Senate
18 May 1976

30th Parliament · 1st Session



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

page 1657

MINISTERIAL ARRANGEMENTS

Senator WITHERS (Western AustraliaLeader of the Government in the Senate)Honourable senators will be aware that last Friday week the Minister for Environment, Housing and Community Development, Senator Greenwood, was suddenly taken ill and is now in the Canberra Community Hospital. I am sure that all senators were shocked and saddened by this sudden illness of one of our colleagues. I am also sure all senators will join with me in expressing to Mrs Greenwood and her family, our best wishes and hopes for his speedy recovery.

I inform the Senate that during the illness of Senator Greenwood, the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, Mr MacKellar, will act for him. As a consequence the following representational arrangements will operate in the Senate: Senator Carrick will represent the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister in Public Service Matters and the Acting Minister for Environment, Housing and Community Development; I will represent the AttorneyGeneral; and Senator Cotton will represent the Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs.

I also inform the Senate that the Minister for Foreign Affairs left Australia this morning for discussions in Papua New Guinea relating to Torres Strait. He is expected to return tomorrow evening. During his absence the Minister for Primary Industry will act as Minister for Foreign Affairs.

page 1657

PETITIONS

Australian Heritage Commission

Senator MELZER:
VICTORIA

– I present the following petition from 1 3 citizens of Australia:

To the Honourable the President and Members of the Senate in Parliament assembled. The humble petition of the undersigned members of the community organisations respectfully showeth that

There is a growing interest and concern in all sections of Australian society for the conservation of the environment, natural and man-made.

That there are also rapidly growing pressures by powerful forces tending towards the destruction of the Australian heritage.

That it is therefore urgent to appoint the Australian Heritage Commission, which was approved by both sides of this

Parliament and to give the Commission sufficient independent staff, resources and funds.

That Technical Assistance Grants and Administrative Support Grants to community organisations are needed to partially redress the gross imbalance in technical expertise and resources suffered by community groups in pressing the community’s case against the exploiter.

That a proper balance between the Government programme of public austerity and the need for action in conservation would be a modest increase in the budget allocations in these areas over that of 1 975-76.

And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray.

Petition received and read.

Family Planning

Senator MELZER:

– I present the following petition from 42 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 organizations 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 organizations to proceed unimpaired throughout Australia.

And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray.

Petition received and read.

Schools Commission

Senator TEHAN:
VICTORIA · NCP

– I present the following petition from 27 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 Federal Government implement the June, 1975 Report of the Schools Commission so that:

1 ) The present level of Federal Government Education Expenditure is increased to the level recommended by the Schools Commission.

The role of the Schools Commission as an independent statutory authority free to make its own assessment of the needs of Australian Education is maintained.

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that the Government will take no measures to interfere with the Schools Commission.

And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray.

Petition received and read.

Australian Heritage Commission

Senator MISSEN:
VICTORIA

– I present the following petition from 2 1 citizens of Australia:

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

There is a growing interest and concern in all sections of Australian society for the conservation of the environment, natural and man-made.

That there are also rapidly growing pressures by powerful forces tending towards the destruction of the Australian Heritage.

That it is therefore urgent to appoint the Australian Heritage Commission, which was approved by both sides of this Parliament and to give the Commission sufficient independent staff, resources and funds.

That Technical Assistance Grants and Administrative Support Grants to community organizations are needed to partially redress the gross imbalance in technical expertise and resources suffered by community groups in pressing the community’s case against the exploiter.

That a proper balance between the Government’s programme of public austerity and the need for action in conservation would be a modest increase in the budget allocations in these areas over that of 1975/76.

And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray.

Petition received.

Tertiary Education Allowance Scheme

Senator WRIEDT:
TASMANIA

-I present the following petition from 154 citizens of Australia:

To the Honourable the President and Senators of the Senate in Parliament assembled. The humble petition of the undersigned students and staff at the colleges respectfully showeth-

That the Commonwealth Government Tertiary Educational Allowance Scheme, be raised from $30 per week to $48 per week.

Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray that the Treasurer, Mr Lynch and the Minister for Education, Senator Carrick will carry out this Petition.

And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray.

Petition received.

Immigration: Teachers

Senator WRIEDT:

-I present the following petition from 159 citizens of Australia:

To the Honourable the President and Senators of the Senate in Parliament assembled. The humble Petition of the undersigned students and staff of the State Colleges of Victoria respectfully showeth-

That the Immigration of teachers recruited from outside Australia be prevented while students with similar University qualifications are refused entry into Diploma of Education courses, and school leavers are refused entry into the state colleges of Victoria.

Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray that the Minister for Immigration, Mr MacKellar will carry out this Petition.

And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray.

Petition received.

Taxation: Victorian Teachers

Senator WRIEDT:

-I present the following petition from 270 citizens of Australia:

To the Honourable the President and Senators of the Senate in Parliament assembled. The humble petition of the undersigned students and staff of the State Colleges of Victoria respectfully showeth:

That Teachers recruited outside Australia by the Victorian Education department have their income taxation exemption for the period of their stay in Australia cancelled.

Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray that the Treasurer will carry out this petition.

And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray.

Petition received.

The Clerk:

– The following petitions have been lodged for presentation:

Australian Assistance Plan

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 since the Australian Assistance Plan is making it possible for citizens to help themselves, thereby ensuring best possible use of limited Government resources, as shown by the fact that over 200 community projects nave been initiated or funded through the AAP in the Outer Eastern Region.

Your petitioners most humbly pray that the Senate in Parliament will take immediate steps to continue the Australian Assistance Plan as recommended in the Report tabled by the Honourable the Minister for Social Security, Senator Margaret Guilfoyle in Parliament on the 4th of March, 1976 and your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. by Senator Webster (2 petitions).

Petitions received.

Australian Heritage Commission

To the Honourable the President and Members of the Senate in Parliament assembled. The humble petition of the undersigned members of the Western Australian Naturalists Club Incorporated respectfully showeth that

There is a growing interest and concern in all sections of Australian society for the conservation of the environment natural and man-made.

That there are also rapidly growing pressures by powerful forces tending towards the destruction of the Australian heritage.

That it is therefore urgent to appoint the Australian Heritage Commission, which was approved by both sides of this Parliament and to give the Commission sufficient independent staff, resources and funds.

That Technical Assistance Grants and Administrative Support Grants to community organizations are needed to partially redress the gross imbalance in technical expertise and resources suffered by community groups in pressing the community’s case against the exploiter.

That a proper balance between the Government’s programme of public austerity and the need for action in conservation would be a modest increase in the budget allocations in these areas over that of 1 975-76.

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

Petition received.

Schools Commission

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 Federal Government implement the June, 1975 Report of the Schools Commission so that:

  1. The present level of Federal Government Education Expenditure is increased to the level recommended by the Schools Commission.
  2. The role of the Schools Commission as an independent statutory authority free to make its own assessment of the needs of Australian Education is maintained.

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that the Government will take no measures to interfere with the Schools Commission.

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

Petition received.

Electoral Act

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 opportunity for citizens to take part in government is provided by elections.

That the present provision in the Australian Electoral Act compelling voters to mark preferences for ALL candidates is unreasonable and unjust and a hindrance to the full exercise of the voters’ basic right to take part in government.

Your petitioners pray that the Senate will proceed to remove the unjust compulsion and bring in a act that provides protection for the voters’ rights. by Senator Carrick.

Petition received.

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NOTICES OF MOTION

Days and Hours of Meeting

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

– I give notice that on the next day of sitting- we will most likely consider this on Thursday- I shall move:

  1. That on and from Tuesday, 25 May 1976 and for the remainder of this period of sittings the sessional order relating to the days and times of meeting of the Senate be varied as follows:

Tuesday 2.30 to 6 p.m., 8 to 11 p.m.; Wednesday 2.15 to 6 p.m., 8 to 11 p.m.; Thursday 10.30 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2.15 to 6 p.m., 8 to 1 1 p.m.

  1. That the sessional order relating to the adjournment of the Senate have effect at the terminating time each day.
  2. That unless otherwise ordered, for the remainder of this period of sittings, government business take precedence over general business on each and every Thursday.

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Senator Douglas McClelland:
NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

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

That the Lands Acquisition Repeal Ordinance 1976 as contained in Cocos (Keeling) Islands Ordinance No. 1 of 1976 and made under the Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955-75 be disallowed.

Stevedoring Industry

Senator HARRADINE:
Tasmania

-I give contingent notice of motion as follows: Contingent on the Senate’s consideration of any Bill relating to the stevedoring industry, and where appropriate, I shall move:

That the Senate is of the opinion that the Bill should not be further proceeded with until after consideration of general business notice of motion No. 4 standing in the name of Senator Harradine and relating to a paper on the stevedoring industry by R. M. Northrop, Q.C.

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QUESTION

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE EARTHQUAKE IN ITALY

Senator MULVIHILL:
NEW SOUTH WALES

– I direct my question to the Leader of the Government in the Senate since it has Foreign Affairs and other ramifications. I ask the Minister to indicate to the Senate whether Australian aid rendered to Italy as a result of its recent earthquake is based upon the principles followed by the former Minister for Immigration, Mr Clyde Cameron, in the Cyprus debacle, with particular regard to external aid sent direct to the stricken region. Could the Minister give a clarification of the definition of special category migrant which would apply to victims of the earthquake, particularly orphans? Could he also outline the ambit of aid based on the foregoing principles that applied to what might be called a secondary earthquake in the Yugoslav Republic of Slovenia, a matter which he will know that I have raised with the Prime Minister and other Ministers following representations from the Slovene community in Sydney?

Senator WITHERS:
LP

-All I can say to the honourable senator is that to get a proper answer I will need to have consultation not only with the Prime Minister but also with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs. I shall seek information from each of those Ministers and get a reply as early as possible for the honourable senator.

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QUESTION

PUNISHMENT OF ABORIGINE

Senator YOUNG:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA

-I ask the Leader of the Government in the Senate whether he has seen reports that an Aborigine convicted in the South Australian Supreme Court for killing a woman has been handed back to his tribe for tribal law and justice to be applied for his misdeed. Can the Minister say whether this Supreme Court decision will in any way conflict with the application of Australian law generally, particularly in relation to any future actions of Aborigines under their tribal laws which may be in direct conflict with Australian laws?

Senator WITHERS:
LP

-I happened to see that report in a newspaper when I was in Canberra on Sunday. That is a remarkable confession. I must say that I was somewhat intrigued by Mr Justice Wells’s decision but I assume that he had full power under the laws of South Australia to take such action. Nobody seems to have taken any action to appeal against that decision so far as I know, but as the honourable senator has an interest in this matter I shall take it up with the Attorney-General and ask whether he can supply a more detailed answer than that which I have been able to give. I must repeat that I assume the honourable and learned judge knew what he was doing and was acting within the laws of South Australia.

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QUESTION

DOCUMENT TABLED IN THE SENATE

Senator KEEFFE:
QUEENSLAND

– My question is directed to you, Mr President. I preface it by reminding you that on 28 April 1976 Senator Michael Townley produced a document in this chamber which, by inference, he claimed had been compiled by Mr Henry Fischer. The document was unsigned and when it was tabled it was seen that 2 pages had been removed previously. Are you aware that on 4 May 1976 the Attorney-General, Mr Ellicott, said in another place that the document had not been released by him? Are you also aware that in a Press statement published on 5 April 1976 the Attorney-General denied in more detail that he had released the document? Are you aware also that Mr Fischer issued a statement through his Sydney solicitors on 3 March 1976 denying the main allegation in the unsigned document? As it appears that all the evidence presented by the honourable senator was unsubstantiated and indeed may have been false, will you take the necessary action to ensure that the honourable senator is dealt with by the appropriate Senate committee in accordance with the Standing Orders, customs and practice of the Senate?

The PRESIDENT:

– In response to the honourable senator, I inform him that I shall give this matter my consideration.

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QUESTION

PROCUREMENT AND DISPOSAL PROCEDURES

Senator MISSEN:

– My question is addressed to the Minister for Administrative Services. I refer to a question to him which I placed on the notice paper on 24 February 1976 in which I asked:

  1. 1 ) What changes in Commonwealth Government procurement and disposal procedures have taken place in the last twelve months? ‘
  2. Have any of the recommendations of the Scott Committee been put into effect; if so, which recommendations, and when?

I now ask the Minister whether I can expect an early answer to this question. I further ask whether, quite apart from any legislation promoted by the previous Governmment, the Minister agrees that there are many recommendations in the May 1974 report of the Scott Committee which are relevant to efficient and economic development of procurement and disposal procedures, particularly in this period of financial stringency?

Senator WITHERS:
LP

-I apologise to the honourable senator because he has not had an answer before this date. Honourable senators may be aware, and Ministers in this place are aware, that we are all engaged in a chase-up situation at the moment in trying to get answers to questions which have been on the notice paper for far too long in many cases. As to the remainder of the honourable senator’s question, work is going on in my department concerning the Scott Report. In fact, there have been consultations with some other departments within this area, certainly with Senator Cotton’s department, as I recall it, which of course is very : interested in the matters contained in the Scott Report and with government procurement in general. At the moment I think it would be preferable if I obtained an early answer to question No. 66 on the notice paper- I hope tomorrow or the next day- and gave to the honourable senator a more detailed and considered answer to the other matters which he has raised this afternoon.

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QUESTION

UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT

Senator GRIMES:
NEW SOUTH WALES

– My question is directed to the Minister for Social Security. Is it true that officers of the Minister’s department have been making raids en masse on recipients of unemployment benefits in the Kensington and Flemington areas of Melbourne? Are these officers acting on specific information or is this just a dragnet exercise to see what can be turned up? Is it intended that this tactic, which to some of us smacks of secret police raids, will be used again in the future and, if so, why?

Senator GUILFOYLE:
Minister for Social Security · VICTORIA · LP

– I take it that the honourable senator’s question is based on a leaflet distributed in Melbourne by certain groups of people and relating to checks which were made by officers of my Department. In relation to the comments that have been made about inquiry officers raiding the area, the Melbourne office of my Department has advised that during the week from 4 to 7 May 12 inquiry officers in 9 vehicles reviewed 425 unemployment benefit claims in Kensington, an area of dense population and high rise flats. As a result of that review, which involved 581 visits, it was recommended that 13 people be transferred to other benefits, for example sickness benefits; 47 people have returned to employment and benefits were terminated; and recommendations were made that benefits be terminated for other reasons in 72 cases. Sixty people failed to keep appointments and these cases are being followed up. It should be emphasised that there is nothing unusual about this review. It is a routine procedure. The comment that was attributed in some sections of the Press to the Victorian Council of Social Service in the last paragraph of an article, that the Department is investigating suspected defaulters, is misleading. The Department regularly reviews all claims and not just with the intention of finding defaulters. Many people require assistance with claims or are eligible for a different form of benefit. Wherever possible inquiry officers assist these people.

To answer the question that was addressed to me, there is no substance in the allegation regarding police tactics or whatever else may have been suggested. It was simply the usual review that is undertaken by inquiry officers in the Department to enable the inspection of people who are in receipt of benefits to see whether the appropriate benefit is being paid or whether the benefit should be suspended or discontinued.

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QUESTION

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN RAILWAYS

Senator JESSOP:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA

– My question, which is directed to the Minister representing the Minister for Transport, concerns an article by Peter Samuel which appeared in the Bulletin of 15 May. I ask the Minister whether the following assertions are factual: That officials in Canberra say it is just possible that the absorption of the South Australian railways into the Federal system may yet be blocked; that agreement on awards and conditions has not been reached with the employees due to be transferred to the Commonwealth on 1 July, and that Australian National Railways officials have done an exercise which discloses that the whole of the existing Adelaide to Port Pirie railway line can be converted to standard gauge for $10m over one weekend? Is it a fact that the proposals of the previous Government for a railway line from Adelaide via Crystal Brook to accomplish the same result would cost $90m for line construction alone? Finally, is the Minister able to comment upon statements concerning the economics of the new railway line from Tarcoola to Alice Springs which was mentioned in the article?

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

- Senator Jessop was good enough to draw my attention to the article to which he refers and I was therefore able to get some information. I am advised as follows: The Railways (South Australia) Act 1975 and the Railway Agreement (Tasmania) Act 1975 provided for the assets and liabilities of the nonmetropolitan South Australian rail system and the Tasmanian rail system to be transferred to the Commonwealth, together with financial responsibility for these rail systems, on 1 July 1976. The agreements for the transfer provided for the States to operate the systems transferred to the Commonwealth on behalf of the Commonwealth pending a transfer of management to the Australian National Railways. Negotiations with the employee unions concerned are currently continuing with a view to completion as early as possible.

I am not aware of the current cost of converting the existing rail line from Adelaide to Port Pirie to standard gauge. However, this conversion was one of the options considered at the time of negotiating the new standard gauge line. The cost of line construction alone of the new main line from Adelaide to Crystal Brook under the Adelaide to Crystal Brook Railway Act 1974 is estimated at about $40m. Finally, the previous detailed evaluation which resulted in legislation to enable the continuation of this line in 1 974 has not been re-evaluated at this stage.

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QUESTION

SALARIES OF SENATORS AND MEMBERS

Senator Douglas McClelland:
NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

-My question is addressed to the Minister for Administrative Services. I ask: Is the report correct that the Minister forwarded a submission to the Remuneration Tribunal, for which body he is ministerially responsible, on the subject of salaries of senators and members of the Australian Parliament? If so, was the submission put to the Tribunal by the Minister on behalf of the Government, or was it a submission made in the Minister’s own right as a senator of the Parliament? If it was a submission on the part of the Government, did it receive the approval of Government supporters at any Party meeting? Does the submission mean that if the Tribunal does not conform to the Government’s submission, the Government intends to move in either House of the Parliament to disallow the Tribunal’s determination?

Senator WITHERS:
LP

-I think the honourable senator has asked 4 questions. The answer to the first one is yes. The answer to the second one is yes. The answer to the third one is no, we have to be a government and governments make decisions under their own rules and governments live with their own decisions. As to the fourth question, all I can say is that if the honourable senator likes to speculate, he may go for his life and do so. But why one should form an attitude before the report of a tribunal is presented somewhat escapes me.

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QUESTION

AID TO EARTHQUAKE AREAS

Senator LAJOVIC:
NEW SOUTH WALES

– I direct a question to the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs. It follows the question asked by Senator Mulvihill and concerns also the devastation which has occurred to the Friuli region of northern Italy and to the areas of Slovenia, which is my birthplace, as a result of the recent disastrous earthquake. In addition to generous financial assistance already promised to the Friuli region by the Commonwealth Government, what other help has been offered to victims of the earthquake in both countries? In particular, what arrangements are in hand or in prospect to make it possible for the victims of the disaster to come to Australia, as I was able to do 25 years ago, to make here a new and secure life?

Senator GUILFOYLE:
LP

– The Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs has stated that we will give immediate priority to those nominations already in the pipeline involving people made homeless by the earthquake. We will also give priority to other nominations lodged in the immediate future which are within existing immigration criteria. Nominations outside the normal criteria where special compassionate circumstances exist, such as where families have been deprived of their breadwinner or where children have been orphaned, will be accepted and dealt with quickly. The Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs announced also that staff from the Department in Rome would go to the disaster areas without further delay to help process the nominations quickly. At Sydney and Melbourne the officers of the Department of Immigration will be specially designated to attend to these nominations in an expeditious manner. We hope that this will be of assistance to those people who are victims of and made homeless by the earthquake.

In answer to the other question with regard to any other assistance that may be given, I state that I believe the Senate would be aware of the $250,000 donation that was given by the Australian Government through the International Red Cross in respect of the earthquake. I am sure that further consideration would be given to any other matters in regard to which we are able to offer some concrete assistance.

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QUESTION

MEDIBANK

Senator GIETZELT:
NEW SOUTH WALES

– Is the Minister for Social Security aware of the growing public concern about maintenance of the Medibank health scheme? Can she give an unqualified assurance that the operation and efficiency of Medibank in providing universal health cover for all Australians regardless of their ability to pay will not be directly or indirectly jeopardised by the current steps to cut public expenditure? Can the Senate be assured that Mr Malcolm Fraser’s disavowal of Mr Chipp’s statement last November that Medibank would be abolished is still Government policy?

Senator GUILFOYLE:
LP

– I refer the honourable senator to the Prime Minister’s statement last night and also to the fact that it is known that a statement will be made in the Parliament on Thursday of this week. Those statements will reveal the Government’s policy with regard to Medibank. I can suggest only that the honourable senator await that statement on Thursday night. Until it has been presented I could not direct myself to specific questions which have been asked.

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QUESTION

AID TO EAST TIMOR

Senator WITHERS:
LP

-I shall have to seek a response from the Acting Minister for Foreign

Affairs as to the 3 matters raised. I would comment however that the first proposal by the honourable senator seems to be the most sensible way of providing aid to East Timor.

Senator Georges:

– The Red Cross cannot get in.

Senator WITHERS:

– You seem to have better knowledge than most other people about the place. I do not know why other Australian elements, to use the interesting term of the honourable senator, imagine they will have more success than the International Red Cross. I can understand the honourable senator’s feeling of frustration that the United Nations Security Council appears to be bound up in its own decisions instead of taking some action. I shall pass on to my colleague in the other place the 3 questions and seek an answer for the honourable senator.

page 1663

QUESTION

TAX INDEXATION

Senator McAULIFFE:
QUEENSLAND

– Can the Minister representing the Treasurer explain what miracle the Prime Minister has performed to enable Treasury to give the go-ahead for full tax indexation from 1 July, when 6 months ago Treasury told the former Prime Minister, Mr Whitlam, that total tax indexation was not possible?

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

-These details will be brought before the Parliament on Thursday night. A possible explanation is that this Government is a competent one whereas the previous one was incompetent.

page 1663

QUESTION

RURAL FINANCE

Senator WALTERS:
TASMANIA

-Can the Minister representing the Treasurer inform the chamber when a national rural bank will be established to assist the rural sector with long term loans at better than bank interest? When does the Government propose to establish a farm income reserve fund which will allow for some stabilisation of rural incomes?

Senator COTTON:
LP

-The question of a national rural bank has been discussed by the Minister for Primary Industry, the trading banks and the Treasurer. It was decided at that discussion about the middle of February to have a working party examine the whole proposal. That is what is happening at present. The question of a farm income reserve fund is equally under examination. It is a very complex and difficult matter, as was the study, and will take some time to resolve.

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QUESTION

CENSUS STAFF

Senator BROWN:
VICTORIA · ALP

– I direct a question to the Minister representing the Treasurer. I am interested to know how field staff and others are to be recruited for the work associated with the taking of the census. Will the facilities of the Commonwealth Employment Service offices throughout the States be employed to recruit the necessary staff? If not, why not?

Senator COTTON:
LP

– I do not have any details on that question. I have not anything that I can give the honourable senator immediately, but it seems to me that if staff are to be recruited the logical avenue for recruitment would be the Commonwealth Employment Service to which the honourable senator referred. I shall ask the Treasurer to let me know.

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QUESTION

NATIONAL COMPENSATION SCHEME

Senator McINTOSH:
WESTERN AUSTRALIA

– My question which is directed to the Minister for Social Security relates to the national compensation scheme. Is it true that the recent meeting between the Minister and State Ministers was a flop because the Minister had no national compensation scheme to consider? Does the Minister agree that there is an urgent need for such a scheme? Will she say whether she has a scheme to be considered or have her promises about an impending scheme been window dressing to pacify the growing unrest among State governments and others who are gravely concerned about the soaring costs of compensation schemes in Australia?

Senator GUILFOYLE:
LP

– I think it is of interest to hear the suggestion from the honourable senator from Western Australia that the meeting was a flop because the Western Australian Minister for Labour and Industry has publicly expressed considerable satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting which was held in Canberra recently. As far as a national compensation scheme is concerned, I have interest in the preparation of a scheme. The Ministers concerned were invited to Canberra on that occasion for exploratory talks. That was the specific invitation which was tendered to them. It appears to me that they have become accustomed in the past 3 years when coming to Canberra to having a scheme forced upon them rather than having consultation in a co-operative way. The outcome of the meeting which I hoped to obtain was that there should be some concurrence among the State Ministers and the Federal Government about moving towards devising a co-operative scheme in which all parties would participate. I am pleased to say that the outcome of the meeting is that a steering committee has been formed. Meetings have been arranged in June for that steering committee which will have representation from the States, the Territories and the Federal Government.

If the State Ministers concerned had come to the meeting expecting to have a scheme forced upon them I assume that they, likewise, would have brought some matters which they wished to have discussed. As most of them accepted the talks as exploratory and as a steering committee has now been formed, I believe that the preparatory stage is finished and that we can move forward and work together in order to find a common area of agreement whereby a national compensation scheme can be devised. That was the outcome of the meeting. Anything else which was reported may have been an impression of individual State Ministers. As far as I am concerned, the invitation was for exploratory talks.

page 1664

QUESTION

NORTHERN TERRITORY: DETENTION OF BOYS

Senator ROBERTSON:
NORTHERN TERRITORY

– I direct my question to the Minister representing the Minister for the Northern Territory. Is it a fact that earlier this month 3 boys, aged 13, 14 and 16 years respectively, spent 3 days and nights in the maximum security section of the Fannie Bay gaol while on remand? If this is a fact, will the Minister explain to the Senate how such a situation could be tolerated, especially as the Fannie Bay gaol has been described as the worst institution of its type in Australia? Will the Minister give an undertaking that other and more appropriate remand facilities will be provided on any future occasion when they are required for offenders in this age group?

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

-The facts generally as asserted by Senator Robertson are true. A 13-year old boy spent 3 days in the Fannie Bay gaol while on remand and two other children, aged 15 years, were similarly remanded. Subsequently, all three were released at the expiry of the remand period. The decision to place the children in Fannie Bay gaol was the magistrate’s and was in keeping with a recent trend adopted by the magistrate to ensure that children who appeared before the court were brought face to face with the possible consequences of breaking the law. The Children’s Court magistrate is aware that the only security facility where likely absconders can be kept under control is Fannie Bay gaol. At present 10 juvenile prisoners are held in Northern Territory prisons, in Darwin and Alice Springs. Of these, 3 prisoners are in Darwin and the remainder in Alice Springs. Two of those held in Alice Springs have been remanded pending committal proceedings to the Supreme Court.

Discussions have been held with the senior magistrate and the Children’s Court magistrate who have been informed that the Department has prepared Palmerston House as a holding centre which could be used in remand cases, where there is no reason to believe that the individual will abscond, or in case of a first offender who needs to be placed under restraint as part of a rehabilitative program. General agreement was reached and the proposals outlined at the discussions are to be put into effect.

Senator Robertson may acknowledge that, whilst arrangements have been made to use Palmerston House, it could be said that these may prove unacceptable to the magistrate in cases involving difficult children who are absconders and who have a past history indicating that control would be more difficult. Palmerston House offers no more security than a normal family home and is so constructed that it is virtually impossible to make it anything else. The general matter is under discussion at the moment. I hope that that information gives some advice to Senator Robertson.

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QUESTION

AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING COMMISSION

Senator HARRADINE:

– My question is directed to the Minister representing the Minister for Post and Telecommunications and concerns the Australian Broadcasting Commission. Is the Minister aware that early this month Soviet authorities refused to allow a visit to Russia by Sir Charles Curran, the Director-General of the British Broadcasting Commission, because of the BBC’s refusal, despite pressure from the Soviet Embassy in London, to withdraw an interview with Mr Solzhenitsyn? Is the Minister aware also that, in the period since Solzhenitsyn ‘s release from the Soviet Union, the Australian Broadcasting Commission has screened only one interview with Solzhenitsyn, despite the fact that several other interviews were available and at least one was offered by the BBC to the ABC but was rejected as not suitable? Will the Minister ascertain the specific reasons the ABC considered the BBC program not suitable? Will he ascertain also who made that decision and whether any pressure was applied by the Soviet Union on the ABC similar to the pressure applied without success to the BBC? Will the Minister seek an assurance from the ABC that the apparent decision not to provide an opportunity to the Australian public to hear what Solzhenitsyn has to say is not based on political considerations and that, should the Soviet Embassy in Canberra attempt to apply pressure on the ABC, as it did on the BBC, any such pressure will be firmly rejected?

Senator CARRICK:
LP

– It is my understanding that what Senator Harradine has said regarding the attempt by Sir Charles Curran to visit the Soviet Union and the refusal of that visit is true. As to the details regarding the Australian Broadcasting Commission, I am not aware whether the ABC screened one interview or more with Solzhenitsyn. I am not aware, therefore, what specific reasons there may have been for not screening the BBC interview, if so. I am quite sure that the Australian people would be eager to see and to hear interviews with a man such as Solzhenitsyn who must be one of the most courageous men of massive integrity alive in the world today and also one of the great fighters for freedom. On that basis, I will refer the substance of the honourable senator’s question to my colleague in another place and seek from the Australian Broadcasting Commission the information which the honourable senator requests.

page 1665

QUESTION

PUBLIC SERVICE STAFF CEILINGS

Senator James McClelland:
NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

– I ask the Minister representing the Prime Minister whether he will confirm or deny that the Prime Minister has given directions to the Chairman of the Public Service Board that staff ceilings are to be stretched to the extent of allowing the appointment of an additional 270 public servants to work on rural reconstruction in the dairy industry. Is the Prime Minister prepared to consider giving a direction that staff ceilings should be reviewed in the Aboriginal employment section of the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations, in view of the fact that the unemployment level among Aborigines has reached 30 per cent or roughly 6 times the national average?

Senator WITHERS:
LP

-I am unable to confirm or deny the honourable senator’s allegations. That is all they are. If that is the best he can do, I intend to do nothing else about the matter.

page 1665

QUESTION

REPORT ON INCIDENTS AT LAVERTON

Senator CAVANAGH:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA

– I direct a question to the Minister representing the Attorney-General. I ask: Will the Attorney-General give consideration to the report of the Joint Commonwealth and West Australian commission into incidents between police and Aborigines at Laverton in Western Australia which was tabled in this place by the Minister on Thursday, 6 May, to ascertain whether any breach of Commonwealth law is disclosed in the findings of the commission? Will the Attorney-General further inform the Senate, in view of the fact that the commission was a joint Commonwealth and State commission, whether the laws relating to Commonwealth royal commissions apply to this particular commission?

Senator WITHERS:
LP

-I am quite certain that the Attorney-General will investigate the matters alluded to in the report. I have never understood that a joint Commonwealth and State royal commission was concerned in this matter. As I understand it, the 3 royal commissioners sat by virtue of letters patent issued by the Governor of Western Australia. It was a joint commission only in the sense that the Commonwealth paid half the bill.

Senator Cavanagh:

– And appointed commissioners.

Senator WITHERS:

-No. The 3 persons were appointed by letters patent issued by the Governor of Western Australia. It may well have been that one of those persons was appointed on the nomination of the Commonwealth Government. I have always understood that it was a royal commission held under the Royal Commissions Act of Western Australia. It reported to the Governor of Western Australia. The Commonwealth Government was involved only in 2 ways. Firstly, it paid half the Bill; secondly, I think it nominated one of the 3 commissioners and the nomination was accepted. I think the questions asked by the honourable senator are valid and I will ask the Attorney-General to give him an answer at the first opportunity.

page 1665

QUESTION

AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL LINE

Senator WRIGHT:
TASMANIA

– I direct a question to the Minister representing the Minister for Transport. I ask him whether he has noticed, in the last annual report of the Australian National Line, that of the $9m loss incurred up to 30 June last for the preceding 12 months $6m was due to industrial disputes? Will the Minister have the situation examined carefully to investigate whether or not the unions are making a target of the Government shipping line to prevent proper shipping services which that line provides, being operated, particularly to Tasmania?

Senator CARRICK:
LP

-I am not specifically aware of the figures in the annual report of the Australian National Line to which Senator Wright draws my attention but I accept them as being part of the general picture. I am, and my Government is, acutely aware that strikes and industrial action have bedevilled the Australian

National Line in recent years to a point where it is wreaking havoc, particularly upon the people of Tasmania. Tasmanians, of course, are vitally concerned with sea transport. I am aware of the problem. I will invite my colleague in another place to study the situation, as suggested by the honourable senator.

page 1666

QUESTION

MEDIBANK

Senator MELZER:

– I direct a question to the Minister for Social Security. May I say, by way of preface, that according to Mr Williams, the General Manager for Medibank Australia, total administrative and operating costs of Medibank represent only 3lA per cent of claims paid, that is, $50m to $ 1,400m? In view of the fact that health and hospital funds have no computers but still work with manual type recording and assessment methods, does the Government expect these funds to be administered more economically and efficiently than Medibank?

Senator GUILFOYLE:
LP

– I am unaware whether the matters that have been stated by the honourable senator are accurate, but I shall refer the question to the Minister for Health so that he can supply an answer to the honourable senator.

page 1666

QUESTION

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY HEALTH COMMISSION

Senator KNIGHT:
ACT

-Has the Minister representing the Minister for Health noted reports to the effect that nurses in the Australian Capital Territory are anxious that a full-time commissioner with a nursing background be appointed to the Australian Capital Territory Health Commission. Is the Minister able to say whether such a commissioner will be appointed and, if so, when that might be done?

Senator GUILFOYLE:
LP

– I am not able to say when a commissioner with a nursing background will be appointed, but it is part of the Government’s stated policy that one of the full-time commissioners should be a person with a background in nursing. I understand that the Minister for Health has been having discussions with the Australian Capital Territory Health Commissioner. Due to possible changes in Medibank and other things that may need to be resolved, it will be at the time when those things are being considered that the Government will examine the whole structure of the Australian Capital Territory Health Commission. I am sure that if it is at all possible to do so at the time of looking at these difficulties the Government will take the opportunity to fulfil its own policy, that is, to appoint a full-time commissioner with a background in nursing.

page 1666

QUESTION

IMPORTS OF FRUIT JUICE

Senator McLAREN:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA

– The Minister representing the Minister for Primary Industry will recall that in the early hours of Thursday, 6 May, I raised the matter of imported fruit juice concentrates and the ill effects that that importation was having in the citrus industry in South Australia. I now ask the Minister whether he can say whether the Government has taken any action to curtail imports of juice concentrates or whether action is to be left to the trade union movement to assist the citrus industry by refusing to handle imported concentrates?

Senator COTTON:
LP

– I remember the remarks of the honourable senator which I undertook to direct to the responsible Minister. I have done that, but I have not received a reply. I shall attend to the matter after question time.

page 1666

QUESTION

MOSQUE AT DARWIN

Senator KILGARIFF:
NORTHERN TERRITORY

-I direct a question to the Minister representing the Minister for the Northern Territory. I understand that the Department of the Northern Territory on 18 December 1975 advised the Moslem community in Darwin that a block of land in Vanderlin Drive, Casuarina- blocks 6257 and 6258- was to be made available for a mosque. I further understand now that the Government of Arabia has agreed to assist the Moslem communities in Australia by providing finance, that it has in the last 2 weeks investigated the situation in Darwin and has agreed to assist the Moslem community there. I understand that there may be some difficulty in the allocation of that land. Will the Minister take up this matter with the Minister for the Northern Territory to ensure that the Moslem community in Darwin is given that parcel of land as quickly as possible.

Senator WEBSTER:
NCP/NP

– I am unfamiliar with the facts relating either to a Government grant or the Moslem community seeking a block of land in Darwin. I shall take up the matter with the appropriate Minister and seek an answer for the honourable senator as quickly as possible.

page 1666

QUESTION

MEAT INDUSTRY

Senator PRIMMER:
VICTORIA

– I ask the Minister representing the Minister for Primary Industry: In view of the sudden price rise for chopper cattle at auction in Victoria following the small mass slaughter operation in the Goulburn valley, will the Minister ask the Minister for Primary Industry to conduct a royal commission into all aspects of the Australian meat industry?

Senator COTTON:
LP

-No, I will not, but I shall direct the honourable senator’s question to the

Minister and ask him whether he has anything that he might add which might help the honourable senator’s knowledge of the subject.

page 1667

QUESTION

UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT

Senator COLSTON:
QUEENSLAND

– My question, which is directed to the Minister for Social Security, refers to a situation in which a person who is in receipt of the unemployment benefit and who has worked previously in a situation in which award wages apply is offered a job by the Commonwealth Employment Service in relation to which only piece work rates apply, that is, where there is no guarantee of a particular minimum wage. Is such a person obliged to accept such a job offered by the Commonwealth Employment Service in order to prevent his or her unemployment benefit being terminated?

Senator GUILFOYLE:
LP

– I think it should be understood that in dealing with job opportunities in the present context, we are talking about award wages being paid for the job that is expected to be done. No person is expected to undertake an occupation which offers wages lower than the award wages for that particular job.

Senator Cavanagh:

– I think the award provides a piece work rate.

Senator GUILFOYLE:

– That is right and if that is the situation I shall have that particular point examined. It should be understood that where there is an award rate for an occupation to be undertaken, anything that is offered under that award rate is not regarded as a suitable job opportunity.

page 1667

QUESTION

PHARMACEUTICAL BENEFITS

Senator BISHOP:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA

– My question, which is directed to the Minister representing the Minister for Health refers to the very extensive deletions and other restrictions to the pharmaceutical benefits list and the recent increases introduced by the Government. Is the Minister able to advise whether the Minister for Health has considered the many representations from eminent doctors, other people and members of this Parliament in respect of numerous prescriptions which are necessary for the good health of citizens and which have been specially urged upon the Government by those bodies? Is she able to give any information about this? If she cannot, will she give any information later on in respect of antihistamine prescriptions? Will she also give information about the 3 recommendations from the prominent heart specialist and the petitions which have been presented to this Parliament in respect of milk substitutes?

Senator GUILFOYLE:
LP

– I am aware that many of the matters that have been mentioned by the honourable senator have been raised both in the Senate and through petitions. I feel sure that the Minister has considered the representations. However, I am unable to give any answer as to his response to them. I shall obtain that without delay and let the honourable senator have the information as soon as possible.

page 1667

QUESTION

UNEMPLOYMENT AMONGST ABORIGINES

Senator SIBRAA:
NEW SOUTH WALES

– I direct my question to the Minister representing the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. It arises out of a previous question asked by Senator James McClelland. In the light of statistics cited by the Australian Financial Review of 17 May 1976 showing that the rate of unemployment amongst Australian Aborigines is as high as 30 per cent, will the Minister, perhaps in co-operation with the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations and also the Department of Social Security take immediate steps to ensure that this abnormally high rate of unemployment is reduced?

Senator GUILFOYLE:
LP

– I did notice the article to which the honourable senator has referred. I shall confer with the Ministers mentioned by the honourable senator to determine what can be done. We have already had interdepartmental meetings and ministerial meetings of several Ministers with regard to opportunities for employment of Aborigines. I hope that arising from the fact that this matter has been drawn to my notice again we shall be able to take some steps forward in this direction.

page 1667

QUESTION

UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT FOR FARMERS

Senator BUTTON:
VICTORIA

– I address a question to the Minister for Social Security. In view of the statement of a day or two ago about unemployment benefit being made available to farmers, can the Minister say whether an assessment has been made of the number of farmers who it is anticipated will be eligible for the unemployment benefit. Further, insofar as the calculation of a farmer’s income is concerned, can the Minister inform the Senate how that is to be done to bring it into the normal unemployment benefits criteria?

Senator GUILFOYLE:
LP

– I am unable to give any indication of the numbers of primary producers who may need to take the opportunity to have unemployment benefit in terms of the provisions that were announced by the Minister for

Primary Industry a few days ago. I shall be making a statement later today- a Press statement, not a parliamentary statement- with regard to the other matter. I think that I shall be able to cover in that statement the matters that may be of interest to the honourable senator. I rather feel that his question would entail a lengthy answer if I were to embark upon it at this stage.

page 1668

QUESTION

FEDERALISM: EFFECT ON AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

Senator RYAN:
ACT

– My question is directed to the Minister assisting the Prime Minister in Federal Affairs. Can he explain to the Senate how his federalism policy takes account of the Australian Capital Territory? As the Australian Capital Territory is not a State, in what way will State-like revenues be raised to fund State-like government services in the Territory? Does the Minister agree that the Federal Government has no constitutional right to impose tax surcharges on Australian Capital Territory citizens? How then will the citizens of the Australian Capital Territory fare under the new tax arrangements hinted at in the Government’s federalism policy?

Senator CARRICK:
LP

– At stage 1 of the federalism policies which are now being discussed the Australian Capital Territory will not be involved. Stage 2 is at least 12 months off. In due course there will be discussions and we will then make available the details which the honourable senator seeks.

page 1668

QUESTION

CHILD CARE PROGRAMS

Senator McINTOSH:

– My question is directed to the Minister assisting the Prime Minister in Child Care Matters. Will the Minister inform the Senate whether recent reports claiming that the Government is to slash child care funds are true? Can the Minister say whether the Government will appoint permanent commissioners to the Childrens Commission? Has the Government any commitment to the thousands of Australian families who desperately need child care?

Senator GUILFOYLE:
LP

– Any statements that have been made that the Government proposes to slash child care funds are untrue and unfounded. When the statement is made on Thursday night I will be in a position to reveal the expected level of funding for the forthcoming year and I assure the honourable senator that the funds will be adequate to enable the development of a child care program and the support of children’s services which we consider essential. With regard to the appointment of commissioners to the Childrens Commission, as proposed by the former Government, we are awaiting the report of the Administrative Review Committee under Sir Henry Bland and no statements will be made about administration prior to the receipt of that report. Therefore no answer can be given to that part of the question. I assure the honourable senator of the availability of funds for the forthcoming year and the provision of services which we hope to develop.

page 1668

QUESTION

ABORIGINAL LEGAL AID SERVICE

Senator CAVANAGH:

– My question is directed to the Minister representing the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. Are 2 lawyers from the Western Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service at present visiting Warburton in Western Australia to receive instructions as to whether any civil action should be taken against Western Australian police for wrongful arrest? If the Aborigines desire to take legal action will the Minister provide the necessary funds to ensure that counsel can be provided for the applicants?

Senator GUILFOYLE:
LP

– The matter that has been directed to me is one of which I have no particular knowledge so I can make no statement on behalf of the Minister. However, I will refer the question to him for his urgent attention. I feel sure that he will sympathetically listen to any requests for funds for legal representation.

page 1668

QUESTION

CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION ACT

Senator HARRADINE:

– My question is directed to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations and refers to the amendments to the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, presented by the Minister for Labor and Immigration in the previous Government, Mr Clyde Cameron, to provide a new section 133a and new section 140 (1) (d). Does the Minister realise that that amending Act provided that registered organisations had 12 months from the commencement of that Act or such longer period as the Registrar determined to bring their rules into conformity with those provisions? Is the Minister aware that very few organisations registered under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act have brought their rules into conformity with those provisions? Is the Minister also aware of the grave difficulties experienced by registered organisations in this regard? Will he obtain for the Senate the percentage numbers of industrial organisations which have brought their rules into conformity with those provisions?

Senator CARRICK:
LP

-My understanding of the amendments introduced by the former Minister in another place, Mr Clyde Cameron, is as Senator Harradine has stated. My understanding also is that, as the honourable senator stated, the amendments impose very considerable difficulties on unions and only a percentage have been able to conform. I will obtain the information that the honourable senator seeks and let him know.

page 1669

QUESTION

INTERPRETERS AND TRANSLATORS

Senator MULVIHILL:

– I direct a question to the Minister for Education and ask him to take his mind back some 6 or 8 weeks when he said that it was the intention of the Government to take the authority proposed to enhance the status of interpreters and translators from what was the Department of Labor and Immigration under the previous Government and give it to the Department of Education. Can the Minister give an indication of what has transpired in the 6 or 8 weeks since I raised the matter?

Senator CARRICK:
LP

-The matter is not a simple one, as the honourable senator knows, and I acknowledge his interest in it. As he will recollect, one of the problems is that some 3 institutions are involved, with differing standards of approach to the question of training of interpreters and translators, and there is a need for some kind of accreditation agency which would set the standard to be attained. The honourable senator will understand also that unless accreditation standards are sufficiently high, job opportunities will not be available at the end, and in recent weeks there has been some evidence that this is so. All I can say at the moment is that a number of actions are being taken both within my Department and outside to try to rationalise the matter. As soon as I can, I will make a statement and let the honourable senator know the position.

page 1669

QUESTION

NATIONAL FILM LIBRARY: SCHOOL LENDING SERVICES

Senator BUTTON:

-Is the Minister for Education aware that the special services division of the Victorian Education Department has advised Victorian schools that the National Film Library has imposed a reduction of lending services to schools, the reasons given being the recently imposed staff ceilings and budgetary restraints. In view of the importance of audio-visual aids in education, will the Minister examine the position to see whether the cost savings involved justify deprivation of benefit to Australian schools and Australian school children?

Senator CARRICK:
LP

– I am not aware that such an assertion has been made by the special services section of the Department of Education in Victoria nor am I aware of the accuracy or otherwise of the events which would flow from it. Certainly I will make investigations and let the honourable senator know.

page 1669

QUESTION

JAMMING OF AUSTRALIAN RADIO PROGRAMS

Senator COLSTON:

-Can the Minister representing the Minister for Post and Telecommunications inform the Senate whether some Australian radio programs, including news programs, which have been broadcast in northern areas of Australia are being jammed by transmitters located outside Australian waters? If this is happening, will the Minister provide the Senate with the relevant details?

Senator CARRICK:
LP

– It has not come to my attention that that is so. If the honourable senator will let me know of some specific instances, and particularly if he will indicate the times of the alleged jamming, I will pass on the information to my colleague in another place and will certainly have an investigation made.

page 1669

QUESTION

INQUIRY INTO BROADCASTING AND TELEVISION

Senator BUTTON:

– My question is addressed to the Minister representing the Minister for Post and Telecommunications. In view of public concern over the inquiry into broadcasting and television in Australia, will the Minister stir his colleague in the other place to give answers to the questions I asked on notice 3 weeks ago about the nature of the inquiry?

Senator CARRICK:
LP

– I will look up the questions on notice that Senator Button has indicated. I will refer them to my colleague and I will hurry up the answers for the honourable senator.

page 1669

QUESTION

IMPORTATION OF SECONDHAND MOTOR VEHICLES

Senator McLAREN:

– I address my question to the Minister representing the Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs. I refer to question No. 46 1 dealing with the importation of secondhand motor vehicles, a question which I had on the notice paper and in respect of which I received an answer prior to the recess. Whilst the Minister was able to provide me with information about the number of vehicles imported during the last 5 years and the amount of revenue collected, can he tell me why his Department cannot provide me with the names of the persons and companies who imported these cars?

Senator COTTON:
LP

-I will have to ask the responsible Minister to give the honourable senator a further answer to his previous question.

page 1670

ASSENT TO BILLS

Assent to the following Bills reported:

Superannuation Bill 1976.

Superannuation Amendment Bill 1976.

Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits Amendment Bill 1976.

Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits (Pension Increases) Bill 1976.

page 1670

ROYAL COMMISSION ON PETROLEUM

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

– For the information of honourable senators I present the fourth report of the Royal Commission on Petroleum entitled ‘The Marketing and Pricing of Petroleum Products in Australia’.

Senator KEEFFE:
Queensland

– I seek leave to move a motion.

The PRESIDENT:

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

Senator KEEFFE:

– I move:

I ask for leave to make my remarks at a later stage.

Leave granted; debate adjourned. (An incident having occurred in the gallery)

The PRESIDENT:

– Order! Were photographs just taken in this chamber?

Honourable senators- Yes.

The PRESIDENT:

– That is strictly prohibited. Will the person who took the photographs please leave the gallery immediately.

page 1670

AUSTRALIAN FILM COMMISSION

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

– For the information of honourable senators I present the first annual report and financial statements for the Australian Film Commission covering its initial operations from 5 May to 30 June 1975.

Senator BUTTON:
Victoria

-I ask for leave to move a motion.

The PRESIDENT:

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

Senator BUTTON:

-I move:

I seek leave to make my remarks at a later stage.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.

page 1670

QUESTION

VIP FLIGHTS

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

– In response to a question from Senator McLaren I am providing for the information of the Senate details of VIP flights for the period 25 March 1975 to 8 February 1976. Details for the period subsequent to 8 February 1976 are being prepared and will be tabled prior to the rising of the Senate before the winter recess.

Senator McLAREN:
South Australia

– I seek leave to move a motion.

The PRESIDENT:

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

Senator McLAREN:

– I move:

I seek leave to make my remarks at a later stage.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.

page 1670

AUSTRALIAN WATER RESOURCES COUNCIL

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

– For the information of honourable senators I present the record of the seventeenth meeting of the Australian Water Resources Council held in Melbourns on 24 October 1975.

Senator KEEFFE:
Queensland

-I seek leave to move a motion.

The PRESIDENT:

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

Senator KEEFFE:

– I move:

I ask for leave to make my remarks at a later stage.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.

page 1670

INDUSTRIES ASSISTANCE COMMISSION

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

– For the information of honourable senators, I present a report by the Industries Assistance Commission entitled: ‘Welding Consumables and Flux Cored Solder’, and an interim report entitled: Footwear’.

Senator BUTTON:
Victoria

-Mr President, I seek leave to move a motion that the Senate take note of the report with regard to footwear.

The PRESIDENT:

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

Senator BUTTON:

-I move:

I seek leave to continue my remarks.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.

page 1671

STUDENT ASSISTANCE ACT

Senator CARRICK (New South Wales-

Minister for Education)- For the information of honourable senators and pursuant to section 35 of the Student Assistance Act 1973,I present the report on the operation of that Act for 1974.

page 1671

SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND COMMERCE

Senator SHEIL:
Queensland

– I present a progress report from the Senate Standing Committee on Trade and Commerce.

Ordered that the report be printed.

Senator SHEIL:

– I seek leave to make a short statement relating to the report.

The PRESIDENT:

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

Senator SHEIL:

– When the Committee was established on 2 March 1976 it was empowered, where applicable, to inquire into and report upon such matters as were referred to the legislative and general purpose standing committees appointed during previous sessions and not disposed of by those committees. The Committee considered 3 outstanding references which have not been disposed of by the Senate Standing Committee on Industry and Trade, namely, the promotion of trade and commerce with other countries, the 35-hour week and containers. The Standing Committee on Trade and Commerce has decided to obtain these references for further examination.

page 1671

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE AMENDMENT BILL 1976

Motion (by Senator Withers) agreed to:

That leave be given to introduce a Bill for an Act to amend the Public Accounts Committee Act 195 1-1973.

Bill presented, and read a first time.

Standing orders suspended.

Second Reading

Senator WITHERS:
Western AustraliaMinister for Administrative Services · LP

– I move:

Honourable senators may be aware that on 29 April the House of Representatives agreed to a motion moved by the Prime Minister (Mr Malcolm Fraser) for the establishment of an Expenditure Committee of that House. The

Expenditure Committee is an important part of the Government’s policy of strengthening the parliamentary system to enable it adequately to supervise and review Government administration. We consider that the Expenditure Committee will allow a greater in-depth examination of public expenditure than that provided by the Senate Estimates Committees and the Public Accounts Committee.

There is, however, an obvious need for close liaison between these Committees. It is for this purpose that I introduce this Bill to amend the Public Accounts Committee Act to enable the Chairman of the Expenditure Committee to be an ex-officio member of the Public Accounts Committee. It is also proposed that the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee be an exofficio member of the Expenditure Committee, but this of course does not need an amendment of the Act. The Bill also proposes to make several formal amendments to the Act in accordance with current drafting procedures. I commend the Bill to honourable senators.

Debate (on motion by Senator Wriedt) adjourned.

page 1671

SENATE ESTIMATES COMMITTEES

Motion ( by Senator Withers) agreed to:

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

The PRESIDENT:

– The sitting of the Senate is suspended until 10.15 p.m., or such later time as the President may take the Chair this day, to enable Estimates Committees A, B and E to meet. The committees will meet as soon as possible. Committee A will meet in the Senate chamber, Committee B in Senate Committee Room No. 1, and Committee E in Senate Committee Room No. 5. The bells will be rung for 3 minutes prior to the meeting of the Estimates Committees.

Sitting suspended from 3.51 to 10.15 p.m.

page 1671

AGED PERSONS HOSTELS AMENDMENT BILL 1976

Bill received from the House of Representatives.

Ordered that the Bill may be taken through all its stages without delay.

Bill (on motion by Senator Guilfoyle) read a first time.

Second Reading

Senator GUILFOYLE:
Minister for Social Security · Victoria · LP

– I move:

The purpose of this Bill is to extend the effective operation of the Aged Persons Hostels Act 1972-1974 to enable grants to be made for aged persons hostel projects for which applications have been lodged but which, for one reason or another, could not be commenced within the time limits imposed by the Act. The amendment will not re-open the legislation for lodgment of applications for new or additional grants.

The Aged Persons Hostels Act 1972-1974 was introduced with effect from 27 September 1972 and was designed to operate for a period of 3 years. The reason for this, as stated by the Hon. W. C. Wentworth, the then Minister for Social Services, in introducing the Bill in another place on 14 September 1972, was to encourage the building of additional hostel accommodation for the frail aged within a short period of time. The measure was not introduced as a substitute for the continuing program operating under the provisions of the Aged or Disabled Persons Homes Act 1954-1974 which as honourable senators are aware provides for the Commonwealth to subsidise the cost of building self-contained, hostel and nursing accommodation for aged or disabled persons.

The objective is that all beds funded under the Aged Persons Hostels Act 1972-1974 are hosteltype, catering specifically for the frail aged and those in greatest need of accommodation because of advanced age and limited financial resources. In introducing that Bill it was intended that by encouraging additional hostel accommodation there would be a lessening of the pressure for admission to nursing homes by people who had no real need for nursing care. Since the inception of the Act 154 grants have been approved which have attracted grants in the region of $64m. When all these projects have been completed accommodation will have been provided for 5700 aged persons.

Under the Aged Persons Hostels Act 1972-1974 the Commonwealth Government meets the capital cost of providing hostel type accommodation for 2 additional aged persons for every one accommodated in an unsubsidised home, or one additional person for every two in an existing home subsidised on a dollarfordollar basis prior to 1957. To achieve the objective of encouraging early construction of new accommodation the Aged Persons Hostels Act 1972-1974 presently has a condition that a grant shall not be made in respect of a hostel unless the hostel was approved under section 5 of the Act on or before 27 September 1975 and construction commenced within 12 months from the date of approval of the hostel. Under the Aged Persons Hostels Act 1972-1974 many organisations were approved as eligible and acquired the right to purchase or construct new hostel type beds subject to the availability of Commonwealth funds. The original legislation was amended on 9 December 1974 to enable organisations who wished to do so to transfer their rights to other eligible organisations. These rights were sought by some organisations and this gave a considerable stimulus to the program and created a demand for grants in respect of hostels that exceeded the number that could be funded in 1975-1976 within the Budget allocation of $40m.

In order to preserve organisations’ hostel bed entitlements under the Aged Persons Hostels Act 1972-1974, the previous Government decided in August 1975 to approve all outstanding proposals under section 5 of the Act on or before 27 September 1975- the last day on which, under the existing legislation, a hostel could be approved- but to defer the making of a grant in a large number of cases because of insufficient funds. This resulted in the previous Government deferring in excess of 300 applications for grants under this legislation. These are valued at in excess of $ 134m. At the same time these organisations were given an assurance by the previous Government that their rights under the Aged Persons Hostels Act 1972-1974 would be preserved even though the making of grants in respect of their projects had been deferred.

Under the existing Act, projects must be commenced not later than 27 September 1976. If projects are not commenced by that date, as the legislation now stands, eligible organisations would lose their previously approved entitlements. The Government has decided that to enable an annual program of construction to be undertaken and to ensure that the rights of organisations which have acquired entitlements under the legislation are preserved, there should be an extension of the time within which the erection of a hostel can be commenced. An amendment to the existing legislation will give organisations with existing rights 12 months from the date on which a grant is actually approved to plan and commence construction of their hostels. Provided this condition is met, the legislation as amended will authorise the Director-General to actually pay the grant. I commend the Bill to the Senate.

Debate (on motion by Senator Grimes) adjourned.

page 1673

APPLE AND PEAR STABILIZATION AMENDMENT BILL 1976

Bill received from the House of Representatives.

Ordered that the Bill may be taken through all its stages without delay.

Bill (on motion by Senator Cotton) read a first time.

Second Reading

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

– I move:

My second reading speech on this Bill relates also to the Apple and Pear Stabilization Export Duty Amendment Bill 1976 and the Apple and Pear Stabilization Export Duty Collection Amendment Bill 1 976. The purpose of these Bills is to extend the Commonwealth apple and pear stabilisation scheme to cover the 1976 export season for apples and pears. The scheme has operated over the 1971 to 1975 export seasons. The Industries Assistance Commission has inquired into the need beyond the 1975 season for Commonwealth Government financial support for the stabilisation of returns to growers from exports of fresh apples and pears. In its interim report, the Commission recommended the continuation of this scheme on a modified basis for the 1976 season.

These Bills give effect to the Government’s decision, announced on 27 February this year, to accept the Commission’s recommendations. The recommendations in respect of apples were that the maximum level of price support under the scheme in 1976 be $2 per box and the maximum quantity eligible for support be 2 million boxes. Support should be confined to sales ‘at risk’ to Europe, including the United Kingdom. Previously, stabilisation support for apples covered all apples exported on an ‘at risk’ basis. The Government has also accepted the recommendations of the Commission in respect of stabilisation support for the 1976 pear exports. The recommendations were that the maximum level of price support be 80c per box and the maximum quantity eligible for support be 1.4 million boxes. Support would be confined to ‘at risk’ sales to Europe (including the United Kingdom) and North America, whereas under previous stabilisation arrangements all pears exported on an ‘at risk’ basis were covered by stabilisation support.

The opportunity has also been taken to convert units and quantities referred to in the legislation to metric units, and to bring the language in the existing legislation into line with current drafting practices. The term ‘reputed bushel’ referred to in the Act has been replaced with the term ‘reputed box’ in accordance with the terminology currently in use within the industry, and approved by the Metric Conversion Board.

During the 1971 to 1975 seasons the apple and pear stabilisation scheme has provided for the establishment of a support price for the season for each variety of apples and pears. The support price has been calculated each season in line with movements in growers’ cash costs as assessed by the Bureau of Agricultural Economics. The ‘average export return’ for each variety was determined at the end of the season from actual sales. Where the ‘average export return’ apples or pears was less than the ‘support price ‘ a payment equal to the difference was made to growers exporting that variety ‘at risk’. Overall limits were placed on support to provide for a maximum rate of 80c per bushel on a total of 4.4 million bushels. The maximum quantity eligible for support was increased for the 1972 season only to 4.9 million bushels. Where the ‘average export return’ is greater than the support price a charge was levied on the relevant growers. A limit on the grower charge equivalent to the limit on the payments from the funds has been applicable. Varietal stabilisation funds have been established, into which Government and industry contributions were paid, and from which payments to growers were made. Provision for imposition and collection of the charge liable to be levied on growers in the circumstances I have just outlined, is made in the Apple and Pear Stabilization Export Duty Act 1971 and the Apple and Pear Stabilization Export Duty Collection Act 1 97 1 - 1 973, respectively.

The purpose of the Apple and Pear Export Duty Amendment Bill 1976 is to limit the rate of export duty that growers may be required to pay in the 1976 season, in accordance with the limits on stabilisation payment proposed for the 1 976 season under the Apple and Pear Stabilization Amendment Bill 19/6. These limits are a maximum of $2 per box for apples and 80c per box for pears. Export duty will also be limited in its application to exports to markets covered by the stabilisation scheme in 1976. The 1974 and 1975 export seasons have seen the operation of special schemes for apples only, supplementary to the Commonwealth stabilisation scheme. This additional assistance was provided jointly by the Commonwealth and State governments. In 1975 a limit was placed on this supplementary support, of 80c per bushel on a maximum quantity of 3.04 million bushels of apples exported ‘at risk’ to the United Kingdom/Europe market. In 1976, similar supplementary proposals have been made to State Governments by the Commonwealth Government for a support program covering apples exported on an ‘at risk’ basis to United Kingdom/Europe in 1976. The quantity of fruit covered by this Commonwealth offer is being apportioned among States. The Government has proposed that this assistance program, which would be supplementary to stabilisation support and funded jointly by Commonwealth and State Governments, provide support totalling Sim equivalent to 500 000 boxes at the rate of $2 per box.

Economic pressures on the export section of the apple and pear industry have been acute. The export sector, particularly of the apple industry, has traditionally been oriented towards the United Kingdom/Europe market. The profitability of this outlet has been reduced drastically by rising freight rates, currency adjustments and severe international competition. The industry is a labour intensive and high cost one, and is particularly vulnerable to international and domestic inflation. The nature of the apple and pear export trade, which involves long distance transportation of a bulky commodity, sold largely on a speculative basis in Europe and North American markets, is such that the transportation and marketing costs have severely eroded the profitability of much of the export trade. There have been strong representations from the industry particularly from Tasmania and Western Australia, that the level of support recommended by the Commission for 1976 exports of apples would not be adequate and would result in hardship in fruitgrowing regions. The Government considers that there is a case for some liberalisation of assistance, chiefly with respect to the quantity eligible for support. Accordingly, the special export assistance to which I referred covering a further quantity of apples to the United Kingdom/Europe market beyond the 2 million boxes supported by the stabilisation scheme has been submitted to State governments with strong recommendation for their support.

The extension of the stabilisation scheme will assist in easing the social and regional difficulties associated with the necessary adjustments which are occurring in the apple and pear industry. A considerable number of growers have left the industry, particularly in Western Australia and Tasmania, in recent years. The adjustment which has already taken place in the industry has resulted in a substantial reduction in exports. To illustrate the changes taking place in the industry, the volume of apple exports has declined from 7 million boxes in 1970 to 4.4 million boxes in 1975. Over the same period, apple and pear bearing tree numbers have declined by some 26 per cent. There can be little doubt that the next few seasons will see increased economic pressure on the apple and pear industry and that substantial further adjustment will be required. Because of the regional concentration of the export industry, particularly in Tasmania and Western Australia, the necessary changes will have regional implications. It seems inevitable that the industry will become increasingly orientated towards the domestic market with a substantially reduced and redirected export trade. It is the Government’s intention that this process of adjustment should be orderly, and should not be accompanied by unnecessary individual hardship.

The Government regards the stabilisation support as an interim measure pending Government consideration of the Commission’s final report on the apple and pear industry. The maximum cost to the Commonwealth of extending the apple and pear stabilisation scheme for the 1976 season would be $5. 12m. It should be noted that depending on the variables which influence the seasonal level of payments under the Commonwealth stabilisation scheme, such as average levels of return for fruit, the maximum commitment may not be fully drawn. In 1975, although $4.7m was committed by the Commonwealth in export support programs, only $3.6m was ultimately utilised. These Bills provide Government support for the 1976 apple and pear season which has already commenced. As such, they provide interim support for the industry for the period during which longer term and more comprehensive proposals for the industry can be considered. I commend the Bills.

Debate (on motion by Senator Douglas McClelland) adjourned.

page 1674

ADJOURNMENT

East Timor

The PRESIDENT:

– Order! It being after 10.30 p.m., under sessional order I formally put the question:

That the Senate do now adjourn.

Senator HARRADINE:
Tasmania

– I rise to point out to the Senate and to you, Mr President, my objection to what occurred last Wednesday during the debate on the

East Timor situation. I register my strong objection to the Government’s gagging that debate when all points of view had not been registered in this Senate. It is all very well for the Government and for the Opposition to be in each other’s pocket but there is another point of view which should have been expressed at that time. I cannot go along with what Senator Chaney said at the end of the debate, that is, that there was a substantial area of agreement between the parties in the Senate on the question of East Timor. I agree that he could have felt that I was of the same opinion as the vast majority of Australians that the East Timorese have the right to self determination. I had made that clear to Senator Chaney before coming into this chamber. However, what was not adverted to during the discussion was the hypocrisy of the Left on this question which is shown when its attitude, and particularly that of Senator Gietzelt who initiated the debate, is compared with the attitude that it adopted in 1962 over the invasion by Indonesia of West New Guinea. I certainly hold the same view as I did on the previous occasion.

Senator Cavanagh:

- Mr President, I rise to order. I draw your attention to standing order 413 to determine whether the discussion is in order.

Mr PRESIDENT:

- Senator Harradine is in order.

Senator HARRADINE:

– In July 1974 I was one of the first to advert to the problems which could arise in East Timor because of the developing concern in Portugal. At that time I supported the proposition that there should be an act of self determination for the East Timorese people. In 1962, in the committees of the Labor Council, I supported the view that there should be an act of self determination by the people of West New Guinea.

Let us look at what the current proposers on the Left are saying now and what they said then. There is no better illustration than a comparison of their current bellowing on the subject of East Timor and their silence and acquiescence at the time of the Indonesian takeover of West New Guinea. The 2 actions by Indonesia were very similar, but the response of the Left coalition in Australia has been markedly different in each case. The difference is explained by the fact that at the time of the takeover of West New Guinea Indonesia was very close to the Soviet Union, and the PKI- the Indonesian Communist Party- - exerted strong influence over President Sukarno. Today, of course, an anti-communist government is in power in Indonesia.

I have relied extensively on the document known as Keesing’s Contemporary Archives for information. At that time in 1962 there was an arms deal between the Soviet Union and Indonesia. There are a number of similarities between the Indonesian takeover in West New Guinea in 1 962 and the Indonesian takeover of East Timor in 1975. If it is correct to criticise Indonesia today for its action over East Timor it was also correct to criticise Indonesia for its actions in West New Guinea, but the forces which are beating the drum now about East Timor were silent in 1962. Why were they silent? They were silent because in 1962 the Soviet Union supported the Indonesian takeover of West New Guinea. In the words of Mr Kosygin, the Soviet Government and people ‘fully support the demand of the Indonesian people for the return of West Irian to Indonesia’. That was repeated by Mr Laurie Aarons in the Communist Party Tribune of 20 May 1962, when he wrote:

Communist policy is for complete support of Indonesia ‘s claim to West Irian and complete independence for the peoples exploited and oppressed by Australian capitalism.

That declaration of attitude by the Soviet Union and by the Communist Party of Australia had the effect of signalling to the Left that it should either support the takeover of West New Guinea or turn a blind eye to it. That is precisely what the Left did in its statements and propaganda organs, including the union journals which it influences. However, in the present circumstances the Soviet Union opposes the Indonesian takeover of East Timor, and only recently when Mr Fry left Australia to speak at the United Nations in support of Fretilin the Canberra Times reported on 13 April that the Soviet Embassy in Canberra offered him all possible assistance while in New York. Whether Mr Fry took up that assistance or not, the offer itself was significant. In my view, the Indonesian takeover of West New Guinea warranted equal criticism with Indonesia’s latest actions in East Timor.

As I said earlier, there are some interesting similarities between the 2 events. Firstly, in West New Guinea prior to the takeover there were parties of independence, just as there were parties in East Timor. In West New Guinea those parties were the Democratic Peoples’ Party, the New Guinea Party of Unity, the Party of United Young Papuans, the National Party, the Party of the People of New Guinea and the Strength Through Unity Party. In East Timor the parties were UDT, Fretilin, KOTA and Apodeti. The second similarity between West New Guinea and East Timor is that the United Nations was either powerless to act or disinclined to become too deeply involved. Thirdly, in the case of both West New Guinea and East Timor, the Indonesian actions were escalated during a time of elections or their aftermath in Australia. In the case of East Timor there were significant developments immediately before, during and after the time of the caretaker Government last year. In the case of West New Guinea, President Sukarno’s call to all Indonesians to be ready for general mobilisation to liberate West Irian came 10 days after the 1961 general election in Australia. The fourth similarity relates to the fact that both incidents involved a decolonising power which scarcely had a deep interest in the territory concerned. In the case of West New Guinea that power was the Dutch and in the case of East Timor it was the Portuguese. On both occasions the Indonesians’ actions warranted criticism by Australia, not ideologically motivated criticism but criticism based on a true regard for Australia’s interests and those of the people who were the subject of the takeover.

Let me illustrate the hypocrisy and double standards of some of those who are behind today’s protests, those who provide the muscle for the Left controlled operation. I exclude specifically those people who, like myself, support self determination in the case of East Timor and who stood to support self determination for the people of West New Guinea. As an example I illustrate the attitude of the Miscellaneous Workers Union, which is controlled by Mr Ray Gietzelt. Past and present officials of his union are prominent in today’s campaign over Timor. If one looks at the list published in the Communist Party’s Journal Tribune of 21 January 1976 of organisations involved in the Timor campaign, one will see some interesting entries. For example, the Wollongong contact for the Australia-East Timor Association is Len Norriss and his address is given as care of the Miscellaneous Workers’ Union, Room 11, 14 Station Street. Len Norriss is the district organiser of the Miscellaneous Workers’ Union, and, incidentally, is a member of the Communist Party of Australia. In the Tribune list the Newcastle contact is Mr Keith Wilson. He is the contact for the Campaign for an Independent East Timor. Mr Wilson is the secretary of the Newcastle Trades Hall Council, a former full time Communist Party organiser and secretary of the Newcastle branch of the Miscellaneous Workers’ Union. But where were the Miscellaneous Workers’ Union and its organisers in 1962 when a pro- Communist Indonesia was taking over West New Guinea with the support of the Soviet Union and the support of the Communist Party of Australia? Where were their great ideals in regard to the self determination of the peoples thus affected?

During March, April, May and June of 1 962 several hundred Indonesian paratroops were dropped by aircraft at a number of points in West New Guinea and the Indonesian attack on West New Guinea escalated rapidly. What was the Miscellaneous Workers’ Union doing? I will tell the Senate what it was doing. In March the New South Wales branch, under Ray Gietzelt ‘s leadership, was sponsoring the visit to Australia of a delegation from the Soviet Union which was actively backing the takeover at that time of West New Guinea by the Indonesians. In May the New South Wales branch organiser of that union, J. J. Dwyer, was in Moscow attending the May Day celebrations at the invitation of the socalled Soviet All Union Council of Trade Unions which, incidentally, was under the control of Mr Alexander Shelepin, a former KGB boss. Was not it Solzhenitsyn who said ‘. . . in our country, since the Revolution, there’s never been such a thing as a free trade union’? Mr Dwyer was sent to Moscow by the Federal Executive of the Miscellaneous Workers Union. Perhaps- I say this with some irony- Mr Dwyer was delivering a protest note to the Soviets about their support of the Indonesian takeover of West New Guinea. If so, he was not very successful because on 8 May 1962 Indonesia signed an agreement with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for the supply of Soviet arms. The Indonesian Foreign Minister said that the arms would be more than enough to face the growing threat from the Dutch in West Irian’.

Right throughout the period of the Indonesian takeover of West New Guinea the Miscellaneous Workers Union journal Federation News made not the slightest protest about the takeover. It maintained absolute silence. The only reference to West New Guinea in the entire collection of the 1961 and 1962 issues of Federation News was one paragraph within an item in the 1961 ALP Conference policy decision on foreign affairs and defence. Yet during this period Federation News published many items about the involvement of the Miscellaneous Workers Union in the New South Wales Peace Committee. In the September 1961 issue a photograph was published of a Miscellaneous Workers Union banner stating ‘Peace is Trade Union Business’. Indeed, peace is trade union business, but it must be peace with justice. We must stand for the right of self-determination of all people, whether they are being taken over by a communist power or not.

Let us have a look at that Peace Committee with which the Miscellaneous Workers Union was affiliated and which the union was lauding in its journal. What was the committee saying about the takeover? The committee in its journal was supporting the Indonesian takeover of West Irian on the basis that West Irian was for 300 years an integral part of the multi-racial colony formerly owned by Holland and then known as the Dutch East Indies. This was the basis for the powerful support from the Afro-Asian and socialist countries for the Indonesian claim to the territory. That is what the committee was saying at the dme of the Indonesian takeover of West Irian. This Committee with which the Miscellaneous Workers Union was involved- the New South Wales Peace Committee- had an equally two-faced attitude. It never once publicly criticised the takeover; indeed, in its publications it supported the takeover. Nor did the journal Peace Action for 1961 and 1962 carry any reports from associated organisations, such as the Sutherland Shire Peace and Disarmament Committee, criticising the Indonesian actions. The Sutherland Shire Peace and Disarmament Committee was supporting the views of the New South Wales Peace Committee and of its publication for the takeover of West Irian by the Indonesians. Who do we find is the patron of the Sutherland Shire Peace and Disarmament Committee? None other than the honourable senator who raised the matter of urgency last Wednesday, Senator Gietzelt. What double standards is the Senate treated to?

Similarly, we have the Amalgamated Engineering Union which now forms part of the Amalgamated Metal Workers Unions. What is that union doing at the present time? What was its attitude at that time? If one searches the journals of the Union one finds silence on this question. But like the Miscellaneous Workers Union, the Amalgamated Engineering Union in its journals during the period of the Indonesian paratroop landing on West New Guinea was busy following the Soviet line and also was busy feting delegations from the Soviet Union which in turn was supporting the Indonesian takeover of West New Guinea. The action of the Communist Party and its allies contrasted with the statements of Mr Arthur Calwell, the Leader of the Parliamentary Labor Party at the time. It has to be stated, and stated quite clearly, that the Australian Labor Party at the time stood for the selfdetermination of the peoples of West New Guinea, as it stands now for the selfdetermination for the peoples of East Timor.

Senator Georges:

– What are you complaining about then?

Senator HARRADINE:

– I am complaining about the communists and the Left and their double standards. In the Sydney Morning Herald of 10 February 1962 Mr Calwell stated quite unambiguously:

Indonesia’s threatened seizure of West New Guinea is sheer aggression.

With great foresight Mr Calwell also warned that after it had seized West New Guinea, Indonesia might look greedily at Timor. But what were some of the members in the House of Representatives saying? What, for example, was Mr Ray Gietzelt ‘s friend, Mr Clyde Cameron, saying at that time? He was saying:

I am one who welcomes anything that is done by the Australian Government to create amicable relations with Indonesia . . .

Inside and outside this Parliament, that was his attitude. But it was denied by Mr Calwell who got up after two other members had spoken and said:

Mr Chairman the honourable member for Hindmarsh … is entitled to express his own views and tonight he has expressed his own views and not necessarily those of the Labor Party.

What right have the Left-controlled groups, such as the Miscellaneous Workers Union, the Amalgamated Metal Workers Union and the Association for International Co-operation and Disarmament to preach to the Australian people about independence in East Timor when they or their predecessors did nothing- absolutely nothing- at the time of the Indonesian takeover of West New Guinea and the destruction of the independence of the people of that country? Their actions and their statements today over East Timor are ideologically motivated. The friends of the communists are not genuinely concerned with the rights of the people of East Timor, and the tragedy is that they are using the people of East Timor for their own ideological ends. The tragedy of that is that the people who genuinely feel for the people of East Timor have a very different job in trying to have their point of view heard.

Senator Missen:

– We must be more outspoken.

Senator HARRADINE:

-I agree that we must be more outspoken. On that point, we must call quite strongly on the Indonesian Government to allow the Red Cross teams to go into East Timor. This Government must do all in its power to see that these teams are allowed to enter East Timor. I say that the action of the Left over East Timor is ideologically motivated. It is concerned only with the opportunity which this issue presents of widening the coalition of the Left in the Australian society.

Senator Cavanagh:

– But if they are right on one occasion why divide the forces.

Senator HARRADINE:

– I am not dividing forces. The problem is the double standards that are adopted. Honourable senators saw a motion presented by one senator which demanded selfdetermination of a people against Indonesian aggression. What notice is the Indonesian Government or the Australian Government going to take of that resolution when the same person supported the takeover of another people and denied their right to self-determination simply because of the political colour of the Government at that time? I give this advice to certain members of the Government Parties in the Senate: The next time you are approached to sign a petition about East Timor which contains the statement, ‘We call for the extension to the people of East Timor of an opportunity to exercise freely their right to self-determination’, ask the organiser of the petition what was his attitude on the independence of the people of West New Guinea when a pro-Communist Indonesia liberated ‘ the country at that time.

I want to advert to one final matter, namely, the distressing situation in which we saw our newsmen killed in East Timor. I support the protests that have been made in regard to that. But there are some guilty men who have not been exposed. The guilty men are the newspaper proprietors who sent those people in there to obtain a sensational story. Sensational story they got with the deaths of those men. They were sent in unprepared and ill-equipped. I ask: Who are the guilty men? On whose shoulders rest the deaths of those newsmen? Certainly, it rests with the people who physically killed them. But surely the newspaper moguls cannot be absolved from blame altogether in that circumstance. Mr President, I apologise to you and the Senate for having taken its time but I hope that the Government will get the message that when a senator wants to speak on a particular matter, the Government should not gag the debate in future.

Senator MULVIHILL:
New South Wales

– I am tempted to speak very briefly on the utterances of Senator Harradine. Many of us have argued that the wrongs of the super powers never surprise us. Senator Harradine has complained frequently in his speeches about what he calls the selective news releases of the Australian Broadcasting Commission. I believe that he conducted that sort of exercise tonight.

He referred to what happened in the incorporation of West New Guinea under Indonesian sovereignty. I do not know whether he was absentminded on this subject or whether his memory failed him, but he would know also that regardless of the machinations of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or any other country, the United States of America was implicated to the extent that Mr Ellsworth Bunker, a top negotiator who at this very hour is endeavouring to salvage the United States reputation in regard to the future of the Panama Canal, was equally involved in the West New Guinea matter.

There is a lesson of which Senator Harradine ought be aware. I make these remarks with all due respect to Arthur Calwell who admitted afterwards that when the super powers made a deal there was nothing you could do about it. I am not here to defend honourable senators on the Government benches, but I know that when Arthur Calwell tried to activate the Australian public in regard to West Irian there was a general desire- justifiably- not to engage in warlike adventures. If Senator Harradine conducted some more research into the arguments expounded at that time by senior members of the then Liberal-Country Party coalition, he would know that their theme was: Do not rock the boat. I am not suggesting that the Liberal-Country Party coalition was involved in machinations with Moscow but I do say that it went along quietly with Ellsworth Bunker. The message that I give the Senate, and in particular Senator Harradine, is that the Labor Party on other occasions has urged Australia not to become tied down in a partnership line with any of the super powers but to reserve the right to have our options open. We have been justified by history in taking this stand.

I think that it is good to know that Bishop Gleason and others are not in the toils of Arthur Gietzelt or his brother Ray. That ought to be made very clear. I do not think that they are taking any notice of either my Senate colleague or his brother. Let us get the matter into its right perspective once and for all. I and many other people were not unaware that President Sukarno had Hatta and other socialists imprisoned. But one message came across loud and clear at that time, as it does now. I listened to Senator Wright speak on this subject in the Senate recently. I always listen to his views but I do not always agree with them. However, I believe that Government spokesmen on this matter agree with us on this point: Whatever has happened in Timor, we will not send an expeditionary force up there and have another Vietnam situation.

I do not want to decry anybody’s views but first and foremost there must be no more positioning of Australian forces, either in a voluntary or conscripted capacity, on mainland Asia. That is the major thing. Even Senator Sir Magnus Cormack has argued about continued negotiations taking place. My colleague, Senator Arthur Gietzelt, is much concerned and impatient to have relief and food sent to East Timor, and then have talk, not war. That slogan has a familiar ring. It is fruitless to be arguing about who did something at a given time. I can give an Irish analogy which I think Senator Harradine would appreciate. I have attended meetings of people who left the Republic of Ireland in the 1920s. They were not quarrelling about what Great Britain did or did not do. They lined up behind either Collins or De Valera and got into bitter arguments on the merits of both, when in effect, both Collins and DeValera deserved praise and not abuse for their activities. It was a pointless argument. It is just as pointless tonight for Senator Harradine to argue what stand somebody took on an earlier occasion. I am sure that Senator Missen and Senator Bonner have enough political maturity to know what is contained in the petition when they sign it. I am sure that if I presented them with petitions, sometimes they would sign and sometimes they would say, ‘It is not on’.

I conclude on this point: We should have a united front to help these people in desperate straits in Timor. We should not worry whether it is Ray Gietzelt of the Miscellaneous Workers Union or his brother, Senator Arthur Gietzelt, who is involved in the matter. I think that Senator Harradine did a disservice equally to Bishop Gleason and to Senator Missen.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Senate adjourned at 11.4 p.m.

page 1680

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

The following answers to questions were circulated:

Australian Capital Territory: Belconnen Amenities (Question No.15)

Senator Knight:

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

What proportion of the Australian Capital Territory’s (a) retail, (b) restaurant, (c) cinema, (d) indoor sporting/recreation, (e) outdoor sporting/recreation, (f) primary schools, (g) secondary schools, (h) pre-schools, (i) childcare, (j) playground, and (k) park land facilities has been established in the Belconnen area of the Territory.

Senator Webster:
NCP/NP

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

  1. a ) 6 per cent (estimated ).
  2. 4 per cent (approximate), but in this case and (a) above much of the restaurant and retail provision is on a city basis rather than a district basis.
  3. Nil. Planning for a drive-in theatre is under consideration, but in general Canberra theatres are centrally located to serve all districts.
  4. Significant indoor recreation facilities exist in Belconnen High Schools and more particularly in the recently completed Hawker College. Sites have been identified for squash courts and 4 community halls have been established. The proportions of these to the Canberra total have not been determined.
  5. There are 2 enclosed outdoor sporting/recreation grounds in Belconnen from a total of 12 such grounds throughout the A.C.T. Of a total of 92 public tennis courts in the A.C.T., 4 courts are located in Belconnen; 1 swimming pool out of a total of 6, and one bowling green from a total of in the A.C.T. are also located in Belconnen.
  6. Of the 49 primary schools in the A.C.T., 16 are located in Belconnen.
  7. Of the 19 secondary schools in the A.C.T., 5 are located in Belconnen.
  8. h) Of the 64 pre-schools in the A.C.T., 1 8 are located in Belconnen.
  9. No public child care centres exist in Belconnen, however, the planning of two public child care centres is being considered.
  10. ) Of the 1 58 playgrounds maintained by the City Parks Administration 40 are located in the Belconnen area.
  11. The National Capital Development Commission plans for the provision of parkland and public open space in urban areas on the basis of approximately 4 hectares per 1000 people.

In addition approximately 6 hectares per 1000 people are provided for metropolitan parklands, hill reserves, plantations and golf courses.

The neighbourhood parklands and pedestrian ways have been developed in most Belconnen suburbs. However, in Charnwood and Macgregor most of the landscaping has yet to be completed. In Hawker, Evatt, Giralang and Fraser partial landscaping has taken place and the balance is in progress.

Australian Capital Territory: Canberra Amenities (Question No. 16)

Senator Knight:

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

What proportion of the Australian Capital Territory’s (a) retail, (b) restaurant, (c) cinema, (d) indoor sporting/recreation, (e) outdoor sporting/recreation, (f) primary schools, (g) secondary schools, (h) pre-schools, (i) childcare, (j) playgrounds, and (k) park land facilities has been established in the Canberra area of the Territory.

Senator Webster:
NCP/NP

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

  1. 54 per cent (estimated).
  2. 79 per cent (approximate).
  3. Inner Canberra has 7 cinemas, and 2 drive-in theatres; a theatrette is located in the National Library.
  4. Indoor sporting/recreation facilities have been established at the YMCA centre and limited facilities exist at schools and church halls. There are 3 squash centres and 3 community halls available.
  5. Outdoor sporting/recreation facilities in the inner Canberra area include 8 out of 12 enclosed grounds in the Territory; 68 tennis courts from a total of 92; 4 out of 6 swimming pools and 7 out of 8 bowling clubs.
  6. Of the 49 primary schools in the A.C.T., 13 are located in central Canberra.
  7. Of the 19 secondary schools in the A.C.T., 8 are located in central Canberra.
  8. Of the 64 pre-schools in the A.C.T., 26 are located in central Canberra.
  9. Of the 3 public child-care centres in the A.C.T., 2 are located in central Canberra.
  10. ) Of the 1 58 playgrounds maintained by the City Parks Administration 6 1 are located in central Canberra.
  11. See answer to Question No. 15 (k) on urban parkland areas provided in the Territory. All urban parklands in central Canberra have been established.

Australian Capital Territory: Tuggeranong Amenities (Question No. 17)

Senator Knight:

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

What proportion of the Australian Capital Territory’s (a) retail, (b) restaurant, (c) cinema, (d) indoor sporting/recreation, (e) outdoor sporting/recreation, (f) primary schools, (g) secondary schools, (h) pre-schools, (i) childcare, (j) playgrounds, and (k) park land facilities has been established in the Tuggeranong area of the Territory.

Senator Webster:
NCP/NP

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

  1. 0.1 per cent (estimated).
  2. Nil (approximate).
  3. Nil. A theatre is planned for the proposed Wanniassa College and community activity centre.
  4. No specific indoor sporting/recreation facilities have been established as such, however, secondary schools provide facilities suitable for a number of indoor sports, including basketball and badminton. The college planned to open in Wanniassa, in 1979, will incorporate a community centre with a swimming pool, squash courts, sports halls and a theatre. Existing local activity centres include a small hall for community use.
  5. Sites have been identified throughout the area for enclosed outdoor sporting facilities, including tennis courts.
  6. Of the 49 primary schools in the Australian Capital Territory, 3 are located in Tuggeranong.
  7. g) Of the 1 9 secondary schools in the Australian Capital Territory, 1 is located in Tuggeranong.
  8. Of the 64 pre-schools in the Australian Capital Territory, 3 are located in Tuggeranong.
  9. No public child-care facilities exist in Tuggeranong, however, forward planning has identified a site for the future provision of a child-care centre.
  10. Of the 1S8 playgrounds maintained by the City Parks Administration 6 are located in the Tuggeranong area.
  11. See answer to Question No. 15 (k) on urban parkland areas provided in the Territory. In Tuggeranong landscaping has been completed in Kambah I and portion of Kambah II and other landscaping is in progress.

Australian Capital Territory: Woden Valley- Weston Creek Amenities (Question No. 18)

Senator Knight:

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

What proportion of the Australian Capital Territory’s (a) retail, (b) restaurant, (c) cinema, (d) indoor sporting/recreation, (e) outdoor sporting/recreation, (f) primary schools, (g) secondary schools, (h) pre-schools, (i) childcare, (j) playground, and (k) park land facilities has been established in the Woden Valley-Weston Creek areas of the Territory.

Senator Webster:
NCP/NP

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

  1. 26 percent (estimated).
  2. 17 perc ent(approximate)
  3. Nil. Plans for cinema facilities are under consideration.
  4. Secondary schools provide facilities suitable for a number of indoor sports and the YMCA centre at Phillip provides amenities for a number of indoor sporting/ recreation pursuits. Squash courts are also available at Phillip.
  5. Outdoor sporting/recreation facilities in the area include 2 out of 12 of the Territory’s enclosed sportsgrounds, a further site has been identified in Weston Creek. 3 tennis centres in the area contain 20 of the 92 tennis courts available in the Territory; 1 out of the Territory’s 6 swimming pools is located in the Woden Valley-Weston Creek area. There are also 3 existing community halls available.
  6. Of the 49 primary schools in the Australian Capital Territory, 17 are located in Woden Valley- Weston Creek.
  7. g) Of the 1 9 secondary schools in the Australian Capital Territory, 5 are located in Woden Valley- Weston Creek.
  8. Of the 64 pre-schools in the Australian Capital Territory, 1 7 are located in Woden Valley- Weston Creek.
  9. Of the 3 public child-care centres in the Australian Capital Territory, 1 is located in Woden Valley-Weston Creek.
  10. ) Of the 1 58 playgrounds maintained by the City Parks Administration, 51 are located in the Woden Valley- Weston Creek area.
  11. See answer to Question No. 15 (k) on urban parkland areas provided in the Territory. Urban parklands in the Woden Valley-Weston Creek area are fully developed except in minor instances.

Australian Capital Territory: Belconnen Indoor Recreation Facilities (Question No. 21)

Senator Knight:

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

  1. 1 ) What action is currently being taken to provide indoor recreation facilities at Belconnen in the Australian Capital Territory.
  2. When will such facilities be completed and where will they be located.
Senator Webster:
NCP/NP

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

  1. 1 ) and (2) Government funding for indoor recreation facilities has been confined generally to those associated with education institutions. In many cases these are available for general community use outside normal school hours and there is probably potential for greater dual use.

The Government’s first priorities for development have been and must continue to be land development, housing, and health and education facilities.

In the current economic situation it is not appropriate to extend government expenditure on indoor recreation facilities when it will be difficult enough to provide for the normal priorities which are essential to the community. This situation can be expected to continue for quite a while.

Private enterprise, community organisations and clubs have provided quite a wide range of indoor recreation facilities in Canberra as the demand and market have grown. It can be expected that the interest of these sectors will continue as the market becomes more attractive.

Community co-operatives have been established in Canberra to provide retail facilities and the Government would actively support any similar move for co-operatives to develop indoor recreational facilities.

As I announced on 29 April, the A.C.T. Sports Council, together with private enterprise interests, are developing ;i proposal for a major indoor recreation complex in the Belconnen Town Centre, and the Government welcomes this initiative.

Australian Capital Territory: Tuggeranong Indoor Recreation Facilities (Question No. 22)

Senator Knight:

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

  1. 1 ) What action is currently being taken to provide indoor recreation facilities at Tuggeranong in the Australian Capital Territory.
  2. When will such facilities be completed and where will they be located.
Senator Webster:
NCP/NP

– See my answer to Question No. 21.

Australian Capital Territory: Woden Valley- Weston Indoor Recreation Facilities (Question No. 23)

Senator Knight:

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

  1. 1 ) What action is currently being taken to provide indoor recreation facilities in the Woden Valley- Weston areas of the Australian Capital Territory.
  2. When will such facilities be completed and where will they be located.
Senator Webster:
NCP/NP

– See my answer to Question No. 21.

Health: Vegetable Oils in Plastic Containers (Question No. 45)

Senator Baume:
NEW SOUTH WALES

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

  1. 1 ) Has the Minister’s attention been drawn to a report from the National Health and Medical Research Council indicating that there are excessive levels of vinyl chloride monomer in some vegetable oils marketed in plastic containers.
  2. Has the Minister’s attention also been drawn to comments by medical authorities, including Dr D. McPhee of Latrobe University expressing his concern as a geneticist about these findings.
  3. What steps have been taken by the Department of Health to acquaint the manufacturers of containers of the danger and to insist upon modifications to packaging that will adequately protect the health of present and future Australians.
  4. Does at least one major manufacturer already plan to market some vegetable oils in cans.
  5. Will vegetable oils marketed in cans be free of any known mutagenic or other health risk.
Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

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

  1. 1 ) The honourable senator is referring, I believe, to a survey undertaken by the Australian Government Analyst on vinyl chloride monomer in a variety of foods on the market packed in PVC plastic containers.

The Australian Government Analyst’s survey was part of nationwide research being carried out for Food Standards Committee of the NH&MRC. This research has been underway since 1974 and is still continuing.

The Australian Government Analyst’s results had value at the time his samples were collected (prior to June 1975) but further results of the on-going survey show that these results are now not applicable.

  1. I am aware of the comments by Dr McPhee. At this time there are no indications of any form of health hazard to humans from the presence of VCM occurring in foods in

Australia. The levels of VCM are now lower than those recommended by NH&MRC and are close to the limits of detectability.

  1. Steps were taken by the Department of Health which resulted in complete co-operation from the plastics industy and the Plastics Institute of Australia with satisfactory results.
  2. Vegetable oils have been packed in cans by some manufacturers for many years.
  3. As far as our present knowledge extends, edible oils marketed in conformity with NH&MRC recommendations and State and Territory regulations are free from mutagenic or other health risk.

Roads: Restrictions on Heavy Vehicles (Question No. 62)

Senator Mulvihill:

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

  1. 1 ) In view of the highway problems that beset Great Britain following Common Market membership, when that country was forced to permit much larger pantechnicons to operate than previously, does the Minister see any limits on the use of such vehicles on Australian highways.
  2. Are there any current limitations on the use of such motor vehicles on Australian highways.
  3. In the interests of road safety are any limitations visualised.
Senator Carrick:
LP

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

  1. and (2) All States and Territories have some form of regulatory restriction on the sizes and weights of vehicles and their loads.
  2. The limitations on sizes and weights are for two purposes, to protect roads and bridges and for safety of other vehicles and road users. There are some variations as between the respective States and Territories. These limits were recently reviewed by a study team formed by the National Association of Australian State Road Authorities. The team’s recommendations are currently being studied with a view to presenting recommendatons to the next meeting of the Australian Transport Advisory Council.

Aboriginal Affairs Expenditure (Question No. 89)

Senator Colston:

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

  1. Did the Minister announce on 4 February that the Government would cut spending in the field of Aboriginal affairs by $7m this financial year.
  2. Was the Minister in his prepared statement unable to indicate exactly where savings would be made.
  3. Can the Minister now be more precise in relation to the reduction which will take place.
  4. Does the Government plan to abolish the National Aboriginal Consultative 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 text of the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs’ statement of 4 February, referred to in the question, is as follows

ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS BUDGET ECONOMIES

The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr Ian Viner, said today his Department would defer funding of certain projects and make savings in others as well as in travel, overtime and other administrative costs to put into effect the Government’s decision to cut spending in this area by $7m. This would reduce the total expenditure by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs from the budget appropriation of $ 142m to an amount of $ 135m for the current year.

Mr Viner said the programs to be deferred would generally be ones which were not ready to proceed at present. While it was not possible at present to indicate in detail where the savings would be made, he said the deferred items would be re-examined in the next financial year.

The Minister believed that more careful consideration of proposals and application of procedures and conditions would provide a sound basis for a rational funding of Aboriginal programs in the future to give effect to the Government’s expressed policies and objectives. In this way wastage and inefficiency would be avoided while ensuring that Aboriginal organisations were not deprived of Government assistance.

Other savings would be made by economy measures already announced concerning the general field of Public Service employment.

  1. 3 ) Reductions will occur in the following functions:

In addition to the above, further savings in the order of $400,000 are expected as a result of maintaining restraint on expenditure in all areas.

  1. No. The future role and structure of the National Aboriginal Consultative Committee is the subject of an Inquiry announced by the Minister on 5 March 1 976.

Trans-Australia Airlines: Fares (Question No. 100)

Senator Rae:
TASMANIA

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

  1. Did the former Minister for Transport, the Hon. Charles Jones, M.P. say in 1972 that a Labor Government would on assuming office get ‘. . . the Minister to direct TAA to reduce its fares’.
  2. On what occasions between 3 December 1972 and 1 1 November 1975 did Trans-Australia Airlines reduce its fares.
  3. On what occasions between 3 December 1972 and 1 1 November 1975 did Trans-Australia Airlines reduce its fares at the instigation of Minister.
  4. For what routes and to what extent were TransAustralia Airlines’ fares reduced between 3 December 1972 and 1 1 November 1975.
Senator Carrick:
LP

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

  1. 1 ) The former Minister for Transport on 25 October 1 972 in the debate on the Airlines Agreements Bill and discussing the level of domestic airlines profits stated ‘Action should be taken by the Parliament to make sure that the profits in this protected industry are reduced. There is only one way to go about that, and that is by the Minister taking positive action, firstly, by directing TAA to reduce its fares so that its profit will be restricted to a maximum, I would say, of 8 per cent’.
  2. TAA has reduced its fares on a number of occasions since 3 December 1972.

    1. Reduction of Perth-Eastern States air fares in March 1974.
    2. Introduction of off-peak air fares in June 1973.
    3. Introduction of new basis for calculation of air fares in August 1974, which resulted in fare reductions on some sectors.
    4. Overall reduction of air fares in November 1974.
  3. On all the occasions listed in (2).
  4. (a) The Perth-Eastern States air fares for Sydney and Brisbane had previously been calculated on the basis of distance travelled through Melbourne. The new fare was constructed to take in the distance direct to Perth from Sydney via Adelaide. The economy class air fares between Perth and Brisbane were reduced from $174.30 to $168.40, and between Penh and Sydney from $ 1 42.80 to $ 1 36.50.

    1. Off-peak fares were introduced generally throughout most Australian domestic air routes in June 1973. A reduction of 15 per cent is allowed on the return economy fare if the traveller is prepared to travel on specific flights on specified days.

Examples of the reductions in air fares by the application of off-peak rates were:

Sydney-Melbourne $54.60 to $46.40

Hobart-Adelaide $ 102.00 to $86.80

Hobart-Canberra $99.20 to $84.40

Launceston-Melbourne $39.00 to $33.20

Launceston-Canberra $87.20 to $74.20

  1. The basis for the construction of domestic air fares was changed in August 1974 to a specified flagfall of a fixed amount, plus an amount per kilometre travelled. This had the effect on some routes of reducing air fares, by the elimination of historical anomalies. The air fare quoted for similar distances anywhere within Australia was now comparable for the first time.

Examples of reductions in economy class air fares resulting from the introduction of the new basis of fare construction were:

Melbourne-Canberra $26.90 to $26.30

Darwin-Mt Isa $7 1 . 80 to $62.00

Alice Springs-Darwin $70.00 to $62.50

  1. The former Minister for Transport instructed TAA to reduce its air fares by a net one half per cent in November 1974 over the total Australian network.

Examples of reductions in economy class air fares from this decision were:

Hobart-Sydney $66. 10 to $65.80

Hobart-Canberra $55.90 to $55.70

Sydney-Melbourne $36.50 to $36.30

Launceston-Brisbane $94.90 to $94.50

Income Security Payments (Question No. 109)

Senator Rae:

asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice:

  1. 1 ) Will the Treasurer list all of the schemes under which persons who are not employed by the Commonwealth Public Service or a Commonwealth instrumentality are able to receive a regular income from the public purse.
  2. For which of these schemes can the body paying the income have access under the Income Tax Assessment Act to information in the Taxation Office on any individual’s tax return.
  3. If all bodies paying incomes do not have this power, why is it that some do and some do not.
Senator Cotton:
LP

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

  1. 1 ) The following list gives those schemes which provide for payments in the nature of income security payments. Those schemes providing direct payment of wages and salaries and superannuation to individuals have been excluded, but the whole range of social welfare and compensation pensions and payments, and allowances such as in the fields of education and Aboriginal advancement have been included.

The schemes listed are classified according to the nature of the payment- directly or indirectly to individuals.

CATEGORY A: DIRECT PAYMENTS TO INDIVIDUALS

1 CULTURE

Research Grants provided by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies.

Public lending Right- Payments to Authors and Publishers.

Film and Television School Students Allowance.

Literary Fellowships and special purpose grants made by the Australia Council.

2 EDUCATION

Tertiary Education Assistance Scheme.

Adult Secondary Education Assistance Scheme.

Senior Secondary Scholarships.

Secondary Allowance Scheme.

Isolated Childrens Scheme.

Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan.

Scholarships for persons from New Zealand.

Australian European Awards Program.

Assistance for Vietnamese and Cambodian Students.

Postgraduate Awards.

Assistance for Postgraduate Studies in Social Work.

Commonwealth Technical Scholarships

Pre-School Teacher Education Allowances.

Aboriginal Secondary Grants.

Aboriginal Study Grants.

Overseas Study Grants for Aborigines.

Assistance for Graduate Diploma Studies in Recreation.

Overseas Study Fellowships in Recreation.

Overseas Management Fellowship.

Adult Migrant Education- full-time accelerated courses.

Full-time intensive English Language courses.

A.C.T. University Scholarships.

Commonwealth Teaching Service Scholarships.

3 HEALTH

Allowance to tuberculosis sufferers.

Scholarships for Undergraduates in Dentistry.

4 EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

Structural Adjustment Assistance- Income Maintenance.

National Employment and Training System.

Income Maintenance for Redundancy in Australian

Government Employment.

Training for Industry and Commerce.

5 REPATRIATION AND COMPENSATION

Compensation for or in respect of personal injury or death caused by the Darwin cyclone.

Soldiers Children’s Education Scheme.

War Pensions and Allowances.

Service Pensions.

6 SCIENCE

ARGC Grants.

NHMRC Grants.

Queen Elizabeth II Fellowships.

Queen’s Fellowships.

Australian Biological Resources Study Grants.

CSIRO Fellowships.

7 SOCIAL SECURITY

Age Pensions.

Invalid Pensions.

Widows Pensions.

Supporting Mothers Benefits.

Child Endowment.

Handicapped Childrens Allowances.

Orphans Pensions.

Unemployment Sickness and Special Benefits.

Rehabilitation Allowance.

Sheltered Employment Allowance.

CATEGORY B: PROGRAMS UNDER WHICH GRANTS ARE MADE TO ORGANISATIONS WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF PROVIDING REGULAR EMPLOYMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS (AND THEREFORE REGULAR INCOME)

1 CULTURE

Grants made by the Australian Council to performing arts organisations used directly to employ artists, singers, authors, actors, technicians and craftsmen, etc.

2 SCIENCE

Assistance to Aboriginal Missions- includes award wages for Aborigines and staff subsidies.

Special works projects supported to provide employment for Aborigines.

Employment of persons by Aboriginal Town Councils.

CATEGORY C: PROGRAMS UNDER WHICH GRANTS ARE MADE TO ORGANISATIONS THAT PROVIDE, AS A SECONDARY RESULT, A REGULAR INCOME TO INDIVIDUALS

Grants to conservation and National Trust organisations.

Grants to the Learned Academies.

Grants by CSIRO to Research Institutions.

Support for Aboriginal Housing Associations.

Aboriginal Legal Aid Services.

Aboriginal Publications Foundation.

A wide range of grants-in-aid to health, education and welfare organisations.

  1. In terms of section 16 of the Income Tax Assessment Act, the Commissioner of Taxation is authorised to communicate information to-

    1. the Repatriation Commission for the purpose of the administration of any law of the Commonwealth relating to pensions;
    2. the Director-General of Social Services for the purpose of the administration of any law of the

Commonwealth relating to pensions, allowances, endowments or benefits; (in) the Director-General of Health for the purpose of the administration of any law of the Australian Capital Territory or ofthe Northern Territory which is administered by the Minister of State for Health;

  1. the Commissioner for Employees’ Compensation, holding office under the Compensation (Commonwealth Employees) Act 1971-73, for the purpose ofthe administration of that Act;
  2. the Secretary, Department of Defence, the Secretary, Department of the Navy, the Secretary, Department of the Army, or the Secretary, Department of Air, for the purpose of the administration of any law ofthe Commonwealth relating to payments in respect of dependants of members of the Defence Force; or
  3. the Secretary, Department of Education, or the Commonwealth Scholarships Board for the purpose of the administration of any law of the Commonwealth relating to financial assistance to students.

    1. Because of the general requirement placed on the Commissioner to observe secrecy in relation to the affairs of individual taxpayers, exceptions have been restricted to those organisations to which the supply of information for specified purposes is regarded as necessary for the proper discharge of their functions. In this respect, persons to whom information is communicated are under the same bond of secrecy as taxation officers.

Tertiary Education: Rejected Students (Question No. 115)

Senator Rae:

asked the Minister for Education, upon notice:

How many applications from Australian students for entrance to tertiary institutions in Australia for the 1 976 academic year were rejected.

Senator Carrick:
LP

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

Information of the type requested by Senator Rae is not normally recorded. Many students apply to a number of institutions, not only in their own state, but also outside their state. The major difficulty encountered in obtaining accurate information on the rejection of applications for admission to tertiary institutions is that there is no satisfactory way of establishing that a student rejected at one university or college of advanced education is not accepted by another university or college for the same or another course. There are also the associated problems of students who are offered places but reject them for a variety of reasons or who, when unable to enter the courses of their first choice, do not take up alternative offers and are therefore counted as rejections.

The only sources of information which may throw some light on the honourable Senator’s question are the central admission agencies which operate in three States; in Victoria, the Victorian Universities Admission Centre (VUAC) processes applications to all Victorian universities and most of the colleges of advanced education; in New South Wales, the Metropolitan Universities Admissions Centre processes applications to the three Sydney metropolitan universities only; and in South Australia applications to the two universities and the South Australian Institute of Technology are handled centrally. In the other States admission to tertiary institutions is a matter for the individual institutions concerned.

In summary, the best source of information is the VUAC, which is only a sample and relates to the situation in Victoria only. Relevant figures can be prepared by the centre when it completes its 1976 processing of applications but an appropriate fee would have to be paid.

Census (Question No. 144)

Senator Colston:

asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice:

Has the format for the 1976 census form been decided upon; if so, will the Treasurer table a sample copy of the census form for the information of Senators, together with copies ofthe relevant form used in the last census.

Senator Cotton:
LP

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

The Acting Commonwealth Statistician has advised that Statutory Rules No. 28 of 1975 covering the particulars (other than those specified in the Census and Statistics Act, 1905-1973) to be included in the 1976 Census of Population and Housing were tabled in both Houses of Parliament on 4 March 1975 and were subject to scrutiny by the Senate Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances who heard evidence from officers of the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

A full list of the particulars on which information is to be collected in the 1976 Census of Population and Housing, has therefore, been public from that date. Similar information for the previous census in 1971 is contained in Statutory Rules No. 30 of 1970.

Letter Bombs (Question No. 164)

Senator Cavanagh:

asked the Minister representing the Attorney-General, upon notice:

  1. Did Commonwealth Police, in November 1975, investigate the posting in Sydney of a package addressed to the Editor ofthe Brisbane newspaper The Sunday Sun.
  2. Did the investigation disclose that the package which contained no explosives was deliberately made up to resemble the packages containing letter bombs as posted to the Governor-General, the Queensland Premier and the caretaker Prime Minister.
  3. Was it established that the package was posted by the Chief of Staff of the Brisbane newspaper 77>e Sunday Sun who made a special trip to Sydney for the purpose of posting this package.
  4. Were the Police concerned with the close similarity in the printing of the address on this package to the printing on the three packages that contained letter bombs.
  5. 5) Was it on the instruction of the Attorney-General that no charges were made.
Senator Greenwood:
Minister for Environment, Housing and Community Development · VICTORIA · LP

– The Attorney-General, on the basis of information supplied to him by the Commonwealth Police, has supplied the following answer to the honourable Senator’s question:

  1. Yes.
  2. Yes.
  3. No. It is not known who posted the letter but it was established that it was posted under arrangements made by the newspaper concerned to test the effectiveness of the Australian Postal Commission’s mail screening procedures.
  4. Yes. There was a similarity between the printing on the letter and that on the three letter bombs and, at the request of the Australian Postal Commission, the Police conducted an investigation. In the course of that investigation the Police received information indicating that the letter had been posted to ‘test the system’.
  5. No. As the law then stood and presently stands, the posting of such a letter constituted no offence. Consideration is being given to amendment of the Postal Services Act 1975 to make appropriate provision for such matters.

Commonwealth Cars (Question No. 168)

Senator Douglas McClelland:
NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

asked the Minister for Administrative Services, upon notice:

What was the cost of Commonwealth cars used by members of the caretaker Fraser Ministry and their staff from 1 1 November to 14 December 1975.

Senator Withers:
LP

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

The car transport charges incurred in all States, the A.C.T. and Northern Territory by the Caretaker Ministry during the period 1 1 November to 1 4 December 1975 were $59,48 1 .

During the same period, the car transport charges incurred by Ministers and Officeholders of the former Government were $69,889.

It has not been practicable to extract the car transport costs for the staff of Ministers or former Ministers, as these charges were mainly allocated to general departmental codes. There was also overlap of the charges for the present Government and the previous Government, as both were charges to the same individual codes.

Broughton Hostel (Question No. 188)

Senator Mulvihill:

asked the Minister for Administrative Services the following question, upon notice:

  1. 1 ) What is the history of Broughton Hostel, Burwood, New South Wales.
  2. When was it first occupied for Australian Government purposes.
  3. What were the terms of the original acquisition and who were the immediate previous owners.
  4. What are the suggested terms and conditions of the proposed lease to Burwood Municipal Council.
  5. What are the names of residential hostels in New South Wales under the control of Commonwealth Hostels Limited.
  6. During 1975, what was the number of migrant occupants at each hostel.
Senator Withers:
LP

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

  1. 1 ) The property was acquired by compulsory process on 7 May 1942 for defence purposes. It was transferred to the then Department of Immigration in January 1949 to provide housing for migrants. Following the reduced intake of assisted migrants in 1 972-73 Broughton Hostel was under consideration for disposal but was re-activated in July 1974 due to an increase in migrants. In January 1975 it was again required for temporary housing of Darwin evacuees following Cyclone Tracy.
  2. May 1942.
  3. Compensation in the amount of $17,866 was paid to the former owners the Burwood Municipal Council. An undertaking was given that Council’s expressed wish for the return of the property would be given every consideration when the ultimate disposal and use of the property could be reviewed.
  4. The proposal is that the property be leased to Council for community purposes for 25 years at a nominal rental with an option of renewal for a further 25 years- Council to be responsible for repairs and maintenance.
  5. Endeavour Migrant Hostel, Moverly Road, South Coogee; Westbridge Migrant Hostel, Miowera Road, Leightonfield North; *East Hills Migrant Hostel, Hammondville; “Cabramatta Migrant Hostel, Alick Street, Cabramatta; Fairy Meadow Migrant Hostel, Cowper Street, Fairy Meadow

Department of Administrative Services: Expenditure (Question No. 197)

Senator Wriedt:

asked the Minister for Administrative Services, upon notice:

What was the expenditure by the Department of Administrative Services for the financial years 1973-74, 1974-75 and what is the anticipated expenditure for 1975-76 in each of the States and Territories.

Senator Withers:
LP

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

Please refer to the information provided by the Prime Minister in answer to Senate Question No. 192 which appears on page 892 of the Senate Hansard of 30 March 1976.

Industry and Commerce: Expenditure (Question No. 199)

Senator Wriedt:

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce, upon notice:

What was the expenditure by the Department of Industry and Commerce for the financial years 1973-74, 1974-75 and what is the anticipated expenditure for 1975-76 in each of the States and Territories.

Senator Cotton:
LP

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

I refer the honourable senator to the Prime Minister’s answer to Question on Notice No. 192 (Hansard, 30 March 1976, page 892) explaining the difficulty in providing the information sought. I also mention that an additional difficulty in the Department of Industry and Commerce is the work which would be involved in arriving at comparable figures for the years concerned because of changes that have taken place in the functions of the Department.

Motor Vehicles: Design Rules (Question No. 239)

Senator Rae:

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

  1. 1 ) Which makes and models of motor vehicles are being considered for exclusion from Australia because of proposed modifications to Australian Design Rules.
  2. Does the Minister’s Department take factors of primary safety into account in making determinations, or are secondary safety features the only criteria upon which decisions are made.
  3. Is it possible for a vehicle with exceptional primary safety but poor secondary safety features to be excluded from registration in Australia.
Senator Carrick:
LP

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

  1. 1 ) No makes or models of vehicles are being considered as such for exclusion from Australia. Any make or model may be imported provided it meets the standards mutually agreed by the Australian Transport Advisory Council.
  2. My Department does not determine these standards. It assists in the preparation of recommendations to the Australian Transport Advisory Council, which consists of the State Ministers for Transport and the Australian Ministers for Transport, the Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. It also provides advice to the Australian Motor Vehicle Certification Board on applications made by vehicle manufacturers for the issue of authorities to affix plates indicating compliance with the relevant Australian Design Rules.

When framing Design Rules the Council and its advisers pay attention to all safety factors. For example, of the 27 current Australian Design Rules related to safety, 14 are aimed at avoiding accidents, a primary safety, as some people like to call it, and 1 1 are aimed at minimising the risk of injury or death after an accident, or secondary safety. The other two rules could be said to have aims in both fields.

  1. Firstly it must be said that decisions as to registration are the responsibility of the respective State and Territory registration authorities, which are not within my Ministerial responsibility. However, under the agreed system of Australian Design Rules it is certainly possible for a vehicle with exceptional primary safety to be refused registration if it does not comply with the agreed safety standards. For instance it would be refused registration if it did not have adequate seat belts.

As a final comment it might be added that primary vehicle safety is extremely difficult to define. There are some high quality vehicles which most experts agree do have exceptional primary safety but nowhere in the world has it been possible to define more than a few individual features such as brakes, tyres and safety rims because of the complexity of the inter-relating factors involved.

Closure of Fretilin Radio (Question No. 218)

Senator Button:

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

  1. Under what law or regulation does the Australian Government have the right to prohibit privately chartered or owned aircraft flying out of Australia.
  2. Why was the Darwin radio used by Fretilin representatives seized on 25 January 1976 at the time it was being used to make arrangements for the United Nations’ special representative to meet with Fretilin leaders.
  3. Was the Minister for Foreign Affairs asked by Indonesian Foreign Minister, Mr Adam Malik, to close the Fretilin radio during talks with Mr Malik in Jakarta in January 1976.
  4. On how many occasions, and on what dates, has the Department of Foreign Affairs asked the Indonesian Government to recognise the Geneva Conventions in relation to the fighting and casualties in East Timor and to ensure that UDT and APODETI leaders in East Timor gave the same guarantees.
Senator Withers:
LP

– The Minister for Foreign Affairs has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s questions:

  1. 1 ) The Minister for Transport has advised that action may be taken by the Secretary of the Department of Transport under the terms of Section 17 of the Air Navigation Act (1920-73) and Air Navigation Regulation 199AA.
  2. The closure ofthe radio was effected by officials of the Department of Postal and Telecommunications in accordance with the provisions of Sections 6 and 8 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act.

In taking this action, the Government was in no way attempting to frustrate the visiting United Nations mission. Indeed the Government itself proposed at the end of January that the United Nations special representative make use of radio facilities on board the Portuguese corvettes, then in Darwin harbour. This proposal, which was agreed to by the United Nations Secretary-General and the Portuguese Government, and taken up by Mr Winspeare-Guicciardi, was intended to establish a means of communication acceptable to all ofthe parties to the conflict. An unlicensed radio operated by Fretilin clearly would not have been acceptable. It would have attracted the suspicion of the other parties. The Government’s proposal was aimed at providing a means of communication which was above suspicion and open to verification by all concerned.

  1. No request in relation to the radio was addressed to me during my visit to Jakarta in January.
  2. No approach has been made to the Indonesian Government or to the UDT and Apodeti leaders specifically in relation to the Geneva Conventions. Nor has an approach been made to the Fretilin leaders. But the Government has made clear to all parties involved in the conflict its concern that there should be a cessation of hostilities and an end to the bloodshed.

The Government has also made clear its wish that the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC), under whose auspices the Geneva Conventions were drawn up, should be re-admitted to East Timor. The Government’s concern to see the return of the ICRC is related inter alia to its wish that the Geneva Conventions be respected by all parties to the conflict. It is not practicable to document every occasion on which the Government has urged upon the Indonesian authorities and, through them, the authorites in

Dili, the need for the return of the ICRC. However, numerous approaches have been made at many and varied levels. I pressed the matter during my visits to Jakarta on 19-20 J anuary and 1 3- 1 5 April. The Australian Embassy in Jakarta has also been able to convey the Government’s wish to see the return of the ICRC direct to UDT and Apodeti leaders who were recently visiting Jakarta. I am hopeful that as a result of my most recent discussions in Jakarta there will be an early decision on the return of an ICRC representative to East Timor.

Criminal Records (Question No. 243)

Senator Colston:

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

What proportion of (a) the population and (b) all persons with criminal convictions, is represented by persons of Aboriginal descent in each State of Australia and the Northern Territory in each year since 1 970.

Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

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

  1. Persons identifying in the 197 1 census enumeration as of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin, as a percentage of total population of each State or Territory and Australia, were as follows:

Annual figures are not available.

  1. No statistics on Aboriginals with criminal convictions are available.

Available statistics on the Aboriginal prison population are listed below:

Aboriginal Adoption (Question No. 290)

Senator Colston:

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

  1. 1 ) Did the first National Conference on Adoption, held in Sydney in February 1976, give total support to the placement into Aboriginal families of all Aboriginal children available for adoption or fostering.
  2. Will the Minister give an undertaking to this Parliament that he will support the setting-up of Aboriginal run and controlled agencies in each State and Territory to facilitate the placement of such children.
Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

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

  1. Yes
  2. The Minister supports in principle the concept of Aboriginal run agencies where appropriate. However it should be realised that adoption and fostering are State responsibilities and as such the prime responsibility for these matters rests with the States.

Australian Capital Territory: Express Bus Lanes (Question No. 297)

Senator Knight:

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

  1. 1 ) On what thoroughfares in the Australian Capital Territory and for what distances are there special express bus lanes.
  2. What vehicles, other than buses, are permitted to use these lanes and in what circumstances.
  3. In the case of each such express bus lane, what is the frequency of use by specified vehicles.
Senator Webster:
NCP/NP

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

  1. 1 ) Capital Circle, Adelaide Avenue and Yarra Glen

    1. 3.8 km Woden to Civic
    2. 3.3 km Civic to Woden
  2. Emergency vehicles only i.e. police, ambulance, fire brigade.
  3. Current peak period bus use is 18 buses/hour northbound and 17 buses/hour southbound. Emergency vehicle use is estimated at 2 vehicles/day in each direction.

Northern Territory: Public Works Programs (Question No. 317)

Senator Robertson:

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

  1. 1 ) Did the President of the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory threaten to recall the Assembly and question the Deputy Leader of the Majority Party in the Assembly if the Minister failed to provide information to Members concerning cuts and deferrals in public works programs for the Northern Territory.
  2. Has this information been provided; if so, will the Minister now make the information available to the Senate.
Senator Webster:
NCP/NP

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

  1. 1 ) I am not aware of the threat to which the honourable senator refers. However, the Legislative Assembly did in fact meet on 3 1 March and 1 April and, amongst other matters, discussed details of deferrals in the Northern Territory civil works program provided by the Executive Member Tor Finance and Deputy Leader of the Majority Party, Mr Tambling.
  2. No. However, the honourable Senator will know that the Government has embarked generally on an efficiency program in an attempt to reduce the huge deficit incurred by the previous Government and to that end deferrals have been made in Government expenditure on civil works, the final details of which have not yet been fully determined. Newspaper reports which suggested that there have been cut-backs for the Northern Territory totalling in excess of $150m are not correct. Indeed, cash appropriations for the Northern Territory in 1975-76 have actually increased and further consideration is being given to expenditure programs which have been deferred until the overall review could be completed.

DC-10 Aircraft (Question No. 329)

Senator Mulvihill:

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

  1. 1 ) What control does the Department of Transport have over the entry into, and operation of, DC-10 aircraft in Australia.
  2. Does the Department have any liaison with the United States Federal Aviation Agency.
  3. 3 ) Have any strictures imposed by the United States Federal Aviation Agency on the design of the DC-10 been passed on to the Department.
  4. Has Australia extended any pressure to deny entry to flights into this country of DC- 10 aircraft which have not had modfications made to their aft cargo doors, having regard to the air disaster in Turkey in March 1974 which showed that this type of aircraft was prone to an aft cargo door malfunction.
  5. If the answer to (4) is in the negative, how does the Department justify its policy in the light of the revelations contained in the book, ‘The Rise and the Fall ofthe DC- 10 ‘, by John Godson.
Senator Carrick:
LP

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

  1. 1 ) Under the terms of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, to which Australia is a signatory, we have a basic responsibility to recognise the Certificate of Airworthiness issued by another contracting State in respect of aircraft of the State which might be operated into or through Australia. However some control can be exercised by way of International Airline Licences providing for the regular operation of foreign aircraft into Australia.
  2. The Department maintains a continuing liaison with the United States Federal Aviation Administration.
  3. Yes, all Airworthiness Directives issued by the FAA on the DC-10 are sent to the Department of Transport.
  4. Following the Turkish Airline DC-10 accident in March 1974, the Department of Transport checked and confirmed that all DC-10 aircraft operating into Australia had fully modified cargo door latching systems.

Rural Roads (Question No. 288)

Senator Colston:

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

  1. Has the Federal Bureau of Roads recommended that there be no increase in funds for rural roads in Australia in the next financial year.
  2. Are shire councils in Victoria cutting back their outdoor staff by up to 10 per cent because of a serious shortage of money for roadworks.
  3. Are similar financial problems being experienced in other States.
  4. Is this shortage of funds contributing to a deterioration in the standard of country roads in Australia; if so, will the Minister agree to provide additional assistance to the States in the 1 976-77 Budget, for rural roadworks.
Senator Carrick:
LP

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

  1. No. In its ‘Report on Roads in Australia-1975’, the Bureau of Roads has recommended that the following grants be provided for Rural Arterial and Rural Local roads:
  1. At the February Premiers’ Conference, the Commonwealth Government announced that it will allocate an additional $64m to the States for roads this financial year. Victoria will receive $ 13.3m. To qualify for these additional funds, the Victorian Government will be required to spend on roads, from its own resources, $ 16.7m which it may allocate for the use of Local Government if it so desires.

Because of the Government’s particular concern at the inadequacy of funds previously provided to Local Government for roadworks, it asked the States to channel as much as possible of the additional funds for the use of Local Government. The Victorian Government agreed that, of the additional Commonwealth funds, $2.66m will be provided for Rural Arterial roads and $6.65m for Rural Local roads.

These additional funds together with whatever funds the Victorian Government elects to make available, should go a long way to assist Local Government Authorities in the State to maintain their road programs and prevent possible staff retrenchments.

  1. Local Government Authorities in other States have experienced similar difficulties, which are due to the previous Government’s policies in respect of rural roads. This Government has endeavoured to overcome these difficulties by providing additional funds for roads. It also asked the States to channel as much as possible of the extra funds, both Commonwealth and State, for the use of Local Government.

The Government had no alternative but to accept the advice of the other States (with the exception of Victoria) that with only four months of the 1975-76 year remaining, their commitments were such that they could not make major adjustments in the proportion of funds already allocated for use by local Government without disrupting work programs and causing retrenchments.

  1. The Bureau of Roads has submitted to the Minister for Transport its recommendations on the level of roads assistance to be provided to the States for 1976-77 and for the period after the current legislation expires on 30 June 1977.

You may be assured that, in the Government’s consideration of these recommendations, the need for adequate funds to be made available for rural roads will be kept in mind.

Ministerial Stan’s (Question No. 255-273)

Senator Colston:

asked the Minister for Administrative Services, upon notice:

  1. 1 ) How many members are there on the Prime Minister’s personal staff.
  2. What are (a) their names (b) designations and (c) salaries.
  3. Which of them are (a) permanent or (b) temporary Public Servants.
  4. From which departments have the permanent Public Servants been seconded.
  5. How many advisers and consultants have been or are employed by the Prime Minister.
  6. Are these advisers and consultants full time or part time and what are their names and salaries.
Senator Withers:
LP

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

On 16 March 1976 (Hansard page S26) I supplied information in answer to Questions Nos 79 to 84, concerning the staffs of Ministers who are senators. I now supply the following information, prepared by my Department, in respect of all other Ministers’ personal staff in answer to the honourable senator’s Questions Nos. 255 to 273. ( 1 ), (2), (3) and (4): Details as at 5 April 1976 are listed in the table below. Where staff members are permanent officers of the Public Service, the Departments from which they are seconded are shown in the table.

and (6): Nil as at 5 April 1976, except for Sir Roland Wilson, K B E. who is retained as a special adviser to the Prime Minister on the Hoban Bridge disaster. He is employed on a part time basis, averaging approximately a half a day per week. His remuneration is at the rate of $150 per day.

In view of the honourable senator’s concern, he will be pleased to learn that the present Government has reduced the number of ministerial staff from 242 as at 10 November 1975 under the Labor Government to 166. This reduction in staff numbers will achieve savings in a full year, on current salary and staff allowance levels, of approximately $1.23 million. Savings will also be achieved in the costs of official travel and related allowances for the staff of Ministers not only because of the reduction in staff establishment but also because of restrictions placed on the number of staff who may accompany Ministers when travelling.

The Government has introduced stringent controls in respect of the employment of ministerial staff. Unlike Ministers of the Labor Government, Ministers of the present Government do not employ relatives in their Ministerial offices or Electorate offices. Before engaging a staff member, Ministers provide me with details of the employment history, academic attainments or other qualifications, and any personal, family or relevant connection of which I, as the Minister responsible for administrative matters relating to ministerial staff, should be aware. These procedures are designed to ensure that members of a Minister’s personal staff have appropriate qualifications and have no conflict of interest that could make them unsuitable for employment on the personal staff of a Minister of State.

I am also providing for the information of the honourable senator details as at 5 April 1976 of members of the personal staff of the Opposition office holders.

Tourism (Question No. 237)

Senator Rae:

asked the Minister for Education, upon notice:

  1. 1 ) What tertiary institutions in Australia offer courses specifically in the various aspects of tourism.
  2. What are those courses and where are they available.
  3. 3 ) What formal qualifications result.
  4. What are the entry requirements.
  5. 5 ) What private and public scholarships or other forms of assistance are available to students undertaking such courses.
  6. What form do they take.
  7. Which bodies offer such scholarships or assistance.
  8. What scholarships or assistance are available to Australian students for overseas courses.
  9. Which institutions are they available at.
  10. 10) What form do they take.
Senator Carrick:
LP

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

  1. to (4) The information may be found in the booklet Directory of Courses in Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation in Australia’ issued by the former Department of Tourism and Recreation in September 1975. Entry to tertiary courses is normally the completion of full secondary education.
  2. There is no scheme of assistance administered by the Department of Education which caters specifically for students undertaking courses in tourism. However, students in such courses and those undertaking related studies in recreational courses may be assisted by my Department under the Tertiary Education Assistance Scheme. In addition my Department provides a small number of scholarships for graduate diploma study in recreation and some of the courses approved for these awards include studies in tourism. My Department does not have information on private scholarships or other forms of private assistance.
  3. Benefits under the Tertiary Education Assistance Scheme are available to students who are Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia and who are undertaking full-time study in approved courses at tertiary institutions in Australia. Assistance is provided on a non-competitive basis subject to a means test and to certain conditions of eligibility including satisfactory progress in an approved course. Students who are party to a training agreement are ineligible for assistance.

Under the scheme of Scholarships for Graduate Diploma Study in Recreation, twenty awards were offered in both 1975 and 1976 for persons qualified to enrol in one of the full-time one-year graduate diploma courses in recreation studies approved for this scheme. Applicants must meet the same residential requirements as for Tertiary Education Assistance. Persons who are party to a training agreement are ineligible. Benefits available under these awards are free of a means test and are of the same level as the maximum allowances provided under the Tertiary Education Assistance Scheme.

  1. See (5) above.
  2. The Australian Government does not provide scholarships or other forms of assistance for Australian students wishing to undertake overseas courses in tourism.
  3. and (10) Scholarships are provided by international organisations and education institutions for a wide range of disciplines. Details are too numerous to list but are available in the UNESCO publication ‘Study Abroad’ which is available in major libraries in Australia. The scholarships listed in the publication are not specifically made available for Australian students.

School Text Books (Question No. 561)

Senator McLaren:

asked the Minister for Education, upon notice:

  1. 1 ) Does the Government have an estimate of the cost of replacement of school text books as a result of metric conversion.
  2. Where will the money come from to replace the school text books.
Senator Carrick:
LP

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

  1. and (2) A program for metric conversion in schools was developed by the Education and Industrial Training Advisory Committee of the Metric Conversion Board. The program was devised in such a way as to minimise the need to convert textbooks. Consultations were held with textbook publishers so that metric editions would be available as normal replacements for textbooks as they needed revision.

Bank Officers: Home Purchases (Question No. 343)

Senator Rae:

asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice:

  1. Which banks in Australia offer their staff reduced interest for the purchase of a first home.
  2. ) Which banks enforce different rates of (a) interest and (b) reduced interest for the purchase of a first home as between male and female staff members.
  3. What is the differential as between males and females.
Senator Cotton:
LP

– The Treasurer has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question: (1), (2) and (3) Banks are not required by the monetary authorities to provide information as to the terms of transactions in such detail as to enable identification of categories of customers such as staff. The details requested are therefore not available to me and I am unable to give the information sought by the honourable senator.

Legal Aid Offices

Senator Greenwood:
LP

– On 23 March 1976, Senator Melzer asked me the following question, without notice:

My question is addressed to the Minister representing the Attorney-General. In November of last year, under the previous Government, steps were taken to set up legal aid offices at some 32 additional sites. To date there appears to have been no further work done on this matter. Can the Senate be advised whether there is likely to be any cut in the number of offices to be opened and if so, which offices will be cut? Can the public be assured that all other offices will be opened with all speed?

I provided some information to the honourable senator and undertook to provide further information. I said in my earlier reply that the Attorney-General has had discussions with representatives of the Law Council of Australia and would be taking up the matter with the State Attorneys-General. The Attorney-General has met with the State Attorneys-General. Following that meeting officers of the Commonwealth and States have met to work out the details of a scheme to rationalise legal aid services for submission to their respective Governments. The Attorney-General is now considering a report of that meeting, together with a number of representations from a wide range of interested groups and individuals. He hopes shortly to meet again with State Attorneys-General to discuss specific proposals.

The establishment of offices of the Australian Legal Aid Office at 28 new locations approved by the previous Government has been deferred pending completion of the review being conducted by the Attorney-General. The selection of locations for legal aid offices and the opening of new legal aid offices will be matters for consideration within any new framework for the provision of legal aid that is established as a result of the review.

Australian Taxi Industry (Question No. 349)

Senator Colston:

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

  1. Has the Minister seen a statement made by the President of the Victorian Taxi Association, Mr Allen Lang, that State and Federal taxes are crippling the taxi industry in Australia.
  2. Does the Minister accept that taxis are no longer a luxury but a basic form of transport in Australia.
  3. Will the Government agree to the Victorian Taxi Association’s submission for the abolition of sales tax on taxis in order to assure the economic survival ofthe industry.
Senator Carrick:
LP

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

  1. I am aware of statements on the taxi industry attributed to Mr Land as reported in the Melbourne Herald on 15 March 1976.
  2. Taxis play a very real part in complementing the more conventional public transport modes. They provide for fast, convenient city travel, particularly in off-peak periods and offer door-to-door service which is not available with other forms of public transport. The level of service provided by taxis is of course, reflected in the charge for that service. This puts their use beyond the financial capacity ofthe majority of people as a means of daily urban travel.
  3. 1 understand that the matter is listed for consideration in the usual way during the preparation for the 1976-77 Budget.

Container Shipping of Beef (Question No. 353)

Senator Colston:

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

  1. Has the Minister seen comments by Mr Albert Field, Chairman of the Townsville Harbour Board, that centralised container shipping of beef is costing Australian cattlemen too much and could put them out of business.
  2. Does the Minister agree with Mr Field’s assessment that a radical change in beef shipping arrangements from Australia is needed to break the monopolistic grip of the container shipping conferences.
  3. Will the Minister discuss with his colleague, the Minister for Transport, the advisability of re-introducing the reefer trade from Townsville.
  4. Would this re-introduction allow more beef to be shipped from North Queensland without jeopardising container shipping from bigger southern ports.
Senator Cotton:
LP

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

  1. 1 ) I am informed that correspondence has passed between my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Mr Nixon, and Mr Albert Field, Chairman of the Townsville Harbour Board on several matters including the shipping of beef. The practice of centralising export meat shipments was introduced to reduce costs and is followed in order to limit the number of port calls by container ships. The high operating costs of these vessels, and the extremely high cost of load.ing containers onto the vessels makes it more economic to restrict the number of port calls and centralise cargoes to main ports at shipowners’ expense.

The freight rates to shippers are not necessarily inflated because of centralising, as, if it were less costly to make additional port calls in Northern Queensland, this would be done.

  1. It is true that the majority of Australia’s beef exports is shipped by container vessels- which the meat industry prefers. The Australian Meat Board has taken action to limit freight rate increases through its powers under the Meat Industry Act.

At present, there is no reason to believe that a radical change in beef shipping arrangements away from container shipping services would result in more efficient and economic services.

  1. and (4) Some conventional vessels are presently required for beef exports to the East Coast of North America and the Meat Board has made arrangements for these as necessary. The quantity of meat to be snipped will determine the ports that these conventional ships will serve. The continued use of conventional ships to carry beef from Townsville and other North Queensland ports will be determined between shippers and shipowners on commercial grounds.

Migrant Research Survey (Question No. 354)

Senator Colston:

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

  1. 1 ) Is the Minister aware that the results of a six-month research survey into migrants in Australia conducted by the Central Methodist Mission indicated that British migrants are the loneliest and, intitially, the most disgruntled, of all newcomers to Australia.
  2. Does research conducted by the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs correlate with this conclusion.
  3. Will the Minister delay his recently-announced plans to encourage more British migrants to Australia until the Government has fully inquired into the problem encountered by British migrants in this country.
Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

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

  1. 1 ) and (2 ) I am aware ofthe press reports concerning the experience ofthe Central Methodist Mission in regard to the settlement of British migrants. I have been informed, however, that the Mission did not conduct a formal survey. The views reported in the media were based on the impressions of staff members of the Mission and there are no available statistics on which to reach a definite conclusion on this matter.

British migrants have constituted 44 per cent of ail migrant arrivals since the commencement of separate statistical recording of settler arrivals in 1959. In view of the size or the British community in Australia, it is remarkable that so few have encountered serious personal or other difficulties in settling.

Surveys with which my Department has been associated indicate that the ability to speak English contributes substantially to the capacity of newly arrived migrants to settle happily and successfully in the Australian community. The British migrant is, therefore, in that respect at a substantial advantage over his non-English speaking counterparts.

British migrants tend to have less difficulty than those from many other countries in securing recognition in Australia of their professional or trade qualifications and, therefore, tend to have less difficulty in finding employment in this country at a level commensurate with their training and previous employment.

Several years ago, a survey was conducted under the aegis of the former Immigration Advisory Council, on the departure from Australia of former settlers. This indicated that the departure rate of former British migrants was not exceptional. The survey showed that during the six years after arrival in Australia, approximately 23 per cent of settlers born in Britain and Ireland left Australia for permanent residence overseas. This was only slightly greater than the average of 21 per cent for all source countries and much smaller than the departure rates for many. Moreover in view of the absence of visa requirements up to January 1975 for United Kingdom citizens wishing to enter Australia it would not have been surprising if there had been a higher rate of departure from Australia by British migrants than by other migrants.

  1. The main reason for my statements earlier this year concerning British migration to Australia was to reassure people in Britain that Australia still welcomes those who qualify for migrant entry to Australia. Under the ALP Government migration from Britain has declined dramatically and I had been informed that there was a belief in Britain that Australia no longer wanted migrants from there, lt is in the interests of Australia and prospective eligible British migrants that this belief be dispelled as quickly as possible.

Chloroform Levels in Toothpaste (Question No. 355)

Senator Colston:

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

  1. 1 ) Is the Minister aware that the lecturer in Genetics at La Trobe University in Victoria, Dr Donald McPhee, has called for an inquiry into the safety of chloroform levels in Australian toothpaste.
  2. Has the Department of Health received details of reports issued by the Ralph Nader Organisation in the United States of America that seriously call into question the safety levels of chloroform used in toothpaste.
  3. Will the Minister agree to the Australian Government Laboratory making a detailed study of all brands of toothpastes on sale in Australia, as a matter of urgency, to determine accurately the safety of chloroform use in them.
Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

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

  1. 1 ) I am aware of newspaper reports to the effect that Dr McPhee has called or an inquiry into the safety of chloroform levels in toothpaste on the Australian market.
  2. My Department has received copies of the reports from the United States. These reports call into question the safety of chloroform when used as an additive to cough mixtures and toothpastes.
  3. 1 have asked my Department to examine this question as a matter of urgency. It has also been referred to the National Health and Medical Research Council who will take up with the Australian Government Analyst the question of a study of brands of toothpaste on sale in Australia.

Pharmacy Guild of Australia (Question No. 374)

Senator Colston:

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

  1. Does the Government recognise the agreement entered into with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia in April 1972 by the previous Liberal/Country Party Government to determine chemists’ remuneration in dispensing pharmaceutical benefits; if so, when will a decision be made on the back payments owing to chemists as a result of that agreement.
  2. If the answer to (1) is in the negative, does the Government consider High Court action on the part of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia to force the matter to arbitration a reasonable course for that organisation to take.
Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

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

  1. 1 ) and (2) The matters to which the honourable senator refers are now the subject of a High Court writ taken out by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia. The matter must now await the outcome of these proceedings.

Pharmacy Guild of Australia (Question No. 375)

Senator Colston:

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

  1. 1 ) Is the Pharmacy Guild of Australia claiming back payment of $70m or seeking arbitration on the issues in dispute following the ‘Scott Inquiry’, in accordance with an agreement made by the previous Liberal and Country Party Government in 1972.
  2. When does the Minister expect to be able to advise the pharmacists of Australia and, in particular, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, of the result of the Government’s consideration of the ‘Scott Inquiry’ into Chemists’ Earnings, Costs and Profits.
Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

-The Minister for Health has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:

  1. Yes.
  2. On 21 April 1976 I notified representatives of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia of the Government’s decisions on this subject. The Pharmacy Guild has subsequently issued a High Court writ to test the extent of the Government’s powers to determine chemists’ rates of remuneration for dispensing pharmaceutical benefits. The matter must now await the outcome of these proceedings.

Fire Wardens (Question No. 377)

Senator Douglas McClelland:
NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

asked the Minister for Administrative Services the following questions, upon notice:

  1. What arrangements have been made with the Public Service Board, or other appropriate bodies, to indemnify persons from any legal action that might be taken against them as a result of personnel performing the duties of Fire Warden.
  2. What selection is made of personnel before they are appointed Fire Wardens and what training is given to them to enable them to carry out their responsibilities.
Senator Withers:
LP

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

  1. 1 ) Fire Wardens are indemnified by Treasury Direction against legal action arising from the performance of their duties in the absence of malice and/or culpable negligence.
  2. Chief Officers of departments are responsible for the selection of Fire Wardens. Reliance for their training is placed on the Fire Brigade that will attend an emergency in the building in which they perform their duties.

Carpeting in Leased Premises (Question No. 379)

Senator Douglas McClelland:
NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

asked the Minister for Administrative Services the following questions, upon notice:

  1. Did the former Department of Services and Property seek advice from the Australian Fire Board on whether or not a 100 per cent acrylic fibre carpet is suitable for use as a floor covering in leased premises.
  2. Did the Board recommend against the use of 100 per cent acrylic carpet because tests undertaken by the Experimental Building Station indicated that acrylic carpet has unsatisfactory fire properties.
  3. What quantity of 100 per cent acrylic fibre carpet, if any, has been acquired by the Australian Purchasing Commission since the date of the Board ‘s recommendation.
Senator Withers:
LP

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

  1. Yes.
  2. Yes.
  3. None.

Gymnasium at University of Tasmania (Question No. 383)

Senator Townley:
TASMANIA

asked the Minister for Education, upon notice:

  1. 1 ) What was the cost of the gymnasium constructed at the University of Tasmania.
  2. When was it completed.
  3. 3 ) Why has it not been opened for use by students.
  4. When will the building be opened.
Senator Carrick:
LP

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

  1. 1 ) The total cost of the project has yet to be finalised but will be of the order of $250,000.
  2. December 1975.
  3. I am informed that a lack of suitable access roads and paths and qualified supervisory staff has delayed occupation of the gymnasium. Arrangements have now been made to construct the necessary access and supervisory staff have been appointed.
  4. The gymnasium will be available for use by students and staff of the University in the near future when the access work is expected to be completed.

Airconditioning: Tullamarine Airport Airport (Question No. 384)

Senator Townley:

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

  1. Is it intended to aircondition the ‘fingers’ at Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine); if so when will this be done.
Senator Carrick:
LP

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

  1. 1 ) The terminal as constructed in 1970 included mechanical ventilation of all public and passenger areas including the domestic and international concourses (‘fingers’) but the design provided for full airconditioning at a later date if considered appropriate in the light of the relatively low frequency of occasions when conditions in the terminal are uncomfortable, the quite substantial additional costs involved and the limitations of funds available to the Government.

Recently completed modifications to the international concourse require international transit and departing passengers to be confined there for security purposes for extended periods, without being able to enter the main terminal or to have access to the open air, and airconditioning of these areas is now considered to be required. This project is being carefully considered for early inclusion in the construction program of the Department of Transport. Its timing will depend on the availability of funds in future Budgets.

Airconditioning of the domestic concourses is being closely examined in consultation with the domestic airlines to determine whether there is a need for such works and, if so, their timing.

Moomba-Sydney Gas Pipeline (Question No. 394)

Senator Knight:

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

  1. Was consideration given to utilising the MoombaSydney Gas Pipeline to provide gas supplies to the Australian Capital Territory.
  2. What form has this consideration taken and what has been the outcome.
Senator Webster:
NCP/NP

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

  1. Yes.
  2. A joint NCDC/A.C.T. Electricity Authority working party has studied the distribution of natural gas to a typical new town in the A.C.T. The study indicated that gas reticulation would at best be near the borderline of commercial viability. Examination of the possibilities is continuing.

Hospital Charges (Question No. 415)

Senator Colston:

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

  1. Is the New South Wales Health Commission investigating the first details in relation to hospital costs since the introduction of Medibank.
  2. Do the figures which have become available appear to indicate that in some country hospitals in New South Wales, especially where there are relatively few medical practitioners per head of population, hospital costs are very high.
  3. Is there evidence to suggest that a considerable number of medical practitioners in country towns in New South Wales are overcharging patients to a massive degree as a result of the fee-for-service system adopted in country hospitals.
  4. Is the Australian Medical Association actively campaigning for the introduction of the fee-for-service system in all hospitals in Australia.
  5. Would the introduction of the fee-for-service system be in the best interests of the Australian community, if experience in New South Wales country hospitals proves correct.
Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

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

  1. Advise has been received from the New South Wales Health Commission that the first details of hospital costs in N.S.W. since the introduction of Medibank are currently being examined, especially in relation to country hospitals where the modified fee-for-service system operates.
  2. I understanding that the N.S.W. Health Commission is taking steps to ensure that all claims and payments to medical practitioners under the modified fee-for-service system are made in accordance with the ‘benefit’ rates approved for the services provided.
  3. There is no evidence to suggest that medical practitioners are overcharging patients in N.S.W. country hospitals. Standard ward patients are treated without charge under the modified fee-for-service arrangements.
  4. The policy of the Australian Medical Association is directed to the introduction of fee-for-service arrangements for visiting medical staff in all hospitals in Australia.
  5. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on this matter while the Medibank Review Committee is still conducting its examination of the health scheme.

Ramp Facilities: Cairns Harbour (Question No. 418)

Senator Colston:

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

  1. 1 ) Has the Australian Shipping Commission withdrawn from the project to establish a roll-on roll-off ramp facility in Cairns Harbour.
  2. What is the official reason given for the decision.
  3. 3 ) When was the decision taken.
  4. Is the Government at present reviewing the case.
Senator Carrick:
LP

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

  1. 1 ) The Australian Shipping Commission has advised the Cairns Harbour Board that it is not able to enter into any long term commitment with respect to the repayment of funds borrowed by the Board for the purpose of constructing a roll-on roll-off ramp at the Australian National Line’s terminal at Cairns. However the Commission has also indicated that if the Cairns Harbour Board were to proceed with the construction ofthe ramp, the Line would be prepared to pay additional wharfage, provided such rates of payment were based on the usage made ofthe facility by the Line ‘s vessels.
  2. The decision was based on normal commercial considerations, having regard to the current depressed state and uncertain future developments in the trading pattern of the Line’s Queensland shipping service.
  3. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Australian Shipping Commission on 18 February 1976.
  4. No. The Government has no power under the Australian Shipping Commission Act to review such decisions.

National Population Inquiry (Question No. 422)

Senator Colston:

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

  1. 1 ) Has the Government been studying the Report of the National Population Inquiry chaired by Professor Borrie.
  2. Does the Government intend making a full statement on the findings of the Inquiry and their implications for Government policy.
  3. Have there been any alterations to Government policy in any area as a direct result ofthe Inquiry; if so, what were the alterations involved.
Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

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

  1. 1 ) The first Report of the National Population Inquiry and its subsequent research reports are the subject of continuing study by the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs. The Australian Population and Immigration Council which has recently been reconstituted will be asked for its views on issues raised by the reports. I understand that aspects ofthe data and analysis in the reports have been the subject of studies by other departments in areas of special interest to them.
  2. In my Parliamentary Statement on population policy on 30 March 1976, 1 dealt briefly with some of the implications for Government policy of various possible future population strategies.

At its first meeting on 10 May, I asked the Australian Population and Immigration Council to proceed as a matter of urgency with the preparation of a Green Paper on population and immigration policies dealing, inter alia, with the implications of demographic trends for various areas of

Government policy. This will provide a basis for public debate and assist in the formulation of considered Government views on these matters.

  1. I understand that the population projections in the National Population Inquiry Report are being used as a basis for policy formulation in a wide range of fields, including education, community development, aboriginal affairs, housing, social security and the environment as well as immigration.

Commonwealth Arbitration Inspectors (Question No. 428)

Senator Mulvihill:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, upon notice:

  1. How many days during the period 1974-75 did Commonwealth Arbitration Inspectors visit the Northern Territory.
  2. Were any inspections made on disputes involving lifts.
Senator Greenwood:
LP

– The Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:

  1. Officers of the Arbitration Inspectorate are permanently based in the Northern Territory. For the first six months of the 1974-75 financial year two officers were permanently based in Darwin, and for the remainder of the year one officer was permanently based in Darwin. In addition to the services provided by these officers, Arbitration Inspectors based in Adelaide visited the Northern Territory at intervals to assist in the Inspectorate’s work. Such visits during the 1974-75 financial year involved 58 days. Currently three officers of the Arbitration Inspectorate are permanently based in the Northern Territory; two in Darwin and one in Alice Springs.
  2. I am informed that matters pertaining to safety and inspection of lifts and lifting appliances are regulated by the Northern Territory Inspection of Machinery Ordinance. The conduct of inspections under the Ordinance is the responsibility of the Commercial and Industrial Affairs Branch of the Department of the Northern Territory.

Sale of Woolclips (Question No. 441)

Senator Colston:

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

  1. 1) Is the Minister aware of reports that bank managers in some Western Queensland areas are directing grazier clients to sell their woolclip privately.
  2. Has the Department of Primary Industry any information as to the accuracy of these reports.
  3. 3 ) What banks are involved.
  4. Will this situation lead to an eventual breakdown in the auction system if it is allowed to continue.
  5. Would widespread private selling lead to a decrease in the level of wool prices in 1 977.
  6. Does the Government intend to take steps to end the private sale of wool in the light of its huge financial support for the auction system of selling wool in Australia.
Senator Cotton:
LP

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

  1. No.
  2. and (3) The Department of Primary Industry has no information as to the reliability of such reports.
  3. Progressively increasing private trading of wool would necessarily lead to the eventual breakdown of the auction system.
  4. Not necessarily.
  5. The Government is maintaining a close watch over private wool selling activities and will take such steps as are necessary to protect the marketing policy it has approved for the wool industry. There is no clear cut evidence available to the Government at this stage which demonstrates that private selling of wool is undermining the floor price policy operated at wool auctions.

Reserve Price of Wool (Question No. 443)

Senator Colston:

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

  1. 1 ) Has the Treasury undertaken a private investigation into what level of reserve price should be undertaken by the Government in the next wool selling season.
  2. What expertise does the Treasury have in this field.
  3. When did the Minister for Primary Industry become aware of the Treasury investigation.
  4. Did the Treasury recently invite representatives of the Australian Council of Wool Selling Brokers to discuss this matter with Treasury officers.
  5. When did the Minister for Primary Industry become aware of the invitation.
  6. Has the Department of Primary Industry been formally consulted on the level of reserves for the new season.
  7. Has the Australian Woo) Corporation been consulted.
Senator Cotton:
LP

– The Minister for Primary Industry has supplied the following answer after consulting the Treasurer

  1. No.
  2. See answer to (1). I should, however, add that the Treasury’s knowledge of economic conditions in overseas countries, as well as in Australia, is relevant to the assessment of some of the factors influencing the demand for wool.
  3. See answer to ( 1 ).
  4. No.
  5. See answer to (4).
  6. and (7) There is, naturally, regular consultation between the Department of Primary Industry and the Australian Wool Corporation on matters relating to the wool reserve price scheme.

Ban on Meat Imports (Question No. 463)

Senator Colston ask the Minister representing the Minister for Primary Industry, upon notice:

  1. Has the Queensland Premier, Mr Bjelke-Petersen, formally requested the Australian Government to ban all imports of meat into Australia; if so, when was the approach made, and what form did it take.
  2. Did Mr Bjelke-Petersen claim that foreign meat is the major threat to local stock getting foot and mouth disease: if so is this a correct assessment.
Senator Cotton:
LP

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

  1. 1 ) The Premier of Queensland wrote to the Prime Minister on 6 April 1976 requesting action to ban imports of canned or treated meats from countries which have diseases exotic to Australia.
  2. Mr Bjelke-Petersen did make such a claim. Australia has strict quarantine legislation designed to prevent the introduction of exotic diseases with imported goods. Uncanned meats, other than pig meats, are permitted import only from New Zealand. Uncanned pig meats are not permitted import from any country. Canned meats are permitted from any country, provided they are accompanied by the certificate required under the Quarantine (Animals) Regulations. This certificate relates to specific conditions regarding sterilisation of the product.

Hobart Bridge Disaster Inquiry (Question No. 46S)

Senator Colston:

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

  1. 1 ) Did the Whitlam Government promise to meet the legal expenses of maritime unions involved in the Hobart Bridge Disaster Inquiry; if so, has the present Government agreed to honour that commitment.
  2. Have funds yet been received by the unions; if not, what is the reason for the delay and when can the funds be expected.
Senator Carrick:
LP

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

  1. 1 ) The Whitlam Government did enter a commitment and this commitment is being honoured by the present Government.
  2. The funds have been provided to the unions.

Christmas Island Agreement Act (Question No. 483)

Senator Georges:

asked the Minister for Administrative Services, upon notice:

  1. 1 ) What is the present financial status of the special fund referred to in paragraphs 3 to 9 inclusive of Article 6 in the Schedule to the Christmas Island Agreement Act 1 958- 1 973.
  2. What proportion, if any, of the special fund does the Government under the powers assigned to it in paragraphs 7 and 8, intend to allocate to discharging Australia’s obligation towards the inhabitants of the Island when the time comes.
  3. Will the Government, if the Government of New Zealand is agreeable, be prepared to amend the Act so that moneys may be withdrawn from the fund prior to exhaustion of the phosphate or the cessation of the Christmas Island Phosphate Commission as a functioning body, whichever is the later, so that the Australian Government may begin phasing out the phosphate industry which is estimated to collapse in approximately 20 years time.
Senator Withers:
LP

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

  1. 1 ) $A4.4m as at 28 April 1976.
  2. and (3) The question of the use of moneys in the Special Fund, to discharge progressively Australia’s obligations towards the inhabitants of Christmas Island, is currently under consideration in consultation with the government of New Zealand.

Mr Charles Perkins (Question No. 490)

Senator Colston:

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

  1. 1 ) Is Mr Charles Perkins employed by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs.
  2. What is Mr Perkins’ position, the salary range for the position, and the duties involved.
Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

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

  1. Yes.
  2. Mr Perkins is an Assistant Secretary (Level 1) in charge of the Co-ordination and Strategy Branch of the Planning Division and is responsible for directing, controlling and co-ordinating the activities of the Branch. The annual salary of the position is $22,704.

National Aboriginal Consultative Committee (Question No. 491)

Senator Colston:

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

  1. 1 ) Did the National Aboriginal Consultative Committee request the Department of Aboriginal Affairs to make copies of the Minutes of the Committee’s Meetings available to Aboriginal people through regional offices of the Department.
  2. Has the Department refused to meet this request, if so, why.
Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

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

  1. 1 ) At its last national conference, held in Canberra from 5 to 13 March 1976 the National Aboriginal Consultative Committee requested me to distribute by mail to all Aboriginal communities and organisations throughout Australia, copies of the minutes of all national and executive meetings held by the NACC since its inception in 1973.
  2. I have taken no decision on this request, which I am still considering.

Law Enforcement Grant (Question No. 496)

Senator Colston:

asked the Minister for Administrative Services, upon notice:

  1. 1 ) Has the Australian Police Federation requested the Australian Government to provide a special law enforcement grant of $200m to the States; if so, did the Federation in its submission warn of a rise in white collar and organised crime if State police forces do not urgently receive substantial financial assistance.
  2. Has a decision been made on any submission by the Federation; if so, when was the decision made, and by whom.
  3. What was the decision, and what reasons were given to the Federation for the decision.
Senator Withers:
LP

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

  1. No.
  2. No.
  3. See answer to (2).

Purchase of Liquor: Defence Establishments (Question No. SOS)

Senator Colston:

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

  1. Is the Department of Defence investigating allegations that Public Servants and civilians have been buying cheap liquor from Defence establishments; if so, what form has this inquiry taken.
  2. When was any inquiry instituted, and when will it report.
  3. Will every report be tabled in the Parliament.
Senator Withers:
LP

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

  1. and (2) Following newspaper allegations that public servants and civilians were illegally buying liquor from Defence establishments in Canberra, the Department of Defence investigated the allegations and reported to me; the investigation was undertaken through normal Service and Departmental channels.
  2. The investigation did not take the form of a formally constituted enquiry; it is not proposed to table the Departmental report in Parliament.

The Service Messes have a small percentage of civilian members. As such, they are entitled to use the mess facilities and to make purchases of liquor.

Under the regulations of the Australian Services Canteens Organisation, civilian members of the Department of Defence and their dependants are legally entitled to use ASCO facilities. This includes the purchase of liquor. An identity card is issued for this purpose. This practice nas been in force for 16 years.

The investigations conducted by my Department did not reveal any abuse of these entitlements.

Ministerial Press Releases (Question No. 507)

Senator Colston:

asked the Minister for Administrative Services, upon notice:

  1. Has the Government disbanded the Australian Government Liaison Service which circulated press releases from Australian Government Ministers to interested community and business groups and to media outlets.
  2. Is it correct, as reported in the Sunday Telegraph of 11 April 1976, that the Government is concerned that its policies are not being adequately comprehended in the electorate.
  3. Is it also correct that the Government has now decided to re-establish this service by mailing Ministerial Press Releases to community, media and business groups.
  4. What would be the likely cost of such an exercise.
Senator Withers:
LP

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

  1. 1 ) The Australian Government Liaison Service (AGLS) was disbanded on 27 February 1976 as part of the Government’s overall economic measures.
  2. No.
  3. The Ministerial Document Service (MDS) was established on 1 March 1 976 to take over the former AGLS role of distributing Ministerial and Opposition Leaders’ and Deputy Leaders’ statements and speeches made outside the Parliament. MDS distributes statements on a free list covering all Members and Senators, Commonwealth Departments, the National Library, Federal and State Parliamentary Libraries, State Libraries, overseas posts and Embassies in Australia.

The Service is also available to the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery and, on request, media outside Canberra. There is no free distribution to community or business groups. Statements are available for public inspection at Government Publications and Inquiry Centres in each State Capital or for purchase at a nominal charge.

  1. The cost of the MDS is approximately $228,000 annually.

Malaria (Question No. 509)

Senator Colston:

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

  1. How many cases of imported malaria have been detected in Australia in each year since 1 970.
  2. What is the annual cost of providing treatment to persons afflicted with malaria in Australia, and the total amount allocated to preventive measures.
  3. To what extent does the Australian Government support international programs for eradication of malaria through bodies such as the World Health Organisation.
Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

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

  1. 1 ) The number of imported cases of malaria detected in Australia from 1970-1975 were as follows: 1970-199; 1971-220; 1972-170; 1973-194; 1974-201; 1975-241 (this figure includes Timorese refugees).
  2. It is not possible to provide an accurate figure for the cost of treatment, since some persons are treated by private practitioners and some in various hospitals and no provision exists for specific costing of such treatment. Preventive measures against the introduction of malaria are incorporated in the general operations of State and Territory Departments of Health and apart from specifically identifiable items such as tablets issued for malaria prophylaxis, it is not possible to cost these preventive measures separately.
  3. Australia is generally supportive of, and has a continuing interest in, World Health Organisation proposals for a concerted attack on tropical diseases, including malaria. Australia was represented at the World Health Organisation/United Nations Development Program Meeting held at Geneva in October 1975 in connection with a Special Program for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases. The development of the Special Program will be considered at the Twenty-ninth World Health Assembly which is being held in Geneva 3-21 May 1976 and at which Australia is represented.

Parthenium Weed (Question No. 514)

Senator Colston:

asked the Minister for Science, upon notice:

  1. Is the Minister aware that parthenium weed, or ragweed as it is more commonly called, is posing a serious problem in the Central Highlands region of Queensland.
  2. Has the Department of Science received any submissions requesting financial assistance in eradicating the weed; if so, from whom.
  3. Has the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation or the Department of Science carried out any research into the problem.
Senator Webster:
NCP/NP

– The answers to the questions are:

  1. I have received advice from several sources that the present spread of parthenium weed in parts of Queensland is causing concern there. The Honourable the Prime Minister has also been advised of this by the Honourable the Premier of Queensland.
  2. No.
  3. No. The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation has not carried out research on this weed. However, discussions are to take place between CSIRO officers and officers of appropriate Queensland Government Departments to determine whether CSIRO can helpfully supplement the active program of work on the weed which Queensland is undertaking. The Department of Science does not carry out field research.

Aboriginal Affairs Bureau (Question No. 515)

Senator Colston:

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

  1. 1 ) Has the president of the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, Mr Joe McGinness, called for the establishment of an Aboriginal Affairs Bureau independent of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs.
  2. Has the Minister received a formal submission on this matter: if so, has the Department investigated the suggestion, and if not, will it do so.
Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

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

  1. and (2) I have seen press reports indicating that the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders at its conference in Canberra in April, called for the establishment of an Aboriginal Affairs Bureau independent of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs. I have not received a formal submission on this matter.

Electoral Boundaries (Question No. 518)

Senator Colston:

asked the Minister for Administrative Services, upon services:

  1. 1 ) Was it claimed in an article in the Financial Review of 22 April 1976, that the Government is considering removing the power of Parliament to disallow redistributions under the Electoral Act in cases involving variations to the quota of representatives from any one State.
  2. Is the Government studying the implications of the recent High Court decision on electoral boundaries; if so, when is it expected that the study will be completed.
Senator Withers:
LP

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

  1. Yes.
  2. Yes; later this year.

Housing Loan Interest Claims (Question No. 519)

Senator Colston:

asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice:

  1. Has the Australian Taxpayers’ Association estimated that the withdrawal of housing loan interest claims as from 1 July 1976, could cost the average taxpayer as much as an additional ten dollars per week.
  2. Has the Treasury made an official estimate of the additional cost to the average taxpayer of this withdrawal; if so, what is that estimate.
Senator Cotton:
LP

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

  1. 1 understand that a claim was made in The Taxpayer of 10 April 1976 that the amendments proposed to the home loan interest deduction scheme would for ‘many people’ result in a ‘tax increase amounting often to $10 per week’. This is rather different from suggesting that the amendments could cost the average taxpayer as much as an additional ten dollars per week ‘.
  2. Where many variable factors are involved, as with the home loan interests deduction scheme, the concept of an ‘average taxpayer’ has no meaning. Under the present scheme, the amount of tax relief obtainable depends on the loan amount outstanding, the interest rate or rates, the net income (or joint net incomes) of the person(s) involved, and marginal rates of tax.

I note, however, that relatively few taxpayers have sought to have their PA YE deductions adjusted to take account of their entitlements under the scheme, which may suggest that the scheme as originally introduced may not have had all the qualities claimed for it. By contrast, what the Government, looking to the realities, proposes by way of the new home savings grant scheme and the amended deduction scheme will ensure that resources are applied at the points of greatest effective need.

Aurukun Discussions (Question No. 520)

Senator Colston:

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

Has the Minister, or the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, had any discussions formal or informal, with the Queensland Parliamentary Commissioner for Administrative Investigations, Mr David Longland, C.M.G., since Mr Longland recently visited Aurukun; if so, has the Minister taken any action as a result of those discussions.

Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

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

No.

Vice-President Rockefeller: Visit to Australia (Question No. 529)

Senator Colston:

asked the Minister for Administrative Services, upon notice:

  1. How many officers ofthe (a) United States Secret Service and (b) the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation accompanied Vice-President Rockefeller on his recent visit to Australia.
  2. How many of these officers arrived in Australia prior to the Vice-President’s arrival, and when did they actually arrive.
  3. Is it usual for foreign dignitaries to bring their own security detail to Australia.
  4. Were the United States’ officers permitted to carry weapons whilst on Australian soil.
  5. What rights, over and above those usually accorded visitors to Australia, were these officers given in order to carry out their responsibilities in protecting the VicePresident.
Senator Withers:
LP

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

  1. and (2) In answer to parts 1 and 2 ofthe question, information concerning the composition of visiting foreign dignitaries’ security teams and their method of operation is classified and it would not be appropriate for the security arrangements of another country to be discussed.
  2. lt is a developing practice throughout the world for dignitaries visiting foreign countries to be accompanied by their own security officers and it is usual in the case of significant visits for security officers to precede the visiting dignitary to establish liaison with security and law enforcement authorities in the host country.
  3. By agreement with the appropriate authorities in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory a limited number of United States officers were permitted to carry hand-guns while performing protective security duties with the Vice-President.
  4. None.

Australian Taxation Office Employees (Question No. 534)

Senator Missen:

asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice:

  1. 1 ) What was the average number of employees in each State office of the Australian Taxation Office in each of the last five financial years.
  2. What was the average number of employees in the Central Office of the Australian Taxation Office in each of the last five financial years.
  3. What was the distribution of staff between the Central Office and each State office, by number and percentage as at 31 December 1975.
Senator Cotton:
LP

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

  1. The monthly average number of employees in each State office of the Australian Taxation Office in each of the financial years 1969-70 to 1974-75 inclusive was as follows:

New South Wales: 1969-70-3546; 1970-71-3658; 197 1-72-3819; 1972-73-3969; 1973-74-4074; 1974-75-4210.

Victoria: 1969-70-3300: 1970-71-3164: 1971-72-3087: 1972-73-3140; 1973-74-3266; 1974-75-3303.

Queensland: 1969-70-1327; 1970-71-1336; 1971-72-1345; 1972-73-1392; 1973-74-1383; 1974-75-1397.

South Australia: 1969-70-866; 1970-71-905; 1971-72-917; 1972-73-927; 1973-74-955; 1974-75-990.

Western Australia: 1969-70-898; 1970-71-759; 1971- 72-765; 1972-73-797; 1973-74-825; 1974-75-848.

Tasmania: 1969-70-375; 1970-71-387; 1971-72-385; 1972- 73-394; 1973-74-411; 1974-75-409.

Northern Territory: 1969-70-30; 1970-71-30; 1971-72-27; 1972-73-27; 1973-74-29; 1974-75-19.

  1. The monthly average number of employees in the Central Office (known as the Head Office) of the Australian Taxation Office in each of the financial years 1969-70 to 1974-75 inclusive was as follows: 1969-70-288; 1970-71-339; 1971-72-378; 1972-73-413; 1973-74-466; 1974-75-530.
  2. The distribution of staff between the Head Office and State offices, by number and percentage as at 3 1 December 1975, was as follows:

Allof these figures represent full-time operative staff, i.e., inoperative staff (those on leave for twelve weeks or more) have been excluded. The monthly average number of inoperative staff in all offices combined rose from 226 in 1969-70 to 609 in 1974-75.

The figures for Head Office include those in respect of the A.C.T. regional office. At present there are 96 employees in the A.C.T. regional office.

The growth of staff in New South Wales since 1969-70, as compared with Victoria, is due largely to the transfer of work from Victoria to New South Wales following upon the closure of Central Office, Melbourne on 1 July 1 970. In Western Australia, the reduction in staff in 1970-71 resulted from the handing over to the State Government of the work of collecting State land tax and some other State taxes, as well as the associated land valuation work.

As recorded in the 53rd Annual Report to Parliament by the Commissioner of Taxation, the Taxation Office has managed to keep its annual rate of growth to an average of about 2 per cent while increasing its enforcement activities and coping with an annual increase in work volume estimated to be about 4 per cent.

Australian Taxation Office (Question No. 535)

Senator Missen:

asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice:

  1. 1 ) What was the average time taken in each State office of the Australian Taxation Office for the (a) assessment, (b) payment of refunds to individual taxpayers, and (c) collection of taxation assessed from the date of receipt of personal income taxation returns lodged in each of the months from January 1975 to March 1976.
  2. What measures are being taken to make this process more efficient.
Senator Cotton:
LP

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

  1. (a) and (b) The time taken to complete and issue a notice of assessment together with a refund cheque where appropriate is influenced by a number of factors. Returns received from salary and wage earners early in the financial year would on average be processed more quickly than returns received in other periods. The Commissioner of Taxation endeavours to issue all assessments and refunds as quickly as possible after returns are received; in some cases however, it is necessary to verify or obtain additional information before an assessment can be finalised.

As honourable senators will be aware, the Australian Taxation Office has developed a sophisticated computer system to speed up the processing and associated actions involved with finalising assessments. Whilst all returns are examined by specially trained officers, much of the routine work formerly associated with their duties is now being performed by computer process. Apart from assisting with the assessing action, the computer systems amongst other things produce both a notice of assessment and refund cheque where applicable. It is not possible, therefore, to separately apportion the average time taken between the lodgment of a return, the making of an assessment and the payment of a refund; however, the average time taken throughout the Commonwealth from the date of receipt of a return until a notice of assessment and refund cheque is forwarded to a taxpayer is generally of the order of 6 to 8 weeks. It is known that, for 85 per cent of salary returns, assessments and refunds are issued within 6 to 8 weeks from the date the return is lodged.

  1. Statistical information is not available to identify the average period between the date returns are lodged and the collection of tax assessed. Assessments are payable not earlier than 30 days after the date of service of a notice of assessment. The earliest date on which a taxpayer liable to provisional tax is required to pay his assessment is 3 1 March following the close of the financial year in which the income was earned, or 30 days after service of his notice of assessment. The vast majority of taxpayers pay the amount owing by the due date or shortly thereafter.

    1. The Commissioner of Taxation is responsible for the administration of the income tax law. His main objective administratively is to deploy resources so that the maximum practicable degree of compliance with the taxation laws will be achieved, whilst ensuring that the public will be submitted to a minimum degree of inconvenience when carrying out their obligations under the revenue laws. The Taxation Office will continue its efforts to expand and improve its computer systems and other office systems with the object of reducing labour requirements and improving productivity.

Income Tax Collection (Question No. 536)

Senator Missen:

asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice:

  1. 1 ) What was the amount of personal income taxation assessed but not collected as at 30 June 1975.
  2. What is the expected amount of personal income tax that will be assessed but not received on 30 June 1976.
  3. Why is assessed income tax not collected.
  4. What is the Government doing to rectify the situation.
Senator Cotton:
LP

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

  1. 1 ) The net amount of personal income tax assessed but not collected at 30 June 1 9/5 was $334.4m, which represents 5.5 per cent of the total amount of such tax assessed for the year- i.e.$6,045m.
  2. It is expected that the amount of personal income tax assessed but not received at 30 June 1976 will be about 5 per cent of the total amount of such tax assessed for the year, which would involve approximately $390m. Much of this tax will, of course, be collected over the ensuing few months.
  3. 3 ) Uncollected tax at 30 June generally speaking consists of-

    1. amounts assessed in respect of returns lodged later in the financial year and not due for payment until later than 30 June;
    2. amounts subject to legal proceedings to enforce payment;
    3. amounts subject to extensions of time for payment granted by the Commissioner of Taxation where-
    1. because of special circumstances beyond his control, a taxpayer is experiencing financial difficulties; or
    2. a dispute as to the taxpayer’s liability has arisen which is still unresolved; and

    3. amounts owed by taxpayers who have been declared bankrupt.
  4. The administration of the income tax law has been vested by this Parliament in the Commissioner of Taxation, who is an independent statutory officer and who carries out his functions in the manner prescribed by law. The Commissioner follows the policy of requiring all taxpayers to meet their taxation obligations as they fall due unless there are compelling reasons for deferring payment. Continued efforts are directed to ensuring, as far as possible, that all tax due for payment is collected before 30 June. As a consequence of the introduction in this financial year of a new computer system designed to ensure that tax will be assessed at the earliest achievable date, it is expected that the percentage of tax outstanding at 30 June this year will be lower than the corresponding figure for previous years. Operational methods are consistently under review to ensure that the most cost-effective use is made of staff engaged in collecting outstanding tax.

Medibank Computer Terminals (Question No. 550)

Senator Colston:

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

  1. 1 ) Has the Minister approved the purchase of computer terminals for Medibank.
  2. What is the total cost of any order concerned, and from which company are the computer terminals to be purchased.
  3. Has there been a delay in obtaining Treasury approval for any such purchase; if so, what is the reason for the delay.
Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

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

  1. No.
  2. and (3) See(l).

Recruitment of Mercenaries (Question No. 552)

Senator Rae:

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

  1. Is the Minister aware of any efforts to recruit, in Australia, mercenaries for military activities in Africa; if so, have any organisations sought recruits in Australia over recent months.
  2. Are any such organisations operating in Australia; if so, what are their names and where are they located.
Senator Withers:
LP

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

  1. A recent advertisement in a Tasmanian newspaper appears to have prompted allegations of this nature. The advertisement seems to have been a hoax, and legal proceedings under section 44(1) of the Tasmanian Police Offences Act are being taken against the alleged perpetrator.
  2. The Government has no knowledge of any such organisations operating in Australia. The Government does not approve the recruitment of Australian citizens as mercenaries for service in other countries.

Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Question No. 563)

Senator McLaren:

asked the Minister for Administrative Services, upon notice:

Were the reporters who accompanied the Minister during his recent visit to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands given the services of interpreters when interviewing Malay workers on the Islands; if not, why not.

Senator Withers:
LP

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

No. It is not a function of the Government to provide interpreters for reporters.

Protea Drug Company (Question No. 572)

Senator Sibraa:

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

Does a Swiss drug company, Protea, enjoy a significant cost advantage in its dealings on the Australian pharmaceutical market; if so, is this because the company imports many of its products from South Africa, which are manufactured cheaply by black inmates in State mental institutes.

Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

-The Minister for Health has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:

The drug company, Protea Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd, which is registered in Switzerland is not known to enjoy a significant cost advantage in its dealings on the Australian pharmaceutical market. This company has advised my Department that it does not import products from South Africa.

Elcho Island Mission Money (Question No. 606)

Senator Colston:

asked the Minister for Administrative Services, upon notice:

Are Commonwealth Police investigating the disappearance of $40,000 which was being sent from Darwin to the Elcho Island Mission; if so, how was the money being sent to Elcho Island Mission, and from whom.

Senator Withers:
LP

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

No.

Home Building Loans

Senator Cotton:
LP

– In answer to a question without notice from Senator Archer on 24 February, I undertook to have a proposal about home building loans examined. The Treasurer has provided the following comments for the honourable senator’s information:

  1. 1 ) Interest paid on home loans is not included in the regimen of the Consumer Price Index.
  2. The Government’s policy includes the reintroduction of a revised Home Savings Grant Scheme to help first-home buyers. This will help to alleviate directly one of the major difficulties facing young home buyers. Details of the scheme have been recently announced by the Minister for the Environment, Housing and Community Development.
  3. The honourable senator’s proposal raises a major issue relating to taxation policy. The Australian income tax system is based primarily on the concept of the ability of an individual to pay. This depends on the total amount of income received, with no discrimination between sources of income. Exempting interest received on certain deposits with savings banks and building societies, as suggested by the honourable senator, would conflict with that basis principle of our tax system.
  4. The proposal would have a number of other disadvantages. For example it would not necessarily attract more funds for housing. Without introducing complex institutional arrangements there could be no certainty that the lower costs to the mortgage institutions of attracting funds would be passed on to low-income, first-home applicants. It would not help to reduce the deposit gap. This stimulus to a certain form of saving would, however, give high income earners with high marginal rates of tax, higher after-tax returns from this form of saving than low income earners. The cost to Government revenue could never be confidently known in advance.
  5. The Government’s policies are more direct, more effective and more egalitarian.

Rental Housing

Senator Cotton:
LP

-On 28 April 1976, Senator Archer directed to me as Minister representing the Treasurer in the Senate a question without notice concerning the possibility of encouraging the provision of additional housing for rental through investment or depreciation allowances. I undertook to refer it to the Treasurer who has provided the following answer:

The Government’s Housing Policy Statement refers to this matter as follows: ‘To encourage private investment in new building for residential rental purposes we will examine additional tax provision to allow for depreciation on new buildings as recommended in the Asprey Taxation Review Committee’. That matter will be investigated in detail as soon us circumstances permit. Among other considerations, however, I point out that there are also revenue considerations to be taken into account.

Airport Security

Senator Carrick:
LP

– On 2 March 1976 Senator Sir Magnus Cormack asked the Minister representing the Minister for Transport the following question without notice:

Will the Minister representing the Minister for Transport inform the Senate whether the security arrangements for passenger aircraft at international airports in all of the Middle East countries are commensurate with the security arrangements at the Australian Airports? Secondly, is there any sound reason why spot check electronic surveillance of passengers disembarking in Australia should not be carried out? Thirdly, are the holders of diplomatic passports free from electronic surveillance under the Vienna Convention of a Diplomatic Immunity and Privilege?’

Senator Cotton replied as follows:

At an earlier stage in my parliamentary life I was more up to date on the question of surveillance and checks at airports than I am today. There was a very strong international arrangement between most of the principal countries that had either departure or landing facilities for the sort of checks to which the honourable senator refers. Most of the customary checking was done on outward going passengers. I have always felt that there was a case for some checks to be made on people entering a country. The same device- a magnetometer may be used for checks on people leaving as well as for people entering a country. I do not know what the current practice is in other countries. But for a long time there has been an international co-operation arrangement about checks, particularly with regard to hijack problems. I would imagine that it is still operating. I am not totally familiar with the area of diplomatic immunity in checking arrivals at airports. I think it is a very useful question to have asked and I shall try to get full details for the honourable senator’.

The following information has been provided by the Minister for Transport in reply to the honourable senator’s question:

Security arrangements at International Airports are a matter for each State to determine. Member states of ICAO ( International Civil Aviation Organisation) observe the provisions of Annex 1 7 (Security) to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation and use the Annex Standards and Recommend Practices as a guide to development of their own programs which may vary in stringency depending on the security required at any time.

The potential threat associated with disembarking pasengers is recognised but it has been considered more desirable by leading States for aviation security checks to be performed prior to commencement rather than after completion of a flight. Aviation authorities of countries with airlines operating to Australia have already been requested to ensure that their airlines carry out a search of passengers, their carry-on baggage, and, if the threat at the time justifies it, a search of hold baggage (i.e. baggage accompanying the passenger but not carried in the cabin) prior to arrival in Australia.

Australia has an obligation to comply with the provisions of Article 36(2) of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic

Relations which states that the personal baggage of a diplomatic agent shall be exempt from inspection ‘ unless there are serious grounds for presuming that it contains articles not covered oy the exemptions mentioned in paragraph 1 of this Article, or articles the import or export of which is prohibited by the law or controlled by the quarantine regulations ofthe receiving State’. Paragraph 1 refers to articles for the official use of the mission and for the personal use of a diplomatic agent or members of his family.

The Vienna Convention was drawn up in 1 96 1 well before the emergence of the practice of hijacking and airborne terrorism and of the introduction of measures of protective security to combat these developments. Consequently there is no reference in the Vienna Convention about electronic surveillance.

Australia also has an obligation under Article 10 ( I ) of the Montreal Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Civil Aviation which provides that endeavour shall be made by contracting states in accordance with international and national law, to take all practicable measures for the purpose of preventing offences against the safety of civil aviation.

Foreign diplomatic and consular missions to Australia have been advised by the Department of Foreign Affairs that members of their staff will be subject to security screening if a security check is nominated for their particular flight. Discreet searching facilities are available for heads of a mission and persons of like status. We acknowledge the obligation to treat such persons with all due courtesy and respect but the airlines are obliged to comply with the direction and permit no exemptions.

Migrant Women: Employment Opportunities

Senator Carrick:
LP

-On 16 March 1976, Senator Melzer asked the following question, without notice:

I preface my question, which is addressed to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, by referring to the address given by Senator Guilfoyle, to the Australian Confederation of Apparel Manufacturers. She spoke of the need to widen the employment opportunities of migrant women by developing their natural skills by, amongst other things, assisting them with language problems. Senator Guilfoyle said- I agree with this-that it is futile to expect women who are working in factories all day and at home all night to go out to night school. Therefore I ask: What steps is the Government taxing to facilitate the teaching of English in the work place?

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

As the migrant education function is now part of my responsibility, I am able to say that a special six weeks course for use with migrants in industry at the work site, preferably in employer time, was developed by the former Department of Immigration towards the end of 1971. The course provides basic instruction in the English language using the situational method and includes social and cultural content. The course consists of 36 hours instruction and is designed normally to run for a period of six weeks, though the time span may vary depending upon the requirements of shift work and other factors. Using the basic course and following discussion with management of a particular industry, the course can be modified and adapted to take into account safety factors, specialised vocabulary, and factory rules and regulations applicable to the work environment of the particular industry.

It was not until early in 1973 that the course was developed to any appreciable extent. Statistics are based on the period commencing May 1973 and from that date to the end of February 1976 a total of 394 courses had been held in factories and in industry generally in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. The number of migrants who have taken part in the course was 5431 and the number of employer organisations involved (some of which have maintained the course on a continuing basis) was 139, representing a wide range of industry. The statistics maintained under the program have not to date differentiated between male and female workers, but it has been estimated that women make up approximately 33 per cent of migrants enrolled in courses in Victoria. Courses in some firms are weighted in favour of women- GloVVeave, Rosella, Kraft and L M Ericcson for example. Across all States the figure would be about 20 per cent.

The development and further expansion of courses in industry and the extent to which the language needs of migrant women in particular can be reached in this way are areas to which the Government is committed as a matter of policy.

Education Expenditure in the Northern Territory

Senator Carrick:
LP

- Senator Keeffe asked the following question without notice on 1 8 March 1976:

Will the Minister for Education inform the Parliament of the total amount of cuts in funds for education in the Northern Territory? In particular will the Minister detail reductions in expenditure for this financial year in the following areas: School building programs; school maintenance programs; number of teachers employed; and the numbers of teachers and buildings on Aboriginal settlements.

I provided some information to the honourable senator and undertook to provide further information. I am now able to advise as follows:

The reduction in expenditure on the school building program in the Northern Territory for 1975-76 is approximately $l.lm or approximately 5.25 per cent ofthe forecast expenditure. This reduction in expenditure follows a cut of $26.937m or approximately 97.4 per cent of new program items as a result of the suspension of the 1975-76 Civil Works Program and 45.3 per cent of the total program including revoted works.

With regard to school maintenance programs, it is anticipated that some $1.2m of a total program of about $1.4m will be committed in the current financial year.

There has been no reduction in the number of teachers employed in the Territory. Its staff ceiling in 1976 is set at the same level as that which applied in 1 975.

The number employed on a full-time basis in the Territory increased from about 1230 in October of last year to 1315 at the end of March this year. The Commonwealth Teaching Service is shortly to hold further interviews in order to fill current and expected Term 2 vacancies. At the end of October 1 975 there were 341 teachers in Government Aboriginal schools. In April 1976 this increased to 366.

Restraints on expenditure have not affected the number of schools on Aboriginal settlements, missions and pastoral properties. These are, however, affected by changes in populations; at August 1 975 there were 49 such schools and at the end of March 1976 this number was 53. The installation of a number of mobile units in some ‘outstation’ communities has been delayed.

Commission of Inquiry Into Poverty (Question No. 85)

Senator Colston:

asked the Minister for Social Security, upon notice:

  1. 1 ) What reports will be affected by the decision of the Government to cease funding the publication of research reports by the Commission of Inquiry into Poverty.
  2. What would have been the estimated cost of publishing each of the reports concerned.
  3. Is the preparation and publication of research reports an integral and important part of welfare planning and administration.
  4. Will this decision to cease funding the publication of research reports have an adverse effect on the quality of debate in this important area of social welfare.
Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

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

  1. 1) There are 22 research reports from the Commission of Inquiry into Poverty remaining to be published.
  2. The original estimate for publication of these remaining research reports was $ 1 32,000.
  3. Yes.
  4. Since the original announcement that my Department would not be able to fund the publication of further research reports at the original cost, I have been giving consideration to the whole question of how to ensure that the material in the reports can be made available.

The Minister for Administrative Services and I have asked officers of my Department, The Australian Government Publishing Service and the Secretary of the Commission of Inquiry into Poverty to discuss possible economies in the publishing program for research reports. Since that meeting, figures have been prepared which show that the remaining research reports can be published at a total cost of $70,000 a saving of $62,000 on the previous estimate. This saving can be achieved by reducing the number of copies available for free distribution by increasing the sales price on each volume and by public tendering for printers instead of using standard forms of contract. The production standards of these reports will not be affected.

On 30 April 1976 I wrote to the Treasurer requesting an allocation of $70,000 to publish the remaining reports. On 4 May 1976 Mr Lynch approved the allocation and officers of my Department are now preparing several manuscripts for publication.

Cigarette Advertising (Question No. 131)

Senator Colston:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Post and Telecommunications the following question, upon notice:

  1. Has the Government received submissions from any business operations, particularly in the advertising industry, claiming that they will be adversely affected by the Government’s decision to ban all cigarette advertising from 1 September 1976; if so, how many separate submissions have been received.
  2. Is the Government considering any form of compensation to business firms so affected, or to their employees.
Senator Carrick:
LP

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

  1. The Australian Broadcasting Control Board has received representations from the Federation of Australian Commercial Television Stations, the Federation of Australian Radio Broadcasters and Sir Reginald Ansett, Chairman of Directors, Austarama Television Proprietary Limited, Licensee of Station ATV Melbourne, on the undesirable effects which any decision to ban advertising of cigarettes and cigarette tobacco would have on the financial operations of commercial broadcasting and television stations.

These representations were made some time ago. Since the formal announcement on 27 February, by the Minister for Post and Telecommunications, the Honourable Eric Robinson, that legislation would be introduced for a total ban on the advertising of cigarettes and cigarette tobacco, with effect from I September 1976, representations were received by the Minister on behalf of Capital City Broadcasters Proprietary Limited, Licensees of commercial broadcasting station 2CC Canberra.

  1. In regard to the second part of the question, the Minister for Post and Telecommunications, in response to a question asked in the House of Representatives on 25 March, stated that the Government had no plans to replace the revenue lost by commercial broadcasting and television stations as a result of the ban. Mr Robinson explained that the industry had been given three years notice of the phasing out program and that most licensees have organised their financial operations accordingly.

As the honourable senator will appreciate, representations of which I would have no knowledge, may have been received by other Ministers or colleagues.

Social Development Council: Replacement of Bus (Question No. 235)

Senator Rae:

asked the Minister for Social Security, upon notice:

  1. Has the Minister seen a report of the wanton vandalism on Sydney’s ‘Big Yellow Magic Bus’, an old doubledecker bus which toured the inner areas of Sydney.
  2. Has any approach been made to the Minister for assistance in the funding of a similar vehicle as a replacement; if so, will she give consideration to providing funds.
Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

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

  1. Yes.
  2. Yes. A community appeal raised sufficient funds to purchase a second hand bus as a replacement. The South West Sydney Regional Social Development Council requested the re-allocation of some of the funds already approved for this year’s maintenance and running costs to be used for the salary of a person to convert the replacement bus. The cost of the conversion is estimated at $600. 1 have given approval to this re-allocation.

Australian Capital Territory: National Park (Question No. 397)

Senator Knight:

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

  1. 1 ) Are plans under consideration for the establishment of a National Park in the southern part of the Australian Capital Territory.
  2. What stage has this planning reached arid what area is it proposed should be covered by a National Park.
Senator Webster:
NCP/NP

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

  1. 1 ) and (2) An intention to establish a Nature Reserve at Gudgenby in the southern part ofthe Australian Capital Territory was first announced in 1 967.

Generally the park was then envisaged as containing only the wilderness area west of the Gudgenby River. Following some further consideration a decision was made to include a much larger area extending easterly to the A.C.T. border and including some land then held under freehold title.

A program of acquisition of all freehold land remaining in the Territory has been followed for the past few years and was near completion when overtaken by the present financial stringencies. Some freehold land in the Gudgenby area still remains to be acquired before the larger area could be formally declared as a Park. Consideration is now being given to an early declaration of the area as a National Park to the extent possible.

Melbourne Sex Counselling Centre (Question No. 476)

Senator Colston:

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

  1. Has the Government abandoned plans to finance a centre in Melbourne designed to give contraceptive advice and sex counselling to young people; if so, who took the decision, and for what reason.
  2. Has the Government already spent several thousand dollars renovating the premises and purchasing equipment and furnishings.
Senator Guilfoyle:
LP

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

  1. 1 ) The Government has decided not to proceed with the previously proposed Action Centre in Melbourne at this stage because of the economic situation.
  2. Yes. Fitting out was completed recently and the premises have been used for other purposes pending a decision on future use. Most of the equipment and furniture purchased can be used for other functions of the Department of Health in the event of them not being required in the future for the purpose for which they were originally purchased.

Royal Australian Air Force Mirage Aircraft (Question No. 497)

Senator Colston:

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

Were three squadrons of Mirage 111-0 supersonic fighter aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force grounded early in April 1976; if so, (a) how many aircraft were involved, and for how long were they out of action, (b) why were the aircraft grounded, and what checks were subsequently carried out, and (c) did the checks disclose any deficiencies in the aircraft.

Senator Withers:
LP

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

On 6 April 1976 the pilot of an RAAF Mirage made an emergency landing at Nowra Naval Air Station because of indications that the aircraft could be on fire.

Subsequent investigations by RAAF engineers determined that the engine combustion casing had cracked at the fuel drain line attachment. Hot gas escaping through the crack burned electrical looms and some subsidiary structure.

On 8 April 1976 an RAAF Special Technical Instruction was issued ordering the immediate inspection of all Mirage engines for similar cracks.

Operational training was affected for two working days because those engines installed in aircraft could not be inspected in situ. The removal, inspection, re-installation and testing of these engines therefore caused some delay to flying programs.

The inspections carried out revealed that 14 per cent of the engines checked had incipient cracks. These engines will be repaired in Australia and returned to service in due course. The repair program will not affect the RAAF’s Mirage Operations.

Local Government Ministers’ Conference (Question No. 502)

Senator Colston:

asked the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister in Federal Affairs, upon notice:

  1. 1 ) Did a meeting of Federal and State Ministers with responsibilities for local government take place in April 1976; if so, when and where was the meeting held.
  2. Did the Ministers discuss a working party’s recommendations that a universal bed tax be placed on hotels, motels and boarding houses; if so, what was the result of those discussions.
Senator Carrick:
LP

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

  1. Yes; the Local Government Ministers’ Conference was held in Melbourne on 22 April 1976.
  2. The matter was not discussed specifically; it was merely one of a wide number of recommendations contained in a report which was presented to the Conference.

The Ministers welcomed the report but emphasised that its reception implied no specific commitment on the part of any Government.

Administrative Review Committee (Question No. 517)

Senator Colston:

asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister, upon notice:

Have any State Government Departments made submissions to the Administrative Review Committee, chaired by Sir Henry Bland; if so, which Departments have made submissions, and on what subjects.

Senator Withers:
LP

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

When the Administrative Review Committee was established by the Government in December last I wrote to the Premiers inviting them to put forward submissions for the Committee’s consideration. All States have responded to this invitation.

The submissions from the States could be regarded by them as being in confidence to the Committee. For that reason it would not be appropriate for the Commonwealth Government to provide any information about the nature of these submissions.

Microwave Ovens (Question No. 542)

Senator McLaren:

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

Was it claimed in the British Medical journal, The Lancet, that anxiety has lately been expressed over the possible dangers of radiation from microwave ovens; if so, what action is the Government taking to (a) investigate this possible hazard, and (b) establish a standard specification for microwave ovens, to protect the public safety and health.

Senator Cotton:
LP

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

The claim appeared in The Lancet, of 1 1 October 1975.

The Department or Business and Consumer Affairs is now examining the issues raised, as well as work being done on safety standards both in Australia and overseas.

I believe the relevant State authorities have prescribed microwave ovens for approval purposes and apply the provisions of draft standard 1845, issued by the Standards Association of Australia in 1971. Work on the draft standard is proceeding and it is expected that an Australian standard will be pubished soon.

Alleged Offer of Aid to Papua New Guinea (Question No. 544)

Senator Colston:

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

  1. 1 ) Has the Minister seen reports of a meeting in Brisbane last week between the Queensland Premier, Mr BjelkePetersen, and the Papua New Guinea Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Dr Taureka
  2. Has the Australian Government been officially informed that, subsequent to this meeting, the Queensland Government announced that it offered a technical aid scheme to Papua New Guinea; if so, when did the Australian Government receive that advice, and from whom.
  3. Is it usual practice for State Governments to negotiate aid and assistance agreements with foreign powers without reference to the Australian Government.
  4. Has the Australian Government had any indication from the Government of Papua New Guinea whether it will accept the aid which the Queensland Government offered.
Senator Withers:
LP

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

  1. Yes.
  2. No. The Commonwealth Government has been informed by Queensland Government officials that, contrary to media reports, the question of an offer of aid to Papua New Guinea by Queensland was not discussed with Dr Taureka during his visit to Brisbane.
  3. It is the exclusive prerogative of the Commonwealth Government to negotiate and conclude treaties or international agreements subject to international law. This arises from the necessarily exclusive external affairs power of the Commonwealth. However, this does not preclude cooperation between the Commonwealth and State Governments in the implementation of aid programs overseas. Such co-operation has taken place in the past and will do so in the future.
  4. As indicated in the reply to point 2 of the question, the Queensland Government did not make any offer of aid to Dr Taureka and the question of acceptance by the Government of Papua New Guinea does not therefore arise.

Patents Information Service (Question No. 556)

Senator McLaren:

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

  1. What will be the cost of establishing the recentlyannounced information service for businessmen on patents.
  2. How many extra staff will be employed in this new service, and what will be the cost of their wage bill.
  3. What will be the cost of computer facilities associated with the new service.
Senator Cotton:
LP

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

  1. 1 ) No additional costs will be incurred as a result of the introduction of the new information service. It will draw on resources which are already available in the department.
  2. No extra staff will be recruited to provide the new service. Staff will be provided by redeployment of officers from other less important duties and total numbers will be contained within the reduced ceilings which have recently been introduced.
  3. The new service involves the use of existing computer facilities within the Department of Business and Consumer Affairs and no new computing facilities will be required.

East Timor: Peace Keeping Force (Question No. 564)

Senator McLaren:

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

What is the Government’s view on a reported suggestion by Father Roy Richardson at an Anzac Day Memorial Service in St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral, Adelaide, on 26 April 1976, that the Australian Army should be used as a peacekeeping force in East Timor.

Senator Withers:
LP

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

Were the United Nations to decide to establish an international peace-keeping force in East Timor, and were a request addressed to Australia to participate in the force, the Government would be prepared to consider doing so.

Royal Australian Air Force Mirage Aircraft (Question No. 599)

Senator Colston:

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

  1. 1 ) Is the report by Jack Percival in the Sydney SunHerald of 2 May 1976, that senior Royal Australian Air Force equipment officers have warned the Defence Department of signs of metal fatigue in the Mirage aircraft operated by the force, correct; if so, what effect is metal fatigue having on the current operation of the Mirage aircraft, and what will be the long-term effect.
  2. If the answer to ( 1) is in the affirmative, will the Mirages need to be replaced because of the effects of metal fatigue; if so, when.
  3. Has a decision been made on a replacement aircraft for the Mirage.
Senator Withers:
LP

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

  1. 1 ) No. The effects of metal fatigue on the life of Mirage aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force have been the subject of in-depth study for some time as a routine procedure. Studies completed so far include the fatigue testing, to destruction, of a Mirage wing and continuing testing of critical airframe components. Mirage aircraft are currently operating, without operational restriction, in both the air-to-air and air-to-ground roles.
  2. Although design fatigue life is ultimately a determinant on the life of any aircraft type, metal fatigue is not a prime consideration at this stage in deciding upon a replacement for the Mirage.
  3. No.

Second Derwent Crossing- Administrative Review Committee

Senator Withers:
LP

-On 28 April 1976 (Hansard, page 1331) Senator Wriedt asked me, as Minister representing the Prime Minister, a question without notice as to whether the Bland Committee had made a recommendation to the Government that the Government not proceed with the financing of a second bridge across the Derwent River in Hobart. The Prime Minister has now supplied the following information for answer to the honourable senator’s question.

The Report of the Bland Committee on Administrative Review dealing with transport matters has not yet been considered by the Government.

Film Production: Financial Assistance (Question No. 167)

Senator Douglas McClelland:
NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister, upon notice:

  1. 1 ) Which companies or individuals have received financial assistance by way of grant, loan, guarantee or other form from (a) the Australian Film Development Corporation and ( b) the Australian Film Commission.
  2. What was the date on which each was first made, and what was the cost and nature of the assistance provided.
  3. In the case of those where repayment is involved and any amount is outstanding, including unused guarantee, what is the amount outstanding and what steps are being taken to recoup the amounts.
Senator Withers:
LP

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

  1. to (3) The tables below have been provided by the Australian Film Commission on the basis of information drawn from its records for the period from its inception to 3 1 March 1976. The Commission has also provided information on the basis of ledgers and accounting records maintained by the Australian Film Development Corporation. No grants have been made by either body.

In the first table the amounts shown as outstanding for repayment include components of interest on the loans to 3 1 March 1976.

The details relating to investments in the second table show sums unrecouped as at 31 March 1976. Repayments in this table are only due when revenue has been recouped from the project concerned.

The Australian Film Commission came into operation on 8 July 1975 and is in the process of establishing a comprehensive system of accounts, incorporating the transactions of the Australian Film Development Corporation. Part of the new system will be a regular review of all contracts involving the repayment of moneys to the Commission.

Arrangements have already been made to collect moneys owed to the Corporation, and the new system should be fully operative by the end ofthe present financial year.

Cite as: Australia, Senate, Debates, 18 May 1976, viewed 22 October 2017, <http://historichansard.net/senate/1976/19760518_senate_30_s68/>.