the plan and in respect of drafting errors on the plan. To contribute to overcoming these difficulties, the Committee has recommended that a more detailed description of each item be provided in the Schedule ‘A’ to all gazetted proposals, and that the Department publish a copy of that Schedule in full as an advertisement in the Canberra Times at the same time as the Australian Government Gazette dealing with the proposed variations is published.

The Committee has also recommended that the Department of the Capital Territory give final approval of the drafting of all proposed variations prior to gazettal. The Committee believes this will help to ensure that incorrectly drafted proposed variations are not submitted to the Committee for its consideration.

The Committee has however, recommended to the Parliament the implementation of the 60th and 6 1st Series of proposed variations to the plan of lay-out of the City of Canberra and its environs.

I commend the Report to the Senate.

page 981

QUESTION

SENATE ESTIMATES COMMITTEES

Senator WITHERS:
Western AustraliaLeader of the Government in the Senate · LP

– I move:

That the sitting of the Senate be suspended until 10.15 p.m., or such time as the President may take the chair, to enable Estimates Committees A, B and C to meet.

Estimates Committee A will meet in the Senate Chamber; Estimates Committee B will meet in Senate committee room No. 1; and Estimates Committee C will meet in Senate committee room No. 5.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Sitting suspended from 3.49 to 10.15 p.m.

page 982

COMMONWEALTH SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH ORGANISATION

Ministerial Statement

Senator WEBSTER:
Minister for Science · Victoria · NCP/NP

– by leave- The Government has decided to appoint an independent committee of inquiry to review the objectives, structure and programs of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. Over the last 50 years, CSIRO has earned a high reputation within Australia and overseas. This has been achieved by conducting research programs which have been predominantly of high quality and sound practicality. During these years, the executive and staff of CSIRO have made significant contributions to fundamental and applied science and sought to link the two together. They have helped us to increase our knowledge of the physical and biological environment through which we move and on which we depend. They have developed new technologies through the application of scientific principle to everyday problems.

The last major review of CSIRO was held almost 30 years ago in 1948-49. Since then, science has become increasingly diversified and the Government has come to support science and technology in a multiplicity of ways. Inevitably, the role of CSIRO has changed. It is appropriate at this time to engage in a rethinking of the objectives of CSIRO for the future- to conduct an independent examination of the ways in which the organisation’s vigor, its ethos, and its capacity to deal with the challenge of the future can be sustained.

The Chairman of the Committee of Inquiry is Professor A. J. Birch, F.A.A., F.R.S., Professor of Organic Chemistry at the Australian National University. Professor Birch was the foundation Dean of the Research School of Chemistry at ANU. The other members of the Committee are:

Sir Cecil Looker, a former President of the Australian Associated Stock Exchanges. He has also held the position of Chairman of the Melbourne Stock Exchange and Director of the Papua New Guinea Development Bank.

Mr R. T. Madigan, O.B.E., Chairman of Hamersley Holdings Limited and of IOL Petroleum Ltd. He is also a director of CRA Ltd and RTZ Ltd.

The Committee of Inquiry shall examine, and report and make recommendations on:

  1. . The objectives of the Organisation and the relevance to the present and future requirements of Australia of its functions as set out in the Science and Industry Research Act of 1949.
  2. The extent to which the current research program objectives and the emphasis given them accord with the objectives recommended for the Organisation.
  3. Existing arrangements and procedures for meeting recommended objectives and discharging recommended functions with particular emphasis on

    1. The size and diversity of the Organisation, its organisational and management structure, policies for the employment of Staff, and the role of consultative and advisory machinery.
    2. The relationship of the Organisation with government agencies, industry, tertiary institutions, research institutes and with users of research results. (HI) The methods for selecting, reviewing, reporting on and re-ordering research programs, including the effect of the differing sources of funds.
    3. The assessment of results achieved in the light of resources employed.
    4. The processes involved in the implementation of research results.
    5. The role of the Organisation in Australia’s international scientific relationships.
  4. The extent to which and the means by which programs of the Organisation could attract revenue both to support the conduct of ongoing or intended research and also in return for results achieved in research.
Senator GEORGES:
Queensland

-I seek leave to propose a motion.

The PRESIDENT:

-Is leave granted? There being no objection, leave is granted.

Senator GEORGES:

– I move:

I seek the indulgence of the Senate merely to indicate that an important statement has been put before the Senate and that the Committee of Inquiry as constituted according to the statement ought to be the subject of some debate as to expertise in this important area. I seek leave to continue my remarks at a later date.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.

page 983

ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS

Ministerial Statement

Senator GUILFOYLE:
Minister for Social Security · Victoria · LP

– For the information of honourable senators I lay on the table the report to the Government of Mr D. O. Hay, C.B.E., D.S.O., on the Effectiveness of the Services Financed by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs. I seek leave to have incorporated in Hansard a statement made in the other place by the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (Mr Viner) relating to the provision of additional funds for Aboriginal Affairs programs and publication of the report just tabled by me.

The PRESIDENT:

-Is leave granted? There being no objection, leave is granted.

The statement read as follows-

When the Government brought down the Budget in August, the Treasurer announced that additional funds would be provided for Aboriginal affairs programs in the light of reviews then in progress. They have now been completed.

These responsible and necessary reviews were prompted by allegations from many quarters that inefficient procedures and lax administration in some programs had led to waste and denial of real benefits for those whom the programs were designed to help.

The fears that excessive administration costs and other expenses associated with consultants and poor planning were siphoning off- some would say ‘ripping off’- too much money were not new. This concern was expressed by the present Government when in Opposition, as well as many Aboriginal groups and organisations interested in Aboriginal welfare.

Aboriginal assistance programs, as honourable members are aware, have in recent years received massive injections of funds, with each succeeding year showing ever increasing allocations in an attempt to relieve the very serious handicaps in housing, education, health and employment under which Australia’s Aboriginal people suffer.

The provision of large sums of money alone however, is no panacea for all the ills that beset people so disadvantaged.

To think otherwise will cause people to speak of dollars only as the measure of performance when a real social value for money spent is what should be looked for.

When allegations of waste in governmentfunded programs are made it is the responsibility of government to respond and investigate them.

Taking into account the importance this Government attaches to Aboriginal affairs it was therefore vital that these investigations were carried out as soon as the Government came into office. I do not believe that the public by and large, objects to the principle of channeling generous amounts of money into Aboriginal assistance programs. This support has in fact been clearly demonstrated by opinion polls. But in response to this principle and any government’s endeavours to uplift Aboriginals we want neither over indulgent idealism nor the over zealous pursuit of economic efficiency. The one saps Aboriginal motivation and public support, the other frustrates the will to achieve and fails to recognise the social dynamics of lifting up a down-trodden people. At the same time there is no substitute for clear direction in long term goals mutually agreed with Aboriginals and basic planning and sound administration of programs and projects to fulfil those goals. The public, whose money it is we are spending, is concerned that Aboriginal people are benefiting. Aboriginals, also, are concerned that the funds available are being spent with greatest direct benefit to their people, and not lost along the way. It was this concern that led the Government to initiate a number of reviews into various aspects of Aboriginal affairs.

The most far-reaching of these reviews was that headed by Mr David Hay. Mr Hay was appointed by the Government last January to inquire into the effectiveness of the delivery of services to Aboriginals by my Department.

When I announced Mr Hay’s appointment to conduct this inquiry I said that the purpose of the examination was to ensure that the funds being made available for the Aboriginal community were being spent for the maximum benefit of Aboriginals. In view of much ill informed comment on the purpose and result of Mr Hay’s inquiry it is well to recall to the House the terms of reference which were publicly announced at the time of his appointment. They were: to assess the effectiveness of the services financed; to recommend improvements in the delivery of services and their financial arrangements in the interest of Aboriginals and the community at large; and to establish whether there were any areas of waste and inefficiency. The emphasis, it will be seen, is upon the effectiveness of services delivered and the interest of Aboriginals, a conjunction which is, of course, deliberate and a reflection of the Government’s obligation toward the Aboriginal people. Mr Hay completed his task and reported to the Prime Minister, Mr Malcolm Fraser, on 4 June.

As a result of these inquiries, the Government has taken steps to tighten administration and has acted promptly to honour its promises, repeated many times, that more funds would be provided for Aboriginal affairs during the present financial year. It is now with satisfaction I can announce the Government has decided to provide an extra $25m for Aboriginal programs this year, bringing the total available for expenditure to $ 177.6m during 1976-77.

The additional money will be allocated to those programs where the greatest need has been established- in particular on urgently needed housing through grants to the States and by direct grants to Aboriginal Housing Associations and to stimulate employment opportunities.

Although I have given emphasis to these 2 most crucial areas, the extra funds will be of benefit to all programs and provide room for new initiatives which are under examination. When Aboriginal organisations and communities and the States have been advised, I will be in a position to provide details of the break up of the $25m. It is no coincidence that the provision of funds for housing has come under the closest scrutiny by the Hay and other inquiries. It is understandable that the temporarily reduced funds for housing alarmed and worried many people, not least those Aboriginals in need of housing, for without adequate housing there can be only limited improvements in health, limited opportunity for children to succeed at school and limited hope of gaining regular employment. There is also little chance for the foundation of family stability and the growth of self-respect. This is the poverty cycle. To break it, housing must be provided.

As one travels around Australia the thing which bears down upon you so heavily is housing and the constant reminder by the voice of the people and the sight of intolerable living conditions of the great cost to the future of what should have been done by society in the past. It is all the more important then for the Government to have the benefit of a report like Mr Hay’s to provide a sound administrative foundation on which to build its liberal reform and welfare policies. In relation to the additional funds available to the States for housing it is my intention to formalise agreements with the State governments on the terms and conditions applying to their grants for Aboriginal housing programs. I am currently looking very closely at proposals on such agreements keeping in mind the desirability of directly involving Aboriginal people themselves in such programs.

The decision to increase finance to Aboriginal housing associations, bears directly on the progress being made by many associations and the faith which the Government has in these programs, started under an earlier Liberal- Country Party Administration, reflecting as they do the principles of self-management and selfsufficiency expressed in our Aboriginal affairs policy. To assist Aboriginals in this matter, the Department of Construction has offered its professional and technical assistance in the fieldparticularly in remote areas- in a consultant and supervisory role to help further development of Aboriginal Housing Association programs. In the fields of employment and enterprises- other areas subjected to the closest scrutiny- additional funds will be made available to help alleviate the serious employment problems amongst Aboriginals and to support and stimulate realistic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander enterprises which can lead to economic independence and self-reliance.

In conjunction with my colleagues, the Ministers for Social Security (Senator Guilfoyle), Education (Senator Carrick) and Employment and Industrial Relations (Mr Street), I have been studying both short and long-term measures which will be brought forward quickly for consideration by the Government including possible ways of converting the payment of unemployment benefits within communities into the funding of worthwhile work projects. These proposals will cover training for employment and the provision of job opportunities through suitable programs for Aboriginal communities especially in remote areas. The link between education and employment is possibly of greater importance to Aboriginals than others as formal education is brought more within their reach. It is a matter to which Senator Carrick and I are giving special attention. One of the recommendations of the Hay Report in this field was the necessity to include training components in aid programs wherever possible in order to open up new opportunities for Aboriginals who might otherwise remain unskilled and unemployable.

Although, as I have said, the 2 areas most to benefit from the additional funds are housing and employment, other smaller but important programs which have very substantial social benefits will also gain from an injection of more money this year. One such field is culture and recreation which Mr Hay found offered, for a comparatively small outlay, significant benefits to a large number of people. This decision I know will be welcomed by Aboriginal people, whose lives in many places centre around the community hall and whose social contact with other Aboriginal groups is largely through the performance of their sporting teams. The provision of funds for these purposes can be instrumental in forming the nucleus for community development and through this, selfesteem. I have seen a number of examples of Aboriginal community spirit matched by government funds producing just such self-esteem and a new sense of social involvement where previously Aboriginals were out on the fringe.

While speaking of community development, I would particularly mention the suggestion by Mr Hay of the compiling of ‘community profiles’. Such profiles will give the Government a better understanding of development through the totality of different’ programs meeting various needs in the one community. In this way, the task of assessment of success and particular requirements will be made much easier as well as contributing to the Government’s determination to improve the co-ordination of operations throughout Aboriginal affairs. In working out the contents of community profiles, the family allowances received by a community will be taken into account. I should mention here that the family allowance scheme, which is estimated to provide $16m directly to Aboriginal families, is not regarded as a substitute for special Aboriginal programs. It will however have special significance for Aboriginal families. As the Prime Minister pointed out to the House on 25 August the family allowance scheme involves funds which go directly to Aboriginal families and gives them an independence and capacity to spend those funds as they believe best in their own interests.

Another procedure which will contribute to the efficient and effective utilisation of funds is the Government’s intention to exercise its right to inspect books of account of organisations through which its programs are carried out. This recommendation, contained in the Hay report, in no way implies that the Government intends to interfere with the autonomy of Aboriginal organisations nor does its decision to exercise this right reflect on the competence of the Aboriginal recipients of government funds. The advantages of this practice will be twofold- to provide a better and faster information flow to the Government by providing a means through which difficulties will be detected as soon as they arise, and by aiding Aboriginal people to become more confident of themselves in managerial procedures and administration as they are given more freedom and responsibility in handling programs. It will also involve Aboriginals in the budgetary process for mutual agreement on how funds are to be used.

The Government has accepted the further recommendation by Mr Hay that Aboriginal recipients of government finance should make a contribution by way of cash or by voluntary effort, as a normal condition of grants. In this way there will be a commitment on both sides in a co-operative effort geared to success. The close involvement of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs in this way will also be reflected in our desire for a greater involvement by other specialised Government departments such as Social Security and Employment and Industrial Relations. I have already mentioned the willingness of the Department of Construction to act in a supervisory capacity to improve efficiency procedures in Aboriginal Housing Associations.

In addition to the reviews I have mentioned which have been completed or are in progress, I have now instructed my Department to conduct a number of in-depth investigations into almost all other areas where Government funds are being spent, to better define objectives and refine administrative procedures against the background of Mr Hay’s recommendations. These reviews will also ensure that funds allocated in this and future years will be used most effectively for direct benefit of Aboriginals with as little administrative outlay as efficiency permits. In now allocating $25m more for Aboriginal assistance, the Government is honoring the Treasurer’s Budget undertaking. It is also sticking by its resolution to see that the money available is being wisely spent. It is as well to remind ourselves that comparing the level of funding with that provided by a previous AdministratIon in past years is of little consequence. Comparisons of funding programs from one year to the next are not necessarily of greatest importance. What needs to be considered is whether the money available has been used to optimum effect, whether there has been a re-ordering of priorities or whether improved administrative rearrangements have been achieved. An extra $3m was provided to the Aboriginal Loans Commission for housing because of the importance the Government places on home ownership; grants-in-aid to the States for health and education programs were reduced and grants to Aboriginal organisations working in these fields increased because of our commitment to working through Aboriginal organisations; an extra $ 1.56m was provided for employment support programs which will enable funding support of a new initiative in placing Aboriginals with private employers; the Aboriginal Advancement Trust

Account was abolished in favour of normal line item appropriations and funding of some programs was transferred elsewhere, such as publications through Aboriginal Arts Board now under the Arts Council. What is important, I can assure you, is the intention of this Government to see that Aboriginal affairs programs directly relate to Aboriginal needs while increasing the involvement of Aboriginals in the concept of self-management.

Sound administration of any Government program requires ongoing reviews and evaluations. The first and most extensive of these reviews has been that conducted by Mr David Hay. The Government was fortunate in securing the services of Mr Hay who has a distinguished record as a diplomat and as Administrator of the Territory of Papua New Guinea from 1967 to 1973. The Government is indebted to him for his diligence and for the sensitivity and understanding he displayed in his conduct of the inquiry. I also wish to recognise, as Mr Hay has done in his report, the efficiency and dedication demonstrated by officers of my Department in assisting him during this period of intensive review. Also I would like to express my appreciation of the cooperation which Mr Hay also acknowledged of numerous other people involved in supplying information on which the report is based. Important among these are Aboriginal organisations and communities.

Mr Hay’s report and the reviews I have instituted are major steps forward fulfilling the commitment in the Government’s Aboriginal affairs policy statement to ‘demolish unnecessary political barriers between Aboriginals and the programs intended to assist them towards self management’. On 26 August I was bold enough to say that it was a time for optimism not gloom in Aboriginal Affairs. So it is and so it will continue to be under the present Government. A firm foundation has been laid upon which to go forward. In August, the Prime Minister told this House that the Government would make a decision as to whether the Hay report should be published when reviews were complete and action had been taken on what additional funds would be provided on the basis of those reviews.

Senator KEEFFE:
Queensland

-I seek leave to propose a motion.

The PRESIDENT:

-Is leave granted? There being no objection, leave is granted.

Senator KEEFFE:

– I move:

In order to co-operate with the Government in dealing with a number of papers before the adjournment of the Senate I should like to make a couple of remarks now but I should like to continue my remarks at a later stage. The Hay report has been widely distributed since 12 June this year. It has now become an official document and I think it bears out statements I have made in this chamber previously that it was a report that the Government could not afford to introduce before the Budget was brought down in the current sessional period of Parliament. There was an obvious desire on behalf of the Government to blame the Aboriginal people for the misspending of funds when, in fact, the Hay report clearly indicates that it was not the Aboriginal people but certain sections of the bureaucracyconsultants and others- who had done, to use a slang phrase, the financial rip-off. The previous statement of the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (Mr Viner) that $25m in additional funds would be made available is an apology to the Aboriginal people of Australia and an apology to the vast section of the Australian electorate which believes that the funds should not have been cut off. It will be a year before many of these things start operating again. There is not enough clarity in the statement as to how the money will be spent or the fields in which it will be spent. The housing associations and the building program, in particular, may take a year to get off the ground again as a result of the sudden cut in funding. I believe that both the report and the statement ought to be the subject of a major debate in this chamber. I seek leave to continue my remarks at a later date.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.

page 986

LEBANESE MIGRATION

Ministerial Statement

Senator GUILFOYLE:
Minister for Social Security · Victoria · LP

– I seek leave to have incorporated in Hansard a statement which was made in the other place by the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (Mr MacKellar) relating to new Government initiatives on Lebanese migration.

The PRESIDENT:

-Is leave granted? There being no objection, leave is granted.

The statement read as follows-

The Government has today taken decisions to enable more expeditious handling of Lebanese migration to Australia. The Government has taken its decisions in circumstances where there is no immediate prospect of an end to the conflict within the Lebanon and there is thus a long-term migration situation of probably increasing dimensions. After it became necessary to evacuate the Australian Embassy in Beirut late in March 1976, special arrangements were introduced to facilitate processing of applications from Lebanese at Australian posts in nearby countries. The normal immigration criteria were relaxed for Lebanese who had suffered hardship as a result of the conflict within the Lebanon. As from the end of June our Lebanese migration operations were centred in Nicosia in Cyprus and there are now 3 Australia-based migration officers and 7 locally-engaged staff operating through our Nicosia office. They have to handle the large volume of Lebanese migration as well as a workload in relation to Cypriot migration.

The numbers of applications and nominations for Lebanese to come to Australia have continued to increase. By way of example, applications received in Nicosia totalled 247 in June, 1076 in July and 1 149 in August. In the first three weeks of September 579 applications were received in Nicosia at a time when the inflow of Lebanese had been regulated by the Cypriot authorities and there had been bad weather in the area restricting entrance to Cyprus by sea. On 9 September 1976 I announced initiatives to speed up the processing of nominations submitted in Australia for close relatives from the Lebanon of Australian residents to come to Australia. Special projects have been undertaken in close and continuing association with the Lebanese communities in Sydney and Melbourne for representatives to travel overseas to arrange for group movements to Australia of those accepted. Those initiatives were in line with the Government’s continuing concern to effect the reunion of close family relatives overseas with Lebanese residents in Australia.

The scale of Lebanese migration is demonstrated by the fact that under the special project up to 22 September 1976 nominations received in Sydney and Melbourne covered totals of 2 129 and 392 persons respectively. It is anticipated that another 1000 persons will be nominated in Sydney. It is likely, therefore, that there will be a substantial increase in the numbers of Lebanese arriving in Australia in the near future. In the period from 1 January to 17 September 1976 more than 2600 Lebanese have been issued with visas for entry to Australia. In the period 1 January to 30 August 1976, 1324 persons showing Lebanon as their country of last residence arrived in Australia. In view of the escalating workload associated with processing applications and nominations in Nicosia, a senior officer of the Central Office of my Department was sent to Nicosia on 4 September 1976 to report on the most effective way of organising our operation in Cyprus. The decisions taken by the Government today were based in part on the recommendations in his reports.

An important consideration affecting the decisions taken has been the increasing problems caused by the large number of Lebanese within Cyprus. There are at present about some 8000 persons from the Lebanon in Cyprus and this situation is causing a range of problems for both the Lebanese people themselves and the people and authorities of Cyprus. It is important that delays in processing potential Lebanese migrants from Cyprus be kept to a minimum. Accordingly the Government today has approved the sending of a task force of experienced officers to Cyprus as a matter of urgency to handle nominations and applications for migration to Australia. With the arrival of the task force there will be nine Australia-based officers in Cyprus, including a medical officer, so that medical examinations can be completed quickly on the spot. The Australiabased officers will be supplemented by locally engaged staff including interpreters. The task force will remain in Cyprus for 3 months and the special immigration operation in Nicosia will then be reviewed. My Department’s officers on the spot have been making a Herculean effort to cope with the situation. They have been working more than 12 hours a day but the number of unresolved applications and nominations has continued to mount. The task force will enable the backlog to be cleared quickly.

The Government has also decided to define more clearly those persons normally resident in the Lebanon who are eligible to migrate to Australia under the present circumstances. This will assist Australian residents in deciding whether to nominate their close relatives overseas and will also enable the Cypriot authorities to determine whether individual Lebanese should be allowed to enter Cyprus for the purpose of migration to Australia. As from 1 October 1976 the following persons normally resident in the Lebanon will be eligible to come to Australia, after meeting normal health and character requirements: Spouses and dependent children of Australian residents: Parents, both aged and dependent and those who are non dependent and of working age, of Australian residents; nominated brothers and sisters of Australian residents; persons eligible under the normal acceptable occupations list. The dependants of persons in the above groups, where appropriate, will also be eligible. These criteria will apply until the end of this year and then be reviewed. In order to ensure that those Lebanese accepted move quickly from Cyprus thus allowing others to enter Cyprus for processing without causing increasing pressures in that country, it has been decided that visas issued to Lebanese from 1 October 1976 be valid for 3 months. A new requirement is to be introduced to apply generally, that is, to persons of any nationality, that persons must be permanent residents for a minimum of one year before being eligible to nominate persons overseas for migration to Australia. This requirement will not apply to nominations of spouses and dependent children.

In the current circumstances of high levels of unemployment in Australia there may be employment difficulties for Lebanese migrants, many of whom are unskilled or semi-skilled. I shall be consulting with the Lebanese communities to enlist their support in ensuring the successful resettlement of their relatives in Australia. This consultation will cover means whereby the Lebanese communities themselves can assume wider responsibilities for post arrival resettlement of their relatives. The action I have announced tonight is a clear testimony to the desire of the Government to deal humanely and effectively with the unfortunate circumstances in which so many Lebanese relatives of Australian residents now find themselves. It will mean added pressures on Australian services in the short term but the inconvenience and difficulties these involve must be seen against the situation of continuing despair and personal hardship which these people face.

Senator MULVIHILL:
New South Wales

-I seek leave to propose a motion.

The PRESIDENT:

-Is leave granted? There being no objection, leave is granted.

Senator MULVIHILL:

-I move:

That the Senate take note of the statement.

I think that the statement, which we have all perused, bears out Professor Borrie ‘s contention that Australia and New Zealand will find in the immediate and, I suppose, the distant future every time there is a brush fire war in some part of the world we will be the main recipients of migrants and we will have to meet that responsibility. I do not think it is a question of disputing the contents of the report. I simply say that perhaps it has limitations. I fear that successive governments over at least the last 5 years have looked at an intake of 5 000 people a year for specific refugee categories. Unfortunately, each of these upheavals gets worse than the one before it. The magnitude of the civil war in Lebanon far exceeds that of Cyprus, which in itself was quite big. I hope that without waiting until next year we will get interim reports from the Government on the more or less 5 000 refugees a year we take and how we will rationalise this intake as between Lebanese and people from a host of other countries, some of which already have turmoil and others which could be on the verge of it.

Another point I make- I think it is important to the Lebanese community, and the Minister for Social Security (Senator Guilfoyle) will appreciate it- is that on page 1 of the report a lot of emphasis is placed upon the provision of additional officers in Cyprus. That is good, but I think anyone would know that there are other Lebanese who find themselves in Syria and in Egypt. A number have surfaced even in Western Europe. I believe that we ought to have been a little more specific. I think we should prepare a master list based on information provided by people in Australia who sponsor refugees who are waiting in Syria or Egypt, or even those who might have gone into other parts of Europe away from Greece or Cyprus. I have not been able to obtain this information. Is there such a master list?

I refer to the Nicosia scene. I have received criticism to the effect that the big difficulty is that when refugees arrive at the refugee offices they might be there for a week or longer before they are actually interviewed. I know the magnitude of this problem from when a member of Senator Bishop’s staff was in Cyprus. I strongly suggest to the Minister that when a person arrives in an area like that he should be given some acknowledgementa disc or something- so that he may maintain his turn in queue. I think it is a simple matter. I have heard people say: ‘My brother has been there for 3 weeks. He has been told to come back again. ‘ I emphasise that I am not critical of the officers there. I know the difficulty of their position. This is rather akin to an outpatient ward in a hospital where the hospital tries to treat the patients in order by noting their arrival. I make those constructive suggestions to the Minister confident that the time is not far distant when we will be able to have quarterly statements dealing with this refugee problem.

Finally, I think we should not be unaware of the fact that as Canada and Australia are bearing the brunt of this humanitarian work we might have a good look at whether we are getting value for our money as far as the United Nations Refugee Commission is concerned. The Commission was very lax in relation to interim billeting in Cypress, as the Minister indicated in an answer she gave me. There are one or two other areas of the globe where the Commission has done very little. It has been very slothful. I believe that some of these United Nations agencies are suffering from hardening of the arteries. If Australia and Canada are rightly part of what has been called the New World meeting the full impact of the refugees we should have a bigger say in the determination of the United Nations Refugee Commission ‘s policy.

Debate (on motion by Senator Guilfoyle) adjourned.

page 989

ADJOURNMENT

India- Pecuniary Interests of Members of Parliament- Uranium: Nuclear Energy

Motion (by Senator Carrick) proposed:

That the Senate do now adjourn.

Senator WHEELDON:
Western Australia

– It is not my practice to delay the proceedings of the Senate by speaking on the adjournment motion unless I think there is something of some considerable importance that ought to be raised. I believe that this is the case this evening. With other members of the Australian Parliament I was recently in India for a period of approximately a week. Certain episodes which were drawn to my attention while I was in that country and subsequently are such that I believe they should be raised within this Parliament.

I wish to say first of all that I was there as a guest of the Government of India and was treated with the greatest courtesy and consideration while I was in that country. Certainly no hindrances were placed in my way in doing anything that I wished to do while I was within India. I certainly feel very great reluctance in accepting the hospitality, as I did, of another country and immediately after having received that hospitality being critical of the Government which was my host while I was in that country. But I feel obliged to do so on this occasion.

I might say in passing that I have always regarded myself as a friend of India. I believe that India is a great country with great traditions. I think that particularly over the past 30 years during which India has had its independence it has been one of the great bastions of the democratic system. That India, the second largest country in the world in terms of population, a country with some 600 million inhabitants, a country with almost every difficulty that could beset any country, a country of endemic poverty and vast problems of over-population, with terrible problems of differences of religion, ethnic origin, caste and language, has been able not only to stay together as a nation in a peaceful way which I think would be a model to many other countries where the sectarian differences are much smaller than they are in India but where there has been much greater violence, has been a great credit to the Indian people and to the governments which have been in office in India during that period.

Certainly any criticisms that I have to make now would not be to the effect that the Government of India is engaging in any racial or religious persecution. I imagine that there is no Moslem in India who could complain about his treatment by the Government of that country. Certainly the same could be said, I believe, of any of the other smaller religious groups. I have heard no complaints of persecution from Christians in India, or from Parsees, Jains, Buddhists or any of the other religious denominations which are to be found in that country. In fact, I believe that the Indian Government has leaned over backwards to show that it will not discriminate against people whatever their origin. AngloIndians, Eurasians or anybody else, I believe, cannot say that they have been discriminated against. In fact, even if we take a small community such as the Jewish community, we find that there are about 4 synagogues at the present time in Bombay. Although India has generally supported the Arab position on the Middle East, no one can claim that there has been any interference with the rights of the Jewish inhabitants of India. In fact General Jacobs, who commanded the Indian troops in the recent war in Bangladesh, is Jewish.

I would not suggest for one moment that in any way the Indian Government is departing from any of those high principles which it has followed while it has been in office. What I would suggest to the Senate is that something very serious is happening in India, that is, that there is a very steady erosion of the democratic parliamentary system within that country. I do not believe that the progression in this unfortunate direction has as yet reached the stage where India could be condemned by comparison with a great many other countries. Certainly if India were compared with China or the Soviet Union or, for that matter, with its neighbour Pakistan or with the Philippines or Spain or most of the countries in Latin America, India indeed is a very democratic country and it probably still ranks amongst the most democratic countries in the world.

What is tragic about India is that the tendency is away from parliamentary democracy and the rule of law. For that reason I believe it is doubly tragic. What makes it even more tragic is that

India, this great country, has been the example which democrats throughout the world have been able to quote to those who have said that it is only a few rich people in Sweden, New Zealand, Canada or Switzerland who can afford to have the parliamentary democratic system and that as long as there are real economic and communal difficulties democracy does not work. I believe India has shown that it could work. Although the rate of progress towards economic justice has undoubtedly been very slow and there are very many poor people and very many underprivileged people in that country, progress has been made and that progress has been made within a democratic system. In the past year, since 26 June 1975 when the emergency was proclaimed by the Indian Government, I believe it is becoming increasingly the case that one can no longer make the same boast about Indian democracy that one could make previously.

While we were in India where, as I have said, we were treated with the greatest courtesy, we were given quite a considerable amount of time with the Indian Prime Minister, Mrs Gandhi, a person for whom in the past I think all of us have had the greatest respect.

When I met her, I raised with her the matter of Mr George Fernandes, chairman of the Indian Socialist Party and president of the All-India Railwaymen ‘s Association. I do not intend to dwell on the matter of Mr Fernandes because I know that Senator Sibraa wishes to say something about this matter also. Mr Fernandes is today before the court. I am concerned about the case of Mr Fernandes. I do not know whether the allegations that he was carrying explosives or conspiring with people to set off explosives are true or false. I have no idea. I have never met him. But these allegations have now been made against him. Other allegations have been made against him as well. I believe that this is what is very serious. For example, in a report from the Times of India of 25 September, it is mentioned in the course of the charges which were being laid against Mr Fernandes in the New Delhi Chief Magistrate’s Court that, amongst the acts which should apparently be regarded as offensive to the Government and people of India was the fact that a certain person had been secretly carrying abroad with him letters from Mr Fernandes addressed to some foreign dignitaries and organisations like the Socialist International seeking their help and support.

It seems to me that the very fact that a matter such as that is raised at all in the course of a charge being heard against a man for a criminal offence, shows already a most serious tendency within that country. Why should not the chairman of the Indian Socialist Party communicate messages to Willy Brandt or Bruno Kreisky or the general secretary of the Socialist International, the party with which his party is affiliated and with which the Australian Labor Party is affiliated also. His is not the only case which gives grounds for concern. If I may say so- I say this with the greatest respect- I did not receive a satisfactory reply from Mrs Gandhi to the matter which I raised with her regarding Mr Fernandes.

I have just recently received a letter which was written by Lord Fenner Brockway, a Labor member of the British House of Lords, a man who for many years advocated freedom for India. He has raised the matter of Mr M. S. Hoda; a symbolical, to use Lord Fenner Brockway’s word. Lord Fenner Brockway said that Mr Hoda was the secretary of the International Transport Workers Federation and representative in Britain of the Socialist Party of India. He had done noteworthy constructive social work in India and had strongly supported Indira Gandhi in the past. Lord Fenner Brockway went on to say that Mr Hoda’s duties required him to travel abroad but the Indian Government had impounded his passport apparently because he had been active in Britain on behalf of the prisoners in India. That is one more example.

At the present time there are approximately 30 members of the National Parliament of India being held in prison under the emergency. Those imprisoned cover a whole gamut of political parties, from the Swatantra Party, the conservative private enterprise party; through the Jana Sangh, a very right-wing Hindu communal party; through the Socialist Party of India; through the Congress (O)- the Congress Party (Organisation), the Opposition Congress Partythrough to the Communist Party (Marxist), a party which broke with the Soviet Union some years ago. The only political parties which are supporting the Congress Party of the Government in the actions that it is taking are the Communist Party of India, the pro-Moscow Communist Party- without trying to judge why it is doing these things, I would imagine that the foreign policy interests of the Soviet Union would play some part in it- and the Moslem League, a small communal party representing the Moslems who apparently, for whatever reason, do not wish to become involved in a serious disagreement with the Government. All of the other major political parties and movements, including the bulk of the trade union movement in India, are opposed to the present action which is being taken by the Indian Government.

Amongst those people who are being detained or who have been detained under the emergencysome have been released from time to time- are one of Mahatma Gandhi’s closest collaborators, a former Deputy Prime Minister of India, Mr Morarji Desai, who is at present still in detention; Mr Basu, the Chairman of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)- honourable senators can see that those imprisoned cover a wide range of political views because Mr Desai was quite a conservative Indian nationalistmembers of the Socialist Party; Mr Modi of the Swatantra Party and members of practically every other Opposition party. There are many thousands of people at present being held in India under the detention provisions of the emergency.

A Bill is now before the Parliament to amend the Constitution of India. I do not wish to go into great detail on this matter, but there are two or three very significant provisions in this Bill. The first, but perhaps the least important although very important indeed, is that the right will be taken away from the Supreme Court of India to adjudicate on matters relating to amendments to the Indian Constitution. There will be no judicial authority to supervise the validity of consti.tutional amendments insofar as they deal with the basic human rights which have been guaranteed in the past within the Indian Constitution. . Another proposal is to the effect that the President of India- another constitutional amendment makes it clear that the President of India can act only on the advice of the Government of India- can amend the Constitution for a period of 2 years; that is to say, for all intents and purposes the executive government has the right to amend the Constitution. Another very important provision is that in the event of a state of emergency being imposed- either any future state of emergency or the current state of emergencythere will be no recourse to the courts with regard to the preservation of the basic human rights which in the past have been guaranteed within the Indian Constitution, which have been one of the bulwarks of the Indian Constitution and which, I would suggest, has been one of the reasons why in India in the past there has been such tolerance and such harmony, when we consider the difficulties between the various communal groups within that country.

I do not wish to insult and deride the Indian Government, but I do believe that those people who believe in the democratic system, people who are not enemies of India, should make it clear to India that we are very seriously disturbed about what is happening in that country. Already, a number of people and organisationsI would name the Socialist International itself- have protested about the treatment of the Indian Socialist Party in particular but of other political parties in general. There have been protests from other people. Recently a group of leading West Germans including Guenther Grass, the German novelist, and Max Frisch, the Swiss novelist who has been a leading fighter for civil liberties both in Eastern Europe and Western Europe, have conveyed their protests to the Indian Government. I believe that we have an obligation to do the same.

The argument has been put forward that the emergency is’ necessary because of the desperate conditions which at present prevail in India. I believe that this claim can be refuted by the fact that in the past in India when there were wars on two occasions with Pakistan and on another occasion with China, the Indian Government never found it necessary to impose any emergency. I believe that there are other domestic reasons relating to the insecurity of the present Government in India, primarily as a result of the recent Gujarat State elections in India in which the Indian Government Party was badly defeated by the Opposition parties which has led it to believe that there were some prospects of its being defeated in the coming elections for the National Parliament. Therefore they want to prevent that happening by imposing an emergency, by delaying the elections and by amending the Constitution. Also this action has been taken to overcome a decision which was taken by the Supreme Court of India- rightly or wrongly I do not know- that the Prime Minister of India was not eligible, in effect, to continue in the office of Prime Minister. I think that the actions that she has subsequently taken were a very severe blow to the democratic system in that country by her not accepting the decision of the court on this matter. I believe that this action in itself has assisted in the undermining of democracy in India. I wish to prolong the matter no further, only to say that what is happening in India is causing great distress to democratic people throughout the world. As has been seen in other countries, once you start off on the road of taking away the constitutional rights of people by whittling down democracy it is usually an unending process. It goes on and on until there is no democracy left at all.

I would like to conclude by quoting from a statement which was issued by the National

Committee for Review of the Constitution, a group of members of the various opposition parries in India. I believe these words are most pertinent to the situation. It states:

It is well known that the emergency provisions of the Wiemar Constitution were misused in Germany by Hitler to establish his personal dictatorship. When the Constitution of India was drafted, it was perhaps never envisaged that emergency would become a constant feature of the national life and the safeguard against the abuse of emergency powers would be nullified by a systematic erosion of checks and balances provided in the Constitution such as a free press, judicial review and fundamental rights. Exercise of emergency powers particularly during the last one year has demonstrated the need for a thorough review of the emergency provisions so as to provide effective safeguards to protect the interests of the people against arbitrary and oppressive actions of the executive.

The constitutional changes proposed by the Swaran Singh Committee -

That is the Committee that made the recommendations regarding the constitutional amendments- are calculated to emasculate the concept of checks and balances in respect of the exercise of executive authority by seriously diminishing the scope of judicial review. It is not difficult to envisage that once the powers of independent courts are eliminated from such a vital- field as elections, the very concept of free and fair elections would disappear and peoples” right to govern themselves would be seriously compromised.

Elections have been promised by. the Government, but as they will be held, so it seems, during the state of emergency, it will be an offence for people to comment on the emergency during their candidature. Through the censorship it will not be possible for reports of Opposition speeches to be circulated throughout the country. Opposition members will be able to hold meetings but only in halls of a limited size where a very small number of people in a country of 600 million will ever be able to hear what the Opposition is saying. I am not suggesting that we should engage in violent abuse of India, but I believe that members of this Parliament, by whatever means they have available, should make it clear to the Indian Government and its representatives that we are disturbed about what is happening there; that we are alarmed by the fact that democracy appears to be in the process of being destroyed in India. At the same time we should express to them the hope that the very high regard all democratic people have held for India over the last 30 years will not be destroyed by the arbitrary actions which have been taken over the past year. It is not yet too late. In a year’s time, if the present process continues, it well could be too late.

Senator SIBRAA:
New South Wales

– I support the remarks made by Senator Wheeldon tonight. I want to speak about the trial of George Fernandes that started in India today. As Senator Wheeldon said, George Fernandes is Chairman of the Socialist Party of India and he is also the National Secretary of the Indian Railway Workers union. It is very important to point out at this time that in all the period Fernandes has been in gaol the Indian Railway Workers Union has refused to appoint anybody as National Secretary in his place. This is the esteem in which he is held by the men with whom he used to work. He has been charged by the Indian Government with anti-national activities. He appeared in court today in chains. He has also been charged with sabotage and on other counts that really amount to sedition. The matter of Fernandes ‘s imprisonment and trial is of concern to many members of the Senate, especially those of us who have just returned from the visit to India about which Senator Wheeldon just spoke. As Senator Wheeldon said, we raised this question with Mrs Gandhi. Whilst she spent a great deal of time with our delegation- in fact, over one hour- her answers about Fernandes were unsatisfactory as far as we were concerned.

The treatment of George Fernandes ‘s mother and his brothers is also something that should concern us all. I have a letter dated 24 May from the mother of George Fernandes to the President of India which sets out the sort of treatment that she and her 2 sons received while the Indian police were looking for George Fernandes. It ought to be pointed out at this stage that the mother and the 2 brothers- a catholic family from Kerala have had nothing to do with the career of George Fernandes but they have suffered, and suffered very badly, at the hands of the Indian police. I seek leave to have this letter incorporated in Ilansard

The PRESIDENT:

– Is leave granted? There being no objection, leave is granted.

The document read as follows-

FROM THE MOTHER OF GEORGE FERNANDES

To the President of INDIA

May 24, 1976

Sir,

It is with a heavy hean that I am writing this letter with the hope of obtaining justice at your hands. I am 65 years and my 75 year old husband is a heart patient. My third son Michael Fernandes has been detained under the MISA since December, 1975.

On Saturday May 1, about 9 p.m. my 44 year old second son Lawrence Fernandes, was taken away from our residence by the Police. They began questioning him about the whereabouts of my eldest son George Fernandes and then subjected him in a most inhuman, reckless and ruthless manner to third degree methods of physical torture. Besides beating him with clubs (until five of them were broken to pieces) they used a banyan tree root to clout him with and booted him and slapped him. They threatened that if he did not reveal the whereabouts of George Fernandes he would be thrown on the Railway tracks and killed under a moving train leaving no evidence of their hand in his death. After thus reducing him to a condition of a physical and nervous wreck, he was kept in a solitary confinement in different police lockups in the most unhygenic condition until May 20 during which period he was subjected to further torture and interrogation. He was kept without food for three days, and was not give proper food on other days, nor allowed cigarettes. During all these 20 days he was allowed bath only on three days and made to remain in the same clothes in which he was when he was taken away on May 1 . He had become unconscious as a result of this inhuman treatment. He was taken to different doctors and hospitals, each time under a different and false name impersonating him as a Police Officer for treatment to keep him alive. On one night a doctor was brought to the Police Station itself for treating him.

On May 9, my son was taken by police car to Davangere and on May 10 produced before the Magistrate as though arrested in Davangere on the previous day.

He was continuously interrogated, refused lawyer’s help and not allowed to contact home. He was threatened with dire consequences if he reported to the Magistrate about the torture. Finally on May 20 he was produced in the 2nd Metropolitan Magistrate’s Chambers during lunch time and then removed to the Bangalore Central Prison where he was detained in a cell meant for condemned criminals.

The whereabouts of my son Lawrence had not been informed to us. On May 20 upon being informed by a lawyer, I went to the prison with the lawyer but was not allowed to meet my son. On the 2 1 st after waiting for over three hours I was taken to the cell to see him but not the lawyer. I found him looking dead. He was unable to move except without two persons helping him about and then too with great pain and limping. His left side is crippled and is unable to talk freely without faltering; he has lost at least 20 kg during these 20 days.

Yet another page was added to this act by serving on him on May 22 an order of detention under MISA, which also he been kept in the same cell.

Are my two sons being held hostage for George Fernandes whose whereabouts or condition my entire family is totally unaware of? Is it morally right that my family should be so harrassed and tormented for the political views held by my son George Fernandes’

Whatever I have stated here is on the basis of what the family could gather from Lawrence during the visits to him in the cell. For obvious reasons it is not quite exhaustive. I urge you in the name of all that is good in civilised conduct of human beings and their Governments, and in the name of justice to order a thorough judicial inquiry into this barbaric torture etc. and take suitable action against the concerned authorities.

I also urge that he should be transferred to a good hospital and specialist medical and psychatric treatment be given to him and daily visits to him by the family allowed so that he may regain his mental and physical health and become a human being.

Alice Fernandes

Senator SIBRAA:

– Fernandes ‘s trial begins today. We found out when we were in India that the Government plans to call 257 witnesses to press its case against Fernandes. It would appear that the Government is determined to prosecute him successfully. I believe, and I know Senator Wheeldon and Senator Robertson share my point of view, that this case will be a litmus test for civil liberties in India. I believe we should be watching a number of things. We should be watching the extent to which Fernandes is allowed access to legal advice even though Mrs Gandhi told us that he will be able to get legal advice from overseas. We ought to be looking at whether or not he is able to call his defence witnesses freely. We ought to be looking at the capacity or lack of capacity on the part of the Press to report the trial proceedings. I point out that the Indian Express, a newspaper that we were all reading less than a fortnight ago, has today been closed down. The charge against the Indian Express is that its rates were not paid.

We ought to look at the conduct of -the prosecution, the credibility of the witnesses, the objectivity of the court, the final verdict and the grounds for reaching that verdict. In short, I believe that Indian democratic freedoms are in the dock with George Fernandes today. All those committed to democratic principles in this Parliament should be concerned about it. At a time when Amnesty International identifies abuse of basic human rights in 1 12 countries- India is one of those countries- all Australians should be watching the current situation in India. Should Fernandes be convicted, I believe it will be another stage reached in the erosion of civil liberties in that country.

I hope that the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr Peacock) will take a moral stand on the Fernandes case and will press the Indian Government for his early and unconditional release from detention. I also believe that all senators should hope that the Indian state of emergency will be lifted, that freedom of the Press, freedom of speech and freedom of assembly and association will be restored and that the national elections that are set down for February 1977 will take place.

Senator MISSEN:
Victoria

– I would also like to say a few words on the matter raised by Senator Wheeldon. As I did not know the matter was to be raised tonight, I am afraid my contribution must be expressions without much consideration. I think all in this Parliament have been concerned in general for a year now about what is happening to what was one of the most important democracies in the world- India. I recall discussing with the head of Amnesty International only a few weeks ago while I was in the Soviet Union the situation in which people who believe in democracy in that country found themselves. The point was made to me that in fact they may be a very small minority in the Soviet Union but also that those who believe in democratic rights are now in a minority in the world. We in the world in that category are in a minority now and therefore there is more need for us to raise our voice when we see another country unfortunately removing itself from the democratic process.

I believe that all members, particularly those in the Amnesty organisation in this Parliament, have been concerned for some considerable time at what is obviously a train of events which we have seen time and again in other countries. We see it happening in India. Perhaps one should emphasise the fact that the right of free speech and the right of the Press in India- it was an important and valuable Press- are being quickly taken away from the Indian people. It is clear that in a country of that size the opportunity the Press was able to give of expressing all kinds of different views- political, religious and otherwiseis terribly vital to the people of that country. Obviously it is a matter which is under complete challenge.

I congratulate Senator Wheeldon on raising this matter tonight in the calm and sensible way in which he has done. He is quite right in saying that no good is to be served by our berating the Indians at this time. It is important that we press them firmly though, pointing out what was possible, what were the traditions under which that country was formed, and what were those things which its first leaders regarded as vital to the Indian people. I think it is important that those of us who live in a part of the world where democracy continues should be making a lot of noiseconstructive noise- and getting in touch with India and other countries in which this retreat from democracy is taking place. Therefore, as one Government senator representing, I believe,, the views of most honourable senators on this side of the chamber, I join in saying that these matters are well raised tonight by Senator Wheeldon. I hope that we will be quite active in our fight for democracy in India.

Senator COLSTON:
Queensland

– In the House of Representatives on 18 February last, the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, answered a question without notice from the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Whitlam. The Prime Minister, in his answer, stated that the Government had not at that time determined its attitude to the report of the Joint Committee on Pecuniary Interests of Members of Parliament. During the course of his reply, the Prime Minister did mention that, as a result of the recommendations of the Joint Committee, all Ministers had been asked to make declarations of their pecuniary interests to him. He also stated that all ministerial staff had made, or were in the process of making, similar declarations to the Minister for Administrative Services (Senator Withers).

I take the time of the Senate this evening to urge the Government to take immediate steps to implement the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Pecuniary Interests. Those involved in the political life of this nation seem always to have been regarded as something less than honest. To my mind, this conclusion is patently incorrect for an overwhelming number of members of Parliament. Nevertheless, the editorial writer of the Australian on 3 September this year, succinctly outlined what a serious and sensitive area this is. In part, the editorial on that day read as follows:

No members of any Australian Parliament will be safe from the more unsavoury kind of innuendo that links their political business with financial pleasure until a code of conduct is set down, backed up with rules of disclosure and reinforced by stiff penalties for offenders.

One of the most notable facts about politics in Australia in recent times has been the steady, progressive decline in citizen confidence in their institutions of government in general, and in the Parliament in particular. This decline in confidence is freely discussed in the Press, is the subject of lectures in government at our universities, and is accepted by most, if not all of us, in the Parliament. Yet remedial action has been slow in coming. I am certain that a most important step in the restoration of public confidence is for Parliament to enact enforceable legislation requiring public disclosure of financial holdings and assets of members of Parliament, their staff and other office holders.

The New South Wales Premier, Mr Wran, announced on 1 September that he would later this year, or early next year, introduce legislation requiring members of the New South Wales Parliament to reveal their pecuniary interests. Mr Wran’s statement has been greeted with satisfaction by all those who were appalled by recent revelations in the New South Wales Parliament concerning the incomes of Ministers in the previous Liberal-Country Party Government in that State from their milk quotas. Soon after Mr Wran’s announcement, the Victorian Premier, Mr Hamer, revealed that he would like to establish a code of business conduct for members of the Victorian Parliament.

I do not intend to debate the relative merits of the different approaches adopted by these 2 States. Nevertheless, I do contend that both Mr Wran and Mr Hamer are to be commended for taking action in this important sphere. One consequence of the separate announcements of Mr Wran and Mr Hamer has been to underline the Federal Government’s inaction. It is not satisfactory to demand that Ministers merely make declarations to the Prime Minister and that ministerial staff make similar declarations to the Minister for Administrative Services. It is to be hoped that Mr Fraser, following his reply to Mr Whitlam on 18 February, has sought to reach a decision on the Government’s attitude to all the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Pecuniary Interests. After all, this Committee was drawn from both sides of both Houses of this Parliament. It is worth reminding members that the Committee’s report, tabled in this House almost one year ago, was the result of a unanimous decision of the members of that Committee.

There is a greater onus on the Federal Government than simply to make its intentions clear. It is equally as important for the Government to set the lead to those States of Australia which have neglected to come to grips with the very real problem which confronts members of Parliament- the problem of conflict of interest. In particular, I urge the Government not only to set an example by preparing and passing through the national Parliament suitable legislation, but also to use its considerable influence to have the Queensland Government introduce similar legislation.

All honourable senators will be aware of the claims regarding conflict of interest involving Ministers in the Queensland Government. These claims abound and, although some have been proved beyond doubt, they are almost unbelievable in their audacity.

Undoubtedly, the most celebrated case involved the revelation in 1970 that 6 Queensland Cabinet Ministers had received handouts of preferential shares from Comalco. Years later, in an interview with David Frost, the Queensland Premier, Mr Bjelke-Petersen, confided that, when matters in which a Queensland Government Minister had a pecuniary interest came before Cabinet, that Minister left the Cabinet room and did not take pan in the discussion. Thus, when an issue involving Comalco comes before the Queensland Cabinet, a most peculiar situation must prevail. Obviously, many members of the Cabinet would be obliged to leave the room and wait outside whilst the matter was discussed by the remainder of their Cabinet colleagues.

Allegations and counter-allegations about the pecuniary interests of Mr Bjelke-Petersen have continually surfaced throughout his term as Premier of Queensland. Many of these allegations have involved mining ventures in which the Queensland Premier has held an interest, including Exoil (No Liability) and Artesian Basin OU Co. Pty Ltd. These issues are a matter of public record and have been discussed at length in Parliament and in the media. No doubt people have made up their own minds by now on the integrity or lack of integrity of the Queensland Premier with respect to his business dealings.

Some honourable senators may wonder why I would tonight raise the name of the Queensland Premier. I do so because I have been prompted to speak on this occasion on the need for urgent action on the Joint Committee report by what I consider to be an appalling situation that currently exists in the State of Queensland. About 2 months ago, I became aware of details which I shall outline to the Senate this evening. I do admit that, for reasons which will soon become clear, I have until now been reluctant to raise the matter in this place. I am led to believe that a number of newspapers and other media outlets wanted to report the matter. Facts about the details I am about to outline were made known at the National Party conference in Cairns in July this year. I have been informed that the Premier’s Press Officer, Mr Allen Callaghan, threatened the Press that if it reported the details it would face libel action. After I speak tonight, that threat, of course, will have no force at all.

Since I became aware of the matter, which involves a stunning conflict of interest on the part of the Queensland Premier, some mention of it has been made elsewhere, despite the threats of Mr Callaghan. The matter was featured in an article by Robert Cameron and Marian Wilkinson in the Nation Review on 3 September 1976, and also in a pamphlet which has been circulating in Brisbane. Nevertheless, let me state that I wanted to be certain of my facts before mentioning the matter in this chamber. I am extremely conscious of the fact that any criticism I make of the Queensland Premier could be construed simply as an attempt by me to score political points against him, given his treatment of my nomination to succeed the late Bertie Milliner in this place. It is well known how Mr BjelkePetersen supported an unwarranted attack on my character at the time of the casual vacancy in 1975. This, however, did not affect my objectivity.

My criticism of the Premier tonight is by no means an attempt to play politics. The issue I am about to outline is far too serious for that. The facts that I shall now recount provide the strongest impetus I have yet heard for legislative action, not only in Queensland but in the Federal

Parliament to guard against an apparent conflict of interests on the part of political leaders of this country. The facts which I have been able to obtain already indicate a remarkable web which involves a firm named Nema Holdings Ltd, the State Works Department and Mr BjelkePetersen. In fact my investigations have shown -

The PRESIDENT:

– Order! I refer Senator Colston to standing order 418 and ask him to bear the provisions of that standing order in mind.

Senator COLSTON:

-Yes, Mr President, I shall. I think, Mr President, as I proceed you will see that my facts are well researched and my motives proper. In fact, my investigations have shown that there are at least 12 interconnected companies involved. There could really be more. Tonight, however, I shall mention only the more significant ones. It is also worth reporting to honourable senators that during the course of my investigations there were some not too subtle attempts to prevent me from obtaining information about companies registered in Queensland.

Returning to the State Works Department in Queensland, let me state that it has long been recognised by building workers in that State as a reference point for awards and for conditions of employment. Recent decisions by the Queensland Government, however, have led to a great deal of construction work, previously carried out by building workers employed by the State Works Department being let to private enterprise. Therefore, because the Works Department has been receiving fewer contracts, many hundreds of building workers have been retrenched. Some who are closely connected with the building industry in Queensland have put the figure as high as 1200.

The responsible Minister in Queensland, Mr Lee, and also the Premier, have suggested that those retrenched from the State Works Department will be employed in private enterprise. This remains to be seen. The older worker often encounters difficulty in finding work when he is retrenched in the building industry. It is worthwhile remarking that, such are the physical demands of the building industry, anyone of my age or older is put into the category of an ‘older worker’. I suspect that a large proportion of those who are retrenched will be unable to find positions with private builders, will leave the industry and will, consequently, be required to adapt to a lower standard of living to which they had been accustomed.

One of the firms which has quite literally hit the jackpot because of the Queensland Government’s new policy is Nema Holdings Ltd. Nema Holdings has captured a large share of State Government contracts. These include renovations to the State Works Department administration building, contracts for Macgregor, Kedron and Coorparoo State high schools, Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital and the administrative centre of the State Harbours and Marine Department. In all, some 20 State Government contracts worth at least $5m have been awarded to Nema Holdings Ltd. Nema Holdings Ltd gained public listing late in 1975 following a merger of Nema Constructions Pty Ltd and Highland Gold Development No Liability. This was a backdoor listing. Nema, previously not listed, used the listing of Highland Gold Development as an entry to stock exchange listing.

All indications are that Nema Holdings has done very well in its first year of operation. It has diversified by acquiring two other companies, Queensland Bait Supplies and King Turner Engineering. The value of work that Nema Holdings Ltd had on hand at 3 1 January this year was about $llm. Seemingly, much of it is Queensland State Government contracts. The company has capital of $480,000 in 2 400 000 shares of 20 cents each. Its shares, incidentally, have throughout the year sold at above par value.

Now, how is Mr Bjelke-Petersen connected with Nema Holdings? The interdependence of a large number of companies in Queensland makes it difficult to set out all the facts in this case. I shall, however,, now detail the more important ones. One large shareholder is Oilmin No Liability, formerly Ex Oil. Oilmin, of post office box 237, North Quay, has 140 000 shares in Nema. It is interesting to note that Oilmin ‘s address is the same as that of Transoil No Liability, which has 60 000 shares in Nema and 20 1 000 shares in Oilmin.

I have not yet mentioned a shareholding of the Queensland Premier, but I shall now do so. Mr Bjelke-Petersen has 2 1 000 shares in Oilmin which, you will recall, has 140 000 shares in Nema. So, because of his significant shareholding in Oilmin, Mr Bjelke-Petersen has an indirect share in Nema Holdings. The story does not stop there. Another very large shareholder in Oilmin is Artesian Basin Oil, one of the directors of which is Florence Isabel Bjelke-Petersen of Kingaroy. Remember, Oilmin has 140 000 shares in Nema Holdings. Artesian Basin Oil owns approximately one million shares- about 37.5 per cent -in Oilmin and 49 per cent of the shares in

Artesian Basin Oil are owned by Mr BjelkePetersen. Thus the Premier of Queensland is, indirectly but quite substantially, a shareholder in a company which is obtaining a large proportion of its business from contracts let by the Queensland Works Department.

To complete the picture, one of the directors of Nema Holdings Ltd is Mr C. W. Siller. Mr Siller and Mr Bjelke-Petersen have apparently been business associates for over 20 years. Mr Siller himself, as well as being a director of Nema Holdings, is also a director of Oilmin, Transoil, Petromin N.L. and Oil Drilling and Exploration Ltd. It is worthy of note that Mr Siller is also on the management committee of the National Party in Queensland, being a metropolitan zone vice-president of the Party. In May 1974 he was unsuccessful in his bid to gain a seat in the House of Representatives when he stood as a National Party candidate for the Federal electorate of Brisbane. Allow me to quote from a letter Nema recently sent to its employees. In this letter, it spoke of a ‘small, indirect interest’ which the Premier has in the company. While the evidence suggests that ‘small’ is not the appropriate adjective in this case, it is interesting that in no way did the company deny that the Premier had an interest. The letter read as follows:

TO ALL NEMA EMPLOYEES

There have been rumours that since Nema became a Public Company in December 1975 it may be winning State Works Department Contracts because the premier of Queensland has held a small indirect interest in Nema since that date.

Nema has been tendering for State Works Department Contracts since 1969. The rate at which it has won Contracts since December 1 973 is almost exactly the same as the rate for the 12 months ended December 1 975.

The Contracts which Nema wins are won on open competitive tendering. This means that tenders are opened publicly for the information of all.

I have been associated with Nema for the whole time that Nema has been tendering for State Works Department Contracts and I firmly believe Nema wins contracts because of its efficiency in tendering and the reputation it has built up over the years in completing contracts won.

The Rumley and Stockwell families still control Nema and there is no truth in any suggestion that Nema has obtained State Works Department Contracts in the way the rumours suggest. The Rumley and Stockwell families do not operate that way.

Bill Stockwell 10 September 1976.

Let me stress that I do not allege that Nema has been given favourable treatment because of its association with Mr Bjelke-Petersen. I make no claim that Nema has not won its contracts on its own merits. I certainly have seen no evidence to suggest that this is so. What I am stressing is that a conflict of interest exists with the political leader in the State of Queensland. Indeed, the Queensland Premier’s conflict of interest in this case is plain and indisputable. Mr BjelkePetersen ‘s record of personal financial involvment in matters subject to decision by his own Government is unequalled by any politician in this country. Any politician with but a speck of decency who found himself in this position would resign.

I urge the media not to be silent on this issue. If Mr Bjelke-Petersen happened to be a Labor politician- heaven forbid- he would be hounded mercilessly by the media and forced to hand over to someone who exhibited integrity in his leadership. The fact that Mr Bjelke-Petersen is a member of the National Party does not absolve him from the searching scrutiny of the media. His party membership and his position certainly give him no licence to make personal profit from contracts let by his own Government.

In concluding, I repeat that there is an indisputable need for legislation to implement the recommendations of the Joint Committee on the Pecuniary Interests of Members of Parliament. I certainly hope this Government is prepared to act on those recommendations and that in doing so it will urge the Queensland Government to move likewise.

Senator McLAREN:
South Australia

– Tonight I desire to raise a matter which is causing great concern to almost every Australian. I refer to the matter of uranium mining and nuclear energy. On 8 September I posed to Senator Guilfoyle, in her capacity as the Minister in this chamber representing the Minister for Health (Mr Hunt), the following question:

Is the Minister aware of the explosion at the Richland uranium plant in the United States on 30 August this year as a result of which several workers were contaminated by radioactive waste? Can the Minister say what steps have been taken by the Australian Government to obtain a full report on this accident? If no steps have been taken will the Minister undertake to obtain a report and make it available to the Senate?

Senator Guilfoyle in her reply said that she would bring the matter to the attention of the Minister for Health and obtain a report for me. Today I received a letter from the Minister for Health, Mr Hunt, and I wish to quote it. It is dated 30 September, it is headed ‘Minister for Health, Parliament House, Canberra’ and it states:

My dear Senator,

I refer to the question without notice which you directed to Senator Guilfoyle, as the Minister representing me in the Senate, on 8 September 1976, concerning the explosion at the Richland Uranium Plant in the United States on 30 August 1976.

I am aware that an accident occurred at the Atlantic Richland Hanford Company on 30 August 1976. I understand that an explosion occurred during routine chemical separation of Americium-241 from reactor waste products and that the explosion was chemical not nuclear. ,

I emphasise that. It continues:

The attached report which was obtained by the Government is in the form of an official news release from the Hanford office of the United States Energy Research and Development Administration, which states, inter alia … we will be issuing no further statements until significant findings have been made . . .

Any further questions on this matter should be directed to my colleague, the Minister for National Resources. He would be responsible for determining whether the final report could be made available, as I understand that the final report on the accident will be forwarded to the Australian Atomic Energy Commission, which comes within his portfolio.

Kind regards, RALPH J. HUNT

Attached to the letter is a report containing background information. It comprises 5 typewritten pages, and I seek leave of the Senate to have it incorporated in Hansard.

The PRESIDENT:

-Is leave granted? There being no objection, leave is granted.

The document read as follows-

page 998

BACKGROUND INFORMATION REGARDING THE 242Z ACCIDENT ON AUGUST 30 1976

The Facilities

The facility in which the accident occurred is designated the Z plant and is part of a group of plutonium processing facilities located near the center of the S70 square mile Hanford Reservation. The complex is about 27 miles from the City of Richland and 9 miles from N Reactor.

The process equipment involved in the accident is located inside a closed, stainless steel, glove box approximately 4 feet by 8 feet by 9 feet in height located in a small room in the 242Z Building. The physical damage was limited to this one room.

The Americium Purification Process

The process was purification of Americium for its ultimate use by industry as a neutron source for making special measurements. For example, Americium is used in nondestructive tests of materials and logging of core drillings from oil wells.

Purification of the Americium is accomplished by using an ion exchange column consisting of a tank filled with beads of an organic plastic material or resin. An Americium bearing solution which is a byproduct stream from purification of plutonium, is introduced into the resin which collects the Americium. Subsequently, the Americium can be removed from the resin by use of a nitric acid wash.

The process is a well-established one and is similar to the process used in a home water softening device.

The Accident

Early Monday morning, Messrs McCluskey and Klundt were operating the processing equipment in the small room described above.

Apparently, when the chemical reaction occurred, Mr McCluskey was near the front of the closed glove box and Mr Klundt at the far end of the room.

When the reaction occurred, the glass windows in the front of the glove box were shattered outward and Mr McCluskey incurred multiple superficial cuts and first and second degree acid burns on the face and shoulder, and Americium contamination from the nitric acid and resin which sprayed into the room.

Mr Klundt, who was not injured by the chemical reaction itself, assisted Mr McCluskey from the room and in the process, incurred Americium contamination.

Two nurses from the 24 hour first aid stations located in the areas and an ambulance arrived at the scene within minutes. Mr McCluskey ‘s clothing was removed and decontamination and treatment were begun immediately. He was given clean clothes and driven by ambulance to the Emergency Decontamination Facility located adjacent to Kadlec Hospital in Richland, Washington.

There he was immediately treated, and additional decontamination efforts undertaken by trained physicians and radiation specialists of the Hanford Environmental Health Foundation and Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratory.

Throughout these activities Mr McCluskey was fully conscious and able to co-operate in his treatment.

Meanwhile, Mr Klundt was given preliminary decontamination and a clothing change in the processing facility. He was then transferred to the first aid station in the 200 West Area. Mr Klundt has remained in the 200 West Area for treatment.

Treatment for Mr McCluskey

Mr McCluskey ‘s treatment is being accomplished by several Hanford Environmental Health Foundation physicians and nurses together with outside specialists in surgery and ophthalmology. The burns from the nitric acid, which have been likened to a severe sunburn, have required no special treatment.

The cuts required removal of glass particles, but none has thus far required suturing. Activities to decontaminate the cuts and the body surface consist of repeated washings of the patient with cleansing solutions. The speed with which this process can be accomplished in this case is slowed by the presence of the burns.

Immediately upon his arrival at the Decontamination Facility, Mr McCluskey was administered a chelating agent This chemical speeds the normal body functions to remove the Americium deposited in the body. Applications of this chemical will continue to be administered daily under careful medical observation to assure no adverse side effects from the chemical.

Mr McCluskey has experienced blurred vision related to the nitric acid burns but the attending specialist believes there will be no significant permanent impairment.

No determination of the long-term body retention of Americium can be made until decontamination of the body surface is completed. This process is expected to take as least several weeks.

Measurements of the internal deposition or body burden are made by measuring the quantity of radioactive material eliminated and radiations from the body. Three types of analyses are used: ( 1 ) analysis for radioactive materials in urin, (2) analysis for radioactive materials in faeces, and (3) counting the radiation coming from the body with sensitive counting equipment, commonly called whole body counting. The first two techniques are being used to estimate Mr McCluskey’s body deposition at this time. The third method cannot be used because the external contamination must be removed to permit the use of this sensitive measurement.

Based on the preliminary analyses it is expected that the internal deposition will considerably exceed guidelines for occupational exposure and is considered to be a serious matter by ERDA and its contractors.

These guidelines have been issued by the National Committee on Radiation Protection and Measurement, and the International Commission of Radiological Protection for quantities of radioactive materials deposited within the human body. These quantities are calculated to limit the radiation dose to levels considered acceptable by the majority of the scientific investigators expert in the field of radiation effects. The recommendations are accepted generally within the United States and the international community. The limits are set at levels well below those that would be expected to produce any detectable effect on the individual.

Mr McCIuskey has requested that detailed clinical data, including his specific body burden and radiation exposure, not be publicly released, and pursuant to the provisions of the Privacy Act, Mr McCIuskey ‘s wishes must be respected.

Mr McCIuskey, who is 64 years of age, is not incapacitated; he is in good spirits and is responding well to the treatment just described.

Treatment of Mr Klundt

Mr Klundt who incurred no injuries in the accident and who received substantially less contamination than did Mr McCIuskey, is receiving similar decontamination treatment, including administration of the chelating chemical. Mr Klundt is 43 years of age and is in good spirits and fully able to co-operate in his treatment.

Mr Klundt has also asked that his privacy be protected with regard to release of detailed clinical data, including specific body burden and radiation exposure.

Cause of the Accident

As indicated earlier, the cause of the accident is being investigated by both the operating contractor ( ARHCO) and a team appointed by the ERDA Richland Operations Office Manager.

While it will be at least a couple of weeks before the investigations will be completed, there is enought data at this point to indicate that the force which ruptured the glove box windows resulted from a chemical reaction of the nitric acid with the resin and the ion exchange column. It is also believed that the probable cause of the reaction itself was the degradation of the resin pellets from extended exposure to radiation from Americium in the column, making the resin more susceptible to the reaction which occurred.

Normal operating procedures are designed to prevent radiation-caused degradation of the resin. The investigations will determine whether the procedures were adequate and/or whether they were properly followed. It would not be appropriate to speculate as to what the ultimate outcome of the investigations might be and we will be issuing no further statements until significant findings have been made.

Senator McLAREN:

– I thank the Senate. In his letter to me the Minister said that the explosion was chemical and not nuclear, yet we find that the report, in paragraph 3 on page 2, states’.

Mr Klundt

He was one of the persons involved in the accident- who was not injured by the chemical reaction itself, assisted Mr McCIuskey from the room and in the process, incurred Americium contamination.

Although it was claimed to be a chemical explosion, Mr Klundt incurred Americium contamination. Then the report, in paragraph 3 on page 4 states:

Mr McCIuskey has requested that detailed clinical data, including his specific body burden and radiation exposure, not be publicly released, and pursuant to the provisions of the Privacy Act, Mr McCIuskey ‘s wishes must be respected.

Mr McCluskey, who is 64 years of age, is not incapacitated; he is in good spirits and is responding well to the treatment, just described.

The second last paragraph on that page states:

Mr Klundt has also asked that his privacy be protected with regard to release of detailed clinical data, including specific body burden and radiation exposure.

I have spoken to some people very well versed in nuclear energy and it is open to doubt whether some of the statements are correct. I am in no position because of my limited knowledge of nuclear energy to pass any comment and the reason I have sought leave to have that document incorporated in Hansard is to allow people with very extensive knowledge of uranium and nuclear energy to look at it and perhaps make some comment on it.

I am disturbed at a statement which appeared in the weekend Press, and I refer now to today’s Canberra Times and a reported statement made in Perth at the weekend by Dr T. M. Sabine, head of the School of Physics and Materials at the New South Wales Institute of Technology. Speaking in Western Australia at the weekend, Dr Sabine is reported to have suggested that Western Australia be used as a nuclear garbage dump. Of course, the Premier of Western Australia, and I give him credit for this, has said that that is not acceptable, and neither should it be. Yet it poses in many minds a query about the great danger we are facing when we find that people who supposedly are experts in physics are suggesting that Australia ought to be used as a dump for nuclear waste. I am hoping that many people in Australia will take notice of what Dr Sabine has said and will make some very strong informed comment on it. The Governor of South Australia, Sir Mark Oliphant, is reported in today’s Canberra Times under the Adelaide date line of Monday as saying that he was surprised and appalled that a man of science had suggested Australia be used as a nuclear waste dumping ground. The article states:

Sir Mark, a scientist, said he was one of the early workers on uranium enrichment, but now believed there were too many dangers in the process.

That is a further word of warning to people advocating the use of nuclear energy without further study. I was privileged this evening to hear an address by Dr Dale Bridenbaugh from the United States of America and Dr Helen Caldicott, a noted South Australian doctor who has been very outspoken on the dangers associated with the use of uranium. For those who may not be aware, Dr Bridenbaugh is a former manager in the nuclear energy division of the General Electric Company in the United States. He is to address a public meeting at the Copland Lecture Theatre at the Australian National University in Canberra tomorrow night. These people told us tonight of the very grave dangers associated with the use of nuclear energy and the lasting results which can occur because of our ignorance. I will not say any more on this matter tonight but I am hoping that as a result of this report being made a public document, and it would not have if I had not had it incorporated in Hansard, it will provoke some public debate and the people of Australia will be far better informed on the dangers of nuclear energy.

Senator WITHERS:
Western AustraliaMinister for Administrative Services · LP

– There have been 3 matters raised in the adjournment debate tonight and I will deal with them in inverse order. As to the matter raised by Senator McLaren, I am sure that the Minister for Health (Mr Hunt) will read this speech with interest, but I will make just one comment on it. As I recall, what Dr Sabine said in Western Austalia was not just that Western Australia should be used as a dumping ground for nuclear waste. To say that that was the burden of his speech would be to take him out of context.

Senator Colston raised certain matters. I agree with him that the matter of pecuniary interests is a very interesting subject and that the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Pecuniary Interests of Members of the Parliament brought in a very interesting report. I wonder whether the report would have been in the same vein if the Committee had taken into account the judgment in what might be called the Webster case. Maybe the Committee did or maybe it did not. Our colleague Senator Webster was before the Court of Disputed Returns on a pecuniary interest matter. The learned Chief Justice, in his judgment on the qualification of a senator, did not adopt the narrow view of pecuniary interests that so many people think it is all about.

Senator Georges:

– That does not alter the constitutional position.

Senator WITHERS:

-I think that is what it is all about. It is not the narrow issue which people think. Senator Colston made a clarion call for the Press to take up the cause. I invite him to make that speech in public in Brisbane. I am quite certain the newspapers would be happy to print it. Without trying to give away free legal advice, they would be somewhat immune from the laws of defamation if their report was fair comment on a matter of public importance. He should put himself to the test in the courts.

Senator Colston:

– I will repeat it anywhere, any time.

Senator WITHERS:

-Make the speech in Brisbane, and make the same allegations.

I will not go into the substance of the matter raised by Senator Wheeldon who was very ably supported by Senator Sibraa and Senator Missen. I do not think there would be a senator who was not enormously impressed by the sincerity and the thoughtfulness which went into those 3 speeches. I do not think I, as a member of the Government, should attempt to canvass the merits of what was said because I do not think I ought to do that in my capacity as representing in this place my colleague Andrew Peacock. I will certainly ask my colleague to read those speeches and to give them all the attention he can. I speak for myself and, I think, for most senators. We were most impressed by the quality of the 3 speeches on a matter which is of real importance to the world. I thank Senator Wheeldon for raising the matter in the Senate.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Senate adjourned at 11.28 p.m.

page 1001

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

The following answers to questions were circulated:

Aboriginal Land Rights (Question No. 492)

Senator Colston:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, upon notice:

  1. Has the Roman Catholic Jesuit Order requested Comalco Ltd to recognise Aboriginal land rights and to increase compensation to the Aboriginal people of Weipa.
  2. Has the Order, Comalco Ltd, or the Aboriginal community of Weipa approached the Department of Aboriginal Affairs about this matter since the Annual General Meeting of Comalco in Melbourne on 14 April 1976.
  3. Does the Minister, or the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, intend to intervene in the discussions on the suggested renegotiation of the agreement between the Aboriginal community and Comalco Ltd.
  4. What assistance has (a) Comalco Ltd, (b) the Australian Government, and (c) the Queensland Government given to the Aboriginal community of Weipa since the date mining rights at Weipa were first granted to Comalco Ltd.
Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

– The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs has provided the following reply to the honourable senator’s question: (1)I understand that at the Annual General Meeting of shareholders on 14 April 1976 the Roman Catholic Jesuit Order did publicly make such a request.

  1. Comalco Ltd has provided my Department with a copy of a statement made by the Company at the Annual General Meeting when two student priests of the Jesuit Order asked a series of questions.
  2. There is no agreement between the Aboriginal community at Weipa and Comalco Ltd.
  3. (a) Comalco assistance to the Aboriginal community at Weipa in the period from 1968 to 1976 includes: extension of power supply to Weipa South installation of water supply system transfer of bulk refrigeration equipment to Weipa South salaries, travel and overheads of Comalco staff and outside consultants connected with Weipa South town planning and formation of the Weipa Aborigines Society. unloading and transfer of air and sea freight to Weipa South from 1958 to 1973 when the Department of Aboriginal and Islanders Advancement took this over $150,000 to the Presbyterian Mission in the late 1950’s to enable it to re-house the community a commitment of $ 1 , 000,000 over ten years to assist in the establishment of the Weipa Aborigines Society.

    1. Assistance by the Commonwealth Government to the Weipa community is as follows: grants to the Weipa Aborigines Society: $ 100,000 on 5 July 1 973 for construction of a pre-school $ 150,000 on 6 June 1 974 for additional pre-school costs $225,000 on 23 September 1975 to complete sewerage reticulation.
    2. The Queensland Minister for Aboriginal and Islanders Advancement has provided the following information:

Since February 1966 the Queensland Government has spent $2,541,359 at Weipa South in addition to salaries and other costs associated with the maintenance of a staff structure for the provision of general welfare services to the Aboriginal Community. Also the Community has access to and services available from other State public services such as Education, Health, etc., costs of which cannot be separated in relation to the Aboriginal Community and these are not specifically identifiable’.

Expenditure by Aboriginal Organisations (Question No. 801)

Senator Keeffe:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, upon notice:

  1. 1 ) Did the Department of Aboriginal Affairs send telegrams in the last few days to all regional offices of the Department requesting information on the expenditure of Aboriginal organisations on items such as: (a) capital works, (b) plant and equipment, (c) wages, (d) dwellings and contents, (e) buildings, and (f) vehicles.
  2. Has the Department also asked for a break-down of wages in terms of Aboriginal wages and non-Aboriginal wages; if so, is this break-down in terms of white and black another step toward reducing the number of Aboriginal staff.
  3. If the answers to ( 1 ) and (2) are in the affirmative, is this exercise another money saving drive, and will the result of this be an attempt to bulk purchase on insurance for all Aboriginal organisations.
Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

– The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs has provided the following reply to the honourable senator’s question.

  1. The Department has sought information from its regional offices along the lines indicated by the honourable senator to assist in the conduct of a review of some of its programs.
  2. Information on numbers of Aboriginal and nonAboriginal staff employed by Aboriginal organisations was sought in order to establish what effect any economies might have on Aboriginal employment The aim is to maintain, not reduce, Aboriginal employment
  3. No.

Hay Inquiry (Question No. 837)

Senator Colston:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, upon notice:

  1. 1 ) When does the Minister expect to receive the report of the ‘Hay’ Inquiry, and does he intend to make the report public
  2. Has the Minister been receiving interim reports, either written or verbal, from the ‘Hay’ Committee.
Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

– The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs has provided the following reply to the honourable senator’s question:

  1. 1 ) and (2) The report by Mr D. O. Hay (Defence Forces Ombudsman) who was appointed by the Government to review the delivery of services financed by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs was received by the Government on 4

June 1976; no decision has been made as to the publication of the report.

Department of Aboriginal Affairs: Terminology (Question No. 839)

Senator Colston:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, upon notice:

Does the Department of Aboriginal Affairs have a specified policy on the use of the terms ‘Aborigines ‘ and ‘Aboriginals ‘ in correspondence; if so, what is that policy.

Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

– The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs has provided the following reply to the honourable senator’s question:

When it was established in 1972, the Department of Aboriginal Affairs adopted the practise of the Office of Aboriginal Affairs in using the following terminolgy- noun singular- ‘Aboriginal ‘ noun plural- ‘Aboriginals ‘ adjective- ‘Aboriginal ‘.

Department of Aboriginal Affairs: Cuts in Funding (Question No. 844)

Senator Colston:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, upon notice:

Has the Minister’s attention been drawn to an article in the National Times dated 28 June 1976, by Andrew Clark, which purports to reveal selected extracts from Department of Aboriginal Affairs staff memoranda relating to cuts in Federal funding for Aboriginal Affairs; if so, since the extracts are selective will the Minister agree to provide the Senate with the full text of each of the memoranda quoted in the article.

Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

– The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs has provided the following reply to the honourable senator’s question:

My attention has been drawn to the article by the question. I do not agree to providing the full text of the memoranda.

Grain Reserve Strategy (Question No. 846)

Senator Colston:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Primary Industry, upon notice:

What action, if any, is the Department of Primary Industry taking to develop an Australia-wide grain reserve strategy, as was suggested in an Editorial in the Queensland Country Life on 24 June 1 976.

Senator Cotton:
LP

– The Minister for Primary Industry has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:

The Government is aware of the serious drought situation facing primary producers in the agricultural and pastoral areas of southern Australia and has considered ways and means of assistance. It has recently announced that financial assistance would be provided to the drought affected States to help finance a number of relief measures which would be of direct assistance to primary producers.

The Government also announced that it was prepared to consider sympathetically any further applications for drought assistance from the State Governments.

The feasibility of establishing a national grain reserve, as a basis for livestock feeding in times of drought has been considered by the Australian Agricultural Council on a number of occasions. The Council is of the opinion that the development of drought strategies, whether based on feeding, agistment, or sale of stock, is a matter to be determined by individual property owners in the light of their own particular circumstances.

Time of occurrence, duration of, areas affected and severity of droughts are unpredictable and consequently the quantities of grain required for a reserve and their location is a matter of considerable uncertainty. There are however ample stocks of grain currently available from the Australian Wheat Board for stockfeed purposes.

Aboriginal Population in Queensland (Question No. 864)

Senator Colston:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, upon notice:

  1. 1 ) Has the Department of Aboriginal Affairs in Canberra received any information from its various branch offices that would verify the claim made by Queensland Minister for Aboriginal and Islander’s Advancement, Mr Wharton, and reported in the Courier Mail dated 6 August 1976, that Queensland was turning into a refugee camp for Aborigines from the Northern Territory and New South Wales ‘.
  2. If the claim can be verified, what are the reasons for this situation, and what action is the Minister taking as a result.
Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

– The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs has provided the following reply to the honourable senator’s question:

  1. 1 ) No. Census figures on population movement indicate that between 1966 and 1971, 277 Aboriginals entered Queensland from New South Wales and 252 emigrated from Queensland into New South Wales; and 63 Aboriginals entered Queensland from the Northern Territory and 107 emigrated from Queensland into the Northern Territory. I have, however, sought information from Mr Wharton on this matter.
  2. Not applicable. See ( 1 ) above.

Grants for Aged Persons Accommodation (Question No. 915)

Senator Grimes:

asked the Minister for Social Security, upon notice:

  1. 1 ) How many organisations have applied for capital or recurrent grants in respect of accommodation or care for fewer than 20 people, since the inception of the Homeless Persons Assistance Program.
  2. What proportion of applications does this represent.
  3. ) How many of these applications have been approved.
  4. What proportion of the approvals does this represent
  5. Have applications been received from self-help groups prepared to administer their own projects.
  6. Have these been approved.
Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

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

  1. 56 organisations have made 157 applications for accommodation or care for fewer than 20 people.
  2. 29.5 percent.
  3. 103 of these applications have been approved, the following since 1 January 1976:

For Purchase or Construction of New Centres- Perth Central Mission, Highgate, W.A.; Foundation for Research and Treatment of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence of N.S.W., Sydney; Society of St Vincent de Paul, Launceston.

Grants for Upgrading Existing Centre Buildings-Sydney City Mission, Clifton Lodge, North Sydney; Ballarat Council of Churches, Ballarat.

Grants for Purchase of New Furniture, Furnishings and Equipment- Salvation Army, Horsham, Victoria; Hanover Welfare Services, Community Houses, Melbourne; Sydney City Mission, Clifton Lodge, North Sydney; Society of St Vincent de Paul, Toowoomba, Queensland; Mordialloc City Council, Mentone, Victoria; Society of St Vincent de Paul, South Townsville, Queensland; Society of St Vincent de Paul, Gladstone, Queensland; Judge Rainbow Memorial Appeal Fund, Rainbow Lodge, Glebe, New South Wales; Salvation Army, Port Augusta, South Australia

Rental Reimbursements- Young People’s Refuge, Cronulla, New South Wales; Society of St Vincent de Paul, Toowoomba, Queensland; Salvation Army, Port Augusta, South Australia; Prisoners Aid Association of South Australia, Adelaide; Society of St Vincent de Paul, Launceston, Tasmania.

Subsidy for Salary of Social Welfare Workers-Glebe House Limited, Glebe, New South Wales; Sydney City Mission, Clifton Lodge, North Sydney.

Centres Approved for Food and Accommodation SubsidiesYoung People’s Refuge, Cronulla, New South Wales; Society of St Vincent de Paul Shelter, Toowoomba, Queensland; Perth Central Methodist Mission, Highgate, Western Australia; Society of St Vincent de Paul, Gladstone, Queensland; Prisoners Aid Association of South Australia, Adelaide (4 centres); Salvation Army, Port Augusta, South Australia; Salvation Army, Shepparton, Victoria.

Of the other applications, 8 were not approved and 46 are still being considered.

  1. 24.3 per cent of all capital or recurrent grants approved.
  2. and (6) Among the homeless persons with whom this program is mainly concerned, there is very little capacity to develop and administer their own projects. Consequently no applications have been received from self-help groups, but approval has been given to a number of projects which have a component of self-help, i.e. small hostels without resident staff.

Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs (Question No. 932)

Senator Colston:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, upon notice:

  1. 1 ) Has the Department of Aboriginal Affairs been involved in legal action relating to the liquidation of the Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs; if so, what are the details.
  2. Is the Department of Aboriginal Affairs involved in legal actions against any other Aboriginal organisations at the present time; if so, what are the details.
Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

– The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs has provided the following reply to the honourable senator’s question:

  1. 1 ) Liquidation proceedings against the Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs were initiated by a creditor of the Foundation. My Department has co-operated with State Government authorities in their inquiries associated with these proceedings.
  2. No.

Aboriginal Employment: Report of Working Party (Question No. 990)

Senator Colston:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, upon notice:

Has the working party inquiring into problems associated with Aboriginal employment, announced in the Minister’s press release dated 28 May 1976, submitted its report to the Government; if so, what action has been taken by the Government as a result of the working party’s recommendations.

Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

– The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs has provided the following reply to the honourable senator’s question:

Yes; the Ministers for Employment and Industrial Relations, Social Security, Education and Aboriginal Affairs have begun a joint examination of the report in detail, prior to determining action which will be taken as a result of the working party’s findings.

Queensland Aboriginal Commission (Question No. 992)

Senator Colston:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, upon notice:

Has the Queensland Government sought the advice or assistance of the Federal Department of Aboriginal Affairs in relation to the recent announcement by the Queensland Minister for Aboriginal and Islanders Advancement that it is intended to establish an Aboriginal Commission in the State; if so, what liaison exists between the Australian and Queensland Government regarding the proposal.

Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

– The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs has provided the following reply to the honourable senator’s question:

page 1003

No

Department of Aboriginal Affairs: Staffing (Question No. 996)

Senator Colston:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, upon notice:

What is the anticipated reduction in staffing of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs resulting from the cutback in funding available to the Department as a result of the 1 976-77 Budget estimates, and what are the expected cuts in staffing in each Division of the Department.

Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

– The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs has provided the following reply to the honourable senator’s question:

The funds provided in the Budget for Aboriginal Affairs in the current financial year will not affect the level of staffing of the Department.

Aboriginal Affairs (Question No. 1010)

Senator Colston:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, upon notice:

Is the Minister considering the preparation of a Green Paper on the future administration of Aboriginal Affairs; if so, when is it likely the Green Paper will be produced.

Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

– The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs has provided the following reply to the honourable senator’s question:

Government policy intentions in relation to Aboriginal Affairs will be announced from time to time as appropriate.

Statement by Queensland Premier (Question No. 1011)

Senator Colston:

asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice:

Has the Treasurer’s attention been drawn to an article in the Sydney Daily Telegraph dated 19 March 1976, in which the Queensland Premier, the Honourable J. Bjelke-Petersen, is quoted as claiming that Australia was ‘bankrupt’; if so, (a) was Australia ‘bankrupt’ at the time Mr Bjelke-Petersen made his claim, and (b) what were the official figures relating to the deficit that were referred to by Mr Bjelke-Petersen in the article and apparently influenced the Premier to make his statement.

Senator Cotton:
LP

-The Treasurer has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:

I have seen the article in question.

The statement that ‘Australia is bankrupt’ is reported to have been made by the Premier in the context of his remarks on the very difficult budgetary and economic situation confronting the Commonwealth Government. I interpret the statement as a colourful description of the parlous state of the nation’s finances at that time. During the previous two years, Budget outlays had increased by over 75 per cent and, even after allowance for this Government’s efforts to rein back this excessive growth, a further large increase in outlays was inevitable in 197S-76. A massive deficit of $2.6 billion had occurred in 1974-75 and a deficit very much greater than that was in prospect for 1975-76 at the dme this Government took office.

Governments, because of their access to the money printing presses, cannot become technically ‘bankrupt’ in the usual sense of the term. However, when Governments pursue policies which force them to have the kind of excessive recourse to the printing presses which characterised the period of our predecessors, they can be said to have become bankrupt of any sense of responsibility. Perhaps that was also the sense in which the Premier was using the term.

Charter Aircraft Costs (Question No. 1023)

Senator Douglas McClelland:
NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

asked the Minister for Administrative Services, upon notice:

What was the individual cost of charter aircraft used (a) in Australia, and (b) overseas by each Minister and office holder of the Australian Parliament between December 1975 and 30 June 1976.

Senator Withers:
LP

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

  1. See my answer to Parliamentary Question No. 171 (Senate Hansard, 5-6 May 1976, pages 1603-5). I am not prepared to update these details at intervals of less than six months.
  2. The Prime Minister used a chartered aircraft to fly between Osaka and Peking on 20 June 1976 at a total cost of $25,628.

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet: Journalists (Question No. 1026)

Senator Douglas McClelland:
NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister, upon notice:

  1. How many journalists were employed in the Prime Minister’s Department, and in commissions and statutory bodies under the Prime Minister’s control, when the administrative arrangements of 22 December 1 975 were made.
  2. How many journalists were employed in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and in commissions and statutory bodies under the Prime Minister’s control, at 1 September 1976.
Senator Withers:
LP

– The Prime Minister has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:

  1. One person was employed in a position designated journalist.
  2. Two persons were employed in positions designated journalist.

Department of Primary Industry: Journalists (Question No. 1030)

Senator Douglas McClelland:
NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Primary Industry the following question, upon notice:

  1. 1 ) How many journalists were employed in the Minister’s Department, and in commissions and statutory bodies under the Minister’s control, when the administrative arrangements of 22 December 1975 were made.
  2. How many journalists were employed in the Department of Primary Industry, and in commissions and statutory bodies under the Minister’s control, at 1 September 1976.
Senator Cotton:
LP

– The Minister for Primary Industry has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:

  1. Three.
  2. Three.

Department of Business and Consumer Affairs: Journalists (Question No. 1040)

Senator Douglas McClelland:
NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs, upon notice:

  1. 1 ) How many journalists were employed in the Minister’s Department, and in commissions and statutory bodies under the Minister’s control, when the administrative arrangements of 22 December 1 975 were made.
  2. How many journalists were employed in the Department of Business and Consumer Affairs, and in commissions and statutory bodies under the Minister’s control, at 1 September 1976.
Senator Durack:
LP

– The following information is provided in answer to the honourable senator’s question:

  1. As at 22 December 1975, 2 journalists were employed by the Department of Business and Consumer Affairs; none were employed in commissions and statutory bodies under the control of the Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs.
  2. As at 1 September 1976, 2 journalists were employed by the Department of Business and Consumer Affairs; none were employed in commissions and statutory bodies under the control of the Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs.

Department of Aboriginal Affairs: Journalists (Question No. 1043)

Senator Douglas McClelland:
NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, upon notice:

  1. 1 ) How many journalists were employed in the Minister’s Department, and in commissions and statutory bodies under the Minister’s control, when the administrative arrangements of 22 December 1975 were made.
  2. How many journalists were employed in the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, and in commissions and statutory bodies under the Minister’s control, at 1 September 1 976.
Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

– The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs has provided the following reply to the honourable senator’s question:

  1. Six.
  2. Seven.

Department of the Capital Territory: Journalists (Question No. 1049)

Senator Douglas McClelland:
NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

asked the Minister representing the Minister for the Capital Territory, upon notice:

  1. 1 ) How many journalists were employed in the Minister’s Department, and in commissions and statutory bodies under the Minister’s control, when the administrative arrangements of 22 December 1975 were made.
  2. How many journalists were employed in the Department of the Capital Territory, and in commissions and statutory bodies under the Minister’s control, at 1 September 1976.
Senator Webster:
NCP/NP

– The Minister for the Capital Territory has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:

  1. and (2) As at 22 December 1975 and 1 September 1 976 six journalists were employed by the Department of the Capital Territory and four journalists were employed by the National Capital Development Commission.

Stuart Highway (Question No. 1052)

Senator Kilgariff:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Transport, upon notice:

With the near completion of the Stuart Highway south of Kulgera to the Northern Territory /South Australian border, what plans are envisaged for the construction of a sealed highway in South Australia to connect with the Eyre Highway.

Senator Carrick:
LP

– The Minister for Transport has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:

Following a recommendation by the Bureau of Roads, the Commonwealth and South Australian Governments have co-operated in undertaking a corridor study to determine the most suitable route for a sealed National Highway between Port Augusta and the South Australia/Northern Territory border.

The Joint Commonwealth/State Steering Committee which has supervised the study is expected to present its report to the Minister for Transport and the South Australian Minister of Transport in the near future. A decision on location of the Stuart Highway and the timing of construction works will be possible following consideration of the report’s recommendations. Engineering investigations and design would, of course, be necessary before actual construction could commence.’

Publication of Ministerial Statements on Foreign Affairs (Question No. 1058)

Senator Ryan:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice:

  1. 1 ) Why has it been thought necessary to print the Prime Minister’s and the Minister for Foreign Affairs’ speeches and statements on foreign policy in publications from the Department of Foreign Affairs, and in the Commonwealth Record, and in the Ministerial Document Service?
  2. How much does this duplication cost in publishing and in postage?
Senator Withers:
LP

– The Foreign Minister has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:

  1. 1 ) The Government believes that, to promote domestic and international understanding of Australia’s role, interest and policy, official statements on foreign affairs should be disseminated widely. Major Ministerial statements are printed in one or more of three publications of the Department of Foreign Affairs and in the Commonwealth Record and in the Ministerial Document Service. Over a period of time some duplication may occur in coverage of statements as between publications. But the extent and significance of this is debatable as the publications differ in overall content and objective, are issued at different times and have differences in overall circulation. Furthermore, the statements may be in full in one publication but only summarised or in extracts in another. The degree of duplication is not considered wasteful of resources.
  2. The ‘Commonwealth Record’ and the ‘Ministerial Document Service’ are the responsibility of the Minister for Administrative Services (see Question 1059 of 9 September 1976).

It is not possible to calculate the extent and cost of the duplication that may occur between coverage of statements in the Foreign Affairs publications. Printing costs of two of the Department’s publications and the editorial costs of all three in question are absorbed in normal departmental expenses; neither they nor the components relating to Ministerial statements are separately identifiable. The printing costs of the third publication are estimated at $72,000 in 1 976-77; it is not possible to identify the component relating to Ministerial statements but it would be small.

Postage costs for the three Foreign Affairs publications are estimated at $54,295 in 1 976-77; the inclusion of Ministerial statements would make little or no difference to this amount.’

Wage Indexation (Question No. 1066)

Senator Sibraa:

asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice:

Did the Treasurer in his opening address to the Victorian State Council of the Liberal Party on 3 1 July 1 976 assert that if zero wage indexation were introduced in Australia during the current financial year, there would be an additional 25 000 jobs created in 1976-77; if so, on what possible basis was such a hypothetical calculation made.

Senator Cotton:
LP

– The Treasurer has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:

Yes. I said:

If “zero indexation” were in force during the current financial year, instead of the “70 per cent indexation” determined by the Conciliation and Arbitration Commission at its last hearing, there would be an additional 2 5 000 jobs created in Australia in 1 976-77 alone ‘.

In submitting it in the July National Wage Case, Counsel for the Commonwealth said that ‘since these model results understate the effects on confidence and expectations of a perceived lower rate of inflation they probably also understate the employment differences between different options’. In other words, in using this figure of 25 000 I was, as the honourable senator would expect, being conservative.

Report of Bureau of Transport Economics (Question No. 1067)

Senator Robertson:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Transport, upon notice:

When will the preliminary report of the Bureau of Transport Economics, relating to transportation in the Northern Territory, become available to the people of the Territory.

Senator Carrick:
LP

– The Minister for Transport has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:

I am advised that the Bureau of Transport Economics expects that its study will be substantially complete by the end of the year. I will consider the question of release of the report when it is complete.

Recipients of Unemployment Benefits (Question No. 1072)

Senator Coleman:

asked the Minister for Social Security, upon notice:

  1. 1 ) Did an article in the Financial Review of 6 September 1 976 state that there had been a steady reduction in the number of recipients of unemployment benefits between January and June this year.
  2. Are the figures quoted of 248 619 for January and 188 423 for June correct; if so, of these 60 196 persons (a) how many were transferred to sickness or other benefits, and (b) how many are no longer receiving unemployment benefits but are still unemployed.
  3. What were the reasons for the removal of those referred to in 2 (b).
Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

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

  1. Yes.
  2. 2 ) and ( 3 ) The figures quoted in the article referred to are correct. However, no statistics are available in relation to the questions asked. Persons entitled to receive unemployment benefit continue to receive the appropriate payments.

Treatment of Tyres (Question Na 1074)

Senator Jessop:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Transport, upon notice:

  1. 1 ) Is the Minister aware of the cryogenic treatment of worn out tyres being developed in the Laboratories of Commonwealth Industrial Gases in Sydney.
  2. Has the Minister’s attention been drawn to the work undertaken by the Victorian Country Roads Board whereby this crumbed rubber product is amalgamated with bitumen emulsion for road surfacing as this process is used extensively in the State of Arizona in the United States, and is a proven technique, and in consideration of the high costs of bitumen in Australia and the consequent savings in money and bitumen that would result from this type of road surfacing, will the Minister take action to initiate discussions with the object of providing encouragement for expanding the use of this technique, not only in Victoria but also in the other States and the Commonwealth Territories.
  3. Has any approach been made to him for assistance in establishing the process in Australia
  4. Will the Minister give consideration to the provision of funds sufficient to enable a visit to the Arizona Roads Authority in the United States by a representative of the federal Department of Transport and a roads engineer of the Victorian Country Roads Board, with the view to making the information obtained by such a visit available to the State and Commonwealth road authorities.
Senator Carrick:
LP

– The Minister for Transport has provided the following answers to the honourable senator’s question:

  1. Yes.
  2. Yes. The process described was devised in the City of Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.A. and utilised cryogenic crumbed rubber added to bitumen. Limited full scale developmental work has already been undertaken by the Victorian Country Roads Board utilising rubber buffings as CIG have not yet fully developed their cryogenic crumbed rubber production. Early results are encouraging. The Country Roads Board propose further full scale field tests utilising cryogenic crumbed rubber. Liaison has been established between the Board and Commonwealth Industrial Gases in connection with the production of required crumbed rubber for such tests.

Officers of the Department of Transport are investigating the current stage of development of the process in Australia and its application to road construction and maintenance in this country.

  1. No.
  2. As an investigation into the process and its application in this country is current, the necessity for such a visit has not been established. As developmental work has already commenced in Victoria, an alternative method of information retrieval may be more appropriate in such circumstances.

Social Welfare Recipients: Tax Rebate Forms (Question No. 1089)

Senator Colston:

asked the Minister for Social Security, upon notice:

Has the Director-General of the Department of Social Security, Mr L. Daniels, written to the Minister warning that the Government would cause ‘considerable hardship’ and face ‘widespread ridicule ‘ if it forced recipients of unemployment benefit and sickness benefit to complete tax rebate forms, as was claimed in an article in the Melbourne Age dated 1 1 September 1976; if so, (a) what objections did the Director-General offer to the apparent proposal from the Taxation Department to tax people on sickness and unemployment benefit at the rate of 35c in the dollar unless they complete a tax rebate form and, (b) what action does the Minister intend taking as a result of the objectives raised by the Permanent Head of her Department.

Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

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

The Director-General of my Department has informed me of the administrative implications associated with any requirement to obtain Rebate Declaration Forms from unemployment and sickness beneficiaries.

I have raised this matter with the Treasurer and it is now the subject of close examination.

Pelican Habitat (Question No. 1113)

Senator Mulvihill:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Primary Industry, upon notice:

Do professional fisherman use the habitat of pelicans for commercial gain; if so, what are the ecological consequences.

Senator Cotton:
LP

– The Minister for Primary Industry has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:

There is no evidence to suggest that pelicans in any part of their habitat suffer as a result of the commercial activities of professional fishermen.

Federalism- Review of State Relativities

Senator Carrick:
LP

-On 26 August 1976 (Hansard page 343) Senator Wriedt asked me a question without notice as to whether the Government had decided that the financial arrangements made with Tasmania and South Australia in connection with the railways transfers will be included in a review of relativities between States under the Government’s Federalism proposals. I undertook to provide the honourable senator with further information on this matter.

As I mentioned in my original answer one of the decisions arrived at by the Commonwealth and the States in connection with Stage 1 of the tax sharing arrangements is that there will be a periodic review of relativities between the States in their entitlements. It has been agreed that advice in relation to the review will be sought from an independent review body, but other aspects of this matter are being further considered by the Commonwealth and the States.

In particular, no decisions have yet been taken regarding terms of reference for the reviewing body. Commonwealth and State officers are currently engaged in preparing a report, for consideration by Governments, on the matter.

Export Performance and Prospects

Senator Cotton:
LP

– On 7 September 1976 Senator Walsh asked me a question without notice concerning an apparent contradiction between statements by the Prime Minister and the Treasurer on Australia ‘s export performance and prospects. The Treasurer has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:

There is no contradiction between the two statements. The export shortfall referred to by the Treasurer was calculated with respect to the twelve months ending February 1976. During that period, because of world recession and import restrictions in some of our major markets, the growth of exports slackened compared with growth rates achieved in earlier years and what might otherwise have been expected in the period under reference.

By contrast, the Prime Minister’s remarks were directed towards the level of exports in June 1 976 and the prospects for export growth in the period ahead. The developing recovery in world economic conditions had a favourable effect on trading conditions for several major Australian exports in the second half of 1973-76. Over that period growth in export receipts accelerated markedly, reaching new peaks in the three months to August.

As to the future performance of the export sector, although unfavourable seasonal conditions will reduce production of some important rural commodities in the present year, demand for Australian exports is strengthening and a high rate of exporting in overall terms is likely to be maintained in the foreseeable future.

Balance of Payments Transactions

Senator Cotton:
LP

– On 8 September 1976 Senator Walsh asked me a question without notice concerning the omission of information on Australia’s balance of payments transactions from the September edition of the Treasury Round-up of Economic Statistics. The Treasurer has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:

Material on Australia’s balance of payments transactions during August was not included in the September edition of the Treasury Round-up of Economic Statistics because it had not become available by the time the Round-up went to print. The Round-up was published on 7 September; preliminary balance of payments information for August was not released until 10 September.

For the information of the honourable senator, the preliminary balance of payments estimates for August indicate that there was a small net apparent capital outflow of $ 1 1 m. This was more than accounted for by a net outflow on account of government capital transactions during the month. There was virtually no net movement of private capital (including the balancing item) in August.

Queensland Special Work Projects (Question No. 1013)

Senator Colston:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, upon notice:

What is the total amount provided to each local government area in Queensland under the Special Work Projects Scheme since December 1972.

Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

– The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs has provided the following reply to the honourable senator’s question:

Appointment of Commissioners under Migration Act (Question No. 985)

Senator Mulvihill:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, upon notice:

  1. 1 ) What are the names of the persons appointed as Commissioners under section 1 4 of the Migration Act.
  2. Where and when have they performed their duties.
  3. 3 ) What were the ultimate decisions in such operations.
Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

– The Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:

  1. 1 ) The persons named hereunder have been appointed as Commissioners for the purposes of section 14 of the Migration Act:

    1. The Honourable Fred Russel Beauchamp MartinVictoria. A former Judge of the Supreme Court in Victoria.
    2. The Honourable Sir Edward James Ranembe Morgan- South Australia. A former judge of the Australian Industrial Court.
    3. Mr Francis Theodore Page Burt, Q.C.- Western Australia. A distinguished barrister (now a Judge of the Supreme Court of Western Australia).
    4. The Honourable Mr Justice Charles Augustin Sweeney- Victoria. A Judge of the Australian Industrial Court.
    5. The Honourable Sir John Armstrong Spicer- Victoria. Chief Judge of the Australian Industrial Court.
    6. The Honourable Mr Justice Robert James Anning Franki- New South Wales. A Judge of the Australian Industrial Court.
  2. and (3) Hearings by the Commissioners and the decisions were as follows:

Cite as: Australia, Senate, Debates, 5 October 1976, viewed 22 October 2017, <http://historichansard.net/senate/1976/19761005_senate_30_s69/>.