[Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.159 597

unemployment. There is a whole range of very ?irqiulatiitt Arnwrmblg perturbing features of this Government's perform- Wednesday, the 17th August, 1977 ance in respect of this serious question. In the first instance, I would draw to the atten- The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Clarko) took tion of the House this Government's attitude. the Chair at 4.30 p.m., and read prayers. demonstrated so ably in so many ways that it appears to have turned its back on the question of unemployment. It seems to have quite callously QUESTI1ONS disregarded Western Australians who are unem- Question were taken at this stage. ployed. Scarcely a day passes that this Government does not make some statement through some arm BIULLS (4): INTRODUCTI1ON AND FIRST of the media to suggest that the unemployment READING problem in Western Australia is not as; serious 1. Public Service Arbitration Act Amendment as in fact it is. Bill. Mr B. T. Burke: Deliberate deception. 2. Public Service Act Amendment Bill. Mr BRYCE: This Government goes out of its way to associate itself with the Fraser Govern- 3. Public Service Appeal Bonrd Act Repeal ment and so many Ministers on the front bench Bill. of the Fraser Government who have set them- 4. Government Employees (Promotions Appeal selves about the task of deliberately denigrating Board) Act Amendment Bill. the people of this nation who have been cast onto Bills introduced, on motions by Sir Charles the human scrapheap as a direct result of the Court (Premier), and read a first time. policies of Governments like the Fraser Govern- meat and the Court Government. Not content to wee these people on the scrapheap, many of WILDILIFE CONSERVATION ACT their "responsible" spokesmen turn on these Disallowance of Regulations: Motion people who are least able to defend themselves; THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Clarko): they are referred to as dole bludgers and dole Notice of motion No. 5 is wrongly placed on the. cheats and are denigrated in this fashion. notice paper. Being business of a nonformal Mr Blaikie: Not by this Government. nature it cannot he dealt with until the Address- Mr BRYCE: What we are interested in is to in-Reply is adopted. see some members from the Government benches I therefore call orders of the day. this evening dissociate themselves from the hor- rific manner and disgraceful fashion in which members of the Federal Cabinet, including their ADDRESS-IN-REPLY: EIGHTH DAY leader, and the present Speaker of the House of Motion Representatives, who is their former leader, and Debate resumed, from the 16th August, on the so many of their very good friends in the media following motion by Mr Hassell- have turned on the unemployed people of this nation, which includes Western Australians, and That the following Address-in-Reply to denigrated them as dole bludgers. We would he His Excellency's Speech be agreed to- interested to see some courageous action on the May it please Your Excellency: We. part of Government members in this Chamber to the Legislative Assembly of the Par- dissociate themselves completely from some of liament of the State of Western Austra- these statements. lia in Parliament assembled, beg to The State Government has done nothing to express loyalty to our Most Gracious alleviate the suffering of the families of the Sovereign, and to thank Your Excel- 26 500 Western Australians who are out of work. lency for the Speech you have been pleased to address to Parliament. Sir Charles Court: Do not talk nonsense. Mr BRYCE: In fact, this Government is MR BRYCE (Ascot-Deputy Leader of the totally bereft of a set of solutions or ideas to Opposition) (5.50 p.m.]: By any measure- solve the unemployment which faces the people economic, social or political, but more of this State. importantly by any measure of human dignity or Mr Grayden: You are going to get a surprise human happiness-the most serious problem shortly, when I outline what this Government is which faces Western Australia today is that of going to do. 599 598(ASSEMBLY]

Mr BRYCE; It has been demonstrated to this Mr Grayden: You do not realise what pro- Parliament on many occasions, notably on open- grammes the Government has, but I will tell you ing day by the Premier and as recently as yester- later. day by the Minister for L.abour and Industry, Mr BRYCE: The Governor stated- that this Government has no answer, no set of plans in mind to overcome this problem; in fact, Unemployment in Western Australia is still it is not even dinkum about the question of un- unacceptably high. Nevertheless, the June employment. figure of 4.7 percent was significantly lower I think the most sinister element of this serious than the national figure of 5.37 percent, problem is the fact that the Court Government Moreover the State's total civilian employ- has joined hands with the Fraser Government to ment increased by 3.1 percent in the 12 institutionalise a high level of unemployment in months to March 1977, against a marginal this community. national decrease. Sir Charles Court: That is utter nonsense. That is the sole extent and the total limit of this Mr BRYCE: They have determined that the Government's reference in the Governor's Speech people of Australia must change their attitudes to unemployment. It demonstrates that the Gov- so that they accept that a much higher level ernment is not concerned, and has no answer. of unemployment than previously was accepted On that very same day, at the beginning of the now is the order of the day. Conservative 29th Parliament, I asked the Premier in effect politicians all over this country are arguing to lay his Government's cards on the table and that the days of full employment have gone for- explain precisely what plans his Government had ever. to provide work for the 25 000 Western Austra- We want to see some of the courageous mem- lians who were out of work. In a typical answer bers of the Western Australian Government take -the type of answer to which we have become a stand. They have just come through an elec- accustomed-and in front of all his guests in tion where they promised jobs for all, job their finery, the Premier gave 'us a lecture. He security for everybody, career Opportunities and commenced his answer with the words- 100 000 extra jobs. We want to see some of these I thank the member for the opportunity to Government members stand in their places inttthis expound on this particular subject. Chamber and dissociate themselves from some of their Federal colleagues-people such as Mr Mr Speaker, I draw your attention to the fact Viner, from Western Australia, and the present that the question I asked specifically requested Federal Minister for Employment and Industrial the Premier to indicate to the Parliament what Relations (Mr Street) who are saying that the plans his Government had to provide work for days of full employment are gone. the 25 000 Western Australians who were then out of work. However, the Premier chose to give I do not make these accusations light- us a lecture on physics. heartedly; there is an abundance of evidence to demonstrate that what I am saying is correct. I Mr Grayden: You are going to get that answer draw the attention of members to the Governor's shortly. Speech on the opening day of the 29th Parliament Mr BRYCE: The Premier talked about posi- of Western Australia- That Speech occupied six tives and negatives, just like a first-year lecturer pages of Hansard, yet the most serious and pres- in physics at some high school. He talked about sing social and economic problem this State faces Western Australia's population record, and about warranted only six lines of one column. The the -national average, and compared Western Aus- Governor's Speech contained a helpless cry and tralia with the national average. Then, of course, a regretful admission that unemployment was he made an excuse with reference to a time limit still with us. However, the Speech contained no on the promise of 100 000 jobs. Remember, I mention that this Government had -a plan to asked the Premier a very simple and straight- solve unemployment in this State, which is at a forward question, "What does his Government far higher level than at any time since the great propose to do to provide work for the 25 000 depression of the l930t- Western Australians who are unemployed?" At Mr Grayden: We have the best record of any the end of his answer to this simple question, the State. Premier said- Mr BRYCE: I should like to quote to members If we could get industrial stability in this those six lines so they may keep them in mind State we would attract industry, and reduce during the Course of this debate. unemployment. [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.] 5999

There was the cbmplete answer, get the economy moving again. Both these Gov- Sir Charles Court: I thought it was a Dorothy ernments have endorsed the policies of the 1920s Dix question. and have brought the economy of the nation and of this State to a grinding halt. So we see Mr BRYCE: That was the beginning of the throughout the nation the worst level of unem ploy- use of the scapegoat for its failure, because this ment since the great depression. Every serious Government has no plan. The Premier had an economist who has looked at the situation opportunity to tell not only the members of this believes that the present position will get worse House but also all the visitors to the Legislative before the end of 1977 and that the situation Assembly what his Government had planned, could quite conceivably deteriorate further in but instead of telling us his plans he raised once 1978. again the spectre of the industrial scapegoat. Any form of statistical analysis of the situ a- or the Premier who It is not just the Governor tion must be seen in the context of the pro- in this sort of tactic; last night in his indulge mires which this Government put to the people Budget speech, the Federal Treasurer spoke in in 1974 and 1977. It promised great economic similar vein. Ministers opposite already have been miracles; a solution to the unemployment in reminded this afternoon by my colleague, the Western Australia; to provide job security for member for Balcatta, that they have not done all; and to create those magical 100 000 extra their homework on the Federal Budget. I refer jobs. The facts are that in its fourth year in Ministers to pages 6 and 7 of Mr Lynch's Budget office we find, as a result of the efforts of this speech, where they will find for themselves that Government-and we should bear in mind there the Federal Treasurer has told us we must live were no qualifications made to those promises with unemployment. when they were made on the hustings-the level Not only the Governor and the Premier, but of unemployment in this State has more than also the federal Treasurer as well, now indicate trebled. The Premier said, "Give us a chance to that the conservatives of this nation -have not the perform". The Premier gave the undertaking to slightest bit of genuine concern for the unemploy- provide the answers to all these economic ills. ment problem. Finally, just 24 hours ago in this Mr Grayden: You will get a horrible shock House, in replying to questions 281, 282, and 283 when you hear all the facts. on notice in which he was asked what plans his Government had to solve unemployment, the Mr BRYCE: If the Minister for Labour and Minister for Labour and tndustry said that a letter Industry has been concealing vital information had been sent to the Commonwealth asking for from this Parliament, then we want to know. help with a retraining programme. The Opposition believes this is the most appro- priate opportunity for him to provide that in- Mr Grayden: That is only one small reference. formation to the Parliament. We are looking Mr BRYCE: One small answer to a broadly forward to hearing him. We hope sincerely he based question. The Minister had the opportunity will give that information in a way that will to provide a most elaborate outline of the Gov- make a constructive contribution to a debate on ernment's thinking and planning and he gave us such a serious issne. a reply in one sentence. That is the limit of the Mr Tonkin: Tell us about the caravan. Minister for Labour and Industry's imagination on this question and it perfectly compliments the Mr BsRYCE: Mr Speaker, the level of unem- thinking and the plans of the Premier. ployment. in this State has more than trebled since 1974. When this Government came into Mr Grayden: This is absolute rubbish. office there were 7 527 people out of work. It is to Mr BRYCE: Let me sound a warning to all the continuing shame of the Ministers of the Court Western Australians who are unemployed and Government that there are now 26 588 people all those additional Western Australians who are unemployed. The'members of this Government going to be unemployed in the coming have to accept the fact that they went to the months, and possibly years, that their future is people and promised to end unemploymen t- going to be bleak indeed. This is because of this there were no qualifications and no maybe's-in Government's lack of concern for the people who the same vein as the Premier of the day in 1930, are thrown onto the scrapheap despite the fact Sir lames Mitchell, promised work for all and that the Fraser Government and this State Gov- then three years later was thrown out on his neck. ernment promised to bring down inflation, reduce The Premier will have second thoughts during unemployment, stimulate business confidence, and the course of this 29th Parliament for having made 600 600[ASSEMBLY] the statement that the Government would pro- implications are something this Government vide 100 000 extra jobs. We see that the level ought to be looking at. However, when I asked of unemployment has in fact skyrocketed from the Minister for Labour and Industry whether this 1.6 per cent to 4.93 per cent. So nearly 5 per Government was prepared to conduct an appro- cent of our work force is out of work. The State priate study into this problem his answer was and national aggregates do not reflect the true quite clearly recorded in Hansard as "No". picture because within Western Australia there In view of the very deliberate and contrived are some trouble spots which this Parliament ought to recognise and consider. plan that this Government has conceived in its collective mind, in concert with the Fraser Gov- Mr Blaikie: There is one over there right now. ernment, to use the trade union movement and Mr Tonkin: Tell us about the caravan. industrial disputation as scapegoats for the cause Mr BRYCE: There are regions in Western of unemployment in this country, I believe mem- Australia where the level of unemployment is bers of the House should reflect upon some very so far in excess of the State average that they interesting figures relating to the number of man- have reached serious proportions indeed. I in- days lost in this community as a result of unem- stance Kwinana where at one stage this year the ployment compared with industrial disputation. unemployment figure was 13 per cent. Today, It will be seen that this question has been dis- based on the April figures, it is down to 9.49 per torted and twisted out of all sense of proportion cent of the work force in the region. We cannot and perspective. In Western Australia last year obtain the percentage figures for other areas where 5.5 million man-days were lost because of the unemployment is bad, such as in the eastern and southern suburbs, because this Government men and women in this community who were unemployed, flat is a staggering total does not have the information. when compared with the 252 000 maci-days lost as a Mr Grayden: You will get so much informa- result of industrial stoppages. The loss of produc- tion shortly you will be surprised. tion that accrues to this State because of the Mr BRYCE: The Minister may provide us people who are unemployed is more than 20 with the information during the debate but he times the number of man-days lost because of certainly declined to provide it at question time industrial disputes. and he knows from his long parliamentary career that is the proper time to supply informa- We have seen the Minister for Labour and tion. There are other regions such as Bunbury Industry join with his political colleagues in this and Collie, which are treated jointly for the sake State and other parts of the nation. They need of statistics, where the level of unemployment an excuse as they dare not face the reality of this also exceeds the State average. Quite apart State and this nation losing millions and millions from the regional analysis and the suburban of man-days as a result of their deliberate eco- analysis of this problem there are very serious nomic policies. problems with regard to age distributions. Sir Charles Court: Do not talk rot. Probably the most important and disturbing aspect of the unemployment question is the fact Mr BRYCE: Nationally, there were 62.8 mil- that there are nearly 10 000 teenagers in this State lion man-days lost as a result of unemployment. out of work. The Premier ought to stop and consider these Mr B. T. Burke: But the Government does not figures. care. Sir Charles Court: You are up to the old Labor Mr BRYCE: The Premier and the Prime Min- ploy. You are trying to bring out emotions by ister went to the people of this State and the referring to the unemployment situation. people of the nation and particularly underlined a guarantee that if Liberal-National Country Party Mr BRYCE: There were 62 million man-days Governments were returned to office young people lost as a result of unemployment and there were would have secure career opportunities. The onty 1.7 million man-days lost-Mr Speaker, I actual figures do not lie. The facts are that in ant having trouble because of the noise. The this State today there are nearly 10 000 youngsters amount of production lost in this nation as a between the ages of 15 and 20 who have left result of unemployment is almost 20 times the school and are desperately looking for work. amount of production lost as a result of indus- trial disputation. What is more serious is that the figures prove that the period of time these young people are Sir Charles Court: You cannot compare those spending out of work is increasing and the social factors. They are not like with like. rwednesday, 17th August, 1977.1 601

Mr BRYCE: They are man-days lost because I regret very much the member for Gamcoyne of people being out of work and because of is not here because I would like the opportunity industrial disputation. The facts speak for them- to draw to his attention the fact that I intend to selves. quote very briefly from the speech made by the Sir Charles Court: If we got them jobs some of then Leader of the Opposition. I will not be your mates would not let them work, quoting unfairly. Mr BRYCE: What concerns me greatly is the Mr Watt: For the sake of the Mansard record, very strong likelihood that in this State at Christ- perhaps the member for Ascot should have a mas 1977 there could well be 30 000 people out look around. of work. This is not my projection but the pro- Mr Pearce: He is hiding. jection of people qualified to make it, who suggest the evidence is standing here before us Mr BRYCE: He is sitting on the front bench; indicating that the unemployment problem will he has been promoted! The comments of the prow more serious. After Christmas 1977 we face Premier, made in this House on the 16th August, the prospect that during 197 the level of unem- 1972, should be read and studied by every mem- ployment in this State will be approaching 40 000. ber of both the Liberal Party and the National Mr Grayden: Rubbish! Country Party. It should be compulsory reading Mr BRYCE: This 'is the question that will for them all because in that speech is contained throw this Government from office. The moment every law that any responsible political leader the unemployment figure approaches 30000 to should not break. On that occasion the present 40 000 it will be too late in the life of any Premier-t4hen the Leader of the Oppoition- stood up and made some of the most exaggerated three-year Parliament, for this Government or any other Government, to recover its lost graces. and some of the most priceless comments-now enshrined in history-about unemployment and The SPEAKER: I intend to leave the Chair for his ability to solve the problem. the tea suspension. Before doing so I would like I draw to the attention of members the fact to indicate that I have invited the visiting dele- that these pearls of wisdom from the Premier gation from the Legislative Assembly of the Par- appear between pages 2577 and 2588 of Hansard, liament of Sabah to sit on the floor of the Rouse of the 16th August, 1972. for a brief period this evening. Mr Skidnmore: A whole 11 pages? Sifting suspended from 6.15 to 7.30 p.m. Mr BRYCE: The pearls of wisdom appear Mr BRYCE: No member of the Western Aus- all the way through those pages, tralian Parliament is better known than the Premier as the apostle of the use of unemploy- The Premier--the then Leader of the Oppo- ment figures as a gauge of the performance by sition-led with his chin by saying that in his a State Government. It is not without a sense opinion it was the responsibility of a Government of history that I draw to the attention of mem- to provide opportunities of employment for the bers in this Chamber that tonight-actually, last work force. He said the Government was drafted evening and today--constitute the fifth anni- to do that job when it was elected. He said we versary of the Premier's famous speech to the must create employment opportunities for young Legislative Assembly on the 16th August, 1972. people-and I emphasise, 'Young people'- On that occasion the Premier-then the Leader yet in the four-year period of this Court of the Opposition-moved a no confidence motion Government there is now a total of 10 000 wherein he deplored the state of the economy and young people out of work. The Premier said berated the Tonkin Labor Government for its on that occasion that if the then Opposition were performance with regard to unemployment and given the opportunity to perform it would solve the economy generally at that time. the problem. I am pleased to be able to draw to the atten- The Premier has had more than three years tion of members that the level of unemployment during which to perform and, as I said at the outset of my remarks in Western Australia at that time was 2.8 per this evening, he has per- cent. There were 12 544 people out of work in formed badly because unemployment has more this State and the present Premier was nearly than trebled. The Premier went on to say- beside himself with concern for the state of the We would love to have the responsibility economy to the point that he moved a motion of to show what can be done by a Government no confidence in the Tonkin Government. with the right philosophy. 602 602[ASSEMBLY]

Perhaps he meant the philosophy of the "right". Sir Charles Court was then complaining about The Premier continued- 2.8 per cent unemployment, and he went on to I would be prepared to stake my reputa- say- tion on success. All the Government has mentioned is The member for Warren interjected and asked, Government handouts and more money from "How long would it take you to do it?" The the Commonwealth. All the Government can Leader of the Opposition of the day then stated- think of is writing to the Commonwealth. Within six months of getting back into I am obliged to draw the attention of members office- to the fact that in this Parliament last evening I asked the Minister for Labour and Sir Charles Court: And I would have in August, Industry to elaborate and provide us with the 1972, in a day of good national economy and details of the plans of his Government to solve with a sympathetic Federal Government. unemployment. The Minister provided a one-sen- Mr BRYCE: The Premier stated further- tence reply, the total substance of which was that At least we would restore the confidence this present Government was in the process of and get the people spending money and writing to the Commonwealth to ask for money expanding industries. Bly doing this we would for a retaining programme to provide more work create full employment. for Western Australians. The member for Kalgoorlie (Mr T. D. Evans) Mr Tonkin: Writing a letter! interjected with the rather interesting rhetorical Mr BRYCE: Before the conclusion of this question, "Why can't your Federal counterparts debate other members from this side of the take your advice?" House will have an opportunity to remind the And here is the crunch: the Premier replied- Premier of some other ricarls of wisdom. The This is a State responsibility. last pearl of wisdom to which I will refer appears There is nothing equivocal about that statement;, at page 2583 of Mansard and reads- he was laying it on the line that the responsibility I,can assure the Premier that given leader- to provide employment and career opportunities ship from the top there are men within the was that of the State Government. At least. Public Service and industry who can go out that was his view when he was Leader of the and take the necessary action to get the Opposition, hurling abuse at the Tonkin Govern- people back to work again. ment of the day. He was referring to the Premier of the day, Mr There are other pearls of wisdom which I J. T. Tonkin. believe the newer members of the Government The Premier is now in his fourth year at the should have an opportunity to savour. At page head of his Government. He has had an 2578 of Mansard, during the same debate, the opportunity to pirovide the strong leadership from Premier said- the top. The simple fact is that under a succession Sir Charles Court: We have the best economy in of Liberal Governments the whole of our Australia. community has learnt to expect and accept that we should not go beyond a certain per- Mr BRYCE: The Premier has had the centage of unemployment before it becomes opportunity to provide inspiration to those leaders. a critical factor in the life of the community. Sir Charles Court: And we have the best The point beyond which we should not go, in the. economy in Australia. mind of the Premier when he made that statement, Mr BRYCE: We have the worst unemployment was a 2.8 per cent level of unemployment. I since the depression. During the period of office of repeat: Today, after more than three years with the present Government somewhere between the Premier at the helm of the affairs of this 20 000 and 30 000 Western Australians have been State our level of unemployment is 5 per cent. thrown out of work. The next pearl of wisdom appears at page 2579 Sir Charles Court: We have the best economy of Hansard, and the Premier stated- in the whole of Australia. I want to make this allegation right here Several members interjected. and now: The Government has not produced The SPEAKER: Order! a single tangible proposal to do anything about finding a solution to the unemployment Mr BRYCE: I am tellin g the Premier what other situation. people are saying about the economy. [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.])0 603

The SPEAKER: Order! I would ask those For a whole range of reasons which I no members who are indulging in cross-Chamber longer have the time to elaborate on I intend to interjections to cease and allow the member for move an amendment to the Address-in-Reply, Ascot to make his speech. I remind the member Government members: Surprise, surprise! for Ascot that he has five minutes remaining to him. Sir Charles Court: Why did not you do it last night? Mr BRYCE: Is it five minutes, or 10 minutes? The SPEAKER: You commenced your speech Amendment to Motion at 5.45 p.m. Mr BRYCE: I move an amendment- Extension of Time Mr B. r. BURKE: I move- That the following words be added to That the honourable member's time be the motion- extended. However, we regret to advise Your Motion put and negatived. Excellency that- Debate Resumled (1) During the period of the Court Government's administration Mr BRYCE: All that I can conclude is that unemployment in Western Aus- the Government is running for cover. It is tralia has more than trebled frightened; it has something to hide, and it is from 7 527 in 1974 to 26 588 afraid that I will lay the details before the House. as at July, 1977; despite the I can assure members of the Government that Government's undertakings to there will be many speakers from this side of - solve unemployment in the House tonight and they will provide the in- Western Australia, formation which this Government is denying me the opportunity to present. - provide job security for all, There are a number of aspects of our current - create an extra 100 000 employment situation which are of great con- jobs. cern. The first, which I have already outlined, (2) The Legislative Assembly is is the extent of unemployment. The second issue alarmed that the Court Gov- is also of great concern, and it is the increasing erment's unswerving sup- duration of unemployment. A significant number port for the Fraser Govern- of Western Australians have now been out of ment's national economic work for increasingly long periods of time, so strategy has produced the much so that the Department of Labour and In- worst level of unemployment dustry does not even record the number of the in Western Australia since the workrforce out of work for a period of 12 months great depression of the 1930's. or more. Furthermore, this House Mr fGrayden: I will provide a complete solu- (a) recognizes the unem- tion to the whole problem shortly. ployment of 26588 Mr BRYCE:. The statistics are not even avail- members of the States able to indicate that this Government has a workforce to be the genuine concern for the unemployed, otherwise most urgent, social and the Government would have kept statistics in economic problem fac- respect of the severity and the extent of this ing Western Australia, problem. and calls for immediate Finally, the aspect which is really of most implementation of ap- concern is the question of our unemployed youth. propriate policies to If this State Government cannot provide career solve the unemploy- and job opportunities for the young people of ment; Western Australia, what right does it have to (b) calls for an end to the expect these disillusioned, frustrated, and alienated policies of discrimina- young people to abide by the laws which Par- tion and discouragement liament itself has passed? The frustration aimed against the un- is causing so many of these young people to employed, particularly have second thoughts. the young unemployed; 604 604ASSEMBLY]

(c) rejects policies and at- where the Premier had a surplus of something titudes designed to build like $3 million which could have been used to unemployment at high alleviate unemployment. When we say "alleviate", levels, permanently into we do not mean paying out money to people for the economy. doing nothing or doing useless things. There are enough schools and roads which need to be built; I commnend the amendment to the House, and there are enough works of social importance I urge -every member who is genuinely concerned which could have been done had this Government for the welfare of his fellow Western Australians been keen to see to it that the unemployment who are unemployed, to support the amendment. rate dropped. MR TONKIN (Morley) [7.45 p.m.]: I have In South Australia very strong programmes pleasure in seconding the amendment and I indi- have been adopted to reduce the incidence of cate we are very concerned that unemployment unemployment, but the Government of this State in Western Australia is higher than it has ever been has done nothing about it. We remember how, for over 40 years; and it is becoming worse day when .the Premier was in Opposition, night after by day. This is a matter of great concern. night he frothed at the mouth with his false promises. He said, "I will stake my reputation on Instead of accepting the blame, the Gvernment being able to cure unemployment." We ask, "What which claimed it was a State responsibility has reputation did he have? Reputation for what?" viciously attacked those who are defeccless. It "Give us six months", the Premier said, "and we has attacked those who are out of work-the will solve unemployment." Since then we have unemployed persons it would help if it were a had over three years of deception and broken Government of compassion-by calling them promises. "dole bludgers". This is the mark of the Liberal Party's cowardice, and to show how untrue that At the time the Tonkin Government was in epithet of "dole bludger" is, it is vital to note office unemployment was becoming worse in the number of unemployed is 20 times the every OECD country; in other words, every number of jobs available. country with an economy comparable to that of Australia. The world was in the grip of a world- In addition, Liberal Party Governments have wide recession. But since the Premier gained the shown contempt for the law by not paying unem- power for which he craved the situation has ployment benefits to those who are legally altered. Unemployment has been decreasing in entitled to them; in other words, to those who every OECD country except Australia. The have just left school-youngsters who are even reason it has not decreased in Australia is that more defenceless than the unemployed. the Government which sits in Canberra and the We are back to the Liberal Government of man who is Prime Minister-the man who had Menzies, who before the 1949 election stated quite the Premier of this State as one of his chief categorically that he believed in a pool of unem- backers before he assassinated Snedden-believe ployed because it would help to discipline the in a policy of contracting the employment market. work force. That was said at Hobart and a great They believe in unemployment as a tool for manag- furore went up around the country. I believe ing the economy. that attitude has never been absent from the Mr Laurance: Rubbish! inner councils of the Liberal Party, although that kind of policy has not been publicly pursued Mr TONKIN: Every OECD country except because the people of Australia would not accept Australia is moving the other way. This Gov- reduction of em- it. ernment is committed to the ployment and it has been very succesful, be- I was quite surprised to be spoken to by a cause that is its role. The economic recovery disgusted e-member of the Liberal Party who said after the depression which began in thc USA to me that what really upset him was the attitude and spread to Europe and Japan did not reach of people in the branch of which he was a Australia because of the conservative Govern- member towards employees. liei said to me, ment. In the period March, 1976, to March, 'They think employees are thick. They really 1977, unemployment fell in the United States believe unemployment is the No. I tool for from 8.1 to 7.9 per cent; in New Zealand from managing the economy." I repeat that expression: 5.2 to 4.6 per cent; in West Germany from "the No. I tool". 5.2 to 4.8 per cent; and in Japan from 2.4 to We therefore believe the Liberal Party has 2.2 per cent. Australia alone of' all the OECD never lost this attitude towards unemployment, countries had increased unemployment during and it has been seen very clearly in this State that period from 4.6 to 5.4 per cent. [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.1]0 605

Because of the Government's refusal to help the other night, a minority of employers are in spend Australia out of this depression it fact intent on industrial disputation for their own appears we are in the pre-Keynesian era. ends, just as a minority of trade unionists are We remember that in the l930s a brilliant Aus- intent on industrial disputation for their own Itralian Government Treasurer by the name of ends. Theodore came up with the idea of spending Sir Charles Court: We have the best employ- to get out of depression. In fact, he anticipated ment record in Australia. the theories of Keynes. The conservatives Mr TONKIN: Under this Government we have smeared him; he was accused of being a criminal. the worst unemployment in this State for 40 years. There was no justification for the smear. People The Premier cannot get away from that. He like Robert Gordon Menzies were at the base of the smear of Theodore, which destroyed talked about the negatives when he was in Theodore publicly, and the same Menzies put Opposition. He said, "Give us six months and Theodore's theories into practice from 1949 on. we will solve unemployment." He knew he would wards. When there was a recession in 1961 he not have power in six months. That is typical of used the very same principles of the man Theo- his forked tongue. He said, "Give us power and dore whom the conservatives in Australia had we will do the job", but he knew he would not destroyed by a filthy smear campaign which had get power in August, 1972. no justification in fact, Judicial inquiries were Sir Charles Court: We hoped to. made at the time and it was found tile accusa- Mr TONKIN: The fact remains the Premier tions had no substantiation at all. said he would cure unemployment in six months Unemployment in Western Australia alone i s and he has not cured it in over three years, costing at least $200 million a year. It has been He blames the Trades and Labor Council for his estimated by the OECD that a man or woman own ineptitude. He blames those employers who going from unemployment to employment will have conciliated with their employees,-people like generate over 80 per cent of his earnings as Cliffs Robe River-and says they are doing a Government revenue. So Governments do not deal with the trade unions. He has blamed the stand a great loss if they use their funds to try Industrial Commission for giving wage and to assuage unemployment. salary justice. He has tried to browbeat the We have seen the use of a series of deceptive commission. He has tried to blame the employees strategies by the Government in Canberra and and the unions. He has tried to hoodwink the the Government of this State to confuse the people. For that reason the Premier stands con- figures and therefore to confuse the people. The demned by his charade-of half-truths. Western Australian Government has stopped at Just as Adolf Hitler had the Jews to berate nothing in its duplicity. I am reminded of the and blame, our Premier has the trade unions to blame. couplet of Blake- It is very convenient to get up in this place under A truth that is told with bad intent privilege and attack trade unionists who cannot Beats all the lies you can-invent. answer him back because they are not in this The Government Promised to solve unemploy- place. At times we have said, "Name them-_ ment. Now the Premier-this man with the tell us whom you are talking about." We believe forked tongue--does not want to talk about it is cowardly to stand in this place and speak unemployment. He stood in this House on open- about nameless people and smear all trade union- ing night and said, "If the Opposition wants to ists, and all employees and their organisations, talk about negatives, we don't. We want to talk under parliamentary privilege. about positives. We will talk about employment." Mr Grayden: That is completely untrue. But it was unemployment he promised to cure, Mr TONKIN: and when he got the power he craved he sud- This situation should not be denly was not able to cure it. ils election tolerated and would not be tolerated by a fair promises have fluttered to the ground like- person. withered leaves, resulting in the wrecking of So a chronic malaise has descended upon this human lives and opportunities. State. In these months which are usually note- In typical fashion the Premier has refused to worthy for an improvement in the employment accept the blame for his Government's misman- situation we have not seen the slightest improve- agement of the employment situation. He has ment because we have in Canberra and in this State, Governments blamed everyone except himself. IHe has blamed which are dedicated to a the militant left-wins trade unions, but never contracting of the employment situation. the militant right-wing employers. As I showed Sir Charles Court: Don't talk rot! 606 606[ASSEMB LY]

Mr TONKIN: The Premier sat on a surplus Sir Charles Court; Of course we had a sur- of $3 million- plus, and we created a lot of employment. Sir Charles Court: We have the best employ- Mr TONKIN: We are saying there should not ment record in Australia. have been a surplus, and that in a period in Mr TONKIN: -and what did he do with which people were crying out for jobs it was that $3 million? He put it in a slush fund. He heartless of this Government not to create em- decided not to spend it- ployment. Point of Order Sir Charles Court: How did we generate our Sir CHIARLES COURT: Mr Speaker, I ask for works programme? It came substantially out of the withdrawal of those words. I thought we revenue, and we had the revenue because we are had had in the House previously this argument good managers. about the reference to a slush fund. I ask for Mr TONKIN: Good managers, with the worst the withdrawal of those words. unemployment ever! The SPEAKER: The Premier has asked for the Several members interjected. withdrawal of words to which he has taken The SPEAKER: Order! There awe far too many exception. The words which have been used are interj ections. The member for Morley is words which need not have been used. I think attempting to make a speech, and I would ask they contribute nothing to the debate and I ask members to refrain from cross-Chamber inter- the member for Morley to withdraw them. jections and to allow him to get on with the Mr TONKIN: Mr Speaker, are you asking me business. to withdraw them because they do not contribute Mr TONKIN: Thank you, to the debate or because they are unparliamentary? Mr Speaker. The whole point, of course, is that a Government The SPEAK ER: I am asking you to withdraw which says it has a surplus and says it is a good them because I believe they are unparliamentary. manager has the worst unemployment situation Mr TONKIN: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I for 40 years; and that is an indictment of a withdraw the remark. If in fact you were ruling Government that is heartless. No Government that my remark did not contribute to the debate, of which I would be proud to be a member I suppose we would be in a situation that we would be prepared to say it had the worst unem- would have to get you to approve everything ployment record in history. I do not believe that we say to ascertain whether it added to the is good management; it is bad management. A debate, and that would he a strange situation. Government with any compassion and feeling for Debate (on amendmnent to motion) Resumed human beings would say it regretted this situa- tion and that it did not want to have the worst Mr TONKIN: The point is that the Premier unemployment for 40 years. It would say it would had a surplus of $3 million which could have do everything in its power to try to prevent such been used to abate unemployment. We are not a situation occurring. However, the Premier, suggesting it should have been spent on worthless presiding over the worst unemployment for 40 jobs; there are many worth-while jobs in this years, thinks it is a mark of good management. State crying out to be done. There are many We reject that. We reject it because tradesmen who are unemployed, and" there are as far as many homeless people who need State Housing the Premier is concerned the balancing of the books is all-important; Commission residences; and the money could have human lives, human happi- ness, and human welfare been spent in that direction if this Government do not enter into the matter as far as he is concerned; he is an account- was really genuine about unemployment. ant, and to him figures and money mean every- Sir Charles Court: Are you saying it was not thing: That is not so with the Australian Labor spent to generate employment? You don't under- Party; we put people first. stand the Budget papers. One of the noticeable things that have occurred Mr TONKIN: We know the Premier is arm of late is that the duration of the unemployment in arm with Malcolm Fraser, who says unem- of individual people is increasing. This is a ployment is a tool to be used for the economy. matter of great concern. It is bad enough when Sir Charles Court: We created a lot of employ- a person finds himself out of work for a month ment during the year just ended. and then obtains a job; but when we find people Mr TONKIN: Is the Premier saying there was are out of work for increasing periods of time, no surplus? it is a matter of the greatest concern. [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.]10 607

We note the latest figures show that workers erased easily. Therefore we are storing up prob- who are out of work for six months or more- lems in this society for decades to come, and these and that is a big slice out of the lives of young problems will haunt us in the years ahead. people; it seems a lot longer to them than it does The Government has stood over and intimidated to older persons-account for one-fifth of the the kids who* have left school. They have been total jobless. denied jobs as a result of the policy of the What is the policy of the Liberal Party in liberal Party. The Premier can smirk if he likes; respect of youth? We say its policy is to act it is a source of amusement for the Premier to illegally by refusing to pay schooll leavers who think of these youngsters. I know some young cannot find jobs. We saw recently the case of people who have been out of work for a year. Karen Green who was forced to go to the High They read the newspapers and phone up for jobs. Court to obtain justice and make the Govern- They ride their bikes to look for work, and ment obey the law. That is an incredible state of they try every opportunity. affairs to find in a country such as ours: that a As though that is not bad enough, the school citizen has to spend her own money to see that leavers are denied payment that is theirs under the Government obeys the law, Of course, the the law,' and that is a situation the Opposition High Court acted quite properly and decided the rejects. The Liberal Government preaches and Government had been acting quite illegally. prates about law and order, yet it will not obey Mr Carr: But they still didn't pay. the law. Mr TONKIN: That is a v'ery good interjection: This situation is similar to that which occurred the Government still did not pay. This money when the Premier was a member of the Brand is still owed by the Government. How would Government in 1962; the Government had to be members opposite feel to be part of a Govern- taken to court by the Labor Opposition to make it ment that is callous about defenceless young obey the law with respect to the electoral dis- people, the school leavers of 15, 16, and 17 years tribution. A declaratory judgment had to be issued of age, who do not know much about the law? from the Supreme Court; and although a judg- They know no more about the law than T or ment was issued which said the Liberal Govern- members opposite knew about it at that age, ment was wrong, that Government would do and yet the Government with all its power and nothing. Members of the Opposition had actually legal brains and resources says, "We will not pay to go down and see the Lieutenant-Governor (Sir you" and picks on these hapless people because John Dwyer)-the Governor being temporarily they are defenceless. At this stage the usual overseas-to ask him to issue a proclamation, remark of the Premier is, "Bring out your hand- saying that the then Deputy Premier was in breach kerchief." However, we on this side of the House of the Coronation Oath. are very sincere about our concern for the young Sir Charles Court: What is this you are talking people- about? Sir Charles Court; YOU could have fooled me. Mir TONKIN: That proclamation was issued a Mir TONKIN: -who are defenceless and we few days later. reject entirely the youth policy of the Liberal Party. Sir Charles Court: What are you talking about? Unemployment gives to young people a feeling Mr TONKIN: We are talking about the refusal of futility and hopelessness. They have com- of the then Deputy Premier to issue a pr-oclama- mitted no crime; they have not created the society tion to redistribute the electoral boundaries. in which they find themselves; and their humilia- tion and rejection, instead of being of concern to Sir Charles Court: That had nothing to do with me; I just happened to be the Acting Premier a compassionate Government, is made worse by a vindictive and cruel Government which denies to months after it started. I was never the Deputy them that to which they have a right under the Premier. law. Mr TONKIN; How was it nothing to do with The Government is sowing seeds of distrust and the present Premier? He was a member of that division in this community, because people whose Government: and I am reminding the members first experience at 16 or 17 years of age is in this House that he was a member of that unemployment and a feeling they are not wanted Government which decided to ignore a declaratory by society are left with a mark; these marks go judgment issued by the Supreme Court of West- deep into the soul and are not likely to be ern Australia; and it was not until members of 608 608ASSEMBLY] the Opposition went to see the Lieutenant-Gov- economics and which is a Government of comn- ernor that a proclamation was issued. Yet the passion and humanity will see to it that such present Government talks of law and order. retraining does occur. Sir Charles Court: How wrong you are. The Australian Labor Party believes we should Mr Jamnieson: You cost us a lot of money with at least follow the OECD recommendation, which your stupidity. is that I per cent of the work force should be in retraining at any given time. That is not Mr TONKIN: The Liberal Party has attempted beyond the capacity of our economy, which is to ringbark our society. It is trying to cut off still one of the leading economies in the world the sap, the lifeblood, of the community which is when judged on the GDP per head. needed in this nation for the years ahead, and we regard that as very serious indeed. Sir Charles Court: We would not have thought The commission of inquiry into poverty and that from what you have been saying tonight. surveys by the Brotherhood of St. Lawrence have We have been trying to tell you the strength found that unemployment is the first step in a of the economy. cycle of personal and family breakdown. This is Mr TONKIN: All we are saying is that something that should concern us greatly, for we are worse off in unemployment terms reasons which I shall outline. than we were 40 years ago and we are Firstly, it is our youth who are being affected- worse off than the other OECD countries, whose disproportionately, considering their numbers in unemployment position has been improved whilst the work force. Secondly, the duration of unem- the position in Australia has been going against ployment is increasing. Thirdly, this is happen- that trend. So although it is true to say that we ing to people at a very impressionable stage in still have one of the strongest economies in the their lives, and the social effects have been world, through mismanagement and the waste of revealed in research many many times. For those human resources we are not getting all the benefit reasons we are strongly of the opinion that what we can from our economy, and that is important. we need in this State and in this country are The Premier said we are not comparing like Governments of compassion which will start to with like; however, it is important to remember think in human terms rather than in accounting that the number of man-days lost in a year as terms. a result of unemployment is 25 times greater Some of the unemployment is structural,, and than the number of man-days lost due to indus- for that we need retraining. It is unlikely that trial action. That does not mean to say that we a boy or girl who is trained in a particular occu- welcome industrial action that loses man-days; pation at 17 years of age in 1977 will find that nor do we welcome unemployment, and to get training adequate or that occupation needed to things into perspective we have to realise the the same degree in 30 years' time. So there is tremendous losses to the nation of our manpower a need for the community to retrain people who and womanpower caused by unemployment are through no fault of their own are put out of far greater than those losses due to industrial dis- work due to structural unemployment. putation, which the Premier likes to highlight for Sweden, which has the best record in the world politicial reasons. in respect of retraining, also has a very low We have taken the Premier at his word and incidence of unemployment. Also it has a very perhaps those words cut him to the quick. We high level of productivity and a high level of have said, "All right, you have said this is the gross domestic product per head of population. responsibility of the State" and we are saying That is no accident; it is because Sweden is to him now, "If that is your creed, and if you enlightened and the authorities realise that not went to the people in 1974 saying it is a State only is it a question of individual justice that a responsibility, then you have a poor conception person should be retrained if through rno fault of of responsibility because you now have the power his own he is made redundant but they also and the capacity to say that because you believe realise it is good economic sense. it is a State responsibility the Government will Australia needs the talents of all the unem- measure up to the task." ployed men and women in Australia. We need The Premier also said, "I will stake my reputa- their energy, we need their intellect and tion upon it." We ask the Premier what reputa- we need their talents in every way. These tion he is talking about. If he is proud of his talents have to be developed through proper reputation and if the Government is proud of its training, and a Government which understands reputation, those reputations must be in tatters [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.160 .609 because they are presidint aver the worst unem- Mr GRAYDEN: I want to thank the Deputy ployment record for 40 years in this State. Not Leader of the Opposition also. He moved the only is that so, but also the Government has not amendment so he need not feel left out. done anything like all in its power to try to abate Mr Bryce: I am waiting in keen anticipation. the situation. If it had taken a leaf out of the book of the Dunstan Government in South Aus- Mr GRAYDEN: I have just expressed my tralia, which has developed many State initiatives, gratitude to him. Recently the Department of not depending on the Commonwealth for solving Labour and Industry completed a review of the this problem, we would say, "You have done your employment situation in Western Australia and best although it is not good enough." But this what it came up with, of course, was startling. It Government has not done its best. It has been will be a revelation to the members of the Oppo- sitting on a surplus which' could have been used sition. I wish to go over some of the points for this purpose. which became obvious as a consequence of this review. I should like to read them slowly to We believe that the formulating of a Budget the members of the Opposition so that. they might is not just an accounting problem or a so-called sink in. If I get the opportunity and with your economic problem. It is a human problem; and indulgence, Mr Speaker, I should like to repeat we are concerned at the large numbers of people them because they are of such tremendous sig- in Western Australia who are out of work through nificance as far as unemployment in this State no fault of their own. We reject the term "dole is concerned. bludger". We do not think the Government should prevent such people from obtaining what Mr Bryce: But not significant enough to tell they are legally entitled to-tAheir unemployment us in answers at question time when we ask for benefits. These people are staying out of work the information, for longer so that the scars are becoming deeper Mr GRAYDEN: This has just been completed. and deeper. These people disproportionately are The Opposition should listen to this although its young people; out of all proportion to their num- members might have to wait a while for the best ber in the work force young people are being parts. The review has revealed that the growth affected. in employment in Western Australia in the past There will be deep sociological scars in the three years was by far the best growth record community if this situation continues. For this of any State or Australian Territory. reason we believe it is our duty to tell the people Government members: Read it again! that this Government has not performed by its Mr GRAYDEN: I repeat: The growth in em- own standards-not by ours. It said that this is ployment in Western Australia in the past three a State responsibility. It has not measured up years was by far the best growth record of any to the task. The Premier has said, "I will stake State or Australian Territory. my reputation upon it", and as a consequence of his own words thle Premier's reputation is in tatters. Point of Order Mr BRYCE: As a point of order, I find that MR GRAYDEN (South Perth-Minister for what the Minister for Labour and Industry is Labour and Industry) [8.17 p.m.]: During the saving to be completely astonishing and I should last few weeks a number of members bave cam- like to ask that he lay this paper on the table plimented you, Mr Speaker, on your elevation at the end of his remarks. to the very high office which you hold. You Mr GRAYDEN: I welcome that, and I shall go preside over a House which is the quintessence of much further than that. democracy and the compliments that have been The SPEAKER: Might I just say that there was paid to you have been thoroughly deserved. I no point of order. am not in a position. tonight to pay similar com- pliments to the Opposition, but I am going to thank them profusely for moving this amend- Debate (on amendment to motion) Resumed ment to the Address-in-Reply and giving the Gov- Mr GRAYDEN: Western Australia's record ernment this wonderful opportunity to present would have been even better had it not been for the Opposition with some facts in respect of the an increasing population and labour force which unemployment situation in Western Australia. had created a temporary gap between those seek- ing work and the number of jobs available. Mr Bryce: Do not play us the same old re- cord about interstate comparisons. Mr Jamieson: That is an astounding statement.

(20) 610 610[ASSEMBLY]

Mr GRAYDEN: I think everybody realises the Mr GRAYDEN: It is so ludicrous that it is importance of that. All major economic indi- hardly worth commenting on. It might also be cators verify the state of the Western Australian of interest to the Opposition that the only other economy in relation to the rest of Australia in State showing anything like a significant increase providing employment. Western Australia has in total employment during the period of which the second lowest unemployment level of any I have been speaking was Tasmania which State. recorded an increase of 2.91 per cent. I repeat: Several members interjected. Compared with all the other States we have the greatest increase in employment. The figure for The SPEAKER: Order! There are far too Western Australia is 5.61 per cent and the only many interjections, I heard at one stage at least other State showing anything of consequence is four voices whilst the Minister for Labour and Tasmania which shows an increase of 2.91 per Industry was trying to read that document which apparently is material to the debate. I ask mem- cent. What sort of figures are these? bers of the House to enable him to get on with Mr Skidmore interjected, the business of reading. Mr GRAYDEN: If the member for Swan wishes to dispute the figures, I say to him that Mr GRAYDEN: I repeat: We have the second lowest unemployment level of any State, and South Australia has shown an increase of 1.87 this is despite a huge percentage increase in our per cent compared with 5.61 per cent in this State. We in this State hear a great deal about labour force from November, 1974, to May of this year. Just listen to these figures: In the Queensland; it is a State rich in resources but its figures in this respect during the period of which period from November, 1974, to May of this year I am talking were virtually stable. New South Western Australia's labour force increased by 10.3 Wales, Victoria, and the Northern Territory all per cent compared with 6.2 per cent in the recorded significant falls in increases in total Northern Territory, which should not even be employment compared with this State. I taken into consideration, 5.1 per cent in Queens- land, 4.5 per cent in Victoria, and much smaller repeat: Total employment in Western Australia year in- increases in other States. between May, 1974, and May of this creased at a far healthier rate than in any other Mr B. T. Burke; What time period was this? State. The figure was 5.61 per cent and the only Mr GRAYDEN: The time period is from other State showing anything like a significant November, 1974, to May of this year. increase in total employment was Tasmania which Mr Bryce: Is the Minister going to tell us who had an increase of 2.91 per cent. South Australia compiled this report? showed an increase of 1.87 per cent, Queensland remained virtually stable, and New South Wales, Mr GRAYDEN: The figures are available to Victoria, and the Northern Territory all reported anyone and I shall obtain all the confirmation of significant falls in total employment. it which the Opposition wants so that it cannot One of the most remarkable observations is dispute the figures. Opposition members should that whilst Western Australia had recorded a listen to these significant figures, which I shall 10.3 per cent increase in the labour force in that repeat: Between November, 1974, and May of three-year period, the Government has been able this year the labour force in this State has to achieve an improvement in the State's com- increased by 10.3 per cent compared with 6.2 per ponent of national employment. During the life cent in the Northern Territory, 5.1 per cent in of the Tonkin Government the percentage of the Queensland, 4.5 per cent in Victoria, and much labour force unemployed in Western Australia smaller increases in other States. was consistently above the national average. Mr Jamieson: What has that to do with the During the term of the present State Government, people who are out of work? - however, the percentage of the labour force Mr GRAYDEN: It has plenty to do with it. unemployed in Western Australia has been con- If the Leader of the Opposition does not realise sistently below the national average. Yet the the significance of it, he will shortly. Other Opposition has the temerity to move a censure statistics show that total employment in Western motion on the question of unemployment. All Australia has increased at a far healthier rate these figures have been achieved, of course, not- than in all other States, the figure being 5.61 withstanding that in Western Australia we have per cent between May, 1974, and May of this 2 500 Aborigines who are virtually not suitable year. Yet in this House tonight we have a for employment but are registered as unemployed. censure motion from the Opposition. Mr Skidmore: Hlow many? Mr Laurance: How laughable! Mr GRAYDEN: The figure was 2 500. [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.1 6111

Mr Skidmore: What is your source? Come on, The kteps we have taken to create jobs have give us your source. You are impossible. You may had their impact and this is evident from the as well say 3 500. figures. These included boosting the number of Mr GRAYDEN: These come from the Com- apprentices for the last three years. The figure monwealth Employment Service. was 10000 but as a result of this Government's activities we have Mr Skidmore: Is it the Commonwealth Bureau boosted the total to 13 000. of Statistics? Mr Skidmore: It should be more than that. Mr GRAYDEN: In addition we have 2500 Mr GRAYDEN: The figure is 13 000, notwith- individuals from the Eastern States and New standing that elsewhere in the Commonwealth the Zealand swelling the ranks of the unemployed. figure is declining. So we have virtually 5 000 people added to our Mr Bryce: Unemployment has increased drama- figures. Notwithstanding this, we have the second lowest unemployment of any State in the Com- tically from the previous figure to over 26 000. monwealth. What an incredible record that is? Mr GRAYDEN; Notwithstanding the economic Yet the Opposition has the temerity even to talk situation which prevails we increased the appren- in terms of a censure motion with regard to ticeships by 3 000. The Opposition will recall the unemployment. spirited promotion by the Government of the Com- If the Opposition moves a censure motion monwealth NEAT scheme. It will be recalled that against this Government it should send telexes to we canvassed virtually every major employer in Mr Wran in New South Wales and Mr Dunstan this State and we received about 2 000 offers of in South Australia expressing its disapproval of jobs by that simple undertaking. the shocking record of those two Labor Govern- Mr Skidmore: That didn't help the unemployed ments. What the Opposition should be doing is electricians very much. abjectly apologising to this Government for its incredible performance in respect of this particu- Mr GRAYDEN: We have done things, such lar question. 'Every time I have been to the Eastern States everyone to whom I have talked boosting the number of registered apprentices has regarded Western Australia as the best admin- in the last three years, spirited promotion of istered State in the Commonwealth. Commonwealth schemes such as NEAT, Government members: Hear, hear! actively taking part in the "job squad" scheme, the introduction of living away from Mr GRAYDEN: These figures make that absol- home allowances for apprentices, and the utely evident. introduction of re-training programmes and Mr Bryce: When are we going to get to the general courses such as plaster board fixing, good stuff?7 mechanical fitting, hand laminating and farm Mr GRAYDEN: The review which has just training..unemployment throughout in- been completed shows Western Australia as hav- industrialised countries was high. ing a significantly higher proportion of the popu- Western Australia, in particular, was a State lation employed than any other State in Aus- which felt the impact of the world economy tralia. The review states- because of the high volume of its export This gives some indication of the depth and trade. capacity of our economy in this State to Despite this "outside" impact the State had absorb more people of every level into the maintained employment at levels better than work force. most OECD nations. Mr Skidmore: There are lots more vacancies Mr Tonkin: Was this true in 1971? now than there were previously. Mr GRAYDEN: Western Australia's share of Mr GRAYDEN: The member for Swan can speak all night and I understand the Opposition Australia's exports has risen from 25.23 per cent has 10 speakers. They can speak till tomorrow to 26.02 per cent. To continue_ morning, but they cannot deny these figures. They Western Australia's share of Australia's cannot deny the influx of 2 500 people from the exports had risen from 20.52% three years Eastern States and the Aborigines who are unem- ago to 22.06%-an indication that the State ployable. Notwithstanding this, we have the most had not only held its own during the eco- incredible figures in comparison with the other nomic recession but had actually increased States. its contribution to the national economy. 612 612ASSEMBLY]

It would- Mr Bryce: Where are you going to find 26000 continue to outstrip those of other States, jobs? with Western Australia experiencing a Mr GRAYDEN: Emerging from the startling further decline in its percentage unemployed figures from the review is the solution to the unem- compared to the national average. ployment problem. It is a clear solution. These are new figures not previously revealed Mr B. 71' Burke: What review are you talking as the review has only just been completed. They about? are startling figures. Mr GRAYDEN: The review by the Department Mr B. T. Burke: The only startling thing in this of Labour and Industry carried out at my Chamber is you. instigation. Mr GRAYDEN: These wonderful results have The SPEAKER: Order! been achieved notwithstanding the influx of people from the Eastern Stales and the high Mr GRAYDEN: Out of all this emerges a clear percentage of Aborigines we have who are solution to our problem. virtually unemployable and are registered as un- Mr B. T. Burke: Sack the Court Government. employed. There is a further factor and that is Mr GRAYDEN: It is SO Clear that no-one in Western Australia, only because of the jobs on the Opposition side could dispute it. It is which have been created by the Court Govern- that clear. ment, we have a far higher percentage of women in the work force. Mr Skidmore: I am all ears. Mr Bryce: We still have 26 500 people out Mr GRAYDEN: The jobs available must keep of work. up with the increase in the labour force. All we Mr GRAYDEN: The figures 1 have in respect have to do is create more jobs. No-one in of women are as follows- Western Australia has been displaced from a job. Our unemployment is created by the fact that we N.S.W. ...+3.9 have 15000-odd school leavers coming onto the Victoria .. .. ±7.8 labour market each year. We have also an OLD...... +1.6 influx of unemployed. people from the Eastern S.A. ..I +. * +5.3 States and New Zealand. That is our problem. Tasmania ..I ...-0.4 Notwithstanding the economic situation no-one in Western Australia has been displaced. The ACT-t4he heart of Government in Australia There is only one solution. is- The members of the Opposition can talk all night; week in week A.C.T...... -3.4 out; month in month out; year in year out; but But in Western Australia we have plus 10.3 pci all we have to do is create more jobs to cater cent. We must remember that we have more for the people entering the work force each year. than 28 000 Aborigines in the State of whom 2 500 are registered for unemployment, but many Mr Bryce: That is why we moved the amend- of whom are unemployable. ment. You have not created the jobs. We need 26 000 more. The SPEAKER: Order! Mr GRAYDEN: We have a rapidly increasing Mr GRAYDEN: Victoria would not have seven work force and we have to create new jobs. full-blood Aborigines. Sir Charles Court: You fellows don't want to Mr Tonkin: You won't let them register. listen. We have the best employment record in Mr ORAYDEN: How many do you think they Australia. have in Tasmania, Mr Speaker? We have 28 000, Mr Bryce: But the worst in the history of this 2 500 of whom are registered as unemployed and State. are virtually unemployable. Also 2 500 individuals Sir Charles Court: We have the best record have come to this State because they want to take in Australia. advantage of what the Court Government is doing. Mr Bryce: The State is coming to a grinding Mr Bryce: That is a scurrilous slur on all Aborigines. halt under the Court Government. Mr GRAYDEN: Some people also come from The SPEAKER: Order! New Zealand. We have this incredible situation Mr GRAYDEN: The first thing to do is to and the Opposition has the temerity to move a recognise the problem and the next thing is to no confidence motion in respect of it. devise a solution and then implement it. We [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.161 613 have now localised and identified the problem. 200 to 500 individuals in the construction stage, The problem is that we are not creating enough and the number to be employed when the plant jobs for the people coming into the work force is in operation has yet to he determined. This each year. Shortly I will ask for the co-operation will commence in 1977, in case the member for of members of the Opposition to help create those Swan is curious about that. jobs. We have heard from the member Mr Skidmore: Which one is that? for Ascot and the member for Morley that the Government is not doing much. They have Mr GRAYDEN: That is the Western Mining just not heard what the Government is doing. Corporation's Kalgoorlie smelter. Obviously they do not listen to answers given Mr Skidmore: It has not started yet. in the House. I refer to a question asked by Mr GRAYDEN: 1 am sorry, I misled members the member for Swan recently as follows- there; it will cost $30 million. In view of the statement made by him in Mr Jamieson: That is not unusual. the House during a debate (3rd August) and his advice to me to ask about projects Mr CIRAYD EN: I apologist as I read the that the Government had planned, I now wrong line. That project will employ 120 people ask him- in construction and it will commence this year. (I) What are the projects that the Gov- The next project is the Muja power station ernment has planned to commence? extension which will cost $200 million. (2) What are their costs? Mr H. D. Evans: It should not cost three- quarters of that. (3) How many workers are estimated to be employed on each job? Mr GRAYDEN: Where is the member for (4) When will the projects be commenced? Collie? Obviously he is so embarrassed he has left the Chamber. Strangely enough the reply seems to have escaped the member for Ascot and the member for Mr Bryce: On behalf of the member for Collie, Morley who were talking about what the Gov- let me make the point: your Government squan- ernment has done. dered $35 million. Let us have a look at the answer. It will Mr GRAYDEN: That is the sort of thing we indicate just one small aspect of what we are have heard from the Opposition in support of seeking to do. The first project refers to the amendment. The honourable member knows, the Agnew nickel mine and concentrator. as does the member for Collie, that the Gov- The estimated cost is $100 million *nd would ernment will go ahead with a $200 million employ 600 men in the construction stage and project. between 320 and 435 when it is in operation. Mr Jamieson: You squandered the taxpayers' The scheduled commencement is in 1977. money. Mr Skidmore: Has it commenced yet? Mr CRAYDEN: The new Law Courts are to Mr GRAYDEN: It will be commencing quite be erected at a cost of $20 million. This will shortly. If the member goes to the area he will be of tremendous consequence to the building in- see work taking place. dustry in Perth but it is a very small project in Mr Skidmore: That is all T wanted to know. comparison with the'Muja one. Here we have Mr GRAYDEN:. I know of some people who an individual who is conspicuously absent, and went down the incline shaft the other day and who will see the Government spend $200 million were horrified because they were up to their in his electorate. ankles in mud and there were trucks going Mr Bryce: The member for Collie will give backwards and forwards, and yet the member you some curry to go with your rice before for Swan professes to be concerned about un- the night is out! employment and does not know that work at this mine has commenced. Mr GRAYDEN: That is to commence in 1977. Mr Skidmore: I wanted to be sure that it had Mr T. I. Burke: You will have to hurry! started. Mr GRAYDEN: The H-amersley iron Pty. Ltd. Mr GRAYDEN: The estimated cost of the expansion will cost $375 million. One thousand project is $100 million. people will be employed on this construction and SLet us turn now to the Western Mining Cor- that is to commence in 1977. poration with its smelting expansion. That pro- Mr Skidmore: Has it started yet, Mr Minister? ject will cost $200 million. It will employ from Mr Taylor; This is 1977. 614 634ASSEMBLY]

Mr GRAYDEN: We are coming towards the most prevalent fish in that area, and no doubt end of August. the member for Collie has caught numerous red Mr Skidmore: You will get your come-up- fin perch. In these circumstances we can pance! understand why he now throws in these red herrings. Mr GRAYDEN: How many months do we have to go? All these things are to start in 1977. Mr T. H. Jones: You know your Government failed in not introducing a coal boring contract Mr Skidmore: You will have to get up early! for the Collie fields. Mr GRAYDEN: That is a $375 million ex- Mr GRAYDEN: While the member for Collie pansion project for Hamersicy Iron. There is to was out of the Chamber I told the House that be an expansion project at Cliffs (W.A.) Mining the Government will spend $200 million in his at a cost of $65 million. This will employ 500 electorate, and yet we have been subjected to the people at the construction stage and 290 when rubbish we have heard in respect of this amend- it is in operation. That project is to commence ment to the Address-in-Reply. in 1977-in the next few months. Then we come to the Wagerup, alumina refinery, Mr T. H. Jones: Let me tell you of the errors and this is to be built at a cost of $250 million. you made in the coalfields where you wasted $59 million. Mr B. T. Burke: I will give you $350 million, $450 million. Any advance? The SPEAKER: Order! Mr GRAYDEN: This project is to cost $250 Mr T. H. Jones: You don't want to talk about million, and it will employ I1000 in the con- that. struction stage. That is to commence in 1978- The SPEAKER: There are far too many inter- next year. jections. I ask the Minister for Labour and Mr Shalders: Good value in my electorate. Industry to ignore the interjections and address Mr GRAYDEN: Then we come to the Worsley his remarks to the Chair. alumina refinery to be built at an estimated cost Mr GRAYDEN: I am sorry that the member of $650 million. for Collie missed the statements. He happened Mr B. T. Burke: I will give you $700 million! to be out of the Chamber, with good reason. The Mr GRAYDEN: That will employ 1 600 people Worsley alumina refinery will be built at an estimated cost of $650 million. The incredible and it is estimated to commence in 1978; in a few months' time. We then come to the North- project on the North-West Shelf is to cost an West Shelf gas project. estimated $3000 million. I think members would have read the headlines in yesterday's Press; Mr B. T. Burke: Have you got the courage according to correspondents in Canberra, it was to say something to the member for Collie now expected that a decision would be made yesterday he has come back? on this matter. Mr GRAYDEN: He has been shamed into Mr Bryce: But it wasn't. coming back. What I said was not a slight on him. Mr GRAYDEN: The mind boggles at the number of ind ividuals who will be employed on Mr Skidmore: It was a slight on him. that project. Mr GRAYDEN: We are recording what this We then move on to the Goldsworthy, area "C" Government will spend in Collie. It is to spend project. This expansion is to cost $300 million. $200 million on the Muja power station extension. It will employ 2000 individuals in the construc- Mr T. HI. Jones: What about the fact that you lion stage and that will commence during 1978-79. deferred the project for 12 months? That has cost Mr Tonkin: Will you stop boggling and sit the State $59 million. down? Mr GRAYDEN: That is what is commonly Mr GRAYDEN: I have not totalled the figures called a red herring. because the mind boggles. Mr T. H. Jones: Now I an, here, tell me all Mr Tonkin: linboggle your mind? about it. Mr Bryce: Perhaps someone will lend him a Mr GRAYDEN: The member for Collie knows calculator. all about red herrings. At the turn of the Mr GRAYDEN: Quite apart from the employ- century, a huge number of red fin perch were ment the projects will create, there will be a liberated in the Collie River. it is probably the tremendous amount of consequential employment. [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.]11 615

In fact, in reply to a question asked by the Mr B. T. Burke: Into effect. member for Swan, I replied as follows- Mr GRAYDEN: -the Government plans into There is a consequential employment in effect. We ask the Opposition to recognise the the support facilities for construction in both problem and to help us to- Western Australian and the Eastern States, Mr B. T. Burke: Find a solution. and an increase in the services employment area in support of the production operations Mr T. J. Burke: Share the blame! and its direct workforces. Mr GRAYDEN: -create new jobs. In West- Mr Skidmnore: That is fairly plain common ern Australia we will not have an unemploy. sense. ment problem- Mr GRAYDEN: I totalled these job figures, and Mr B. T. Burke: If you are employed. they came to 9 270. Mr GRAYDEN: -if we have the support of Mr Skidmore: I got 10 320, Mr Minister. the TLC, the trade union movement, and the Labor Party. We have one of the richest States Mr T. H. Jones: What about Aiwest? in the world; rich in natural resources, We have Mr GRAYDEN: We all know that one skilled an imaginative Government. worker creates back-up jobs for at least four Mr Skidmore: Imaginative alL right! other individuals, and sometimes as many as five. So we can see we are on the threshold of- Mr GRtAYDEN: We have a Premier who can Mr B. T. Burke: Total collapse. attract capital if it can be attracted. All we want is the co-operation of the trade union Mr GRAYDEN: -a tremendous development movement, which we now have, and the Labor in Western Australia. Under the Premier's direc- Party in this State to join with the Government tion we have already had one era of this kind and the TLC to ensure that these projects get off when the great iron ore companies got under the ground so that we can create new jobs. All way, notwithstanding that at the time the Oppo- we want is- sition said that it was all pie in the sky and the Mr T. H. Jones: Time. projects would never come to fruition. Mr GRAYDEN: -to attract investors to West- Mr Coyne: Leave it in the ground. ern Australia.. With the co-operation of the Gov- Mr Tonkin: Unhoggle your mind! ernment, the TLC, and the Labor Party, we can Mr GRAYDEN: The member for Morley have an immediate return of investor confidence. spoke in terms of creating job opportunities for These projects will then get off the ground this young people. What does he think the basic year or next year. aim of the Government is, ever since it came Mr B. T. Burke: Hallelujah! to office? Mr GRAYDEN: Some of them might run Mr Tonkcin: To put more and more people into next year. out Of Work. The SPEAKER: The Minister has four minutes Mr GRAYDEN: What does he think our aim remaining to him. is? It is to put more and more people into Mr GRAYDEN: The important thing is that jobs. We have to acknowledge that nobody is the growth in jobs must keep up with the growth unemployed in Western Australia as a conse- in the labour force. In Western Australia we quence of being displaced from work. People are want to embark on a new course with the sup- unemployed as a consequence of the increase in port of the TLC and the Opposition. With that the work force, and because the jobs we are help we have proved conclusively from the figures creating are insufficient to absorb this increased I have given that we can overcome the unem- work force. The Government has gone out of ployment problem by creating new jobs. We need its way to create jobs, but we have not been an immediate return of investor cdinfidence, and receiving support from some sections of the immediately we have that, the sky is the limit. trade union movement. We have now entered into a peace pact with the trade union move- Mr Coyne: They are eating out of your hand. ment; the Government and the Trades and Labor Mr GRAYDEN: In these circumstances there Council are working together on the best of is no point in continuing. I have given these terms with the object of getting the projects off startling figures. The problem has been deline- the ground. We now appeal to the parliament- ated and we have a solution to it. Now it is ary section of the Labor Party to join with the up to the people of Western Australia to imple- Government and the TLC to put- ment the solution we have advanced. 616 616(ASSEMBLY]

The SPEAKER: Before I call on the member the growth in unemployment in this State is for Balcatta I would like to extend a welcome healthier than it is in any other State, I will to the delegation from the Legislative Assembly pause for a moment to allow the Minister to of Sabah under the leadership of the Hon. Mr explain to the Chamber how any growth in unem- Momen. ployment can be healthy. Mr Grayden: I did not say "unemployment"; MR B. T. BURKE (Balcatta) [9.00 p.m.]: I too I said "etniployment". would join with you, Mr Speaker, in welcoming the delegation from Sabah. In addition, I apolo- Mr B. T. BURKE; Has the Minister any explan- gise to them for the disgraceful performance they ation? Of course he has not; he is bereft of ideas. have just witnessed, and I add to the apologies He reads the death notices in the newspaper open of the Opposition the apologies of an unmis- in front of him and talks about caravans to takably uncomfortable Premier, who squirmed and Moscow. We would rather not talk to the Min- wriggled throughout the speech of the man who ister; he is quite unintelligible. is affected by the lunacy in the air. Wherever Then we have the ridiculous situation of this there is a full moon, whenever there is madness man claiming credit for the fact that he has cre- tinging the atmosphere we have the Minister for ated more jobs, although our unemployment is Labour and Industry standing in this place and still deplorable, floes the Minister want to take cavorting and frolicking in the most insane credit for that? In one instance, he tried to set manner, speaking about surveys, statistics and States against each other, by blaming our unem- figures, without attributing those to anything else ployment problem on people from other States and or to any other authority; in one breath offering New Zealand coming to Western Australia. to fight people outside and in another, talking Sir Charles Court: He was not blaming them about law and order. at all. What is wrong with the Minister for Labour Mr B. T. BURKE: He said exactly that; and Industry? We know he was appointed to he said those people caused unemployment of his portfolio simply because the Premier could that magnitude. If the Premier is pleased to not stand the embarrassment of the man talking hear his Minister make such a statement, the from the back bench. We all know that is true. Opposition is not. Is the Premier pleased to But he has gone from one extreme to another. hear his Minister refer to all Aborigines as unem- He has spoken about Japanese soldiers cutting ployable? That is what he said. the flesh from Australian bodies during the second Sir Charles Court: He said nothing of the sort. World War: we all heard him talk about that a Mr Bryce: Yes he did; he cast a slur on the year or so ago. Tonight he has almost exceeded entire Aboriginal population. even our wildest expectations. He is not fitted to hold office as a Minister of the Crown and Mr B. T. BURKE: That statement is in line is a man who, if this Government had any with the policy of the Court Government, the responsibility, would be dismissed from office same heartless policy that would have had children immediately. In this man is the potential to cause shifted from Tresillian. We alt know that deci- and continue industrial disputation of a type and sion was averted only at the last moment. scale we have never seen before and of a magni- Mr Sodeman: What a lot of rubbish. tude that must be deplored. Mr B. T. BURKE: That is the whole tenor of Just let us listen to what this man had to say. this Government's policy and performance. As H-e told this Chamber that unemployment was a the member for Morley said, this Government vicious rumour, started by people who could not has a calculator for a heart and an adding machine find jobs. This man is ridiculous! He told this for a mind. This Government has no compassion, humanity Chamber that our unemployment was increasing or feeling, and the toy soldier whose key the Premier winds in the middle of his back at the healthiest rate in the country. rushes to the wall and beats his head against Sir Charles Court: He said no such thing. the bricks. Mr B. T. BURKE: Does that make sense to Mr Grayden: I would like to wind your head, you, Mr Speaker? In front of our visitors, we never mind about your key. saw a man making a disgrace of himself. He Mr Bryce: He is asking you outside again. causes his Premier to mutter and to redden with Mr B. T. BURKE: Do not tell me I am being embarrassment, and he brings disgrace on the asked outside again by the Minister for Labour whole institution of Parliament. He says that and Industry! It is well known that the Minister [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.1 6171 could not flatten an egg with a shovel, and could Sir Charles Court: I just remind you that we not go two rounds with a revolving door. The have the best employment record in the whole only thing the Minister has is a mouth so large of Australia. that when he laughs the top of his head falls off. Mr Bryce: And the worst in Western Australia's He twitches as though he has St. Vitus Dance history. with two left feet. Sir Charles Court: That is what the Minister The Minister on behalf of the Government said for Labour and Industry was trying to tell you; he was proud of the fact that we have the worst we have the best employment record in Australia. unemployment in this State since the depression. flat is what he said. Mr B. T. BURKE: The Premier's record is a broken record; all he can say is that more jobs Mr G3rayden:- That is a distortion. have been created, regardless of the number of Mr B. T. BURKE: I do not want to talk to the people who are out of work and who are con- Minister any more, because he is senseless. ti-nuing to be out of work. He says his policy is Mr Young: And you are sick. You have demon- working and chat he has created more jobs and strated just how sick you are tonight. has the best unemployment record of any State. Sir Charles Court: Employment record: do not as though other Mr B. TI. BURKE:, It sounds distort the situation. people have been outside this Chamber and been affected by the moon, We have the member for Mr B. T. BURKE: That is absolute nonsense. Scarborough, now jockeying into the ministerial That is similar to a surgeon doing an open heart race. lie has been a back-stop for the Premier operation and, when the patient dies, saying, "I in the past and he is fighting the Premier's fight nearly succeeded." He says that although the now as he did on the amendments to the industrial patient is rapidly dying, he is not doing a bad job relations legislation, on which he disgraced him- of operating! self. 1 wilt ignore the baying of the hounds. What Quite frankly, the Premier does not have the 1 will do is pause for a moment to ask the policies and has never had the policies. The Premier whether he is proud of the number of famed boom of the 1960s was nothing but a people who are -unemployed. I will give the myth, as the Premier sold out the State, and Premier a minute to answer. put the State up for grabs to anyone who would Sir Charles Court: That is very big of you. take it. I come now to the simplistic analy sis of our Mr B. T. BURKE: So far in my speech I have problems expounded by the Minister for Labour had the member for Pilbara-the hurricane lamp, and Industry. He says that, firstly, we should rather dim and hangs around the place--the define the problem, secondly, find a solution and member for Murchison-Eyre, the Minister for thirdly, implement the solution. Works, Water Supplies and Housing and what- ever else they have given him and the member Mr Sodeman: That sounds fairly logical. for Scarborough all attempting to interject. How- Mr B. T. BURKE: That is comple~tely ever, I do not wish to hear from them; I want unbelievable. The Minister does not tell anyone to hear from the Premier. what the solution is; he does not explain or de- Mr Laurance: It is a pity that Hansard does not velop policies or substantiate his arguments with record sarcasm. any sort of intellectual reasoning. He says that we should just define the problem- Mr Coyne: it records his words, though, and Mr Grayden: The solution is to create more that is the important thing. jobs. Mr B. T. BURKE: The member for Murchison- Mr B. T. BURKE: Yes, create more jobs and Eyre now is claiming Premiership, is he? then implement the solution. Then he summed Mr O'Connor: You have shown by your it up beautifully! Mr Speaker, did you not hear remarks tonight what a very poor type you are. the Minister for Labour and Industry say he You would even send a psychiatrist mad. knew what the problem of unemployment really Mr B. T. BURKE: I hope Mansard has was, and how to cure it? He said that to cure recorded that the Premier refused to answer- unemployment one had to create more jobs. That and quite rightly so, because no man could be is amazing! proud of his record, a record of promising relief I should like to put to the Minister the other for the unemployed within six months, and then side of the equation. Probably he will light on taking four years to double and almost triple that this in the next month or so when the moon number. again is rising and the hour is late. The other 618 618ASSEMBLY] side of the equation is that he can kill the 300 family men the axe. He said, 'We will unemployed. That is a good idea because then balance the Budget on the heads of the people he would not have to create so many jobs. least able to aftord'the balancing act." He may Mr Grayden: That is the sort of solution we well shy away from telling the truth in this would expect from you. House, but the fact is that the Government in- tends to retrench water supply workers. Let the Mr B. T. BURKE: All we have had from the Minister say now that their jobs are secure. Minister is humbug, cynicism, and absolute non- Let us look at the unemployment situation in sense! Mr Speaker, 'you know as well as I do that the Minister's remarks were irrational Western Australia. In March, 1974. 7 527 people nonsense and that it does not do Parliament were unemployed, or 1.62 per cent of the work any credit at all to. hear a Minister of the Gov- force. On the 29th Iuly, 1977, 26 588 people, or ernment stand and say those sorts of things. 4.93 per cent of the work force were unemployed. Is the Government happy with that performance? Mr Sodeman: Look at your leader! H-e is Can the Government boast about that? totally and absolutely ashamed of your per- formance. Mr O'Connor: They cannot boast about you. Mr Jamieson: Leave him alone; he is doing Mr Sodeman: You would rather people leave all right. the State than come into it. Mr O' Connor: When are you going to take over Mr Shalders: The Premier is on record as having from your leader? said the unemployment level is unacceptable, but that this Government has the best record of Mr B. T. BURKE: Mr Speaker. I am sure you employment of any State in Australia. have never heard such banal nonsense in your life as the remarks of the Minister for Labour Mr B. T. BURKE: I am more preoccupied at and Industry. My greatest regret is that our this moment with the Minister for Works. visitors have witnessed his performance. I sup- Mr O'Connor: You had to think about something pose they think that we cannot have a circus to say then, didn't you? without a clown, and they have recognised him Mr B. T. BURKE: When confronted with the for what he really is-part clown, part pugilist Minister, I would rather forget. In the peak and part stupid. of the great depression, 480 000 people were Mr Laurance: At least he does not have to unemployed in Australia, and today that figure is sit down to tie up his shoe laces. 337 000. Is the Government happy with that sort Mr B. T. BURKE: Perhaps I should warn the of comparison? Is it proud? If it is not, let member for Gascoyne what happened to the last us see sonme constructive policies. Let us not hear secretary who had a big black car; he lost it the Minister for Labour and Industry waffling on rather quickly. about the moon being a balloon and about the Let us look at the actual situation relating to projects here and there which he has talked about the unemployed. In this nation, 337 391 people for years and years. That is all he ever does, are out of work. Let us see Government mem- and he cannot add up the number of people who bers congratulate themselves on that sort of per- will be employed, and the amount of money which formance. will be spent opx those projects. Mr Laurance: Did not Mr Clyde Cameron say The Premier has misfired badly in assigning to he would resign when the number got to 200 000? this man the bortfolio of Labour and Industry. I know the Premier regrets it now but he could Mr B. T. BURKE: Mr Speaker, the silence not accept the loss of face involved in backing is deafening. I agree with you, Mr Speaker, down. I can see the Premier nodding. in that there is no excuse for this sort of per- formance. Yet, according to university studies Sir Charles Court: The Minister is doing a and other studies, the Government is practising first-class job. deception, because the actual figures relating to Mr B. T. BURKE: Let us look at the situation unemployment are even higher than the figures in Western Australia in greater detail. In the published by the Government. Are members Kwinann area, unemployment is now running at opposite proud of that? The Minister for Works, 9.4 per cent of the work force. Is the member Water Supplies and Housing is gesticulating and for Scarborough happy about that? If he is not making funny little jokes to himself to make happy with that situation, why did he sit in silence himself feel better, yet he is on the verge as the Minister for Labour and Industry told us of retrenching water supply workers, as he at- that his Government had the best record of any tempted to do last year when he tried to give State? What nonsense! [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.]69 619

I call the member for Scarborough the pillow One of the main reasons behind the unemploy- man, because he wears the impression of the last ment affecting our economy and the economnic head which laid upon it. In the semi-industrialised crisis is the very uneven distribution of wealth. eastern suburbs-the area so ably represented by Of the companies operating in Australia 0.2 per the member for Victoria Park-we see there has cent delivered 50 per cent of the profits accumu- been a dramatic increase in unemployment. The lated by companies throughout the nation. Does '.used car salesmen ruined' from the electorate that seem equitable? Of course it does not. Does of Bunbury would be interested to hear that it seem equitable to the Premier that 0.2 per cent regional unemployment in Bunbury is 5.08 per should amass 50 per cent of company profits in cent. Is the member for Bunbury pleased about this country? that? He is asleep again. The report of the Commissioner of Taxation We move down to one of those categories of shows quite clearly that the power to make deci- people who are least able to protect themselves; $ions and to control affairs in those 200 companies that is, the young people, the people in whom is in the hands of 2 000 people. In other words, our country has made a great investment and the 2 000 people control 200 companies and 0.2 per people to whom we look for the future. We find cent of those companies in the country take half the that in Western Australia the rate of unemploy- profits made by all the companies in the ment amongst teenagers is 15.13 per cent. That country. is, 15.13 per cent of the teenage work force are There is a network between the companies. out of work and experiencing the crushing and We find suddenly the AMP and the Bank of New demoralising result of being unable, yet willing, South Wales have on their boards people with to work. similar names. There is a network throughout the companies and across the seas, until we find The total number of teenagers out of work in that we have lost the decision-making power which of that. Australia is 126 263. We are all proud should truly be ours in essential industries; until a marvellous con- We think the Minister made we find we have lost the ability to control our side to side, shaking his tribution, gyrating from economy: until we find that aided and abetted shoulders, and twitching! by people like the Premier-not like the Minister The number of teenagers unemployed in West- for Labour and Industry because he is incapable ern Australia is 9 789. Is the Minister proud of doing that-the network is stretching much of that? I will allow the Minister to comment more strongly across the seas until we are being if he likes, which is more than he allowed the dictated to and investment and reinvestment funds Opposition to do. Is the Minister proud of that? are being controlled according to the complexion Of course he is not. of the Government in power at the time. If Let us consider the percentage of teenagers we consider the industries, we find that in the paper pulp unemployed in Western Australia compared with and board industry, t3 companies the percentage unemployed in the whole of Aus- operate. In the industry 90 per cent is controlled tralia. In Western Australia there are significantly by the four biggest companies. If we consider the glass and glass products more teenagers unemployed than in the other industry, referred to by the member States; and are we proud of that? The Liberal for Swan the other night, we find that 47 companies Party and the coalition Government are proud of operate and that four of the companies account for 97 that. The Minister has told US SO tonight. Of per cent of the course he is not proud and he cannot maintain market. that he is. It is idle to boast on comparative It cannot be emphasised too strongly that once figures that this Government is the best in the a country abdicates control of its own resources. Commonwealth when it is so dismal as to lack its own direction, and its own economy, it will any sort of constructive policy. be at the behest of people whose interests are clearly not ours and need not be ours and cannot The test of success is not how much slower one coincide with ours in any way. runs 100 yards than one's competitors. The suc- Let us take for example the foreign dominance cess is whether one wins the race. This Minister or control of the different sectors in the economy. is happy and satisfied to say that although we In the mining industry this is estimated to be did not win any races and although we inflicted something between 60 and 65 per cent. Is the massive unemployment on people, we are quite Minister happy that more than half those indus- happy because we are running a race. That is tries should be controlled from overseas? He is not true. very silent. 620 620[ASSEM BLY]

I know that the Minister for Mines, were he chaos we are in, the Premier refuses to con- here-he has ducked out, unable to face the music front them and refuses to face up to anything. and confront the truth-would probably agree. The only way he can prove his performance is Mr Clarko: Even the Deputy Leader of the by paying for advertisements in the daily Press- Opposition has left. You have embarrassed him. 100 000 jobs to be made available, and then the Minister for Labour and Industry says this will Mr B. T. BURKE: Nonsense. Let us consider be in six months. This is absolute deceit, that another example; that is, General Motors-Holden's is all it is. Pty. Ltd. The total investment to the stage of If we look at the effect of the production of the first Holden was $6 million. the foreign domin- ance in terms of investment and reinvestment In 1974 $300 million had been submitted to funds we can see quite clearly that Australia American shareholders. What sort of equity is during the time of the Whitlamn Government was that? What sort of pride can we have in our own the object of the most vicious assault levelled at country? Why can we be conned and misled by any Government. people like the Minister who talked about Aus- tralia's own car? Of course it is not Australia's If we look to 1971-72 we see that the per- centage of private investment funded by overseas .own car. it is owned, controlled, and produced companies was 30.7. by overseas companies. The Minister knows that; In the same year the per- centage of company income payable overseas was I know it; and even the member for Scarborough 27.2. knows it. In 1972-73 the percentage of private investment Mr Young: You also know that Ben Chiffley funded by overseas companies had fallen from was the Prime Minister when it was set up. 39 to 12.3 and the percentage of company income Mr B. T. BURKE: But he did not preside over payable overseas had increased to 32.5. The the shocking development which allows that com- plug had been well and truly pulled out, as the pany to buy up its Australian shareholdings and Minister knows, By 1975-76 the original figure of sell them to American shareholders. Do not be 39 per cent had fallen to I I per cent. The over- absolutely silly. seas shareholders at that time had risen from 27 to 55 per cent. Are we all happy with that? We can Mr Young: In other words you are saying that see clearly that in 1971-72, $4 in every $10 were we ought to change the rules after the game has reinvested. In 1974 this had fallen to $1.23 out of started. every $ 10-a deliberate policy of guerilla tactics Mr B. T. BURKE: Of course I am saying against the ALP Government, a Government that. I will say it again and again because the which this State Government attempts, and member for Scarborough is the sort of economist appears to succeed, in blaming for every- who says that the nth dollar invested is still risk thing from the Alamo to the third World War. capital. Let us make up our minds and let us The effects of this failure to reinvest and show understand that by the time BHP invests its last confidence in the country, the failure to support dollar it is no longer risk capital. The stage of the legally and democratically elected Govern- risk has long since passed. The last dollar is ment is reflected in the expenditure on capital fertiliser being put on the money tree, and do not plant and equipment as a percentage of the think that fertiliser is applied without care- national income. ful, cautiotus, and restricted consideration to profit. In 1976 we see that Australia had 10 per cent Do not let the member for Scarborough tell of its national income expended on capital plant this House that the initial dollar invested should and equipment as a percentage of national in- earn 20 per cent and so should the rest of the come. It is sufficient to say that this reinvest- miserable dollars. Of course they should not ment figure is lower than that in France, Japan, and do not. West Germany, Canada, Italy, the United King- If we consider the 200 biggest companies,' we dom, and America; and I have no doubt that find that half of them produce all of our manu- if our visitors from Sabah were still here they factured goods in the country, and that 40 per would confirm that it was lower than that in cent of the profit goes to these 200 big companies. Sabah. Of these 200 companies, 87 fonreign-controlled This amendment moved very ably by the companies employed 240 000 workers while 113 Deputy Leader of the Opposition seeks to bring Australian companies employed 340 000 workers. the Government to book for its failings. The There is an imbalance and it is elementary. If Government has failed by promising what it we tire incapable of confronting the economic never intended to deliver, by promising what it [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.1 6212 had no realistic hope of delivering. The Gov- Debate (on amendment to motion) Resumed ernment has made promises to the people. The Sir CHARLES COURT: If the member opposite Government has made promises to give work wants to be referred to as the member for to the unemployed. It promised to give pen- Balcatta I am very pleased to do so. But I want sioners and school children special consideration. to say we thought the utterances of the member This Government has promised the world, but has for Balcatta were absolutely revolting and we it given nothing. Before it delivered anything, reject the whole of what he had to say as far took it away. as our Minister for Labour and Industry was In one last reference I would refer the Gov- concerned. ernment and the House to what is perhaps the Government members: Hear, Hear! most tragic area in which foreign domination is causing havoc and chaos in the country and int Sir CHARLES COURT: I want to tell the the economy. In the Australian banking and member for Balcatta that there is no Minister, finance industry we see that 50 per cent of our and no other member in this Chamber who cares companies operating are overseas-owned. Ben more about people-rear people-than does the Chifiley, in i946-1949, attempted to do what Minister concerned-the Minister for Labour and should be attempted now. He tried to nationalise Industry. the banks. He saw the creation and control of Mr B. T. Burke: Do not be silly. credit as a legitimate arm of the economic arm- oury of all Governments. The efforts he made- Mr Jam ieson: We know you have to agree. the very creditable efforts-succeeded at least Sir CHARLES COURT: I want to remind some temporarily in stemming the tide but we have members on the other side who might not know, seen the moguls of finance, aided and abetted or who might have forgotten; that there was a by Governments of a conservative nature, create time in the history of this State, not so long ago, ways around the efforts made by Mr Chiffley. when the Aborigines in this country did not have We have seen a situation in which people are a friend. unable to obtain finance from banks, but are conveniently referred to finance companies owned Mr B. T'. Burke: Now Bill is their friend. by the banks which rejected their approaches. Sir CHARLES COURT: One member in this The Australian Labor Party believes very Parliament was prepared to go out on a limb and strongly that until this Government realises it take some of those people into his own home at must have control over all, fiscal matters it can- a time when it was not the popular thing to not hope to succeed. The Government cannot do. hope to solve the fundamental problems until Mr Jamieson. Then he slandered one or two of it recognises that this State is just one of many them. parts of the international world which are seek- Sir CHARLES COURT: The present Minister ins to control their own affairs. While the Govern- for Labour and Industry suffered a great deal ment staves off what is the inevitable it will Of Criticism, at that time from people who felt continue to lurch from crisis to crisis, creating he was going a bit overboard but he stuck out chaos and unemployment and breaking hearts and defended the Aborigines. He took them into and promises. his own home and befriended them at a time when As strongly as is possible I support the amend- it was not the popular thing to do. It is ment moved by the member for Ascot. I de- appropriate that the member for Balcatta does plore the performance of the Minister, and I leave the Chamber because of the speech he made reprimand the Premier for allowing that man this evening. to carry on in the manner he did. Mr B. T. Burke: I am still present. SIR CHARLES COURT (Nedlands-Premier) Mr Bertram: He is still here. (9.30 p-m]: Before I deal with the motion I want The ACTING SPEAKER (Mr Crane): Order! to say we on this side found the speech made I cannot accept interjections from members who by the member for Balga to be absolutely revolting. are not in their proper seats. I hope all members Point of Order will observe this ruling. Mr B. T. BURKE: On a point of order, Mr Mr Davies: The member for Balcatta is still Acting Speaker (Mr Crane), is it not proper that in the House. the Premier should address me as the member Sir CHARLES COURT: I want also to tell for Balcatta rather than the member for Balga, members opposite that there is no man in this or is he allowed to do that too? House, to my knowledge, who has done more 622 622ASSEMBLY] than has the Minister for Labour and Industry Mr Bryce:, Would the Premier be big enough to help people who need help. He does not make to accept some responsibility? a song and dance about it. Sir CHARLES COURT: I want to refer back However, the Minister for Labour and Industry to a number of matters which have been mentioned has taken person after person by the hand and tonight. The member fox Balcatta, for the second helped them. This is the man members opposite time this session, referred to the flight of capital are accusing of being indifferent to unemploy- from this country. I remind him that we had in- ment. I know his attitude in Cabinet, his delibera- vestors being told-even with the finger being tions, and his representations to me on this pointed at them by Federal Minister s-that question. We have to work very closely together, they would not be welcome in this country under and he has my complete confidence because he a Labor Government-people who could generate works mighty hard. employment, who could generate resource devel- opment, and who could generate manufacturing Government members: Hear, hear! industries in this country. Those people were told Sir CHARLES COURT: He is trying to resolve in the clearest terms they would not be welcome. the problems of those people who are unemployed Indeed, those people remember and, realise that and -he has a positive approach; the same approach should therb be another Labor Government the I try to inculcate into my colleagues. We will present welcome could change. only resolve this problem by positive thinking This brings me to another matter which is more and positive action. important than the mere amendment before us. This problem will not be solved by the What is really important is the speech by the crocodile tears being shed by the Oppos 'ition which member for Balcatta setting out the socialist policies of a Labor has a vested interest in unemployment. Labor Government in a way to scare the daylights out of anyone about to make always has had a vested interest in unemploy- an investment decision in this country. Just ment; Labor loves it and Labor embraces it imagine anyone about to mnake an investment in because it is one of the few matters Labor can this country being made aware that circumstances talk about. could change with a change of Government. We Mr Davies: The Premier must be going senile. assume the State Labor Party is a reflection of the Federal Labor Party; it is proud of it. Sir CHARLES COURT: We have seen ibis attitude from Labor year after year. Mr H. D. Evans: So is the State Liberal Party a reflection of the Federal Liberal Party, and Mr Bryce: Is the Premier forgetting this is the look at the present mess. fifth anniversary of his own little scene? Sir CHARLES COURT: Of course we are part Sir CHARLES COURT: F will come back to of the party, and I will come back to that. I want that in a moment. During Parliament after to remind members of all the things spelt out Parliament I have seen these crocodile tears from by the member for Balcatta. He does not want the party which has a vested interest in unemploy- overseas capital. He wants banks nationalised, ment. Some members opposite have compassion and wants a socialist philosophy. He carried on about unemployment, bu 't the real motive power about the question of redistributing the wealth. Let has always had a vested interest in unemployment, us face it: That is what the Whitlam Govern- and will continue to do so, because the Labor ment tried to do and that is what caused Australia Party believes it can twang the heartstrings of to crash. This Government has persisted-as some people. have conservative Governments in the mnain-,--to Mr Davies: What about your Tresillian child- increase the wealth of the whole community. As a result we do not have the great ren? differences which exist in some other countries, and we are Sir CHARLES COURT: As far as the Govern- rather proud of that. ment is concerned, and as far as the Premier is concerned, the Minister for Labour and Industry Mr Jamieson: That is nonsense: has our complete support. Hfe is doing a first class Sir CHARLES COURT: Our policy has been job in a very difficult situation. to try to bring people up; not to push them I want to come back to another angle regarding down to the common level. This country has a the question of unemployment because we believe tremendous record because it encouraged private people on the other side are shedding crocodile enterprise and allowed people to have some profit tears about something for which they were res- out of their efforts. Because of that we went as ponsible and which they created. far as we did. [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.]62 623

I want to refer to something said by the member information I received is correct no-one turned for Morley. He went on about the surplus gener- up on tfiat occasion. The Minister for Labour ated by the Government. We are proud of that and Industry went out to seek these people who fact, and proud for a good reason. wanted to work, and he tried to take them by Mr Tonkin: It caused more people to be thrown the hand and tried to find jobs for them. out of work. Mr Bryce: I suggest the Minister for Labour Sir CHARLES COURT: As a result of prudence and Industry should have tea at St. Bartholomew's and good housekeeping we were able to plough House on Friday nights. millions of dollars into the loan works programme. Sir CHARLES COURT: I do not apologise for and that meant hundreds of jobs. The member the policy of this Government because through for Morley would rather see a muddling and prudence and enterprise we showed we were able inefficient Treasury, and bad housekeeping which to pour literally hundreds of jobs into the economy would finish up with people having to be sacked. last year, and we will do the same kind of thing Because we were prudent, and because of good housekeeping, we knew what to do with our this year. money. We had a surplus and we were able to What has been said tonight indicates the atti- go into a Budget where a tremendous amount of tude of despair on the other side of this House. money was put into works programmes which We went through all this sort of thing in the otherwise would have been denied to us. The same 1960s. It seems like history repeating itself- will happen again this year. references to scraps of paper, pie in the sky, and Mr T. H. Jones: What about the increase in so on. Yet, the member for Balcatta criticises licence fees? what we have done. I ask members opposite to look at the situation of Australia today. I remind Sir CHARLES COURT: When I introduced we did in the the Supply Hill I reported to Parliament the them that, because of the work results of the last year and I gave an indication 1960s, during the last 10 years Western Aus- of the strategy envisaged for this year. I gave an tralia generated an export net surplus of $7.3 outline of the whole programme, and if the billion. But for this State, this country would member for Morley had listened or understood have been stone motherless broke. Against that he would have seen that the programme is directed effort, the whole nation-including what we pro- towards the expenditure of a maximum sum of vided-was able to generate only $5.8 million of money in the works programme so that we can at surplus. least do our part towards solving the unemploy- Because of the so-called "mistakes" we are. ment problem.I alleged to have made in the 1960s-" mistakes" quoted without proper reference to all that was I want to remind members opposite, when talk- achieved-the nation is as strong as it is. We ing about unemployment, that it was the Minister had the courage to be positive in our efforts to for Labour and Industry who took the initiative create employment and career opportunities. in connection with those people who were seeking employment. He took direct action in an attempt So, I go back to the point made by the Min- to help them find jobs, and he tried to show them ister for Labour and Industry. It is 'a positive how to get jobs and how to get work experience. fact that we in this State have the best employ- ment record of the whole of Australia. I can well remember the Minister for Labour and Industry attending a demonstration which Mr B. T. Burke: Rubbish! someone had arranged on a Saturday morning. Sir CHARLES COURT: The member opposite We expected hundreds of people to turn up, and knows what rubbish is all about. I want to remind if I remember correctly the organiser of the members opposite that if they decry the perform- meeting, and the staff of the Minister, outnum- ance of the Government in respect of employ- bered the people who (oughit employment. I ment, what do they want us to do? Do people. believe that approximately nine people wanted opposite want us to get rid of sonic of these employment, and that was whittled down to about people we have to provide pobs for? four who really wanted jobs. It was a Labor Mr Jamieson: Spend some of the surplus on the Party member or a Labor Party candidate who unemployed. arranged a similar demonstration at Mosmans. Sir CHARLES COURT: The Minister for Mr T. H. Jones: Who was that? Labour and Industry was at pains to explain that Sir CHARLES COURT: Did not Mr Beazlcy our population has been swollen by people com- have something to do with that meeting? If the ing from the other States. We do not discourage 624 624[ASSEMBLY] or despise them. Many of them genuinely want I come back to something mentioned by the to work, and some of them will be badly needed member for Ascot. He kept on about what I once these projects are in course and get under said in August, 1972. Every word I said then way. Of course, we get jeers from members I would say again under the same circumstances. opposite every time anyone mentions these pro- I remind members opposite-paricularly the new jects. However, we have seen it happen previously. ones who have this stuff served up to them lime Every promise I made in 1960 was fulfilled. after time-that at that time we had the McMahon Mr Jamieson: Do not Live us that. There were Government in Canberra, and had we been in dozens of promises which the Premier made in power we would have been able to press on with this House which never came to anything. Do the projects we wanted. The Tonkin Govern- not give us that. Even the Premier's first promise ment had all that going for it- with regard to the Scott River did not eventuate. Mr Jamieson: The international scene had Nothing happened. changed by that time and you know it. The ACTING SPEAKER (Mr Crane): Order! Sir CHARLES COURT: The gall of members Mr Jamieson: What a lot of rubbish and non- opposite! When things were bad and Whitlam sense. What has the Premier done except to flip got into all his trouble they used to say, "It is his top? Where are all these promises? not our fault. This all comes from overseas." Sir CHARLES COURT: I remind members Mr H. D. Evans: That is what you are doing. opposite of the absolute truth that Western Aus- Sir CHARLES COURT: I remind the mem- tralia went from being the slowest-growing State ber for Warren, who makes so many funny little to the fastest-growing State. interjections, that we have not run away from Mr Jamieson: Yes, and why? Not because of this problem at all. We are taking the positive the Premier. line. We are the people who have generated em- ployment and intend to generate more employ- Sir CHARLES COURT: This State doubled the ment, in spite of the Opposition. national average. We succeeded at the time whea the Federal Government was opposing what we I remind members opposite that, quite apart were trying to do, and I am not referring to a from the initiatives taken by the Minister for Labor Government. Labour and Industry and his desire to try to establish a better relationship with the trade Mr Jamieson: The Government Said that we union movement, we have gone further. I ini- could not export our iron ore because there was tiated, with the co-operation of thc other Pre- not enough for our own use. miers, a meeting on the 5th August which I hope Sir CHARLES COURT: We even had to fight will be the forerunner of further meetings-not our own people. because we are trying to push the responsibiilty Mr Jamieson: Nonsense; you did not fight your onto somebody else but because I want to declare what I believe in. 1 believe the own people. Premiers and the States must take responsibilities. There is Sir CHARLES COURT: We doubled the too much talk about State rights. We have fol- national average rate of development, and the lowed the policy of talking about State respon- population growth rate has been double the sibilities and- national average. So, rather than being so Mr Jamieson: You are the greatest State- upset about the fact that we have the righter there is. best employment record in Australia, and about the fact that people want to come to live Sir CHARLES COURT: We are prepared to in our State because they feel our economy is go out and talk about responsibilities and, what better managed and they will have better pro- is more, accept them. That is why, when the spects, members opposite should be standing up Federal Budget was brought down last night, in their places and saying. "Thank God there is I did not fear for all the problems it will bring one State in Australia that is able to pay its us-and there will be plenty of problems-but way, make progress, and absorb people from I did say it was a responsible Budget for Aus- other pants of Australia at a time when they tralia, and that it was up to the States to take desperately need somewhere to go." I remind up some of the burden and responsibilities they members of the Opposition of the situation In are expected to take if they want to be States New South Wales where a Labor Government and have a Federal system. which has been established for some time now The meeting of the Premiers was an important does not know which way to go. one. I hope it will be the forerunner of many (Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.]62 625 more so that we can talk about State responsi- nation will disappear. Hearing the speech of bilities. If Western Australii gets some help the member for flalcatta and hearing the Deputy with infrastructure to enable Projects to get off Leader of the Opposition and the member for the ground, it will benefit New South Wales, Morley tonight would scare the daylights out of Victoria, and South Australia, just as it did anyone who was considering investing in this in the 1960s, because their capacity to supply country. some of our needs is important in the total I support entirely the comments of the Min- national scene. On the other hand, our capacity ister for Labour and Industry. I reject as being to buy for our resource development is a very Crocodile tears and the essence of insincerity what important part of their economy, as evidenced has been said by members of the Opposition. To by the fact that we buy from them sonic $1.5 shed crocodile tears about the unemployed has billion-worth of manufactured goods at the pre- been part of their stock in trade for a long time sent time which, over the seven-year programme, because they think they will be able to twang the will rise to $3 billion a year in today's values. heart strings of a few people for a few votes. I We now have the support of all Premiers in think it is despicable and I reject the motion. connection with our infrastructure projects to permit the States to create a new tier of borrow- ing to bring in overseas money to enable the MR H. D. EVANS (Warren) (9.52 p.m.]: 'The projects to get off the ground and become more speech of the Premier tonight in reply to the competitive. This is one crucial way to increase amendment was, to say the least, predictable. He the percentage of Australian ownership., One evaded the issue when he was called upon to of the reasons the percentage of Australian demonstrate the positive measures the Government ownership was impaired during the 1960s was has taken to alleviate the situation. He stayed that private enterprise had to pay the cost of the right away from the areas where the position is infrastructure, which in some cases was as high most critical; and, as the amendment basically as two-thirds of the total cost of the project. Had refers to the condemning of this Government and we been able to pay for that, as a normal indus- the policies, State and Federal, which have cre- trial and social infrastructure commitment of a ated unemployment, this is the issue which should Government, the percentage of Australian owner- be followed through and examined closely. ship, even with the same contribution of equity The Federal Budget followed on the action of capital, would have risen overnight to not only the State Government in increasing charges. Thbis double but in some cases treble. was cushioned by the good housekeeping to which Hut all we get is Carping criticism, gripes, and the Premier made reference and to which we will groans from the other side, instead of acknow- refer again later on. But in addition to the action ledgment that this State has accepted its re- of the State Government in increasing taxes and sponsibilities, has performed as a State, and has Charges, the Federal Budget has placed an intol- been prepared to go out on its own and produce erable burden on people in country areas and employment better than any other State has rakes no account of the farmers, Particularly. done. The Budget comes on top of recognition of a Mr Mclver: Tell me one project that has been disastrous slump in rural incomes and everything accomplished. that implies. It pays no regard to the 7 000 beef Sir CHARLES COURT: The people who have farmers who, it is predicted, will leave the indus- had jobs under this Government do not think it try. An unprecedented level of State taxes and is rubbish. charges has been imposed upon the people of Western Australia and the proposed new federal- Mr Mclver: I did not say "rubbish". Just ism will affect the economy of this State. give us one example of what has been accom- plished since you have been in Government, Let us look at the first aspect and put it in its proper perspective. The Bureau of Agricul- Sir CHARLES COURT: The employment fac- tural Economics report was quoted on an earlier tor alone, when all the other States are struggl- occasion. It predicts there will be an average ing to hold their own. slump of 14 per cent in Australian farmers' Mr Mclver: And the shires are putting off incomes in the forthcoming year, which will once dozens of men, left, right, and centre. again put the farmer's earnings below the aver- Sir CHARLES COURT: The way members age male wage in time for Christmas. It was opposite are going on, they will be putting off indicated that the farmer was receiving $199-$9 a lot more men, because any confidence in this above the average male wage. 626 626[ASSEMBLY]

The report predicts that 7 000 people will quit What do we find? The cost of freighting the beef industry. This, Mr Acting Speaker (Mr materials to this area by State ship or by road Crane), will be close to your own bean. The has been steadily rising and station men have interesting statement is that the doomed section been subject to this cost. Let us not be under of the beef industry represents an investment of any illusion regarding what an increase in tranls- $857 million, debts of $208 million-and debts Port c~osts will mean to the Kimnberley. What has are a far more important consideration-and this Government done about it? Firstly it herds totalling 4.1 million. That is the extent of increased all the charges it could possibly increase, the slump in the doomed section of primary including the charges for State ships. The increase industry. in that case was in the order of 60 per cent, and The report states that 84 per cent of farming that is coupiled with the fuel costs that we find properties are in the higher rainfall areas and 12 imposed upon all of us. Realising that the indus- per cent in the pastoral zone. Let us see what try is dependent upon road transport for the move- is involved in the Budget for these people and ment of stock, we see the overall position has what difference it makes to their overall predica- become desperate. ment. This means that at present the holders of pas- Dealing first of all with the farmers on the 12 toral leases are finding that not only do they have per cent of properties located in the pastoral to mark time, but actually they are going back. zone, we do not have to go very far to see the wards. The capital they had in reserve has dimin- effects of the Federal Budget on the Kimberley ished, and this means pastoralisis can no longer beef producers. As transport is the life blood of atten to maintenance, let alone carry out im- the Kimberley area- provements which would give them an opportunity The ACTING SPEAKER (Mr Crane): Order! to introduce better management methods and The level of conversation is becoming rather better efficiency in terms of a cheaper turnoff. high. Would members please tone it down? The They cannot attend to the improvement of Mansard reporter is having difficulty in hearing water points and fences; and, in the Kimberley, the member for Warren. improved management means more fences, as you Mr H. D. EVANS: As transport is the life well know, Mr Acting Speaker (Mr Crane). The blood of the rural areas, the increase iii the price whole outlook for these people is grim to say of petrol will affect every farmer in the State. the least. The increase of 2.5c a litre or Ile a gallon. on It is not only that beef prices have placed them top of everything else, will place many rural pro- in a position where they cannot attend to ducers in jeopardy, not only because of the direct this cost but also because of the fact that freight maintenance, but also they will have to pay more increases will follow as surely as night follows because of the freight inmposts; and because of day. the nature of the increases in the Federal Budget which are directly inflationary, everything else will Reference has been made to an increase of .25 increase along with them. Their properties are per cent in the price of petroleum products, being allowed to run down at the moment. Labour which suggests diesel and aviation fuel and all is being dispensed with, and there will be a other petroleum products will likewise be in- creased in price. The plight of the Kimberley greater tendency to do this. On many stations beef producer and everyone else in the Kimberley twice-yearly mustering has been reduced to annual will worsen. The Kinmberley is traditionally a mustering, and one just cannot carry out proper beef-producing area, and that 'industry accounts management in that range country unless muster- for most of the income and employment generated ing is carried out twice yearly to break down in the area, not only by the beef producers but the runs into fences to make herds manageable. also by those who depend upon them. This This gives pastoralists the chance to turn off orientation towards one industry places the whole bullocks of a reasonable weight and thus offers region in jeopardy. the prospect of their remaining viable. While the Kimberley is affected by the export The servicing of debts out of income is impos- market for beef and is much more susceptible to sible in some cases. Therefore, (he operating it than the rest of Western Australia, or Australia capacity of pastoralists has been strained to the for that matter, any impost upon the pastoralists very utmost. I am aware that you are something will place them in a more desperate situation. of an authority on this matter, Mr Acting Speaker Transport, whether by sea or by road, is of the (Mr Crane), and unless there is some concessions] utmost importance. rate of interest and some appreciation of the [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977J 6272 transport difficulties in this industry, a further a gallon, Someone in the Press made a quick decline is inevitable. calculation and estimated it would cost the aver- If this does come about and if the cattle indus- age motorist $50 a year. When one works out try of the Kimberley folds up, the Kimberley will what it will cost the average farmer, one finds fold up. It is as simple as that. The towns of his fuel bill increase will be far greater than Broome and Derby are dependent on their meat- that. Have you worked out yours, Mr Acting works. Without the meatworks operating the Speaker (Mr Crane)? I should imagine it will level of employment would be seriously leopard- be a very helpful taxation deduction in 12 months' ised as would be the income generated in the time. towns. That is the position; but it does not finish There may be the prospect of mineral develop- there. It is not only the operation of the rural ment in some of these places. It is to be hoped producer that is affected, because everything he that ultimately the Kimberley will he a large pro- moves is dependent on this. So here we have ducer of minerals. The indications are there, but the rather ludicrous position that the industry it will be some years before development gets that can least afford to take the brunt of the under way. By that time the towns that should Federal Budget is being called upon to pay the most. provide the infrastructure for mining developments will to a large'extent be dissipated, and the cost There are a number of areas in which an iii- of developing minerals in the Kinmberley will place crease has been made available to rural indus- an impost on mining companies, and the State, tries, but in each case it is by no means suf- far in excess of what the mining industry can ficient. The fact that 7 000 beef farmers are bear. A total new infrastructure, as the Premier going to be -in an uneconomical position will has told us often, places, a great burden on the more than consume the increase of about $1 million in the rural adjustment funds. There companies involved; and if this is to he the case are no relief measures in sight. in the Kimberley as a result of the dispersement of the cattle industry, then the outlook for the I can well recall the debate in this House when State is indeed most serious. the Whitlam Budget was announced, and the man- Road transport is of the utmost importance not net in which that Government was berated because only to get commodities to the stations, but also of the concessions it removed. to transport animals to the meatworks. The beef It is most noticeable that few of those con- roads have been of. vital importance, and the cessions have been restored by the present Liberal- upgrading of these roads gave a great deal of National Country Party Government. Why? If impetus to the industry and enabled it to become it was such a heinous thing for the Whitlam Gov- a much more economical and viable operation. ernment to remove the concessions, why were Funds for roads in Western Australia have been they not reinstated? The criticism we heard in cut, and no longer is a specific allocation made this Chamber on that occasion was all-embracing. for beef roads. The Kimberley, with its beef I must admit the superphosphate bounty was re- transport roads, will have to be given priority stored. However, it was restored some four in the diminished funds available to Western months after the announcement was made, and Australia; but that is not a very happy prospect during that period pensioners did not receive their for people in that area, because previously they increase, and so the $70 million involved in the had a separate allocation. The walking of cattle superphosphate bounty was paid for by the pen- over inferior roads to points, which are accessible sioners. at the moment has been for quite some time a Mr Cowan: How much? serious drawback to the economics of the industry. Mr H. D. EVANS: It was somewhere in the The loss of cattle through bruising is tremendous, vicinity of $70 million if I recall it correctly. It and instead of this situation improving with better may have been $69 million. However, the super roads it will deteriorate as will the position of bounty is now back with us, but operating in a the pastoralists. most unfair and unjust manner. Those who need That is briefly the situation in the Kimberley; it least receive the most, and that is most unfair. and instead of there being a concession for it is an inherent difficulty with bounties. cheaper transport, which would be the most direct Mr Grewar: Then assistance which could be afforded to the Kim- you are against its restora- berley district, the reverse is the case. An impost tion? has been placed upon the industry in the Kim- Mr H. D. EVANS- I am in favour of it being berley. We are talking about an impost of I Ic restored, but I am not in favour of the way it 628 628(ASSEMBLY] has been restored, for the very good reason that Mr JH. D. EVANS: I come back to the essential it is inequitable and unfair. What is it worth theme just in case those opposite may get con- to Mr Fraser? cerned, but it is directly applicable to them as Mr Taylor: About $5 000 a year. members representing country areas, or pur- porting to, and this is the scandal of it. Those on Mr H. D. EVANS: Yes, and white someone in the other side claim to be (he authorities, or the that category can obtain relief to that extent, experts, and champions of."country people, but 7,00O beef farmers are going out of business. under their brand of Government country people Mr Cowan: The bounty is paid to the manu- have never been treated so badly. This is borne facturer. out so very often. The fact that the Whitlam Dr Dadour: What has this to do with the Government put up $200 million to stabilise the amendment? wool industry is forgotten. The changes that Mr Whitlam made are conveniently brought to the Mr H. D3. EVANS: It has a lot to do with it. fore though they were not acted upon when the Mr P. V. Jones: Tell us how. chance came to the Liberal Government. Mr H. D. EVANS:- We are talking in terms A further 84 per cent of beef farmers are in the of the impact of the Budget upon a section of high rainfall areas. It is in these areas that I have the economy that can least afford the imposts a very personal concern; I have some of them in thrust upon it. This leads to the creation of un- my area. I know oniy too well the outlook that employment where it is least desirable: in country they are confronted with without the situation areas. brought about by the present Budget. While on You, Sir, would know full well the problem that the question of the south-west and having regard accompanies unemployment in country areas. to the points made by the Premier-and I regret Families leave towns, and this detracts from the that he is not here-I wish to indicate a few of entire quality of life. It means schools become the disparities and the blusterings of his argument downgraded and bus services become difficult to which I consider to be ridiculous. operate. Sporting clubs and social organisations Twice in the past 12 months the Premier has suffer from a decreasing membership, and many made statements of a major nature in the south- other problems of this nature arise. Unfortunately, west. One was at an Apex convention in Nannup these problems are not of such a nature that last year and the other was at Bunbury several one can place a cost on them, hut they are very months ago. The tenor of his remark was the real problems so far as the people living in country towns are concerned. same on both occasions and the way in which he developed his speech and his attitude at the noticeable that State Shipping Service It is also Nannup convention were most interesting and were freights rose by 60 per cent, the country water followed by his dissertation in Bunbury. Unfor- rates in towns north of the 26th parallel by 53 tunately, it was to the effect that the development per cent, and State Government abattoir slaught- in the south-west in the past 75 years was a ering fees-upon which other abattoirs base their magnificent achievement. It was to the effect fees-rose by 93.3 per cent for the local market that a handful of settlers had turned forests and 72 per cent for the export market. These into farms fees are almost impossible for northern abattoirs and homes very successfully. They had developed an economy through timber and through rural to bear. produce. I can recall his exact words when he On top of the increased operating costs of said all this had been achieved "without any motor vehicles as a result of the fuel price increase, effect on the environment". He said this with the we have an increase in licence fees. That was utmost assurance. a very short-sighted move on the part of the I will indicate the areas of disparity. I might Government, and for that reason the wording of add he cited the industries which had contributed the amendment is so apt and appropriate. to the development of the south-west. He Mr Davies: Did the Minister for Agriculture indicated how well they were doing, how sound put up the abattoir fees today? the economy was, and how things were flowing Mr Old: No. along with the expectation of far greater things to come. All this was achieved through the Mr Davies: I thought some fees were increased. efforts of the population of 250 000 people at I thought I heard it tonight, but I did not quite the turn of the century. catch it. That is the summation of the Premnier's Mr Old: Then you (vant to listen occasionally. remarks. I point out that the industries to which The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! the Premier attributed the development of the [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.1 6292 south-west, and quite properly so, were those Development. That was the pinewood factory at involved with timber and timber products; agri- flardanup. No single major industry has since cultural products in volume and variety; the been developed in the south-west. This is the development of Collie coal; the Muja power magnificent record of the Court Government. station; alumina, with a further alumina refinery The member for Collie is here and I am sure to be developed; mineral sands; pines and timber he would be offended if I did not make reference derivatives. That was the list the Premier gave. to the fact that the Premier mentioned the I would like to put this in its perspective by development of Collie coal and the Muja power citing several population figures. I will refer station as part of the overall success in the to the Premier's comments about the tremendous south-west, The member for Collie has been growth achieved without affecting the environm~ent, quick to make the point that it cost this State the level of population, and the procrastinations $59 million because of the procrastination, the he made. The actual figures for the Preston stupidity, and mismanagement of the present area, which involves the Shires of Bunbury, Capel, Government. We find, too, that as far as the Collie, Dardanup, Donnybrook-Balingup and continued agricultural products are concerned, Harvey are: 1966, 37 676; 1971, 39 166: and 84 per cent of the beef farmers are in trouble 1976, 41 588. in the high rainfall areas. That gives an indica- In 1966 the population of Preston was tion of the problems they are confronted with. 37676. The census for 1971 showed the figure The Premier also mentioned the mineral sands to be 39 766, and the census for 1976 showed project rather boastfully on both the occasions I 41588. Members will notice there was an increase have mentioned but this industry has recently in those 10 years from 37 676 to 41 588. retrenched workers. Mr T. H. Jones: Bunbury In Vasse, which takes in the Shires of Augusta- put off 20. Margaret River and Busselton the figures are: Mr H. D. EVANS: The Premier also made great 1966, 10 07 1; 1971, 10 532; and 1976, 10 908. play about the planting of softwood forests. In Mr Old: What has this to do with the debate? last night's Budget the Federal Treasurer decreased the amount available for softwood plantings by Mr H. D. EVANS: It has everything *to do 53 per cent. What this is going to do to the with the debate. We are talking about unemploy- timetable and schedule of the Forests Depart- ment and the Premier's claims. He has made ment is anyone's guess. The department had a all sorts of claims today. The Leader of the long-term project and its project for the Donny- National Country Party seems to be worried. brook sunklands, where plryiophtlhora cinnamomi Mr Old: No, I am not. or dieback has made such ravages, has made the area of little use to anyone. This is where the Mr H. D. EVANS: I now refer to the Black- Premier said any expansion of wood area which includes the Shires of Boyup softwood forests would be directed. However, the Federal Gov- Brook, Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Manjimup and ernment has cut back funds by 50 per cent. Nannup. The figures for this area have gone from 16 149, 10 years ago, to 14940 in 1971, I make reference also to tourism. The Premier and to 13 944 in the last census. That shows did not mention this subject on the two occasions a decrease of 2 195. This is the sort of develop- I have referred to, but the south-west has come ment we ame looking at and I might add, to make to depend on tourism and will depend increasingly the point explicit, that the unemployment level in on this industry in the future. The development the Bunbury and Collie region is 5.08 per cent! of tourism did not receive funds from Mr Lynch I might say now that the unemployment rate or Mr Fraser. The amounts budgeted for in in Western Australia in 1974 was 1.62 1976 and 1977 related to outstanding commit- per cent and on the 29th July, 1977, it was 4.93 ments from previous years: commitments from per cent. So the Bunbury figure is approaching the Whitlamn Government. That Government the national level and the development to which realised the importance of the tourist industry. the Premier eulogistically referred does not bear Mr Lynch has said that no further commitments up so well to the cold hard statistics. It bears are to be made. up less effectively when industries he alluded to So the real hopes for the south-west in the long are considered. term-tourism and softwood forests-have been For example, the last industry initiated in the remarkably cut back and I do not know whether south-west was initiated by my colleague, the the increased charges by the present State Gov- member for Cockburn, when he was Minister for ernment are sufficient to make funds available. 630 630[ASSEMBLY]

It is a serious blow to the south-west and it will or not it gets off the ground is open to question create further unemployment; unemployment and at the moment. There is a possibility that the funds-the two are synonymous. alumina refinery at Wagerup will proceed, and As I said, I regret that the Premier is not here with that, the ultimate development of the soft- at the moment but when making his eulogies on wood industry is only a matter of time, but it the two occasions I have mentioned he said devel- has been seriously curtailed and strangled by the opment had been achieved without affecting the lack of funds. environment one little bit. The effrontery of the The funds which should have been made avail- man. What has happened in the south-west is able to put the Slate on a sound basis in the nothing short of criminal. long term tu, obviate the future difficulties and There was no Forests Act until 1916 but even dangers of unemployment have not been forth- after that the State forests were slaughtered. The coming. remnants of the jarrah forests were heavily cut. It is rather interesting-and I refer to the At Greenbushes at the turn of the century there Premier's remarks earlier this evening-t4hat the were 300 men employed in the timber industry. investment dried up during the period of the Also, the sleeper cutters- went through the area Whitlam Government. So it did, and it was and the amount of timber left on the ground was deliberate. It was deliberate on the part of those shocking. It caused a Canadian visitor to remark companies resident outside Australia which refused to the effect that timber in Western Australia had to invest and reinvest. The amount of company as little value as straw in the province from which funds which went out of Australia in that time he came. There was no control over sleeper was very considerable indeed and there was a cutters until the Act came into effect, concerted effort by those companies not to invest in Australia. What the member for Balcatta said The jarrab forest is diminishing very rapidly. was perfectly true. There is no cure at the moment for the dieback disease. The ravages of bauxite mining and over- Mr Old:. They lacked confidence in the country. cutting are very well known and for the Premier Mr H. D3. EVANS: The interlocking relation- to say that the environment has not been dis- ship of funds and the manipulation of those funds turbed is ludicrous. I do not kn6w how he by the companies to which he made reference is thought he could get away with it. Overcutting a very real factor of our economic life. has since been curtailed under the present five- The SPEAKER; The honourable member has year working programme of the department. four minutes remaining. However, if the timber which was cleared at Mr H. D. EVANS: Thank you, Mr Speaker. the time of the group settlement scheme was It is significant too that company tax has been available there would be cutting available for increased from 42.5 per cent to 46 per cent. another 35 years at the present level. As it This will throw an impossible task on the many is we have now about 35 years of karri to cut small businesses;, and have we not heard the at the present rates. That is the karri forest. Premier say that it is investment which will get The jarrah forest is in an even worse position. us out of our present depressed situation? If the Premier is correct-and that is rather doubtful- The Wellington Dam has a very high salinity why is this provision in the Federal Budget? It and is cause for great alarm. It could be even will make investment just that much harder and worse when we get to the summer months. That it will certainly deter investment. It will not will tell the real story, Again, the Premier claims entice funds into Australia for investment pur- that the environment is not affected. poses. The effluent from Laporte into the sea is In conclusion, I wish to state that the Fed- worrying the residents of Australind; and, in ad- eral Budget has dealt another blow not only at dition, there was untold human suffering during the rural producers, but also at all members the period of the group settlement scheme. It is of rural communities in this State and almost incomprehensible for someone like the in the rest of Australia. It is to the everlasting Premier to make a statement so vague and as shame of members opposite who claim to repre- generalised as his was. sent country areas that they have not even raised What this Budget has really highlighted is that their voices in protest. They are mute at this the generalisations of this Government for an juncture and I can only repeat that it was most improvement in the south-west are rather dubious. opportune that this amendment came before the There was reference to the bauxite industry, but House tonight. It will be most interesting to see Alwest seems to be in a shaky position. Whether what speakers we have from the Government side. [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.163 631

MR PEARCE (Gosnells) [1O.3S p.m.]: In the Mr PEARCE: I did not say that. I did not short time I have been in this House I am quite suggest he was operating in any sense in contra- disturbed at the failure of -the Government to vention of national Security. answer charges from this side of the House, and Mr O'Connor: Your friend did. despite the fact that they have the numbers over there and have members on the back and front Mr PEARCE: He is not making the speech, benches and in the back stalls, very few of them I am. When we moved our amendment we get to say anything. sought to have some rational discussion. Mr O'Connor: You are one of the back stalls. Several members interjected. Mr O'Connor: You are silent. Mr PEARCE: Not as far back as some on the other side. Mr PEARCE: I am waiting for the rabble Mr O'Connor: You could be further back if opposite to subside. I thought that when seeking you are not careful. a general discussion on the situation we would have received a rational reply. Instead we were Mr Tonkin: At least he is able to get up and told of strange little myths. We are wanting a speak which is more than can be said of mem- rational discussion on unemployment and I bers on your side. thought we would have received a rational answer Several members interjected. from members opposite. In fact, they did not Mr PEARCE: At least on this side I am able make any effort to come to grips with the amend- to get up and speak. I have some sorrow and ment. sympathy for those opposite who are muzzled and Mr H. D. Evans: Ask some of the country gagged by their front-benchers and not allowed members to contribute. to present any argument even in support of the Mr PEARCE: I ask anyone. Even the Minister policies they were presumably elected to represent. for Works is not allowed to contribute except by Since I have been here there have been three interjection. or four amendments moved, but I have not heard Several members interjected. anything in defence of the Government from members opposite except from the Premier and The SPEAKER: Order! the Minister for Labour and Industry, and they Mr PEARCE: I will read the first portion of have said very little. the amendment and will then pause to give those In the first defence of Government policy the members who are fortunate enough to be Minister told us a long story of a caravan at allowed to interject and say more than "Hear, Wundowie and threats to the national security, hear", a chance to dispute the facts I am reading. and other myths. The first portion of the amendment reads- Mr O'Connor: Do you think those things should However, we regret to advise Your Excel- be able to continue? lency that 1. During the period of the Court Mr PEARCE: This time I expect him to have 'Government's administration unem- Peter Cook training homing pigeons in order to ployment in Western Australia has gather his instructions- from various places. I was more than trebled from 7 527 in wondering what sort of tactic would be raised 1974 to 26 588 as at July 1977;- tonight. Does anyone dispute those figures? Mr O'Connor: Do you agree with that thing? Mr O'Connor: Who said they were rising? Mr Tonkin: Of course not. Mr O'Connor: That is all I want to know. Mr PEARCE: Does the Minister for Works dispute those figures? Mr Tonkin: Don't suggest we do. Mr O'Connor: I asked- Mr PEARCE, I thought t had made it per- Mr PEARCE: fectly clear what I believe. "Yes" or "No"-words of one syllable! Does he? Several members interjected. Mr O'Neil- Cut it out! Mr O'Connor: Don't get nasty just because I ask a question. Several members interjected. Mr Tonkin: We don't agree with the breaking Mr O'Neil: Yes, master! No, master! Who of the law. do you think you are? Mr O'Connor: In other words you are opposed Several members interjected. to Cowle's operation. The SPEAKER: Order! 632 632(ASSEMBLY]

Mr PEARCE: The amendment continues- All that he said is that unemployment is at an Several members interjected, unacceptably high level, but then excuses are made for this fact. This is what the Premier did tonight The SPEAKER: Order! Will the member for for about 40 minutes. He said that we are not Gosnells resume his seat please? I ask members doing as badly as some other people, as if some- of the House to refrain from interjecting. I how a soluionresided in our not doing as badly understand the member for Ciosnells speaks as he alleged others were doing. reasonably fast and that Hansard has difficulty in taking his speech- In view of the Minister's eulogies about him- self and his own department which appeared in Mr O'NeiI: So do we! the Press one would have thought the problem The SPEAKER: -when he is not being inter- had been solved and yet the sad facts and figures rupted. I shudder to think what difficulty they are that unemployment has, over the term of the would have under the circumstances prevailing Court Government, more than trebled. If that is before I rose. The member for Gosnells. an example of the problem being solved, then members opposite do not know what a solution Mr PEARCE: The amendment continues- is. -despite the Government's undertakings to I suggested to the Minister by interjection that -solve unemployment in Western Australia, if he is right and unemployment quadrupled or Did it give such an undertaking? increased at a faster rate he may feel the problem Mr O'Connor: Where were you when the Mini- was being solved even more rapidly. We then ister was on his feet? got the strange excuses and accusation of blame. It was always someone else's fault--the Eastern Mr PEARCE: He gave an undertaking, but States people were to blame for coming here and despite that the problem has not been solved. To swelling the Work force; it was the fault of the continue- Aborigines and, until last week, it was the fault -provide job security for all.. of the TLC. Who is the Minister for Works I will quote the Premier who said that not only blaming? would jobs be provided but career opportunities Mr O'Connor: It is a fact- would be provided also. I am sure the many Mr PEARCE: The Minister for Labour and unemployed would settle for a job, if not a Industry told us that the solution to the problem career, in the short term. is to provide more jobs. I appreciate his Several members interjected. remarkable insight! If that is the most startling Mr PEARCE: If members opposite are uncon- revelation he has made after 31 years in office, cerned about those things, they will vote against he has not been doing his job. the amendment. Mr Laurance: Who used the figures to show When one considers the Government's concern they have- for unemployment, one must quote from the Gov- Mr PEARCE: He went further and added, with ernor's Speech concerning what he had to say on a great depth of analysis of which the member behalf of the Government on the question of for Gascoyne would be incapable, that the problem unemployment. Someone opposite older and wiser was that jobs were being provided but the numbet -perhaps the Minister for Works-may be able of jobs available was not keeping pace with the to point out where the solution lies in the Gov- number of people wanting them and that there- ernor's Speech. This is what he had to say- fore unemployment was increasing despite the Unemployment in Western Australia is Government's provision of more and more jobs. still unacceptably high. He spoke as though the need had arisen only because of the increase in the work force during Obviously we agree with that. To continue- the three years of the Court Government. He Nevertheless, the June figure of 4.7 percent speaks as though prior to that the work force was significantly lower than the national had been static. Everyone knows that the number figure of 5.37 percent. has been increasing all the time and there has Moreover the State's total Civilian employ- always been the need to create more and more ment increased by 3.1 percent in the 12 jobs for the work force. months to March 1977, against a marginal The problem is that the Government is not able national decrease, to provide the solution by providing the jobs. It tWednesday, 17th August1 1977.] 6333 has patently failed to solve the problem of unem- The editor is speaking of Sir Charles Court. ployment. The Premier said, quite cynically- In the way that the Editor of The West Aus- and as a new, innocent member, I was shocked tralian put it, Sir Charles Court had given up at his cynicism-t4hat somehow the Opposition on his attempt to solve the unemployment prob- had a vested interest in unemployment because lem, but the editorial then went on to say- unemployment was a vote catcher. Quite. clearly Recklessly Mr Jamieson has jumped in to back in August, 1972, he appreciated the vote- give the same undertaking. catching potential of unemployment as an issue Mr Jamieson: Which he did not do, of course. because, during a debate on a no-confidence motion he moved on the 16th August of that year, Mr PEARCE: What the editor was saying- he said- Mr Jamieson: Not at any time did I say that. Within six months of getting back into Mr PEARCE: -was that Sir Charles Court office and sorting out some of the mess which promised to solve unemployment and inflation has been created. At least we would restore and he had not been able to do so. Therefore, confidence and get the people spending the editor told the electors, they should not give money and expanding industries. By doing a vote to anyone who promised he could solve this we would create full employment. the problem or even suggested he could solve the In 1972, with an election coming up, the Premier problem. He then went one better and said to understood that it was possible to have a vested the electors, "What you should do is to vote for interest in unemployment if it were being used someone who can show a record of three years' as a vote-catching mechanism. Of course, he not failure in this area." only had trouble in trying to solve the problem Later on the editorial states that the voters within six months, but he is still having the have a choice between the known and the trouble after more than three years. The problem unknown, and it tells them to vote for the known has been 100 per cent worse during each of the failure. I suggest to Government back-benchers three years he has been Premier. that if they have any integrity at all they will be forced to vote for the amendment. Now listen to this double talk to which I alluded Members opposite claim to have some in my previous speech. It is from the editorial con- cern about the unemployment situation in this in The West Australian on the 18th February; State. We are not talking about whether or not that is, the day before the last election. In this, the Court Government has a marginally better the editor tried to urge the people not to performance than that of the Tasmanian or Vic- vote for members on this side of the House. torian Government, or indeed of any other The editor speaks of the record of the Court Government. What we are saying is that some Government. But listen to what he has to say- 26000 people in this State are unemployed and -Sir Charles Court's promise to reduce un- these people are suffering all the detriments to employment and bring down the rate of in- which many speakers on this side of the House flation was ever a rash one. have referred earlier in the debate tonight. Now members opposite cannot ignore the fact that No-one could say that the Editor of Tire West there are 26 people without jobs. If they are Australian is a carping critic of the Government 000 not concerned about that fact, they will in any sense. Het has been one of its most faith- vote against the amendment. ful, loyal Supporters, yet he recognised that the promises made by the Premier-the promises Mr Sibson: May I ask a question? which got him into office-were rash. Mr PEARCE: Go ahead. Listen to the double thinking; listen to the Mr Sibson: If the figures were the other way double talk- Instead of castigating the Premier around, would you debate in the same way? about his promises, he went on to say that people on this side of the House ought not to be Mr PEAR-CE: Do you mean if the rate of irresponsible in the way that Sir Charles Court employment were going down? had been and then he said that people ought not Mr Sibson: No, if our figures were worse than to vote for the Labor Party because of our those for the other States, would you argue in promises on unemployment. The editorial goes the same way? on to state- Mr PEARCE: Yes, of course I would. Put Sadder and wiser today, he has not re- it this way: if 26 000 people were unemployed in peated the pledge. Western Australia, and another State with a 634 634[ASSEMBLY] similar population had only 25 000 people unem- Mr Tonkin: You would not know what principle ployed, that would make no difference to my is. argument. It would not matter whether 25 000 The SPEAKER: Order! people or 27 000 people were unemployed in any Eastern State. Mr PEARCE: Of course it is much easier for Mr Sibson: You are saying in that situation you the Government to say that it will produce 100 000 would compliment the Government? jobs than to present proposals to produce those jobs in 18 months or seven years. These Mr PEARCE: I would not compliment the two periods seem to be synonymous to the Gov- Government on having unemployment at all. ernment. However, I do not intend to run over Surely the honourable member can understand a some six weeks of election campaigning for the simple argument like that? What I am talking benefit of the member for Cottesloe. I do not about is the number of people unemployed. know where he was at the time. It is no good going up to a man who is unem- The point is that the situation has not been ployed to say, "You do not have a job, you are in pretty poor straits, and you cannot really do solved, and this Government cannot solve it. I anything except to live on the miserable dole. will ask the member for Cottesloe, as he is on However, look at it this way; if you were in the Governme nt side, what in fact he is doing Queensland there would be more of you." What about it. sort of argument' is that? Mr Tonkin: He can only read his speech. If Government members had any sort of con- Mr Hassell: We told you what we were doing. cern for the people who are unemployed- Mr Hassell: What would you do about the Mr Tonkin: You cannot even make a speech Z6 000? without reading every word. Mr PEARCE: What would I do? The SPEAKER: Order! Mr Hassell: Yes. Mr Laurance: He should be the Leader of the Opposition then, shouldn't he? Mr PEARCE: 'It is not up to me in this speech- The SPEAKER: I have asked the member for Mr O'NeiI: You would talk them to death! Gosnells to address his remarks to the Chair. 1 would ask for the co-operation of members in Mr PEARCE: --to put forward a whole series desisting from interjecting. The member for Gas- of solutions to the problem. nells. Mr Jamieson: Get up and make your own speech. Mr PEARCE: Thank you, Sir. The point I make is that we would be only too happy to take Mr Hassell: What would you do? the benches opposite-- Several members interjected. Mr Old: I'l[ bet you would. The SPEAKER: Order! Mr Bateman: The Speaker told you not to Mr Tonkin: Aren't you allowed to get up and make a speech? interject. The SPEAKER: What I would do is to ask Mr PEARCE: -and to make an effort to solve for the interjections to cease to allow the member the unemployment problem. The member for for Gosnells to proceed with his speech. Cottesloe and other members may have doubts about our capabilities to do it, but there is one Mr PEARCE: Thank you, Sir. We presented, thing certain about this-and this is the point on I thought, a reasonably comprehensive set of which I rest my whole case-there is one side proposals to deal with the unemployment situa- of this House that cannot do it. in 34 years tion prior to the last election. the Government has proved it cannot solve the Mr Laurance: And look where it got you. problem, and in 31 years we have seen a worsen- ing of the situation and Mr Jamieson-. Well, you told lies, and look a trebling of unem ploy- ment. Patently the Government has failed in its where it got you. task and it can produce no solution. Now mem- Mr Tonkin: You think that is all there is to bers opposite say that the Labor Party may not it-winning. solve the problem. However, we know, and the Mr Bryce: Survival! Morality means nothing. public knows, that the Government cannot solve Several members interjected. it. [Wednesday, 17th'August, 19774 63635

MR LAURANCE (Gascoyne) [10.52 p.m.]: Mr LAURANCE: If the member for Morley Most of the points in this amendment have been will give me an opportunity, I shall tell him about already well and truly debunked by the previou3 this. Particularly at Federal level, members of speakers front this side of the House. Govern- the ALP are worried. We see this worry pre- ment members have shown in these very difficult seniting itself in a very subtle way. The amend- times the sympathy we feel for the people in the ment tonight indicates that the cherished goal and State, and that something is being done. accepted principle of full employment in Aus- Mr Tonkin: We are going against, the trend tralia is no longer a reality because of Labor in the OECD countries where the figures are Party policies in this country. In fact, it is a improving. myth, and it is becoming- an irrelevant concept as compared with what we knew previously. The Mr LAURANCE: Our unemployment figures situation no longer exists where we can return are very good compared with the other States of to what the conservative Governments of this Australia. country called full employment, to what was tra- Mr Tonkin: Unemployment is becoming worse ditionally full employment. with your management. Mr Tonkin: I'll bet you the member for Scar- Mr ]LAURANCE: To me there is one very im- borough beats you to the Cabinet after this portant part of this amendment, and I would like speech. It is pathetic, tortuous, pedestrian, and to draw it to the attention of the House. Right you are limping along. at the bottom of the amendment we find the -fob- Mr LAURANCE: We will come to that in a lowing- moment. Let us look at the reason that it is Furthermore, this House no longer a relevant concept. We heard a great (c) rejects policies and attitudes designed to deal from the Opposition benches of the great build unemployment at high levels, perm- social justice of the Whitlamn era. anently into the economy. Mr Tonkin: What is not a relevant concept- Mr Speaker, I would like to point out that that full employment? is a giant Australian Labor Party cover-up, and a Mr Jamieson: Did he say full employment is very subtle one too. The Labor Party has a not a relevant concept? feeling, particularly at a Federal level, that it may Mr LAURANCF: It is the greatest rort ever have some hope of gaining the Treasury benches perpetrated on the people of Australia because again, and it wants to build into the system legis- the Whitlam Government built unemployment into lative acceptance of the problems it has caused the system. Under its administration unemploy- previously. So we see this provision slipped into ment became a cancer. the tail end of the amendment. Mr Tonkin: There was a world-wide recession. I submit that the winds of worry are passing Why can't you be a little fair and honest? through the ALP, and they are rattling the skele- tons in the closet. Mr LAURAN CE: A full cure is not available to us today. Mr Bateman: Who are you trying to fool- yourself? Mr Pearce: Why has it become worse since Whitlam went out of power? Mr LAURANCE: We have spoken about this before. Mr LAURAN CE: We will have to accept a much higher level of unemployment as the norm. Mr Bateman, What skeleton are you trying to I can already hear the bleats from the other cover uip? side, but I must tell them that the principle has been Mr LAURANCE: Members of the Labor Party accepted. Some of the members sitting opposite have finally seen, despite what some members now played an important part in accepting this have told us tonight, that it is. impossible to return principle at a Federal level. It is only four or to the situation of full employment that has been five weeks since the Federal Conference of the traditional in this country previously. Australian Labor Party in Perth. Mr Tonkin: Traditional only with the Labor in all the pages of blurb which we saw come Government after the War. out of that conference, perhaps the most import- ant thing, as far as I was concerned, took up Mr LAURANCE: You are quite wrong. very little space in the Press. We heard of all Mr Tonkin: It is not wrung; in the 1920s and the changes in policy, and so on, and in most 1930s there was unemployment. cases they were given full page articles. 636 636[ASSEMBLY]

Mr Tonkin: At least the Press is there; why Mr LAURANCE: This is an insurance policy. aren't the Press permitted at Your councils? You The Labor Party policy is one of full employ- keep them out. ment, but members of the Labor Party know it Mr LAURANCE: This was a very small article. cannot be achieved, and so the Federal conference but it is of tremendous importance. It appeared wrote this into the ALP policy. in the Press on Tuesday, the 5th July, at the Several- members interjected. bottom of the page. This was a very tiny article The SPEAKER: Order! headed, "Jobs for all is goal", and it read- Mr LAURANCE: The fact is that the Labor The conference committed a Labor govern- Party could not solve this problem any more- ment to seeking the restoration of full em- Mr H. D. Evans: You sound like the Minister ploy ment- for Labour and Industry. Sit down. That is part of the policy of the Labor Party. It has always been there, but the Labor Party Mr LAURANCE: If we consider the tradition has found it impossible to achieve. In fact, we of full employment, coalition Governments have have heard it said tonight that it is a part of demonstrated over a long period that they could the programme- provide what we call full employment. Mr Tonkin: We established it in 1945. Mr Pearce: Your Government cannot do it now. That is what we are arguing about. Mr LAURANCE: The ALP always played upon the fact that it was to its electoral advantage Mr LAURANCE: The member for Gosnells has to have a pool of unemployment- changed the rules again. We want to provide true Mr H. D. Evans: It was a Liberal Prime Minis- social justice. The coalition Governments brought ter who said that there has to be a pool of unem- dignity to all the work force, a point the Labor ployed to discipline the workers. Party now sees as impossible to achieve. Mr Tonkin: That was Menzies. Mr Pearce: Difficult to achieve. Mr LAURANCE: Let us come back to the Mr LAURANCE: Let us have a look at the Federal policy. record of the 1960s. Under Liberal-Country Party Governments, the unemployment level Mr Jamieson: Yes, you'd better. in the 10 years of the 1960s averaged 1.8 per cent, Mr LAURANCE: I will come back to that which I maintain was traditional full employment. point. The article goes on to report as follows- During the same period, we had an average -but agreed that this would be a difficull inflation rate of 2.5 per cent. For the same 10- goal to achieve. year period in the United Slates of America, there So at a Federal level the Labor Party has was an unemployment rate of 4.8 per cent. Today accepted that. in the USA it is 6.9 per cent. So, members Mr Davies: Because of what Fraser has done. can see that one of the world's major economies was only just able to keep its unemployment Mr LAURANCE: The employment situation in Western Australia has been ruined, and it will level below 5 per cent during the 1960s at a never get back to a situation of full employment. time when the Liberal-Country Party Government in Australia was bringing great social justice and A South Australian delegate to the ALP con- digni ty to the work force by providing genuine wanted to have that reference removed, ference full employment. bat he failed in his attempt. As I said, the cold winds of reality blew through the ALP conference Then we saw the Whitlamn Government take and its members realised that if they ever had over the running of this country. Because of the chance to try to run the country again, it its policies, it set about destroying the principle would be impossible for them to ensure a return of full employment. The Australian Labor to the position of full employment. So this was Party now must admit that to be a fact an insurance policy that the conference wrote because at its last two-yearly conference into its policies. it changed its platform and admitted that full We are seeing this feeling come through here employment would be very difficult to obtain. Suddenly, this policy tonight because the Labor Party admits it will be of the ALP, which had been written into its platform since lime impossible to regain a situation of full employ- immemorial was changed. ment in this country. Mr Tonkin: Since 1945-that Mr Pearce: It did not say it was impossible, it is not forever. just said difficult. Don't you know what you are Mr LAURANCE: That is the reality of the reading? situation. The Federal Government during the [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977163 637

Whitlam era became the paceseitter for wage Mr Tonkin: Full employment was introduced increases. It set about -changing the economic in 1945 by the Chifley Government. Was he structure of this country with missionary zeal. a Liberal? Don't you know anything? That Government reduced profitability to a dan- Mr LAURANCE: So we have this weak Oppo- gerously low level and introduced all sorts of sition which was decimated at the previous elec- worker benefit such as holiday pay loading and tion. financial inducements for women to stay in the Mr Jamieson: We came back with exactly the work force after they were married and had same numbers. Decimated! children. Mr LAURANCE: It is trying to drag out Mr Skidmore: The Whitlam Government did the same issues which were thrown out by the not do that; that was done by negotiation with people of this State and we have now reached Stale Governments. the situation where all it can do is bleat about Mr LAURlANCE: That is a good point; these unemployment. Members opposite know very well changes were taking place. But then we had that the policies they supported caused the present Whitlam Government and it put the fires the problems, and are still having an effect on the under these things to such an extent that the economy of this country. Despite this the State economy could not cope. It is doubtful whether Government is doing what it can to overcome the the economy will ever recover to the pre-Whitlam problem and is achieving results and slowly era. As a result of the policies of the Whitlam returning to full employment as we know it in Government, full employment now willb this country, something like 4 per cent-not 1.8 per cent, post-Whitlam. which applied during the 1960s. That is the legacy of the Whitlam Government; no longer MR SKIDMORE (Swan) [11.05 p.m.]: I enter will we return to the days of traditional full this debate to support the amendment. I indi- cated employment. This position has been accepted to the Minister for Labour and Industry even by the ALP federal conference. that I would be delighted to receive from him the very auspicious report from which he quoted Mr Bryce: The Premier will smile sweetly at length. Upon reading this document, I find on this sort of speech. it continues the cruel deception which has been Mr LAURANCE: The facts are there before practised on the work force by this Government us. I realise members opposite are only hedging since it has been in power. The Minister said against the possibility that they will govern it would be very difficult for the Opposition to this State. and when they find they are unable challenge his remarks and the statistics and to reduce unemployment they will point to their information contained in this document, and I platform and claim not to have failed. agree with him almost 100 per cent. Mr Pearce: It might be difficult for us but it What is the document all about? It is not will be impossible for you. Tell us about the about unemployment at all: it does not make one 26 000. statistical analysis of the number of people unem- Mr LAURANCE: The honourable member has ployed. It deals with the question of employ- already been told. The State is creating more ment growth. Do not let us be fooled by these jobs, and has the answer. two terms because they are diametrically opposed Mr Pearce: It does not have the answer. to each other. Mr LAURANCE: The policies of the ALP Mr Sibson: They must be related. were put forward to the people at the last election Mr SKIDMORE: They are not; employment quite fairly and squarely, and we got the results. growth and unemployment are opposite to each Mr Pearce: The result is 26 000 unemployed. other. If we have a growth in unemployment, we What is your answer to that? cannot refer to it as employment growth. The Mr LAURANCE: All these changes brought Minister was confusing the issue. He said he was about by the Whitlam Government have cost going to present a well-documented case which jobs, and this is still built into the present would show that the Liberal Government had situation, particularly in the industrial scene, done everything within its power to ensure work- where people are seeking better and better jobs ers were going to be well treated. I should like for fewer and fewer people to a point where to quote some of the Minister's remarks when it will be impossible to achieve the traditional talking about employment growth. He said- full employment enjoyed by this country under Other statistics show the total employ- Liberal-Country Party Governments. ment in Western Australia had increased at 638 638(ASSEMBLY]

a far healthier rate than other States-5.61 On the 17th January, 1977, the total registered per cent between May, 1974, and May, this unemployed in Western Australia increased by year. 5 244 to 23 978. The Minister pointed out that When I challenged the Minister to tell me where 15 000 school leavers came onto the market, he obtained the base rates for his analysis to as i( this were something entirely unexpected. arrive at the figure of 5-6i per cent, he did not It was almost as if the Minister were accusing reply. Even when I received the document from parents of having children. I shall exclude the Minister, something was removed from the school leavers to indicate the cruel deception because over the period of six months-exclud- top. I do not know what it was but it may have revealed the source of the Minister's information. ing school leavers--unemployment increased by 2 567. The Minister continued- In the same period, unfilled vacancies fell by During the term of the present State Gov- 224 to 2 014. 1 wish to correlate these two ernment however the percentage of the statistics because they are most important. One labour force unemployed in WA has con- must realise if the Government is to reduce sistently been below the national average. unemployment it must do what the Minister That is one of the rare occasions that the Min- suggests; namely, create jobs. However, the ister mentioned unemployment. He claimed official record of this Government shows that Western Australia's unemployment was con- a cruel deception has been practised, because sistently below the national average. The mem- the number of unfilled vacancies actually fell dur- ber for Gosnells adequately shot down that ing each month of the period to which I refer. argument in flames by saying, "aDoes it really matter that you can say to the unemployed in As at the 14th February, excluding school Western Australia that they should not worry leavers, unemployment increased by 2 011I. How- about being unemployed because only four in ever, including school leavers the figure increased every 200 workers are unemployed in Western by 2 357, But what happened to unfilled Australia, while the figure is 5.5 out of every vacanices? They increased by I111I1 to 3 125. 100 in Queensland, or eight in every 100 in It should be remembered that to this point other States?" What joy! What has the Min- the work force had not absorbed the influx ister and the Government dnne, and what is the of school leavers. So, let us go on to the Premier going to do to create new jobs? month of March, where the number of school Later in my remarks I will use the same leavers unemployed decreased by 593. In actual document the Minister used to show how a cruel fact, the total number of unemployed decreased deception still is being practised upon the workers by 829, so it was obvious that some of the of this State. The Minister went on to say- additional unemployed were absorbed by the This meant that unemployment prospects work force. Jobs were created, and were accepted would continue to outstrip those of other by some unemployed people. States, with Western Australia experiencing In April-again excluding school leavers-there a further decline in its percentage unem- was a decrease of 402 unemployed, while unfilled ployed compared with the national average. vacancies decreased by 391 to 2 316. So we have The Minister clearly is accepting that the national a continuing decrease in job vacancies available average in this State is not good enough for for the work force to fill. I find that in May, him, and that if unemployment in Western 1977, the total number of registered unemployed, Australia is slightly lower than the national excluding school leavers, decreased again, this average, he will accept it. If that is not what time by 41. Notwithstanding, unfilled vacancies he is saying, will somebody please explain to still decreased by 321 to 2 295. In June of this me what he meant by that statement? year the total number of registered unemployed I wish now to quote from a monthly review increased by 73. Excluding school leavers unem- of the employment situation published by the ployment increased by 332. It is significant that Department of Employment and Industrial the total number in that increase were school Relations for the period December, 1976, to leavers who could not obtain employment. The June, 1977. It is a great pity we have not statistics reveal that to be so. Of course, unfilled been allowed to incorporate these statistics into vacancies again decreased by 300 to I 995. The Hansard. I will endeavour to be concise and latest figures available are those of the 18th Juty to refer only to those figures which patently and they show that the total number of registered show the cruel deception practised upon our unemployed increased by 2049. Excluding workers. school leavers unemployment decreased by 2 286. [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.] 6393

If one knows anything about statistics it must by saying "the Premier". I returned to the docu- become patently clear that a cruel deception has mentation containing the word "Court" as a name. been foisted on the people of tbis State and that I return to it again and offer no discourtesy to a cruel deception has been practised in this House the Premier because I am now quoting from the by the Minister saying that the Government is document. He said- getting on top of unemployment. That was a Western Australia has a peculiar economy. palpable untruth, one might say, but it could per- It does not matter how much one likes to haps be excused on the grounds of ignorance. deny it, we must say it has a regional economy Let us consider the totality of the situation in I want to tell the Government that it real figures. On the 17th January, 1977, there does not happen that way. were 23 978 people unemployed. On the 18th He said that no jobs would be created in the July, 1977, there were 25 573 people unemployed. manner the then Government suggested because That is an -increase of 1 594 people in a period the Court Government had been through the mill. of six months. Unfilled vacancies at the termina- Later in that debate the Premier stated- tion of the period I have mentioned were 1 760 jobs, which is a decrease of 254 jobs avail- We have heard talk about millions of dol- lars around the corner but, to able to workers. Yet the Minister said that his come back Government's record should stand supreme and to my point, while these things make it easy if the necessary project drops out of the that it has been able to solve unemployment. -But sky, if we cannot the figures that are available to this Government obtain it when we need it, to -clearly illustrate the truth of this issue were we must then take stock of the situation and deal with the small not even quoted and in fact were glossed over and medium-sized possi- bilities. in a very untidy way to try to deceive the people and certainly to deceive us on this side of the I posed a question to the Minister for Labour House. and Industry regarding the projects in the pipe- line which were mentioned to the 24 electricians I do not like quoting the words of the Premier, who attended his office. He told me without but I should like to refer to some comments he arny question at all-and I have 24 witnesses-- made on unemployment during the debate on a that four projects in the metropolitan area would Too confidence motion in this House on the 16th be commenced if a code of ethics were signed. August, 1972. He said- But I did not get an answer to the question. I ...the Government has just been waiting got the sort of answer which was used by the for something to turn up and hoping a big Minister tonight in a very cruel and deceptive project would break and solve the problem. way, and I shall explain why it was a cruel Of course, it must be clearly understood that the deception. then Government was the Tonkin Government Mr Grayden: What was the answer you got? and Court being in Opposition was criticising. that Government. Mr SKIDMORE. The Minister has said that a number of workers would be employed on The SPEAKER: Order! I ask the member to Projects. 'He made great play of the capital resume his seat. There has been a tendency on cost of those projects without even trying to be the part of members in recent times to use the honest enough to refer to those workers who surnames of members of this House. I know full would be employed other than to use the figure well that that is how it is recorded. I know of 9 000. 1 do not take him to task on that that the member for Swan was quoting from but I made the figure 9 320 and it is important something which mentions a member of this House to be accurate, if one wishes to read out some- by his name, but he knows full well that he is thing, and to be sure one knows what one is the Premier and I ask him to refer to him in talking about. that way. Mr Grayden: It is terribly important to be Earlier the member for Gosnells referred to accurate. One of the- another member of this House by his surname. I Mr SKIDMORE: Mr Speaker, I should like to simply ask members not to use the names of continue and if I have to shout over the Minister people but to address them by their titles, if they I shall do so. The Minister quoted figures of are Ministers, or by the seats they occupy in 2 720 workers being employed on construction in this House. 1977 and said that the operational employment Mr SKIDMORE: At no time did I indicate any- figure would be 1 025. So for a period of 12 thing other than that. I prefaced my remarks months, assuming the works are finished-and 640 640ASSEMBLY3 they certainly will not be-employment will have The Minister also mentioned some great and been reduced from 2 600 to 2 200 in 1977. wonderful retraining scheme that the Govern- Mr Grayden: You are distorting the situation. ment was going to undertake. I shall now quote Mr SKIDMORE- I am not distorting the from statistics put out by the Department of Em- ployment and Industrial Relations in June, 1977, situation; I am using the answers which the concerning the unemployment situation. At least Minister gave to me, and if I have to speak I have the courtesy to give the Minister my over the Minister I shall do so because I have source of information. He certainly has not limited time. the courtesy to give me the source of bis infor- Assuming that there is no increase in unem- mation, although I accept the information as ployment, the Minister then practiced a cruel. being correct. I shall quote from table I of the by stating that there would be deception again Commonwealth Employment Service unfilled employed on construc- a further 6 600 workers vacancies as at the 8th October, 1976. 1 must tion. In actual fact in 1978 there would be only apologise for the failure of the Commonwealth 2600 workers employed on construction and Government and the Government Statistian to even then there would be a balance of 1 700 keep up with the unemployment figures. They construction workers from the previous year so are increasing so quickly that they must run out that there would be a total of only 900 more of computer space to keep them tabulated. people employed on construction works in the year 1978. One cannot compound the felony The table shows geographic categories and by putting forward figures for successive years sets out the unfilled vacancies. In Western and then totalling them all up. Australia there were 1 299 or 7.3 per cent of the national average. In nonractropolitan I amn concerned at the cruel deception that this areas there Minister has practised on us and on the people were 657. The categories include: of this State. I am quoting his figures. He said workers unemployed, permanency of the vacan- they were authentic and I agree with him. I am cies, full-time and part-time vacancies and not practising a deception because I am using length of time the vacancies were unfilled. It those figures correctly. When we turn to the year is a great pity that time limitation on speakers 1978-79 we find that a work force of 4 000 will makes it awfully difficult to deal with a statistical be required for projects in that year and there analysis in a logical way. I should be very would be 2 300 employed actually running the pleased indeed if we could include them in show. But that will not occur until 1980. Be- Hansard. However, I shall quote No. 7 which sets cause the projects are to finish in 1979, if one out the reasons for difficulty in filling vacancies. applies the same honesty to the figures one will It was very kind of the Minister to provide find that no more than 2 500 to 3 000 workers me with ammunition when he said he had will actually be employed on these projects. increased the apprentice intake from 10000 to Mr Grayden: Absolute nonsense. 13 000. That is commendable but it is nowhere Mr SKIDMORE: The Minister may say that near enough. The figures show the difficulty but I challenge him and anybody else to gainsay in not filling 24419 vacancies throughout Aust- the figures I have put forward. ralia. The number of vacanices not difficult to When I took a deputation of 24 unemployed fill was 6 783. 1 assume they would have been electricians to see the Minister he received them filled without much problem. courteously and listened to them. All we got The shortage of suitable qualified applicants, from him was that four good projects are going included in the number of 9 300, shows that 59 to get off the ground but that unless the workers people were unable to fill jobs because they did signed a code of ethics not one of them would not have the required qualifications for the get off the ground. When I challenged him with work. It is cruel deception to say there were regard to the projects I elicited from him that 9 359 vacancies, if the workers could not qualify only the Law Court building would get under for those jobs. Another section included way. I asked the Minister a question and he told employer selectivity. I do not mind employers me about the other projects which he felt would being selective in their choice of workers; t make it appear as though the Government was believe that is their right. That right has doing something, but in essence he was practising certainly been exercised on more than one a cruel deception. So the Minister has been occasion on me. t wilt not go into the reasons, caught up in his own intrigue. He supplied me but possibly many other workers have suffered with documentation but he used that documen- the same fate--because they have been .active tation in his speech only in the manner which he in union affairs. At one time I think the felt was advantageous to himself. employer concerned was justified in refusing [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.1 6414 me employment because of a savage altercation. and an attempt to mislead this House on unem- He might have been justified on that occasion. ployment. Another category of workers includes those Mr Grayden: I gave the member a written who would have to work unattractive hours. statement. Jobs have been created, but workers cannot Mr Jamieson: The Minister did not give the take them because of the times they would member both pieces of paper. He quoted from have to work. Many workers do not want to two papers. work night shifts. A total of 2 522 jobs could not be filled because the workers were unable Mr Grayden: I have Liven the member all the to accept the unattractive conditions and hours. papers I quoted from. Another 638 jobs could not be filled because Mr SKIDMORE: I ask the Minister to do me the wages were unacceptable, and unattractive. the courtesy of providing me with the correct A total of 16268 unfilled vacancies existed for figures. I have already said I agree with the very good reasons out of a total of 24 419 documentation with the exception of two figures. vacancies. A quick calculation shows that some I am not quarrelling with it. Why does the Min- 8 000 jobs were really available. However, it was ister always try to deceive the people? The Min- impossible to fill 16000 jobs because they were ister jumps in and says he is doing certain things, not suitable to the work force. but throughout the debate he continues to debase The Minister for Labour and Industry proudly this place by virtue of his manner. It is a great said the Government would solve the unemploy- pityIthat the debasement takes place. ment situation and introduce a retraining pro- Mr Grayden: What is the point the member is gramme for 3 000 aidditional apprentices. That quibbling about at the moment? is a drop in the ocean. A total of 16 000 workers Mr SKIDMORE: I have been quibbling for are in need of retraining. some time, and most members are sick and tired Again, there has been a cruel deception. My of, the utterances from the Minister, and the .source of information is the Commonwealth Sta- reference to crocodile tears. I am illustrating tistician. Let uISget back to some other issues that the statement by the Minister, and the efforts raised by previous speakers, and the suggestions of the Government about doing so much for the which have been put forward to deal with this workers, are absolutely incorrect. I have to be important issue. careful of the terms I use because I have a docu- I heard the Premier refer to crocodile tears. ment with me which states there will be no I might tell the Premier I take strong exception defence if I were to call the Minister a liar, so to his remarks. I do not shed any crocodile tears I will not. about unemployment because I have been unem- The reality of the situation is the question of ployed on many occasions. -Perhaps, at the mo- deception based upon figures which are not fact- ment, I have a job which permits others to say ual. The figures which I have presented in a that I am doing all right: However, I do not statistical analysis, I believe show that unemploy- shed crocodile tears and it does not become the ment has drifted, Unemployment has increased Premier to say that members on this side of the by 1 594 in a short period of six months of this House do shed crocodile tears. year. The figures are fairly revealing, and in an The Minister for Labour and Industry con- effort to help I undertook the analysis of those tinually produces statements supplied to him by figures. It is a pity that we cannot show graphs Somebody in his department. The statements in Hlansard, but I have set out the percentages. usually have nothing to do with the debate. 1he1 My analysis of the figures shows that the unem- Minister cannot refer to employment growth, ployment situation, as at June, 1977, for the when discussing unemployment. The Minister whole of Australia is 5.37 per cent. In New mentioned figures for 1975-1977. He mentioned South Wales the figure was 6.15 per cent; in figures of 3.9 per cent, 3.7 per cent, 5.3 per cent, Queensland, 5.50 per cent; Victoria, 4.60 per cent; and 0.4 per cent. I think the last figure referred Sotuth Australia, 4.76 per cent; Northern Terri- to Tasmania. I ask the Minister to verify his tory, 9.00 per cent; Tasmania, 4.94 per cent; and figures because it is so easy to pluck statistics Western Australia. 4.75 per cent. out of the air and put them forward as being The Minister has said this State has a better truthful. record than any other State with regard to unem- The figures appear to me to be wrong, and I ployment, and I must agree that we arc clearly repeat that it is a cruel deception on the people and fairly in front of the other States when it

(21) 642 642[ASSEM BLY] comes to percentages. However, percentages do Mr H-. D. Evans: That is predictable. not make any difference to the unemployed. There Mr MclVER: Nothing seems to have changed. are still 1 594 more workers, as at the 8th July, Irrespective of what has been said from this side 1977, who are unemployed and who do not have of the House, the speech from the Premier was any relevance to the national average. They no different from former speeches, and that is happen to be unemployed and looking for jobs. very strange. I have shown that a totl of 9 300 supposed The present Government is in the same predica- construction jobs will, in fact, provide work for ment faced by the Tonkin Government when the 3 000 workers over a period of three years. Whitlam Government was in office in the Federal Mr Grayden: The member has not read them sphere. No money is coming to Western Aus- Correctly. tralia, and unfortunately for the people of West- ern Australia the Fraser Government has adopted Mr SKIDJMORE- I have read them correctly. the old domino theory in order to create unem- When the Minister has an opportunity to read ployment. For some unknown reason, this is a Maisard he will see the deception he has prac- theme followed by the legislators in other Parlia- ticed tonight. The Minister will find that what I ments of Australia. it seems to be the opinion have said is the exact position. I have shown of most Parliaments that if unemployment can how the employment of 9 300 workers will take be created in every State, and a large work force place over a period of three years. is available, inflation will be reduiced. A total of 2 720 workers would be employed During the last conference of the Australian on construction work in 1977, not 9 300. Accord- Labor Party two Premiers-Mr Neville Wran, ing to the figures provided by the Minister, by the Premier of New South Wales, and Mr 1978 a total of 2 600 workers would be employed Don Dunstan, the Premier of South Australia- on construction work, and not 9 300. The total told the people of Australia that they had number of workers who would be employed in been expected to go back to their respective 1978 would be approximately 5 600, and not States and create unemployment. 1 ask members 9300. opposite: Is that an exaggeration? They have 1 went through the proposal put forward by all heard the statement and had the opportunity the Minister and I say it is a cruel deception. to deny it or say it is wrong, but nothing has The Minister has claimed a certain number of come forward. Of course, that is what members the work force will be employed, but the period on the Government side want: they want as is spread over some five years. I do not want to much unemployment as possible in Australia know about jobs which will be created to absorb and particularly in Western Australia. the small total of some 3 200 workers in 1980; Much has been said about the Minister for 1 want to know what will be done to provide jobs Labour and Industry during this debate tonight. for 26 000 unemployed workers in 1977. But he is only one member of the Government. 1 heard the member for Gascoyne wax lyrical This situation lies wholly and solely with the about the philosophy of the Australian Labor Government of Western Australia, not with the Party, and I suppose one could be drawn into Minister for Labour and tndustry. It is a an argument in that regard, but that is not my Government responsibility and it does not purpose tonight. I want to talk about the true matter what the Minister for Labour and industry problem paramount in our minds. it was a cruel says because he is only one voice in the Cabinet. deception by the Minister to foist his figures on The Premier made a very poor effort tonight us, and t take no solace from the fact that he -1 think it was one of the poorest efforts he practised that cruel deception. The Minister has ever made in this Chamber. should ensure that when he enters into a debate Sir Charles Court: We hear that every week. he at least makes valid statements..- He has talked about growth employment, which has no Mr McI VER: I take umbrage at the remarks connection with the unemployed. he made about the member for Warren who was a former Minister for Agriculture. The Premier MR MdIVER (Avon) (11.43 p.m.J: I rise to was just grasping at straws. In the north, south, support the amendment moved by the member east, and west of the rural areas of Western for Ascot. An examination of the Premier's Australia, we will not find one farmer or any contribution to the debate clearly shows it is spokesman for farmers' organisations who similar to other addresses he has made in similar opposed the Labor Government's administration debates in this Chamber since we commenced or the legislation the member for Warren brought the- 29th Parliament. into this Parliament when he was Minister for [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.J 6434

Agriculture. If we could wake up the member we do not have dole bludgers today, We have for Mt, Marshall, he would agree with me. young men who have graduated from colleges I would be failing in my duty if I allowed and young men just out of their fifth year at this to pass. The Premier sidetracked from the high school who are willing to enter their issue we were debating. We were not discus- respective fields of work and who want to work sing the former Minister for Agriculture; we and do everything possible to contribute to were discussing unemployment in Western Aust- the economy of Western Australia. ralia. I cannot allow the Premier to get off However, we must be fair. The Western Aus- the hook by digressing from the debate in tralian Government cannot take all the blame that way. The farmers of Ibis State were because it is hog-tied by its counterpart in Can- certainly better off, and would always be better berra and is treated like a puppet. The Govern- off, with a Labor Government in office; and they ment of this State must take the money it is could not have had a better Minister for given by the Federal Government. Occasionally Agriculture than the member for Warren. It the Premier remarks in the newspapers that he was a bad mark on the Premier's record for is not happy about the situation but he must him to say what he did. accept it. It is often said this is the Cinderella Sir Charles Court: What are you talking about? State, and it is quite apparent that while the Mr McIVER: I am speaking about what the present Government is in office it will always be Premier said earlier tonight in relation to the the Cinderella State. member for Warren's administration of the port- We have many young people, both male and folio of Agriculture. female, who are fresh from schools and willing Sir Charles Court: What did I say? to do a job. What is the Government prepared to do, as a Government, to help them? What Mr McIVER: Have a Mansard. look at The has it achieved since gaining the Treasury benches Premier is the man who is supposed to be always in 1974? What incentives has it given to these fair. Hie is always having a shot at the member young people? None. This Government has for Balcatta, but his remarks were very unfair allowed the Fraser Government to dictate to it. and he knows it. It cannot do anything about the situation at the Sir Charles Court: What did T say about the present time because it is quite apparent that former Minister for Agriculture? there is a Federal election on the horizon and Several members interjected. the Government parties must be extra cautious following the election in the Northern Territory. Mr McTVER: The Premier should talk to his colleague the present Minister for Agriculture. It has been the pattern of the Government and to the members who represent farming throughout not to govern in any respect but to areas. If any country members on the back try to retain the vote it has achieved and not benches on the Government side have guts they disturb the situation to cause it to lose votes. will either oppose me or Support me. That is all it is concerned about. Mr Sibson: We are opposing you. Can any member on that side of the House tell me what the Government has achieved since 1974 Mr McIVER: The Premier digressed from the in health, education, transport, or any other vital subject matter before the Chair and I think issue in Western Australia? it is only fair for him to retract his statement. Mr Coyne: We won again in 1977. Sir Charles Court: I am asking you what I said about him. Mr McIVER: What has been achieved since Mr Jainieson: You had two or three things to 1974? I know the Government wants to close say abobt him. the Mullewa-Meekatharra railway line. Despite the utterances of the member for Murchison-Eyre Mr Davies: It is a sign of senility if you can- and the Government, we know it is intended to not remember what you said. close that line. But the Government has achieved Mr MeIVER: It seems to he the pattern for absolutely nothing. Ministers and members opposite to degrade in What has the Government done for local every way people who are out Of Work. A government? The councillors in all the shires in member in another place referred to them as Western Australia are in the main strong Liberal "dole bludgers", and of course t'hat made good supporters. Because of the actions of the Fed- reading in the local rags in the various electorates. eral Government and State Government, men have Perhaps some people were dole bludgers, but been put off. In the area I represent, which is one 644 644ASSEM BLYJ

of thie largest regional centres in Western Aus- My former leader, the Hon. John Tonkin, went tralia, the Northam Shire Council has had to on extensive tours to obtain the markets but old reduce its work force by SO per cent. ".pig iron Bob" in Canberra (Sir Robert Menzies), Mr Tonkin: The capital of the wheatbelt. sometimes known as "Ming the Merciless", would Mr Old: He means Katanning. not in any way allow Western Australia to export that ore from !he north. He said it was a Mr McIVER: The Minister can be facetious sacrilege and we could not in any way export it about this debate if he wishes. I do not want because it involved the environment. Members to see people out of work. Let the Minister stand opposite need not take moy ward for it; they up and debate this matter publicly, and he will should look at Hansard. Any such inquiry will see who is out in front. The Minister can be show that what I say is true and that the only facetious but I am facing reality. clever and reason it was not exported was that we could With his huge majority in Katanning, it does not not have a licence. matter what the Minister says because if he crawled on his hands and knees the people would After the change of Government in 1959 the still vote for him. But he is supposed to be Federal Government could not write a licence looking at the situation of other people. quickly enough to enable the iron ore agreements to be drawn up; so we have the situation today. Mr Watt: Are you saying we are only inter- Members opposite should not feel that as they ested in votes?. belong to the Liberal Party they belong to a Mr McIVER: Look at this babe in arms! I ask body of people that helped this State progress again: What has the Government done for the in the 1950s and early l960s with the develop- people of Western Australia since it has been in ment, expansion, and export of iron ore from office? What has the Government done for the the north. Such an endeavour has a great his- people of Albany which has one of the highest tory attached to it and members opposite played unemployment rates in Western Australia? a very minor role and were fortunate that they Mr Watt interjected. were in Government at the time this expansion Mr McIVER: I have been down there and got under way. spoken I want to adopt a different tack tonight in to the people who are looking for work.' They are young peoplc just out of school, who relation to the motion before the House and try have Achievement Certificates and who are looking to put something constructive to the Government for work. In my speech on the Address-in-Reply with regard to the unemployment situation. We I mentioned the qualifications which were expected could sit here and wait till the sun rises without of a person who would write receipts in a little reaching a solution. One of my great concerns tin-pot joh in the Beverley courthouse. The is the deterioration of our rail system. Irres- member for Albany has the audacity to say I have pective of any argument put forward to the con- not done my homework on this issue. I travel trary, our rail system is deteriorating. around the State quite a lot, not only to a little The Premier can say it is because there are area such as the electorate of Albany. no Federal funds available to expand our railways, The SPEAKER: I ask the member for Avon and to a large degree he is right. However, ihere to ignore the interjections and confine his remarks are many ways in which we can help to over- to the terms of the motion before the House. come the unemployment problem at the present time and one is to use the labour available Mr MeIVER: I will do so, Sir, but I do not amongst the ranks of the unemployed. want to be ridiculed by a babe in arms. In 1969 1 advanced strongly a theory that we The Premier speaks so often about the iron should get away from the track cycling mainten- ore development in the north and says that we ance introduced at the time. I said we should not on this side of the House thought it was pie get away from the old ganger and his staff, in the sky and would never happen, If the referred to as navvies. These people played a newer members of Parliament would care to do very vital role in the expansion of the rail system a little research into Hansard, they would find in Western Australia. They were hard-working people knew about this iron ore in the men. 1800s. It is nothing new. My predecessor in the electorate of Northam, the Hon. A. R. G. Mr Coyne: Hear, hear! Hawke who was Premier of Western Australia, Mr McIVER: I ask the Government: What is did all that was humanly possible to export the wrong with having sustenance camps as we had iron ore. in the depression of the 1930s? I cannot speak [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.1 6454 in depth about that era as I was too young and State railways to help complete our country my family worked very hard to see I did not tracks." If they do not want to work the Govern- suffer hardship. However, I know my father ment has the power under the appropriate Act suffered extreme, hardship. He had to work two to stop payment to these people. That would weeks on and then be stood down for one week. separate the wheat from the chaff. He informed mne of the situation at the time and The Government shou~ld get them out there and of the work men did on the main roads. They put them to work, whether it be on the Mullewa- worked in gravel pits without the aid of loaders Meekatharra line or the 3 ft. 6 in. lines where the or any other machinery. They had to use the diesel locomotives cannot operate efficiently and pick and shovel. There was plenty of labour have had to restrict operations. available then. The only spell they got was when Sir Charles Court: Can you guarantee the sup- they stopped to roll a smoke. It was too bad for port of the TLC on this proposition because it those who did not smoke. interests me if you can? We hear talk of the militant Englishmen but evidently in those days it was the Irishmen in Mr Davies: We cannot speak on behalf of the charge of the gangs. My father said they were TLC. We don't work on their behalf. very strict men and if anyone stopped too long Mr McIVER: For rmy part I will give the he was put off. It was a policy of the em- Premier this assurance: Although I have no con- ployers to look at the men's meat supplies and nection with the TLC, if the Premier will approach if they had meat they were stood down for that organisation and give me a copy of his another week. I do not stand in this Parliament letter, I will strongly support his moves. I am to make exaggerations. These are facts. In the very concerned with the situation oftthe transport tO years I have been in this Parliament I have system in Western Australia and our employment never lied. The facts I have stated are an indi- situation and I believe this is one way we can cation of the situation at the time and I do not overcome the problem. It is of no use criticising want to make a mockery of them. I have had the Government if one does not have a solution men tell me of how workers going from point or something else to offer as an alternative. A to point B in their efforts to get a job, straddled My solution is to put these people to work the buffers of trains because they had no money relaying those tracks. The Government should for fares. I think the Premier, who is older than I use the money it has in surplus and forget am, knows this is right. about carpets for the Premier's office and spend- M r Coyne: They jumped the rattler. ing amounts such as $15 000 on refurnishing and put it into the transport system. We should Mr McIVER: That is right. They were strict put to work those people who want to work. in those days and just as quickly as a person We should forget the term "dolt biudger". The hopped on, he was put off. Irrespective of how term should be erased from the vocabulary of we look at the situation today we are in the Western Australians. My idea would give them depths of a depression. It does not matter whether an opportunity to prove their worth. This we are speaking on behalf of the Chamber of applies to the 16-year-olds right up to the oldest Manufactures, the Automotive Chamber of Com- person willing to work. merce or any other organisation, we are in a now on the Federal Govern- depression I comment ment's decentralisation policy. When the Labor This Government has been starved of funds Party occupied the State Treasury benches the by the Federal Government. I do not think it word 'decentralisation" was used every night does not want to implement policies to help that Parliament sat. What has happened in unemployed people: it is just that it has no finance. the regional centres of Western Australia? Every- Yet this is the Government whose members, when thing now has to come to Perth, be it an we were on that side of the House, openly criti- application for sickness benefits, an application cised the Whitlam Government and policies such for an invalid pension, or for any other entitle- as the RED scheme that assisted so many ment. country areas from Esperance in the south to The young people in towns such as Kal- Kununurra in the north. goorlie, Bunbary, Northam, and Geraldton have I come back to my argument and ask: "What is been laid off because the system is handled wrong with getting these unemployed people, both by computers in Perth and it is quite a mess. young and middle-aged, putting them in susteii- How many members in this House have been ance gangs and putting them to work on the contacted by constituents inquiring after cheques 646 646[ASSEMBLY]

that have not been forwarded? I would say Budget speech the Treasurer announced that that every member of this Parliament from a 12 500 jobs formerly held in Federal Government regional centre has had such an inquiry. it departments have been done away with since the does not apply to members in the metropolitan 30th June, 1975, and he plans to do away with area quite as much. However, it certainly another 3 000 jobs by next June. So it appears applies in Northam. Not a day passes that that not only has the Budget failed to tackle the I do not have some representation made to me declining employment situation in this country but in this regard and it has increased because of also the Government is stilt pursuing a plan the centralisation of the Fraser Federal Gov- whereby it is deliberately increasing the amount ernment. The Federal Government took away of unemployment. With 337 000 people unem- jobs from the country areas and placed them ployed in this country it seems incredible that in Perth and 'so all representations on behalf of the Government is still pursuing a plan of deliber- constituents have to be directed to the capital ately creating more unemployment. city. It is laughable to say that this Govern- The Federal Government has done nothing to ment does not follow a centralisation policy. stimulate employment. There is no stimulation Certainly I have not exaggerated this point. for an investment-led recovery, no stimulation The hour is late and I do not wish to reiterate for a consumer-led recovery, and no stimula- all that has been said. I certainly support the tion for any type of recovery. The wonderful amendment before the H-ouse. One has to tax concessions for wage and salary earners that accept it just as the Australian cricket captain had the Treasurer announced are very much a figment to accept defeat. of his imagination. Further on in the Budget speech the Treasurer announced that he expects Mr O'Connor: Ungraciously. to get a 11 per cent increase in pay-as-you-Camn Mr MOIVER: The Government is doing taxation next year. So I would not like to be nothing about the unemployed people of Western a worker waiting to see how much lax I save Australia and I refer in particular to the young next year.- people leaving school at the moment. All we The complete failure of the Western Australian can hope is that the Government does get the Government and its inadequacy in dealing with the message and in the short time left to it will unemployment situation in this State are reflected implement some positive policy along the lines in the 26 000 people currently unemployed. The I have suggested. If it is not acceptable that Government's feeling of hopelessness and helpless- people should be put in sustenance camps to ness in this situation has been highlighted by the upgrade country railroads in Western Australia, pathetic attempt this evening by the Minister for then get on to those people the Premier gives Labour and Industry to explain away 26 000 thousands of dollars to every year to issue Press unemployed people. reports to keep this Liberal Government in office. The Government should implement a policy to Mr Davies: Disgraceful! relieve the unemployment situation in Western Mr HODGE: It was a disgrace. Instead of Australia. talking about the total number of people unem- Mr Speaker, I strongly support the amendment ployed I think we should start talking about moved by the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. individual people. There is too much talk about statistics and I intend this evening to tell the MR HODGE (Melville) [12.15 am.]: I sup- House about just two of those thousands of port the amendment moved by the member for unemployed people in this State. Ascot. I support it because I am deeply con- A man in his mid-twenties came into my office cernedl and alarmed at the unemployment situa- the other day. He is married and he has one lion nationally, Statewide, and in my own elector- child. He described to me how he was dismissed ate of Melville. Like the member for Swan, I from his last job. H-e worked for two years for resent the Premier's comments earlier this evening a multi-national company, the kind of company about crocodile tears. He obviously does not which members opposite* are so keen on. He have dozens of young people filing into his was employed as a stock control *clerk. office each week seeking assistance to find work. Originally there were three people working The Federal Budget announced last night by in the department in which my constituent the Treasurer has done nothing to rectify the worked. When one of those people left, the drastic situation concerning unemployment in employer said to the remaining two employees, this country. If anything, it appears to have "you fellows will have to work a bit harder. I worsened the situation. In one paragraph of the do not intend to replace that person who left." [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.]64 647

The two workers did work a little harder but after The other case I wish to relate concerns a a few weeks one of them could not stand the young man of 18. H~e was directed by the Com- pressure and resigned. The employer said to the monwealth Employment Service in Fremantle remaining worker, "You will have to work a to a job in my electorate which was described little harder because I do not intend to replace to him as truck driving. When he arrived he that worker either." found that the job was not in fact that of a truck driver but that of a furniture removalist. My constituent then said to his employer, "For Nevertheless, the young man gave it a go. Dur- all this added responsibility and work what about ing the next four days he worked approxim- a few extra dollars?" The boss said he would ately 54 hours from seven and eight o'clock in the think about the miatter. He came back after a morning until eight and 10 o'clock in the while and said, "I will give you $10 a week evening with no meal breaks, no tea breaks- extra." My constituent said, "1 was thinking of no breaks at all. He did not have a roster to work about $20 a week." When the boss had recovered to and the employer did not fill out a time he said he would have to take the from shock and wages book. matter up with head office. The young man asked the employer about Mr Mc~ver: Where would that be? overtime payments and penalty rates. The Mr HODGE: New York, Tokyo or some- employer said that he did not pay those but where like that. Head office replied, "Give that if the young man worked extra on Saturday him $8 and tell him to take it or leave he would give him a few dollars in cash to it." The young man took the money because avoid taxation. The young man stuck it out for he could not afford to lose the job, and four days. At the end of the fourth day he worked on for several weeks. Eventually and after working 54 hours he resigned. He went his health began to play up. Hie went to the back to the CES in Fremantle and informed them doctor and was put off work for two of the fact. They had the hide then to tell him weeks. The doctor gave him a certificate to that because he threw the job in voluntarily he that effect. lHe took the certificate to his em- would be pentalised by receiving no unemployment ployer who promptly fired him. benefits for the* next six weeks. This young man sought work for four months. Every industrial condition in the award was He applied for hundreds of jobs in writing and being breached by that employer and because he in person and he could not find a job any- threw the job in the young man was penalised by where. To my horror, when I interviewed him not being paid unemployment benefits for six 1 found- weeks. I do not know what that young man was Several members interjected. supposed to live on for six weeks. I do not know The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Mel- how the powers-thai-be expected him to live for six weeks without wages. I suppose the powers- ville is doing his best to deliver his speech.' He is addressing the Chair. There have been that-be did not care whether he lived. too many interjections on him and I ask that It is frightening to observe the duplicity of he be given an opportunity to make his speech. Liberal Party politicians. They set out deliberately to create pools of unemployed people Mr HODGE: Thank you. Mr Speaker. These and then denigrate merchants of law and order do not respect the such people and brand those who apply Standing Orders. for unemployment benefits as dole bludgers. It is time the Government started offering some The SPEAKER: Do not incite them. leadership instead of the worn out arguments and Mr HODGE: I was not:* To my horror I threadbare cliches. I do not want 100 000 found when 1* interviewed this constituent that jobs; 26000 jobs will do to start with. it is he had gone for two months before applying time the Government gave away idle boasting, for unemployment benefit. For two months the empty rhetoric, and the threadbare cliches and he and his family existed on their savings. He started producing the goods. did not apply for unemployment benefits because of the stigma that has been attached to it by MR WILSON (Dianella) [12.25 am.]: I join people such as members opposite and their col- this debate in support of the amendment to draw leagues in Canberra who call these people attention to a particularly tragic aspect of the cur- dole bludgers. He was afraid to apply for unem- rent unemployment crisis not only in Western ployment benefits because of the stigma attached Australia but also throughout Australia. Two- to them. thirds of the Australiaun youth do not complete 648 648[ASSEMBLY] their secondary schooling and the vast majority one factor in what it calls the combination of of these are from -what we would call a working- age structures of populations, rising relative class background. Because of the link that has wages of the young, and the weakness in the been established between schooling and occupa- labour market. tion these people begin their adult working lives The great danger is that this factor threatens at a distinct disadvantage. Since the late 1960s to become a hard residual core, one which wilt their job opportunities have become increasingly require solutions in terms of long-term structural restricted. changes rather than short-term spurts or even A recent study of training needs has revealed floods of more Jobs. This is so for the simple that a definite reluctance existed towards the em- reason that the present situation seems likely to ployment of school leavers, and the study referred give rise to an increasing number of people to this as one aspect of the disturbing long-term who will be unemployable. trend of rising unemployment amongst the young. The proportion of adults to young workers Even those who manage to obtain jobs find the has risen substantially in recent years, accord- transition from school to work very diffiult and ing to the OECD report. There certainly seems then instead of real job security and real job to have been a substitution of adult women for satisfaction they find themselves in a very bewild- youths in many jobs. The substitution of capital ering situat ion. Yet it is true to say that there for labour is squeezing people out at the bottom is a widely publicised opinion that is decidedly end of the labour market. It is hitting at those hostile and very unsympathetic towards these who are socially most vulnerable; that is, the young adults. unskilled and the young, and particularly, the Mr Blaikie: Where is this hostility coming from? unskilled young. In the USA a research worker (Joseph Eyer) Mr WILSON: It comes from a wide sector of has demonstrated a surprisingly close correlation the community. from 1900 to 1970 between levels of unemploy- Mr Blaikie: Fair go! That is not right. ment and deaths from suicide and ulcers amongst Mr Bryce: It is. A lot of people in the com- men in all age groups. He has argued that munity criticise young people who are unem- the major cause of stress-induced death in the ployed. USA is lob insecurity. Mr WtLSON*. I think it is part of a more With the prospect of an increasing number general- tendency which has perhaps always been of young people forming a hard core of unem- with us, but which seems to have been exagger- ployed, we may expect to see the onset of a ated in recent times, to blame the victim, This series of stress-caused health problems which will is in spite of the fact, as the report I refe;:red dog [his generation of young unemployed all to earlier states, that- their lives. No group has borne the brunt of the current If indeed, as it seems likely, it is to be con- unemployment problem so greatly as the tinuing Government policy to cut inflation and young. hence in the attempt to do that, as a high priority, to miaintain high levels of unemployed, particu- Mrs Craig: Why do you believe the transition larly amongst the young, then there will be vic- is more difficult from school to a job? tims. Mr WILSON: 1. shall come to that in a mno- Mr Kassell: That does not follow. ment. In Western Australia, for instance, out Mr WILSON: It is a trend shown in the of approximately 26 000 people unemployed at surveys conducted all over the world, and the present there are 9 789 teenagers. Yet the rea- latest survey indicates this quite clearly, not sons offered by employers for nonemnployment of only for Australia, but for all the countries school leavers and other young applicants casts in which surveys were -conducted. the blame entirely on the youth themselves. Those Mr Hassell: You say that because you Ct are riot my wards; they are contained in the inflation you necessarily create unemployment? report of the Working Party of the Transition from Secondary Education to Employment in Mr WILSON: No, I am saying- 1976. Mr H-assell: You did say that. The latest survey of the economic outlook Mr WILSON: I am saying that if the policy put out by the OECD recognises the very is to cut inflation, and if that is a high priority, serious nature of growing youth unemployment and if in the course of that there will be main- throughout the world: and it describes this as tained high levels of unemployment, and because [Wednesday, 171h August, 1977.) 6494 one of the features of unemployment at the present and, given the fact that money wages cannot be time is the squeezing out at the bottom of the cut for the young, much more needs to he done market- the young and the unskilled-there will as State and Federal levels to subsidise the cost be increasing numbers of young people unem- of employment of both unskilled and young ployed. If that is the polity, and if that is the workers. effect of the policy, there will be victims. What MR JAMIESON (Welshpool-Leader of the we are virtually saying is that it is expedient that Opposition) (12.38 am.]: There is not much more some must be sacrificed in the interests of all. which needs to be said on this debate because Mr Laurance: Who is saying that? everything has been fairly well canvassed already. However, I would be remiss if I let the motion Mr WILSON: That is the logical interpretation go to a vote without shiying a few words about of that policy. Some must be sacrificed. the problem of youth employment and referring Mr Blaiki e: So you want high inflation? to all those things the Minister said in his funny Mr Laurance: That is your interpretation. speech. H-e referred to projects in the pipeline, Mr WILSON: The honourable member is mis- but he did not tell us whether they were in the interpreting what I am saying. What I am north or anywhere else. Wherever they are they saying is that if part of the policy which will not alleviate the great problem facing us at places a high priority on reducing inflation is the moment. However, his remarkable speech maintaining a high level of unemployment, then was in tine with what we have been used to over the logical interpretation of that kind of sequence the years. As a matter of fact, as far back as of events is that there will be victims, which means 1947 he made such speeches in'this Chamber and .that some people must be sacrificed in the interests we have since become used to them. They are of all. remarkable because they are not the normal type Mr Laurance: According to you. of speech a member makes here. Anyone who likes to refer to his maiden speech will find that Mr Tonkin: According to the Liberal Party. what I am saying is true. Mr Laurance: How would you get inflation Mr Laurance: He has done a remarkable job down? in oroviding more employment. Mr WILSON: I believe that a humane Govern- Mr JAMIESON: If the member for Gascoyne menit and society should be devoting all their tries to justify that remark it will be on his energies to ameliorating the lifelong eff ects such conscience. I do not have to live with his con- a policy will have on those who are to be so science. sacrificed. Mr Laurance: You do not have one. Mr Blaikie: What does that mean? Mr JAMIESON: Oh yes, I have, not like some Mr WILSON: 1 have sympathy for the relatives on the other side, and not like the Minister, for of those who sacrificed their lives for their instance, who is prepared to go in front of hun- countries in a number of wars. I think there is dreds of children about to leave school and say, putting those people a good case to be made for in the seven minutes available to him to discuss who are to be sacrificed for their country as a job possibilities of the future, that there would result of the long-term effects of long-term unem- be 100000 jobs available in 18 months' time. ploymnent in a similar category. They are being We have heard his answers to this, but I am sacrificed in the same way. not going to accept them. There was no quali- Mr Laurance: Who caused the high inflation in fication at the time and I know this because the first place? subsequently I had to ask a question and when I Mr Jamieson: I thought you did. arrived at the microphone I said I believed Mr Mr WILSON: I believe there are means by Grayden had made a mistake, and I must use that which Governments can act to ameliorate the word. effects that this sequence of events will have on Mr Grayden: You certainly went out of your the lives of those people suffering from long-term way to make that statement. You are distorting unemployment. ]For instance, much more needs the statement that I made too. to be done to create apprenticeship opportunities; Mr JAMIESON: Mr Speaker, I would like to much more needs to be done itn the area of pre- hear your control of this matter, because I would paring young people for the transition from school like to give my view and if the Minister believes to work; much more needs to be done in the study it is not in order he may certainly take me to of the long-term manpower needs of the State; task for it. There were hundreds of witnesses 650 650[ASS EM BLYI on this occasion. After the Minister made the Tom Price or in one of these other isolated places. statement and 1 questioned whether he was cor- I do not believe in all fairness the Minister would rect, because I thought the time factor was quite expect this either. erroneous, he got to the microphone and in his These young people would not be employed typical style he said, "Well, no, that is quite there anyway until they were older. The com- right, but it might even be 20 months, but the panies in those areas do not employ juniors unless 100 000 jobs will be there." That was the only there are a few apprenticeships hovering around. qualification. We have 9 879 teenagers who are supposedly Mr Grayden: You know perfectly well that is around 36.80 per cent of the total of unemployed not true. people, and they would not be likely to go to those areas to work. They are not people who Mr JAMIESON: The staff of two television came from the Eastern States to get jobs; they crews- are not Aborigines who are unemployable; they Mr Grayden: And 60 school teachers all of are people who are having their souls torn out whom can be called as witnesses were present. because they are not able to obtain their first job. Mr JAMIESON: -a number of school teachers Many of them are not particularly bright. They and all the children were there. tn front of all are not going to be the leading lights of the these people, this was the statement made by world, but they are entitled to a job. Each day the Minister. I want to make sure that members I see many of them in my area. One has only are aware of this because if there is anything 10 take a walk tomorrow morning, or any day despicable in this world it is deceiving people of the week, around the Brownley Towers estab- who are entitled to believe that the political lishment where there are a number of high rise leaders of the community are telling them the buildings and one will see these people without truth on a particular subject matter. The people jobs. There is no likelihood of their obtaining have their own rights and their own considera- employment. One needs only to have an office, tions. These children will be at voting age at such as my electorate office, immediately under- the next election. It will be interesting to see neath the Commonwealth Employment Office, to what they think and whether they will make some see the tribes of young people who go in there determination. They are amongst these people on a Monday morning. to whom the Premier referred when he moved It is of no use the Government saying it is the amendment in 1972. This has been quoted doing something about this. We on this side put ad ntauseam tonight but T believe I should quote forward some practical propositions that we this part because it deals with the aspect of young believed would take up this void and I suggest people more than it deals with the overall policy. that the Government should, even at this late At page 2580 of Hansard of the 16th August, stage, do something about it. There should be 1972, the .Premiier said-' more apprenticeships available within the Govern- ... I have never subscribed to the policy mnent. It should be trying to train these young that the Government's responsibility is to people for the careers that the Premier was only merely get people a job, but that it is the too keen to make a point of. There is also the responsibility of the Government to get possibility of retiring some of the civil servants a people a career. couple of years earlier and putting young people To do these things the climate has to be to work in Government departments where they created, and once the climate is right, other will have career prospects. These are practical opportunities follow. possibilities that we put forward. I suppose because they were our ideas the Premier said, "We will are not being My complaint is that opportunities discard them. We will throw them away. They created for children to get jobs. All these pipe- come from the Labor Party; what a lot of rub- line jobs that my colleague, the member for Swan, bish." dealt with so readily from a statistical point of view, are all construction jobs in the north, oi Sir Charles Court: Coming back to the question maintenance jobs in that region. We will not find of projects referred to by the Minister for Labour young people in this group that was quoted earlier and Industry, the first and greatest impact on going uip into that area. We cannot expect 15 the fabricating shops is in the metropolitan area, to 20-year-old people to go up there just after not on the site. they have left school. I would not expect any individual about to experience his first taste of Mr JAMIESON: And how many are there? employment to be stuck up at Mt. Newman or Sir Charles Court: They generate other jobs. [Wednesday, 171h August, 1977.]65 651

Mr JAMIESON: The fabricating shops are thought it was a scandal at that time. Well, of mainly steel fabricating and there is a lot of course, the difference between the present Govern- unemployment in that industry. Such shops ment and the Tonkin Government is that after would take a tradesman. Most of these young that time there was a distinct improvement and people are not likely to be suitable because they by March, 1974, when the Tonkin Government have not got continuity of employment: Con- went into Opposition, the unemployment figure stantly the Amalgamated Metal Workers' Union was down to 7 527 people or 1.62 per cent of is trying to chase around changing apprenticeships the Western Australian work force. from firms which are no longer in existence or Since this Government took office the number no longer have the apprenticeships criterion avail- and the percentage have increased, and they con- able. tinue to increase. This is the point we must It is of no use the Premier saying that is going look at. It is of no use looking at the numbers to improve the situation and he will provide employed. Of course we have a bigger popula- careers for these young people, unless there is tion and more people in jobs, but the only way some incentive on the part of the Government to to look at the situation is to compare the per- maintain a form of employment that provides the centage of unemployment when we were in Gov- employees with training, and sees them through ernment and the percentage of unemployment until they are satisfactorily trained and in the today, which distinctly shows the present Gov- employment field. Once these young people are ernment has not lived up to its responsibility or older and have had this training, if they start to all the claims it made about the magical pro- to move about and are out of a job it may be vision of jobs as in the l960s. their own fault to some degree. It is a responsi- The most stupid thing the Labor Party ever bility of the country to see that, during the initial did was to put the present Premier into Parlia- period when these young people need training for ment. If members have a look at the statistical their first job, it is available to them. It is the returns at the time, they will find the Labor Party responsibility of this Parliament to see that it is did just that. We made a classic blunder in doing available to them. what we did; and had it not been for our own If these young people remain unemployed their stuptity the present Minister for Labour and idle hands will get them into mischief. One sees Industry's brother wotuld still have been in Parlia- them day after day in the various courts of the ment. We backed the wrong horse with our vot- land and this should not necessarily occur. I ing card because we made it alphabetical. believe we must get to a stage where we appreci- ate that there is a labour force in the community Mr Grayden: It was a good thing for Western that is not being employed but that should be Australia, though. employed. The pity of it is that the Government Mr JAMIESON: We will find out when history simply says with a motion such as this, "We are is finally written and when the final accounting doing a good job. We pat ourselves on the back, is done for the extra $59 million for the Muja dislocating our arms again, and when the pain power station and the extra $32 million to con- goes from the dislocation we get back to normal." vert back from oil to coal. We will find out That is not good enough. We are not suggesting whether this super business person, who is sup- this as a joke; as something that is not necessary. posed to be providing all the jobs, really exists We are not belting ourselves around the ears stay- or whether he is fictitious. He is -very fictitious: ing here until one o'clock in the morning for the there is nothing to him. purpose of amusing ourselves. We are suggesting Typically, tonight he told us, "I am", "This is it because we sincerely believe there is a prob- what I have done", and so on. I have never lem that needs attention. reached that stage and I do not want to. If Another point I would like to make is that in anything I happen to do is appreciated by some- 1972 when the then Leader of the Opposition body, 1 do not want to tell people I did it. moved his censure motion on the matter of unem- will not be the Cassius Clay of the Western Aus- ployment, there were some 12 544 people, or tralian Parliament. I hand that title over very 2.89 per cent of the work force unemployed in clearly to the present Premier and as far as I am this State. concerned he can retain it for as long as he likes. I live with my conscience; I do not know what Mr Tonkin: That was thought to be a scandal. he does with his-whether he throws it out the Mr JAMIESON: It was thought to be a scandal. window of the Superannuation Building every The then Leader of the Opposition said so. He Monday. I will choose my way of living with 652 652[ASSEMBLY] my conscience, and because of it I have regard c'mate they are not sure they will be going antad for the many young peoiple in the community with these projects. The projects are on the draw- who are not being provided with jobs. ing board. They were on the drawing board Further to what was said earlier about work- when the Tonkin Government was in office. It shops which were conducted to find out whether was the then Leader of the Opposition's criticism teenagers and young people were unemployed, that nothing was being done about them. Nothing during the course of the election campai gn I con- can be done. The demand for the commodity ahead. ducted stuch a workshop in my office up here and must exist before the projects can go I was disturbed about the number of young Some of the projects will go ahead, but we people who were unemployed. Strangely enough, have heard recently that a downturn in the nickel many of them came from the Premier's electorate, industry is expected. I hope it does not occur, not necessarily because they had lived there all but if the indication from my colleague in the their lives but probably because they were tertiary nickel fields is right there could be a downturn students who had struggled through to get a in the nickel industry. degree, who had not been the most brilliant but The Minister talks about these pie-in-the-sky had got there, and who then found there were no jobs but we must look at what is going to happen. jobs for them. Young girls with degree qualifica- The Minister and the Premier slap each other on tions told me the best they could do was to get the back and are quite happy about their per- a couple of nights' work a week in pizza pariours; formance, but the people of Western Australia and that kind of thing. should not be happy about it. Jobs need to be created and That is not good enough. If we are training can be created because the Govern- people for jobs which do not exist, we are train- ment has the capacity, both financially and physic- ing them falsely. If there will not be positions ally, to create hundreds of jobs for this category of unemployed for them, it is foolish to train them for occupa- people I have been speaking about. But tions when they expect a job at the end of their the Government takes no action and it deserves the condemnation of this Parliament. grind. It is a grind for some of these young people; it is a battle all the way. Many of them Amendment put and a division taken with the were brought to me by their mothers. Some of following result- the parents had two or three teenagers at home Aycs-19 who could not find employment. They might find two or three days' work a week but no perman- Mr Barnett Mr T. H. Jones ent employment. Mr Bertram Mr Mclver Mr Bryce Mr Pearce These are the people to whom we us a Parlia- Mr T. J. Burke Mr Skidmore ment owe great consideration. We would not Mr Carr Mr Taylor like our own teenagers to be in the same situa- Mr Davies Mr Tonkin tion. Because of the special position we find Mr H. D. Evans Dr Troy ourselves in, we are probably able to find voca- Mr Grill Mr Wilson tions for our teenagers in the fields to which they Mr H-odge Mr Bateman are looking. But this is not the case with many Mr Jamieson (Teller) of them, who may conic front broken homes, who may be left to their own devices and find it hard Noes-29 to obtain employment. They get a chip on their Mr BIa ik ie Mr O'Connor shoulder and are given the label of "dole bludgers" Sir Charles Cot I Mr Old by the Liberal Party. It is not fair to them, to Mr Cowan NMrO'Neil the community, or to ourselves, and the sooner Mr Coyne Mr Ridge we ger down to doing something for them in a M rs Craig Mr Rushton positive way by creating jobs, the better. NMrCrane Mr .Sibson Mr Grayden Mr Sodeman We do not want this pie in the sky-the things Mr Grewar Mr Spriggs the Premier referred to in his speech. We have Mr H-assell Mr Stephens heard talk about millions of dollars being around Mr Herzfeld Mr Tubby the corner, and we heard it tonight. I have visited Mr P. V. Jones Mr Watt many of the firms the Minister quoted in his Mr Laurance Mr Williams discourse tonight. I go around to see these people Mr McPharlin Mr Young to find out what is going on. Many of them have Mr Niensaros Mr Shalders told me that in the current international economic Mr Nanovich (Teller) [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.) 6535

Pairs 3901.83, Dale 1 175.18, Darling Ayes Noes Range 427.85. Geraldton 24.44, Mr T. Di. Evans Mr Clarko Greenough 50441.55, Kalamunda Mr H-arman Mr MacKinnon 82.86, Kalgoorlie 4531.60, Katan Mr B_ T. Burke Dr Dadour ning 13 578.45, Merredin 29 804.5 1, Moore 17 504.84, Mount Marshall Amendment thus negatived. 42 659.99, Mundaring 3 481.22, D~ebate (on motion) Resumed Murray 1 978.04, Narrogin Debate adjourned, on motion by Mr Young. 18981.03, Rockinghamn, 237.38, Roe 57 854.95, Stirling 14 884.66, House adjourned at 1.04aon:. IThursday). Vasse 4 211.58, Warren 13 804.00, Wellington 2 645.93, Yilgarn-Dun- QUESTIONS ON NOTICE das 114 940.72, Gascoyne 167 477.17, Kimberley 695 023.28, RAILWAYS Murchison-Eyre 1 032 692.97, Pi1. Perth-Albany Passenger Service bara 223 618.27. 305. Mr STEPHENS, to the Minister represent- (b) Council Province- ing the Minister for Transport: East Metropolitan 157.13, Metro- In each of the preceding three years politan 108.84, North Metropolitan ended 30th June, 1977, how many pas- 159.87. North-East Metropolitan sengers have been carried each way on 180.14, South Metropolitan 282.55, the Perth-Albany passenger train? South-East Metropolitan 268.50, Central 67 260.64, Lower Central Mr O'CONNOR replied: 31 284.28, Lower West 3390.60, Perth-Albany Albany-Perth South 72772.76, South-East 1974-75 .. 7 533 7215 149 276.83, South-West 6 883.41, 1975-76 .. 7 327 7 225 Upper West 67 970.83, West 1976-77 .. 7 666 8 005 3 991.93, Lower North 1200) 170.14, North 918 641.55. ELECTORAL DIST~RICTS AND (2) Total area of mainland-2 522 800 PROVINCES square kilometres. A rea, Area of- islands adjacent in square 306. Mr SHALDERS, to the Chief Secretary: kilometres- Would he supply details as to the area Rottnest Island 17.87, Garden Island of each electoral District and Province 11.65, Balance of Islands 2 670.48. in this State? Total 2 700.00. Mr O'NEIL replied: Total area of State-2 525 500.00 square kilonmetres. (1) Area in square kilometres for main- land- (a) Assembly District- DENTAL THERAPY CENTRE Ascot 26.97, Balcatta 19.56, Can- Rofeysine-Kelntrvcotl-Clif t Hills ning 78.32, Clontarf 22.05, Cock- A rea burn 220.70, Coi-tesloe 22S]1, Dian- ella 27.82, East Melville 23.27, lar- 307. Mr SPRIGGS, to the Minister for Health: eat 29.71, Fremantle 20.19, Gosnells Are there any plans in hand for a dental 131.41, Karrinyup 24.20, Maylands therapy clinic in the Roleystone-Kelni- 14.74, Melville 18.39, Morley 54.39, scott-Clifton Hills area to be established? Mount Hawthorn 15.68, Mount Mr RIDGE replied: Lawley 12.48, Murdoch 98 .42, Ned- lands 23.22, Perth 18.49, Scarbor- Planning for dental therapy clinics for ough 9.75, South Perth 16.62, 1977-78 financial year is not completed. Subiaco 14.51, Swan 70.71, Victoria The area Roleystone-lcelmscott-Cliflon Park 15.76, Welshpool 36.08, Whit- Hills will be given consideration along ford 90.68, Albany 33.15, Avon with all other areas presently without 5 619.62, Bunbury 25.90, Collie this service. 654 654[ASSEMBLY]

POLICE (3) 96 formal consumner complaints Liaison with Interpol (including a carry-over from 1975- 76) were finalised and were classi- 308. Mr DAVIES, to the Minister for Police and fied on the following Traffic: basis: 31 full or partial redress, (1) What official and/or unofficial liaison 50 clarified to reasonable satis- does the Western Australian Police Force faction, have with Interpol? 3 referred to other authorities, (2) (a) What is the annual cost, if any, of 5 withdrawn or not justified, such liaison; and 5 referred to Small Claims Tri- (b) how is the cost made up? bunal, I incapable of resolution, Mr O'NEIL replied: I referred to solicitor. (1) The Western Australian Police Force, as do the forces of all other States and (4) Under the Trade Descriptions and Territories, has continual official liaison False Advertisements Act there have with the international criminal police been 10 warnings issued, however, organisation (Interpol) through the Aus- warnings have been issued under tralian central bureau of that organisa- other legislation. lion, which is located in Canberra and (5) Bureau policy is to warn first under the command of the Chief Comn- offenders where the Trade Descrip- missioner of the Commonwealth Police. tions and False Advertisements Act (2) (a) and (b) All costs are borne by ihe may have been breached. Commonwealth Government. The bureau is not aware of any multiple breaches. In the event of multiple breaches the bureau would CONSUMER PROTECTION institute prosecution. Trade Descriptions and False Advertisemenrts Act CONSUMER PROTECTION 309. Mr TAYLOR, to the Minister for Labour and Industry: I-ire-Purchase A ct With respect to the Trade Descriptions 310. Mr TAYLOR, to the Minister for Labour and False Advertisements Act and in and Industry: the period 1st July, 1976, to 30th Jin±. With respect to the Hire-Purchase Act 1977: and in the period 1st July, 1976, to 30th (1) 1-ow many complaints were re- June, 1977: ceived? (1) How many complaints were re- (2) How nwiny Suich complaints were ceived? investigated? (2) How many such complaints were (3) How many of such complaints investigated? were considered reasonably justified? (4) How many warnings were issued? (3) How many of such complaints were considered reasonably justified? (5) How many prosecutions were initi- ated? (4) How many warnings were issued? Mr GRAYDEN replied: (5) How many prosecutions were initi- (1) 65 formal consumer complaints ated? were received generally relating to Mr GRAYDEN replied: advertising. However, complaints (1) 44 complaints received specifically by firnis against other firms were related to hire purchase. also received. Complaints received have not necessarily involved a (2) All complaints were investigated. breach of the Trade Descriptions (3) Whilst many complaints were un- arid False Advertisements Act. justified full satisfaction or adjust- (2) All complaints received are investi- ment was obtained in 10 cases. gated. (4) and (5) None. [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.] 6555

ADULT EDUCATION COURSES Mr RIDGE replied: Morley Electorate There are no identified cases reported at 311. Mr TONKIN, to the Minister for Educa- either Princess Margaret Hospital or tion: King Edward Memorial Hospital over the past five years and no reports from (1) What adult education courses are avail- elsewhere in Western Australia. available at- (a) Mt. Lawley Senior High School; STOCK (b) John Forrest Senior High School; Hormone Feeding (c) Morley Senior High School; 314. Mr TONKIN, to the Minister for Agricul- (d) Hampton Senior High School; lure: (e) Lockridge Senior High School, (1) Has the Australian Agricultural Council in 1977? recommended that the feeding of hor- mones to livestock be banned? (2) What adult education courses were avail- able at each of those school in 1976? (2) If so, when was the advice given? Mr OLD replied: (3) What adult education courses are avail- able at other centres in that same general (1) and (2) The use of oestrogens for cattle, area? sheep, pig and poultry production was prohibited except for therapeutic pur- M r P. V. JONES replied: poses following a decision by Australian (1) and (2) Details relating to the adult agricultural council in July, 1962. education courses available at the Mt. Lawley, John Forrest and Hampton MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT Senior High Schools are outlined in the Dealinags With Public Servants technical education division handbooks 315. Mr TONKIN, to the Premier: which are tabled herewith. (1) As my request for information to the (3) There are no other centres in the general Department of Labour was followed by area referred to. a telephone call from the Under Secre- The handbooks were tabled (see paper No. tary requesting me not to approach staff, will he clarify his statement that mern- bers of Parliament may telephone public servants? SEWAGE TREATMENT (2) Was this telephone call also related to Use of Candida Ingens my visit some months ago to the Com- missioner for Consumer Affairs, Mr. 312. Mr TONKIN, to the Minister for Water N. R. Fletcher? Supplies: Sir CHARLES COURT replied: Is ti-er: any intention to experiment in this State with the use of candida ingens (1) Members of Parliament requiring in- formation from departments on other so that protein may be obtained from sewage? than routine matters should direct their inquiries for information through either Mr O'CONNOR replied: the Minister responsible for administer- The Metropolitan Water Board has no ing the department, or the permanent Proposals to experiment with the use of head. candida ingens. (2) No.

CONSERVATION HEALTH Reserves in North-west Corridor New-born Infants 316. Mr TONKIN, to the Minister representing 313. Mr TONKIN, to the Minister for Health: the Minister for Conservation and the En- What is the rate of damage to newly vironment: born infants in Western Australia from Has the Environmental Protection Auth- the ingestion of tranquilisers in early ority made any recommendations with pregnancy? respect to conservation reserves in the 656 656[ASSEMBLY]

north-west corridor of the Perth metro- Further Work on the New South Wales politan region? paper will be undertaken upon receipt of reports from a New South Wales Mr P. V. JONES replied: Judge who is examining this area of the The north-west corridor area is included law and from the criminal review divi- in the system 6 studies of conservation sion of the New South Wales Attorney reserves which are currently in progress, General's Department. and which will be the subject of recom- mendations by the Environmental Pro- tection Authority to the Government in SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE 1978. LEGISLATION Miscellaneous items are dealt with by the Department of Conservation and Uniformity Environment and the Environmental 319. Mr TONKIN, to the Premier: Protection Authority as required. is it intended that complementary legis- lation be introduced into State Parlia- PESTICIDES ment so that some uniformity may be established throughout the Common- Breast and Cowme Milk wealth for dealing satisfactorily with the 317. Mr TONKIN, to the Minister for Health: securities and exchange industry? What tests have been made in 1977 to Sir CHARLES COURT replied: determine the level of pesticide residues The Ministers from each State and the in breast milk and in cows' milk respec- Commonwealth responsible for the tively? administration of the relevant law, have Mr RIDGE replied: for some time now, been discussing the possibility of introducing such legisla- The level of pesticide residues in breast tion and carrying out negotiations as -to milk has not been determined in 1977. the form and content such legislation Cows' milk has been examined for might take. organo chlorine pesticides and residue amounts are all well below the permis- Those discussions and negotiations have sible limits in the food and drug regula- not yet been finalised and consequently, tions. no decision has been made by the Gov- ernment as to whether or not to intro- duce such legislation. POLICE if such complementary legislation is by "White Collar" Crime enacted, it would have to be enacted the seven Parliaments concerned, and 318. Mr TONKIN, to the Minister representing not simply by this Parliament. the Attorney-General: At present, Western Australia and the Has a framework been developed by the other three States participating in the Attorneys-General of the States so that Interstate Corporate Affairs Agreement procedures for dealing with "white col- do have substantial uniformity of both lar" crime can be developed to a more law and administration in this area. sophisticated level? Mr OUNFIT, replied: No0. But the standing committee of At- SCHOOL torneys General in connection with the Hampton sixth United Nations Congress on the prevention of crime and the treatment of 320. Mr TONKIN, to the Minister for Educa- offenders to be hosted by Australia in ti on: Sydney in 1980, has considered a pre- How many children are at present en- liminary paper on "corporate crime and rolled in each of the classes at the Hamp- white collar crime" prepared by New ton primary school, and how are they South Wales. grouped with respect to grades? [Wednesday, 17th August. 1977.]67 657

Mr P. V. JONES replied: (2) (a) When did he first appear in the Enrolments as at 1st July. 1977:- court of Petty sessions; and Year 7 ...3 , Cb) what was the plea? "7 ..- 33. (3) (a) What was the decision of the mag- ,.6/7 ...32, istrate; and ., 6 ...36, (b) what was his name? ,,6 ...35, ,. 5 ...36, (4) (a) When was he sentenced by the ,,5 ...35, magistrate; and ,,4/5 ...33, (b) what was the sentence? ,,4 ...36,

I. 4 ...36, (5) Was an allowance made in the sentenc- 3/4 ...34, ing for the period of time he had spent 3 I..35, in prison before sentencing? 3 ...33. 3 ...35. Mr O'NEIL replied: ,,2 ...35. (1) Graham Morris Jay was arrested on the 2 ...34, 26th May, 1976, on two charges of steal- 2 ...33. ing, six charges of obtaining credit by ...33, fraud, and 19 charges at false pretences. ...32, (2) (a) He first appeared in the East Perth ...31, Court of Petty Sessions on 27th ...32. May, 1976, on two charges of steal- ing and receiving and one charge of TRAFFIC obtaining credit by fraud. Bussell Highway: Ludlow-Bussellon (b) No plea was taken on the first 321. Mr TONKIN, to the Minister representing charge of stealing and receiving, Jay the Minister for Transport: plelded guilty to the other two What was the average daily volume of Charges. traffic on the flussell Highway between He appeared in court on the remain- Ludlow and Busselton- ing 24 charges on 28th May, 1976, (a) during 1973; and entered a plea of guilty to all (b) during 1974; charges. (c) during 1975; (3) (a) On the first charge of stealing and (d) during 1976; receiving he was remanded in cus- Ce) so far in 1977? tody for eight days. He was re- mianded in custody for 21 days for Mr O'CONNOR replied: a pre-sentjnce report on the Te- Vehicles maining charges to which he had (a) 1972-73 .... 1 664 pleaded guilty. (b) 1973-74 .... 1710 (b) Mr T. R. Mcfluigan, S.M. (c) 1974-75 .... 1735 (4) (a) 28th April, 1977. (d) 1975-76 .... 1986 (b) Three months' imprisonment on (e) 1976-77 .... 2000' each charge to be served concurrent (4this is an estimate only as data is with a sentence of two years' im- incomplete). prisonment with a minimum term of 12 months imposed in the dis- trict court on 6th December, 197. GRAHAM MORRIS JAY In a decision delivered by the Court Arrest and imprisonment of Criminal Appeal on 18th March, 322. Mr TONKIN, to the Minister representing 1977, an appeal by Jay against the the Attorney-General: severity of the sentence imposed by (1) When was Graham Morris lay arrested the district court was allowed to the on charges of false pretences, obtaining extent of reducing his minimum credit by fraud and stealing? term by ordering -that he should 658 658ASSEMBLY]

serve nine months from the date of TOURISM his sentence before becoming elig- Shank/and Cox and WAIT-Aid ible for parole. Report (5) Presumably yes, because all sentences 325. Mr JAMIESON, to the Premier: were made concurrent with the term of imprisonment imposed by the district Why were sections of the Shankland court. Cox and WAlT-Aid report on the ltour,- ism industry released to the media (as evidenced by the report in The West CONSUMER PROTECTION Australian on 20th May) in advance of the full report becoming fully available Consumer Products Safety Committee last week? 323. Mr TONKIN, to the Minister for Con- Sir CHARLES COURT replied: sinner Affairs: I am advised that sections of the Shank- (I) Has a consumer products safety conm- land Cox and WAIT-Aid report on the mittee been established? tourism industry were released to the (2) If so, when? media in advance of the full report be- (3) Who are the members of it and what coming available. "interests" do they represent? It was common knowledge that the re- Mr GRAYDEN replied: port was being done. (I) Yes. In response to some queries made before the 20th May, the Minister advised that (2) 16th September, 1976. the report would be printed and avail- (3) Mr N. R. Fletcher, Commissioner for able in the near future. Consumer Affairs (Chairman); He also commented on one or two of the Mr A. G. Batten, Industrial Design recommendations which were reported in Council of Australia (Inc.); The West Australian of 20th May, 1977. Mr W. 1. McCullough, Standards Associ- ation of Australia (Inc.); RAILWAYS Dr R. F. W. Lugg, Public Health De- Bogie Wheels partment; 326. Mr COYNE, to the Minister representing Mrs F. Parry, National Safety Council of WA (Inc.); the Minister for Transport: (1) Have Westrail engineers studied the Mr K. Peckham, Trades and Labor designed bogie railway Council of WA; revolutionary wheels invented by a South African rail- Mr D. Piggford, Confederation of WA ways engineer named Herbert Scheffel? Industry (Inc.). (2) If "Yes", are the claims of greater stab- ility at higher speeds on 1 065 mm track ELECTORAL DISTRICTS confirmed? Area and Number (3) If the claims are valid, would he not consider that a special evaluation of 324. Mr SHALDERS, to the Chief Secretary: this systemr could be considered with a (1) What is the total area of all the electoral view to introducing it into this State's districts defined as metropolitan? narrow gauge system? (2) How many electoral districts are defined (4) Could not this significant breakthrough as metropolitan? in railway technology have special appli- (3) If all electoral districts in this State were cation to an upgraded Mullewa-Meeka- apportioned on equal number of electors, tharra railroad in 1979? what would that number be? Mr 0'CC~NNOR replied: Mr O'NEIL replied: (1) Yes. (1) 1 174.9 square kilometres, including (2) Not as yet. Roltnest Island. (3) Westrail proposes to undertake practical (2) 27. trials on an adaption for this system. (3) As at 15th August, 1977, 12665. (4) No. [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.]65 659

PEDIATRIC SPECIALISTS which the member was a member-and Laveflon Visit no convincing case for major amenid- 327. Mr COYNE, to the Minister for Health: ments to appropriate legislation is be- fore the Government. Could not the proposed visit to Laverton of medical pediatric specialists be ex- GAMING HO0USES tended beyond the time span of a few hours on 16th September? Government Action 330. Mr JAMIESON, to the Minister for Police Mr RIDGE replied: and Traffic: The 16th September specialists' visit to (1) Is he aware, or has he been informed by Laverton is of an exploratory nature. the police, that illegal gambling houses Should it be necessary, the clinic could are operating in Perth? be extended to the following day or an (2) If "Yes", is the Government planning additional visit made at a later date. to introduce legislation to legalise the CASINOS operation of gaming houses? to (2), what steps are being Government Action (3) If "No" taken to stamp out these illegal activi- 328. Mr JAMIESON, to the Minister for Police ties? and Traffic: Bearing in mind that in reply to my Mr O'NEIL replied: question 246 of 1977, he said that the (1) I have noticed various reports of the Government has regard to more than operation of illegal gaming houses in one point of view in formulating policy, newspapers. The Commissioner of Police would he please advise what and whose is not required to tender specific advice points of view the Government has re- to me regarding this matter. gard to in formulating its policy on the (2) and (3) See answer to question 157. operation of illegal gaming houses and casinos? GAMBLING Mr O'NEIL replied: Government Action The member is referred to the answers 331. Mr JAMIESON, to the Minister for Police given by the Premier to question 245. and Traffic: (1) Are existing laws considered adequate to CASINOS stamp out illegal gambling? Government Action (2) if "No", what legislative action is plan- 329. Mr JAM IESON, to the Premier: ned to overcome shortcomings in the (I) While recognising that the Liberal Party law? in Government claims not to be bound Mr O'NEIL replied: by decisions of any outside body, does (1) and (2) See answer to question 157. the Government propose to take any action in response to the motion passed GAMING HOUSES by the Liberal Party State conference Raids this year calling on it to change its pre- sent policy of tolerance and containment 332. Mr JAMIESON, to the Minister for Police and to decide whether casinos should be and Traffic: banned or accepted? (1) How many raids did the police make- (2) If "Yes" what action is planned? (a) between 1st September and 31st (3) If "No", why not? December last year;, Sir CHARLES COURT replied: (b) between 1st January and 18th Peb- ruary this year; and (1) and (2) Cabinet has no legislative changes under consideration. (c) since l~th February this year, on premises suspected of being common (3) As I staled in answer to question 157, gaming houses? 9th August, 1977, the law is administered by the Commissioner of Police-pre- (2) On what dates did the raids take place? sumnably in the same way as during the (3) What were the names and addresses of life of the Government in 197 1-74, of the premises raided? 660 660[ASSEMBLY]

(4) How many people were arrested on each GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS occasion? A pprentrices Mr O'NEIL replied: 334. Mr WILSON, to the Minister for Labour (1) In the metropolitan area- and Industry: (a) 8; On the basis that all Government de- (b) 4; partments covered by the terms of an (c) 8. industrial award would be employing (2) 10th September, 1976; 15th October, workers classified as tradesmen, and that 1976; 28th October, 1976; 29th October, normally regulations provide for a ratio 1976; 13th November, 1976; 20th Nov- of apprentices to tradesmen, what would ember, 1976; 27th November, 1976; he the maximum number of apprentice- 11th December, 1976; 8th January, 1977; ships currently available in Government 16th January, 1977; 24th January, 1977; departments? 13th February, 1977; 30th April, 1977; Mr GRAYDEN replied: 8th May, 1977; 30th June, 1977; 14th The number of apprenticeships currently July, 1977; 20th July, 1977; 20th July, available in Government departments 1977; 8th 1977; August, 10th August, and instrumentalities is 1829. This figure 1977. represents registered and probationary (3) Roma Club, 155 James Street, Perth. apprentices. Latin Quarter, 266A William Street, The number of tradesmen currently em- Perth. ployed in Government departments and 11 Trovatori Club, 174 James Street, instrumentalities is not readily available Perth. within my department. Ginger Club, 240 William Street, Perth. Club 27, Cower Lake and Jamnes Streets, RENTAL ACCOMMODATION Perth. Location International Club, 91 James Street, 335. Mr WILSON, to the Minister for Housing: Perth. Further to the answer given to question 'Casa Blanca Club, 18 South Terrace, 216 on I11th August, 1977, can he say Fremantle. bow many of the SO State Housing Com- Vastesi Club, 40 High Street, Frem antle. mission four-bedroom rental units which (4) 9, 15, 36, 67, 6, 43, 66, 98, 13, 33, 25, changed hands during the past 12 months 28, 33, 31, 18, 31, 29, 22, 43, 21. were located in- (1) The 'Perth north area? PRE-SCHOOL TEACHERS (2) The Fremantle area? Responsibility (3) The Midland area? 333. Mr WILSON, to the Minister for Educa- (4) The Kwinana area? tion: (5) Any other pant of the metropoli- If he, rather than the Education Depart- tan area? ment is to be the employer of pre-school teachers working in centres which do not Mr O'CONNOR replied: transfer to the Education Department, (1) 13 who will be responsible for the adminis- (2) 4 tration of the employment arrangements (3) - for such teachers and the, rates and con- (4) 1 ditions of their employment? (5) 11 Mr P. V. JONES replied: The Education Department will be carry- RENTAL ACCOMMODATION ing out the same administrative role as Construction that now performed by the WA Pre- School Board, and will be responsible 336. Mr WILSON, to the Minister for Housing: for the administration of employment Further to the answer given to question arrangements, and the rates and con- 217 on I11th August, 1977, can he say sideration of employment. how many of the 26 four-bedroom rental [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.] 6616

units currently under construction for ABORIGINAL JUVENILES the State Housing Commission are Prison Inmates located in- 337. Mr WILSON, to the Chief Secretary: (1) The Perth north area? Further to the answer given to question (2) The Fremantle area? 251 on 11th August, 1977, can he give (3) The Midland area? (1) The respective ages of the ten (4) The Kwinana'areal Aboriginal juveniles in prison in prison in Western Australia? (5) Any other part of the metropolitan (2) The respective convictions for which area? they were sentenced and the date of Mr O'CONNOR replied: these convictions? (1) Three (3) The respective terms for which they (2) Nil were sentenced? (3) One (4) The respective names of the institu- lions where these juveniles are serv- (4) Nil ing their sentences? (5) Four Mr O'NEIL replied:

(1) (a) Born 25/4/60 17 years (b) Born 14/1/61 16 years (c) Born 1/9/59 17 years (d) Born 3/10/59 17 years (e) Born 5/7/60 17 years (f) Born 14/10/59 17 years (g) Born 24/6/60 17 years (hi) Born 13/9/59 17 years (i) Born 16/9/60 16 years (j) Born 9/4/61 16 years (2) to (4)-- (a) 13/4/77 Aggravated assault ...... 3 months Escape custody... .. I month coac. Unlawfully drove motor vehicle...... Assault ...... 3 months cum. Albany Unlawfully drove motor vehicle...... 1 month cone. Regional Unlawfully drove motor vehicle...... 1 ** 11 -Prison Unlawfully drove motor vehicle... .. I month cone. Aggregate Unlawfully drove motor vehicle...... 12 months No drivers licence...... Unlawful control motor vehicle...... False name and address .. 29/4/77 Steal and receive 3 months cum. Break enter and steal .. 3 11* 1 " Break enter and steal .. 3 months conc. (b) 19/5/ 77 Unlawfully drove motor vehicle ... .. 6 months 'Bunbury Rehabilit- 22/6/77 No drivers licence ...... 2 days conc. J ation Centre (C)28/1/77 Break enter and steal ...... 1 month Anson .. 6 monthis cum. 7/2/77 Wilful Damage.. 1 month cum. 15/4/77 Wilful Damage $103 or ... 20 days conc. Centre (female)Training 28/4/77 Escape custody ...... 1 month cum. Aggregate 10 months *1 JBandyup 5/5/77 Aggravated assault 1 "1 Steal and Receive .. I month cone. (d) 2/8/77 Break enter and steal 4 months Break enter and steal... .. 4 months cone. Rehnhilit- Break enter and steal... .. 4 9. . -ation Centre ** 9 IBunbury Break enter and steal ...... 4 Aggregate 4 months Unlawfully'drove motor vehicle 4 I 9 Steal and receive .. 4 99 9 No drivens licence .. 4 9. 9 662 662ASSEMBLY)

(e) 2/11/76 Rape...... 4 years Fremnantle Prison Armed robbery ...... 2 years cum. Aggregate 6 years Render person incapable to resist...... 1 year conc. }with3 year min. MI 7/10/76 Armed robbery .. .. Governors pleasure 19 (6) (a)C'---nJ CdeFrmatl Prison (strict custody) (aIriia (a) 3/8/77 Aggravated assault ...... 3 months Stealing .. IlJyears cum. Break and enter .... 3 years cum. Stealing .. 3 months conc. Fremantle Prison Stealing ...... 6 months cum. Aggregate 9 years 9 Stealing ...... 6 " " months with 2 year Receiving .. 1 year cum. minimum Stealing ...... 1 year conc. Stealing ...... Stealing .. Stealing ... .. Break and enter .... 3 years cum. J (Ii) 30/7/77 Break enter and steal I month .... Geraldton Regional Prison (i) 21/7/77 Unlawful use motor V hicle ...... 3 months \Cleraldtonk Regional No drivers licence ...... 1 month conc. f Prison; U)8/8/77 Aggravated assault 3 months .. Kalgoorlie Regional Prison

TEACHERS however, this estimate fails to take into Surplus account the fact that in recent years the department has had to fill approximately 338. Mr WILSON, to the Minister for Educa- 800 vacancies between the first school dion: day and the end of the year and, in (1) Is he aware of a report by the Federal the past, considerable difficulty has been Department of Education which indi experienced in filling these mid-year cates a projected surplus of teachers vacancies. Even with a fall in resigna- throughout Australia, increasing from tions, it is certain that most of the 500 12 500 in 1978 to 40 800 in 19857 excess graduates, together with some of (2) If "Yes", does he still deny that the the 100 who are currently unemployed number of surplus teachers Will grow will be employed during the 1978 school over the next three years in Western year. Australia? Secondly, and worst of all, the member's (3) If "Yes" to (2), what special factors ill-timed outbursts may well have a de- does he adduce will be at work in West- moralizing and adverse effect on able ern Australia to protect this State from young students who are currently con- the predicted national trend? sidering careers as teachers, who have excellent prospects for future employ- Mr P. V. JONES replied: ment and Who are likely to be misled (1) to (3) The member has completely mis- by the headlines. represented the teacher supply situation, Teacher education is conducted at five and his ill-informed statement, published primary colleges, one secondary college. on 12th August, 1977, could be damag- two universities and the Western Aus- ing to the future supply of high quality tralian Institute of Technology. teachers in this State. The majority of the estimated 1 700 Firstly, it is true that approximately graduate teachers who will seek employ- 1 700 graduating teachers will compete -meat at the beginning of 1978 started for some 1 200 departmental vacancies, their training in 1975 when the five and an unknown number of non-depart- primary colleges were funded for 1 200 mental vacancies in February next year. first year students and the secondary Simple subtraction, which ignores the college for 400 first year students. In non-departmental needs, yields an an- 1976, these same institutions had funding swer of 500 teachers without classes, for first year students cut to 750 and 300 plus, of course, the member's estimate respectively and funding has been held of 100 teachers currently unemployed; at these levels since then. [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.163 663

Without even considering the number of Mr RIDGE replied: teachers available from the Western (1) The Kalgoorlie contractor who was the Australian Institute of Technology and lowest renderer was awarded the con- the two universities, which have had tract for Leonora Hospital staff quar- their funding stabilized, the reduction ters after having been awarded the from 1600 to 1050 means a drop of contract for the West Kambalda Nurs- about 550 graduates per year which ap- ing Post. As he had limited resources proximates the oversupply for the be- it was known at the time that the com- ginning of 1978. It has already been pletion of the Leonora staff quarters pointed out that this oversupply is based would be delayed. on the needs for February, 1978, and (2) No. may not even cater for the vacancies which will occur in that year. (3) The estimated completion date of the first contract is the 11th of Septcmber, In view of the above data, and current 1977, but some work additional to the estimates which indicate that between original contract, including fencing, will 600 and 700 primary teachers from be done after that-.date. tertiary institutions will be needed in each of the years between 1979 and 1986, and some 500 new secondary ELECTORAL teachers between 1979 and 1982, in- Single Enrolment System creasing to some 780 in 1984 in Gov- 340. Mr JAMIESON, to the Minister repre- ernment schools alone, the message for senting the Attorney-General: students thinking of embarking on a teaching career is clear. What is the latest development in the arrangements between the Federal and It may well be harder to gain a place State Governments in providing a single in tertiary institutions in 1978 and electoral enrolment system? future years but, having gained a place, prospects for employment, while not Mr O'NEIL replied: guaranteed, are excellent, and I sin- A committee comprising the State Chief cerely hope that the member's ill- Electoral Officer, the Australian Elec- conceived comments have not frightened toral Officer for Western Australia and away able students who can look for- a representative of the. Under-Treasurer ward to satisfying careers as teachers. has been formed to prepare a report and recommendations regarding a pro- Teaching has become an attractive oc- posal for joint Commonwealth/State cupation which offers many rewards. It electoral rolls, but no meeting of the is not the policy of this Government committee has yet been held. to guarantee employment for teachers any more than for any other profession; however, the facts above speak for ROAD FUNDS themselves, and I hope that Year 12 Allocation to Local A utlhorities students and their parents consider this 341. Mr JAMIESON, to the Minister represent- carefully. ing the Minister for Transport: (1) What were the total road funds allocated HOSPITAL to local government in- Leonora (a) the metropolitan area: and (b) the balance of the State from- 339. Mr COYNE, to the Minister for Health: (i) Commonwealth Grants; and (1)What is the reason for the delay in (ii) State Government sources, completing the first stage of the Leonora for the years 1974-75, 1975-76 Hospital rebuilding programme, namely, and 1976-77? the resiting of the new nursing quarters? (2) What were the total receipts from motor (2) Is this delay likely to affect the overall vehicle licensing received by the State timetable for the total rebuilding project? Government in each of the abovemen- (3) If so, what will be the estimated com- tioned years and what is the anticipated pletion date? amount for the year 1977-78? 664 664[ASSEMBLY)

(3) What proportion of the total funds re- and will then depend upon the ferred to in questions (1) and (2) for funds available to the commission, the year 1977-78 are to be allocated to and housing demand priorities on local government and how does this a statewide basis. compare with the previous three years? (c) See the answer given to Question Mr O'CONNOR replied: 275 of the 16th of August, 1977. (1) (a) Metropolitan am S . 7293 100 1975-461974-75 7937 200 SEWERAGE 1976-77 .. 7569200 Williams Road, Melville (b) Balance of State 1974-75 1975-76 1976-77 343. Mr HODGE, to the Minister for Water S S Supplies: (0)Ccmnonweabi a8765 125 9 883 066 I1803 340 (1) Does the sewer main in Williams 1974-75 1975-76 1976-7l Road, Melville, run the entire length of the 60i State.. . .5 152 195 5 021 869 41575 284 street? (2) If not, where does it terminate? (2) 1974-75.....22670570 1975-76.....28 179438 (3) When was the existing sewer main in 8836085 1977-78...... 1976-77...... 32 870 000 (excludingproposed icenc Williams Road laid? incees) (4) If the answer to (1) is "No" does the (3) $24 085 000 in 1971-78 compared with- Government intend extending the main, and if so, when? 1974-75 21 210 420 1975 -76 22 849 165 1976-77 .... 23 547 824 Mr O'CONNOR replied: (1) and (2) No. The sewer runs from Can- HOUSING ning Highway to Williams Court. It Willagee serves houses on both sides of Williams 342. Mr HODGE, to the Minister for Housing: Road to Kitchener Road and on the west side only to Williams Court. (1) Does the State Housing Commission in- tend to ne-develop any sections of Willa- (3) April, 1975. gee? (4) No. Properties in Williams Road not (2) If "Yes"- served by the existing sewer are located in area 6 Booragoon, which has yet to (a) how many homes and what streets be constructed. The board has no pro- 'will be affected; posals for this work at present. (b) when will the proposed redevelop- ment occur; (c) what is the nature of the re-develop- TIMBER ment plan, and does it include the Hardwood Saw Log Royalties construction of high rise fiats? 344. Mr T. H. JONES, to the Minister for Mr O'CONNOR replied: Forests: (I) Yes. (1) Is it correct that the existing hardwood (2) (a) The area generally bounded by saw log royalties are to be increased as Stock Road, High Road, Webber from 1st August, 1977? Street, Boon Swreet, Hodge Street, (2) If "Yes" will she please advise the rate Bawdan Street, Winnacout Street, of increase? Clause Street, Drury Street, Winna- (3) Will she please advise the royalties. re- cott, Archibald Street, Antill Street, ceived for the year ended 30th June, Butler Street, Boulter Street, and 1977 by the Government for hardwood Garling Street, containing approxi- saw log royalties? mately 650 commission-owned houses, has been identified for fu- (4) Will she also please advise the increased ture redevelopment. revenue which will be received by the Government as a result of the increases? (b) Redevelopment will not occur until such time as the local authority Mrs CRAIG replied: town planning scheme is effected (I) Yes. [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.]66 665

(2) The rate of increase for each hardwood new development in the north Collie sawmilling permit or licence was 25 area beyond that capable of being served per cent. by the existing worksi is also being (3) $4 372 674.00. undertaken by the department, and a feasibility study and future works pro- (4) It is estimated that the increase referred gramme is also proposed for this area. to under paragraph 2 will result in an The question of courtesy does not arise. increase in revenue to Consolidated I visited Collie at the request of Mr. Revenue Fund of approximately Lewis, who also represents that area. $743 000.00 during year ending the 30th The office of the honourable member for of June, 1978. Collie was advised.

STATE ENERGY COMMISSION SEWERAGE Price of Coal Collie 346. Mr T. H. JONES, to the Minister for Fuel 345. Mr T. H. JONES, to the Minister for Water and Energy: Supplies: Will he please advise the average price In view of the fact that he has already of coal delivered to the State Energy notified the Hon. A. Lewis, M.L.C. of Cornmission? sewerage extensions to be curried out at Mr MENSAROS replied: Collie and did not extend the same As I have said in connection with the courtesy to me, would he kindly advise member's question No. 4 of the 2nd of what extensions are to be carried out as August, 1977, it is not the policy of the reported in the Collie Mail newspaper of Government to release prices which are Thursday, 11th August, 1977? the subject of commercial agreements Mr O'CONNOR replied: between the State Energy Commission and its suppliers. As a guide, the average It is proposed to extend the sewerage cost of coal as delivered to SEC power reticulation to area 10, which comprises stations in the 1976-77 financial year- some 65 lots in the View, Steere, Beb- was approximately $13.60 per tonne, in- ington, Carma and Princep Streets area, cluding freight. this financial year. It is anticipated that tenders for this work will be called dur- ing November, 1977, with a view to POLICE completing the project by June, 1978. Bashing: and Atnecks The department is preparing a prelimin- 347. Mr T. H. JONES, to the Minister for Police ary design of the sewerage reticulation and Traffic: to serve the Slate Housing Commission Wilson Park area, and this matter will Will he please advise the reported num- be the subject of future discussions with ber of bash ings and attacks on people the commission. which have occurred in Western Aus- tralia for the years 1974 to 1977 inclu- A preliminary design of sewers, pumping sive? stations and rising mains for a potential Mr O'NE1L replied:

1974 1975 1976 1977 Jan.- July-Dec. June 30th

Common assault (statistics not kept until 14 July 1975) No record 718 1754 907 Serious assault (includes unlawful wounding, grievous bodily harm, bodily harm)...... 184 299 409 186 Robbery with violence (street muggings) ... I..S..?5 73 109 56

Total...... 341 1 090 2272222 141 149 666 666(ASSEM BLY]

CONSUMER PROTECTION The consumer had further discus- Autoways Trantsactlion sioni with the dealer resulting in the consumer electing to have the Mini 348. Mr TAYLOR, to the Minister for Con- returned together with $100 in cash. mimer Affairs: Has he a case on record where: (1) A client approached Autoways, Vic- MOTOR VEHICLES toria Park. Licence Stickers (2) Obtained a vehicle said to have 349. Mr YOUNG, to the Minister for Police and been valued at $900. Traffic: (3) Was advised his Mini Minor was (1) Is it police and Road Traffic Authority worth $800 as a 'trade in'. policy to consider out-of-date vehicle (4) That an additional $100 in cash licence stickers remaining attached to a would complete the purchase price. windscreen a hazard which could result (5) Was given documentation showing in serious accident? the purchase price of the vehicle as (2) If "yes" will he give attention to the only $450. replacement of the existing stick-on (6) When he asked for additional work licence with the original transfer type to be done within the period of which although a little harder to affix asking, was advised that he had not was at least possible to remove? paid a high enough purchase price. (3) Is he aware that there are many vehicles (7) When he approached the Consumer with up to three or four of the new Affairs Department was advised to licences remaining on their windscreens call on Autoways and request retura because they cannot be removed without of the Mini Minor. possibly devoting at least an hour to the (8) The Mini was said to be on display project? in the yard at $1 900. Mr O'NSIL replied: (9) After discussion with dealer, and a 1 preface moy answer by saying that I reminder tbat cash had been in- sympathise with the difficulty the hon- cluded as part of payment but did ourabic member has in removing the not appear in certain documentation, registration stickers from his motorcar. the Mini was returned to original The reply to his question is as follows-- owner? ()Road Traffic (Licensing) Regulation Mr GRAYDEN replied: 31(1) (a) requires a registration (1) yet. label to be placed so that its centre (2) No. Vehicle was shown on form 4 is approximately 152 mm from the (Notice of required particulars) at bottom near side corner of the wind- $999- screen. This would normally pre- (3) This is denied by the dealer. vent more than one label being dis- played at one time. (4) yes. (5) No. The original document shows (2) The previous transfer-type. label was $500- replaced, because of its fragility. with the Current more irobust label. (6) Yes. If the label is thoroughly wetted (7) No. An officer of the bureau for a few minutes it can be scraped recorded a formal complaint and off with reasonable ease. I might visited the dealer immediately. The add that that is the advice to me. dealer was advised that the com- I have not tried it out. plainant was entitled to the statu- tory warranty. (3) It is acknowledged that some people do not affix labels in accordance (8) Not known. with the regulations but there is no (9) Inspection of the original purchase reason to believe this is because of document reveals that the cash pay- difficulty in removing the outdated ment involved was correctly shown. label. [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.167 667

CONSUMER PROTECTION The SPEAKER replied: Motor Vehicle Spore Parts (1) to (4) The published Estimates for 1971, 350. Mr TONKIN, to the Minister for Consumer 1974, and 1976 reveal the figures set Affairs: out below. The actual position as at the 30th Jun;, 1977, was as shown. (1) Is the Government concerned at the prices commonly charged for motor As at the 30th June, 1971- vehicle spare pants? Legislative Assembly (2) What action has the Government taken, I Clerk of the Assembly. or will take soon, to remedy the situa- 1 Clerk Assistant. lion? I Second Clerk Assistant. Mr GRAYDEN replied: 1 Sergeant-at-Arms. (I) Yes. The Bureau of Consumer Affairs I Clerk of Records and Accounts. has received a number of complaints. I Assistant Clerk of Records. 1 Secretary-Stenographer. (2) The Prices Justification Tribunal has 1 Principal Attendant. been conducting two formal and general 4 Attendants. hearings on the question of motor veh- icle spare parts prices. The bureau for- 12 total. warded consumer submissions to the tribunal. The hearings concluded recently and the registrar of the tribunal has Joint Printing Committee indicated that he will send copies of the I Chief Hansard Reporter. reports of the tribunal to the Commis- 9 Hansard Reporters. sioner for Consumer Affairs. Trainee Reporter. Clerk. 6 Typists. FOOTPATHS Use by Cyclists and Pedestrians 18 total. 351. Mr TONKIN, to the Minister for Police and Traffic: As at the 30th June, 1974- Has there been any consensus arrived at Legislative Assembly as to the conditions under which path- 1 Clerk of the Assembly. ways should be used by cyclists and I Clerk Assistant. pedestrians and to which he referred in I Second Clerk Assistant and Sergeant- his letter to me on the 5th July? at-Arms Mr O'NEIL replied: I Clerk of Records and Accounts. 1 Clerk of Papers. In view of paragraph four of my letter 1 Clerk. of the 5th July, this inquiry would be 1 Secretary-Stenographer. better directed to the Minister for Local I Clerical Assistant. Government. 1 Principal Attendant. 5 Attendants. 30 Electorate Office Clerk/Typists. LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY AND JOINT PRINTING COMMITTEE 44 total. staff 352. Mr TONKIN, to the Speaker: Joint Printing Committee Will he list the titles and number of positions of the various staff attached 1 Chief Mansard Reporter. to the Legislative Assembly and Joint 9 Mansard Reporters. Printing Committee for the years: t Clerk-Secretary. 6 Typists. (1) 1971; 1 Clerical Assistant. (2) 1974; (3) 1976; 18 total. (4) 1977? 668 668ASSEMBLY]

As at the 30th June, 1976- TRAIL BIKES Legislative Assembly Use on SHC Land 1 Clerk of the Assembly. 353. Mr TONKIN, to the Minister for Housing: 1 Clerk Assistant. (1) What is the Government policy with I Second Clerk Assistant and Sergeant- respect to the use of vacant State Hous- at-Arms. ing Commission land by trail motor Clerk of Records and Accounts. cycles? Clerk of Papers. (2) Will action be taken if I am to inform Clerk. him of the position of land being used 1 Secretary-Stenographer. by the riders of suchk vehicles, which 19Clerical Assistant. use is leading to the possible creeping Principal Attendant. insanity of nearby residents? Attendants. Electorate office Clerk/Typists. Mr O'CONNOR replied: (1) When the commission is aware that its vacant land is being used illegally for 53 total. trait motor bike riding, warning signs are erected on the land, and the local Joint Printing Committee authority and the Road Traffic Authority are requested to apprehend offenders. I Chief Hansard Reporter. 9 Hansard Reporters. (2) Yes, as above. I Clerk Secretary. 6 Typists. SEWERAGE I Clerical Assistant. Eden Hili -354. Mr TONKIN, to the Minister for Water IS tota. Supplies: When is it intended that the area bounded by Morley Drive, Lord, Brad- As at the 30th June, 1977- shaw, Esther and Ivanhoe Streets (and Legislative Assembly. presumably including ilardaker Street) Eden Hill, wilt be sewered so that con- I Clerk of the Assembly. nection can be made by householders? 1 Clerk Assistant. I Second Clerk Assistant and Sergeant- Mr O'CONNOR replied: at-Arms. The eastern part of the area referred to I Clerk of Records and Papers. was gazetted as reticulation area 7A Eden Kill on Friday, the 16th August. t Clerk- Tentative provision has been made in the Secretary-Stenographer. 1977-7S capital works programme. Chamber Attendant. The western part of the area referred to 44 Electorate Office Clerk/Typists. -which includes Hardaker and Ivanhoe Strets-is part of a separate catcbment 51 total. draining in a different direction: at the present time there are no proposals to serve this area. Joint Printing Committee I Chief Hansard Reporter. HIGHf SCHOOL 9 Hansard Reporters. Hamplon 1 Clerk-Secretary. 355- Mr TONKIN, to the Minister for Educa- 6 Typists. tion: I Clerical Assistant. (1) Have intimations been made to students or parents tbat the Hampton Senior Is total. High School's intake of year 11 students for 1978 will be limited? (Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.]16 669

(2) If so, what is the figure and how does Mr GRAYDEN replied: this compare for each of the last three Certainly. Please contact the Director years? of Industrial Training (Mr L. Hitchen) (3) Is the setting of such a limit the normal at Willmar House, 600 Murray Street, procedure at this time of the yeart West Perth-telephone 220171. (4) What are the constraints which have determined this particular figure? FACTORIES AND SHOPS ACT AND Mr P. V. JONES replied: INDUSTRIAL AWARDS (1) No. Prosecutions (2) to (4) Not applicable. 358. Mr TONKIN, to the Minister for Labour and Industry: WORKERS' COMPENSATION How many prosecutions have been made Inquiry before industrial magistrates for breaches of- 356. Mr TONKIN, to the Minister for Labour and Industry: (1) The Factories and Shops Act; (1) Has there been any progress in the ac- (2) industrial awards: cord that he stated on the 25th March, in each of the years- 1976 was being sought with the Com- (a) 1971; monwealth Government and the State Government with respect to Workers' (hi 1972; compensation? (ci 1973; (2) How has 'the change of Government, (d) 1974; which occurred in November 1975 (e)1975: changed the need to hold an inquiry (f) 1976: and into workers' compensation? (g) 1977? (3) Was an inquiry commenced in Septem- ber 1975, as seems to be suggested by Mr GRAYDEN replied: his remarks at that time-Mansard p. (1) The following prosecutions have 2801? been made before stipendiary magis- Mr ORAYDEN replied: trates for breaches of the Factories (1) Considerable progress has been made and Shops Act- since the date mentioned, but there has 1971 ... 60 been a pause over the last Six months 1972 ...... 15 due to the Commonwealth's unwilling- 1973 ...... 37 ness to enlarge its financial commitments 1974 ...... 20 at this time. 1975 . 85 (2) The change of Government has not af- 1976 ...... 76 fected the position. 1977 (to date) .. ... 13 (3) No, not in the form at that time en- visaged but considerable study has been (2) The annual reports of the Indus- done and a number of changes are trial Commission shows that to June under consideration. in each year the following prosecu- tions have been made before indus- trial magistrates for breaches of DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR industrial awards- AND INDUSTRY 1971 ...... 163 Discussion on Apprentices 1972 .143 357. Mr TONKIN, to the Minister for Labour 1973 ...... 122 and Industry: 1974 ...... 187 Would he give permission to me to dis- Cuss apprenticeship matters with an ap- 1975 ...... 222 propriate officer of the Department of 1976 .-. 187 Labour and Industry? 1977 .. ... 155 670 670[ASSEMBLY]

CAREER PLANNING PACK SCHEME and self-inflicted injury" in each of the Introduct ion last 10 years are- 359. Mr TONKIN, to the Minister for Labour and Industry: 1968 ...... 117 1969 ....-. 107 (1) Has a career planning pack scheme been

introduced into Western Australia? 19720...... 130 (2) If so, will be give details to the House? 1973 ...... 127 1974 ...... 120 Mr GRAYDEN replied: 1973 ...... 857

(1) Following successul trials in New South 1974 ...... 126 Wales and Victoria during 1976 a ..career planning pack" programme was introduced into Western Australia in ENTERTAINMENT BUStNESS June this year. Registndiaon of Employers (2) This scheme, which is administered by 361. Mr TONKIN, to the Minister for Labour the Department of Employment and In- and Industry: dustrial Relations, is primarily designed to educate year tO students as to the (1) Has he received a submission or sub- career opportunities available to them. missions requesting the introduction of legislation so as to register employers To date approximately 130 guidance of- in the entertainment business? ficers and secondary teachers from about 40 schools have participated in one-day (2) If so- instructional "workshops" conducted by (a) by whom were the submissions the Department of Employment and In- made; and dustrial Relations to explain the scheme. (b) on what date? With the aid of supporting literature (3) What is the Government's intention with provided by that department teachers respect to the matter? are then better armed to encourage the students to consider their own abilities Mr GRAYDEN replied: and initiatives in relation to future em- (1) Yes. ployment. To further assist them with (2) (a) State Secretary , Professional Musi- career planning students are taken in cians Union of Australia. small groups to visit factories, etc., (b) The 19th August, 1976. where they arc encouraged to ask ques- tions about the different types of jobs (3) No legislation has been prepared as yet carried out there; i.e., what jobs involve, but the Department of Labour and In- rates of pay, prospects for advancement, dustry is continuing to watch the posi- etc. tion in New South Wales where that Further information on this programme type of legislation exists and where re- is obtainable from the Department of cent indications were that changes would Employment and Industrial Relations, 2 be made shortly. The Secretary of the St. George's Terrace, Perth. Professional Musicians Union rang me recently to say that he will be in a position to discuss proposed legislation with me as soon. as he ret urns f rom HEALTh4 Geneva. Suicides 360. Mr TONKIN, to the Minister for Health: CONSUMER PROTECTION What is the number of suicides in West- Classification oif Clothing "Seconds" ern Australia for each of the last tO 362. Mr TON KIN, to the Minister for Con- years? sumer Affairs: Mr RIDGE replied: (1) is there in Western Australia an in- The number of deaths registered in spection of clothing so as to classify Western Australia which were deter- "seconds", as there are in other States mined to have been caused by "suicide of the Commonwealth? [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.J]7 671

(2) If so, how many such inspections are the cast of fire services in Western Aus- made? tralia. Mr GRAYDEN replied: The Government has no legislative re-- (I) Inspections to distinguish between first quirement or control over the manner in which insurance companies recover this quality garments and "seconds" arc made by manufacturers as part of their amount. quality control programmes. I am not aware of any legislation cover- FURNITURE MANUFACTURERS ins the classification of "seconds". Code (2) Not known. 366. Mr TONKIN, to the Minister for Labour and Industry: COSMETICS (t) Do furniture manufacturers have to ap- Ingredients ply to him for a code number which is 363. Mr TONKIN, to the Minister for Health: stamped on their products? Is there any requfrement for the manu- (2) If so, what is the precise regulation(s) facturers of cosmetics to indicate the and pursuant to what section of which ingredients of their products on the Statute? containers? (3) What is the rationale for such a pro- Mr RIDGE replied: cedure? No. However, if the cosmetic contains Mr URAYDEN replied: a poison or hazardous substance, the (1) The regulations under the Factories and approved name of the poison or hazard- Shops Act require every person who is ous substance and the proportion or per- required to stamp furniture to apply to centage in the conteots must be declared the chief inspector for assignment to on the label. him of a number for use by that person. The use of the number does not pre- CONFEDERATION OF WA INDUSTRY clude the manpfacturer from including Grant for Educational Purposes his name and address in the stamp. 364. Mr TONKIN. to the Treasurer: (2) The regulations relating to the stamp- Does the Confederation of Western Aus- ing of furniture are regulations 7 and 8 tralian Industry receive any grant for of the Factories, Shops and Warehouses educational purposes? (General) Regulations made pursuant to section 81, contained in Division I3 of Sir CHARLES COURT replied: Part VIII of the Factories and Shops Yes. An amount of $11 353 was pro- Act 1963-76. vided to the confederation in 1976-77 to assist with the training of personnel at 03) The provision for the stamping of fur- the supervisor-foreman level, although niture was contained in the original Bill no funds were drawn by the confedera- when the manufacturers and retailers tion for this purpose in 1974-75 and agreed that it would he better for the 1975-76. The grant last year was in line furniture to be stamped, with that paid to the Trades and Labor Council for educational purposes. ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE Management Authority FIRE BRIGADES 367. Mr TONKIN, to the Treasurer:. Levy on Insurance (1) What management authority is respon- 365. Mr TONKIN, to the Chief Secretary: sible for the Entertainment Centre? (a) How is the fire levy on insurance cal- (2) Who are the members of the "au- cu~lated: and th~ority"? (b,) what is the rate? Sir CHARLES COURT replied:. Mr O'NEIL replied: 41) and (2) The Entertainment Centre is (a) and (b) The insurance companies writ- under the administrative control of the ing fire insurance are required by Minister for Works and is leased to legislat ion to contribute 75 per cent of TYW Enterprises Ltd. 672 672[ASSEMDLYJ

IRRIGATION IN SOUTH-WEST (b) when is it proposed to start on con- Water A llocaiions struction of a dam; 368. Mr H. D. EVANS, to the Minister for (c) if it is not proposed to start con- Agriculture: strton on a new dam to supply (1) How many farmers are there who cur- Pemberton with water this financial rently receive irrigation water alloca- year, are any measures to upgrade tions in each of the Waroonia, Harvey, the town's water supply before next Collie and Preston Valley irrigation summer being contemplated, and if areas? so, what are those measures? (2) Of these farmers who receive irrigation water, how many in each area did not Mr O'CONNOR replied: use their allocation last year? (I) The first phase of the study has been completed, and a number of alternative (3) (a) Of the farmers who receive Rri- sites located. The study has considered gation water allocations, how many the inter-relationship between Pember- in each of the four areas are dairy ton town water supply, Pemberton farmers;. trout hatchery and Manjimup town (b) how many of the dairy farmers in water supply. Investigations of the more each of the four irrigation areas likely alternatives will continue. hold daily quota entitlements of- (2) (a) and (b) Answered by (I1) above.. (i) below l1t) gallons; (c) No, (ii) 100 to 250 gallons; (iii) over 250 gallons? Mr OLD replied: DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT AND (1) The number of farmers who receive OCCUPATION walter allocations in the various irriga- Government Power and Action tion districts are ats follows- 370. Mr 14. 13, EVANS. to the Premier: Waroona-96. Adverting to his reply to question 30 on Harvey-332. Wednesday, the 22nd September. 1976- Collie-235- Preston Valley-55. (1) What powers does the Government possess to take action in mutters (2) This information is not readily avail- of discrimination? able. However it is known that must farmers in the Waroona, Harvey, and (2) How many instances of discrimina.- Collie irrigation districts used very close tion has the Goovernment followed to their permitted allocation which was up on an individual basis in each not allowed to be exceeded. The number of the past two years?' who did not use their allocation in the t3.1 Would he give the- Preston Valley urea was 30. (at) date; t 3) (a) and (b) The D~airy Industry Au1th- (bi the nature of the instance; and ority does not record information concerning dairy farmers who. re- (c) the action taken in each case? ceive irrigation water allocations. Sir CHARLES COURT replied: WATER SUPPI'KS 11) The WA Committee on IDiscrimina- in Employment and Ocupa- Oana for Petriberlon tion tion is appointed by the Federal 369. Mr H. D. EVANS, to 'he Minister for Minister for Employment and Watter Supplies; Industrial Relations. 0) Has the study for possible dam, sites The committee has no legislative which could be uosed to supply the gown power to lake action in mailers of of Pemberton with water been. com- discrimination. However, the pleted?7 committee is required to investigate k2) If "Ye"- and to resolve complaints t1hrough (a) what is the location of the most the process of conciliation and favouired site; education. [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.)67 673

Failing solution of complaints, the preliminary drilling has been carried WA committee is required to out at the groundwater source closest to report such complaints to the town. It is anticipated that these investi- national committee. gations will be completed by January, The Federal Minister tables his 1978. report in the Federal Parliament (2) None. and can name a particular organ- isation in his report. (2) Jnformation taken from the annual reports of the national corn- SCHOOL niltie:- Covershorn Complaints on Grounds specified in ILO0 Convention No. I 1] 1975-76 1976-71 372. Mr TONKIN, to the Minister for Educa- tion: Rae...... 1 4 Coour...... Nil I Sex...... S 12 Further to question 266, has a decision ReligionI I been definitely made to give back to the Political opinion...... Nil I National extraction...... 6 8 Caversham Primary School the land social origin...... Nil Nil taken from it? 16 27 Complainis not specified in IAt Conven- lion...... 7 a Mr P. V. JONES replied: Total...... 23 35 No, but negotiations between the property and valuation office of Ihe (3) This information will have to be Public Works Department and the Shire released by the Federal Minister for Employment and Industrial Rela- of Swan are proceeding. tions. Nate: With regard to the International Labour Office Convention No. I11, de- TRAFFIC partments are required to adhere to the Hfarris and Sevenoaks Streets guidelines established for eliminating discrimination from job advertisemnenis 373. Mr BATEMAN, to the Minister represent- and the Public Service Board monitors ing the Minister for Transport: activities in this respect. (1)t In view of the many fatal accidents The board issued a circular to permanent which have occurred at the junction of heads referring to this matter on the Albany Highway and Harris Street, 12th August, 1975. Beckenham, will the Minister advise if he has received a request from the Gos- nells City Council to have Harris Street WATER SUPPLIES closed to Albany Highway traffic and Walpole Sevenoaks Street to William Street traf- fic? 371. Mr H. D. EVANS, to lhe Minisler for (2) If "Yes", when does he intend to carry Water Supplies: out the Council's request? d1t What investigations have been carried out to enable Walpole town water supply '3) If not, why not? to be upgraded? Mr O'CONNOR replied: Z2 What measures is it proposed will be (1) Such fatalities as have been recorded taken to upgrade the Walpole waler in the area have been associated with the supply before the 1977 summer season curve and not with the Harris Street commences? intersection. Mr O'CONNOR replied- The Cosnelts City Council has requested (1I Investigations are in hand to ascertain the installation of a median barrier to the feasibility of augmentation of the prevent vehicles turning right from Walpole supply from a groundwater Albany Highway into Harris Street, source and Collier Creek. To date some (2) and (3) The request is being investigated.

(22) 674 674[ASSEMBLY)

TRAFFIC (3) No. Not on present known demand. Spencer-Nicholson Roads Junct ion (4) On basis of present known demand Durham Road is beyond the reach 374. Mr BATEMAN, to the Minister represent- of a justifiable extension. ing the Minister for Transport: In view of the congestion of traffic and WATER SUPPLIES the possibly dangerous traffic hazard at Ash burton River-Ewet Murchison Pipeline the 'r" junction of Spencer-Nicholson 376. Mr BARNETT, to the Minister for Water Roads, Langford, will the Minister ad- Supplies: vise: In relation to the Public Works Depart- (1) What is anticipated in the immedi- ment paper on water supplies for mining ate future to alleviate the problem? developments in arid area of Western (2) What positive measures are to be Australia, the proposed pipeline from the taken to ensure this situation is Ashburton River to the east Murchison eliminated? district which includes Yeelirrie raises several questions-- Mr O'CONNOR replied: (1) (a) Is this pipeline still proposed; and (1) and (2) A project, involving dual- ling a section of Spencer Road (b) what are the present plans? adjacent to Nicholson Road and (2) (a) Is the pipeline to carry water for associated reconstruction and chan- industrial purposes; and nelisation of the Nicholson Road- (b) is the water fit for human consump- Spencer Road intersection, has been tion? submitted by the City of Gosnells, (3) When in relation to mining will the and forwarded to the Federal Min- pipeline be constructed-before, during ister for Transport for approval or after? from Federal funds. The project is (4) Who is going to pay for the pipeline? a pre-requisile for incorporation of traffic signal control at a future Mr O'CONNOR replied: date. (1) to (4) There is no proposal to bring water to the east Murchison from the NATURAL GAS Ashburton River. The Ashburton was Kenivick considered as a long term planning option if the development in the east 375. Mr BATEMAN, to the Minister for Fuel Murchison area reached the stage when and Energy: all the local sources were fully utilised. In view of signs advertising natural gas No planning is being done for the de- in certain areas of Kenwick, will he velopment of the Ashburton River. advise: (1) Where these areas are? URANIUM MINING AND PROCESSING (2) When can ii be expected these areas will be serviced? Radiation (3) Will Burham Road he serviced 377. Mr BARNETT, to the Minister for Health: along with the others in the near 1) What were the precise levels of radiation future? in 1973 expressed in Reis- (4) If not, why not? (a) as per Australian levels that uranium miners and processors Mr MENSAROS replied: could be exposed to; and (1) Areas bounded by- (b) as per American standards? (a) Kenwick, Belmont and flickley (2) (a) Have any standards been set relat- Roads, Kenwick. ing to radon gas exposure for (b) Spencer Road, railway line and miners; river, Thornlle. bh) If so, what were they in Australia (2) Unknown. Depends on building for 1970; and development. (c) America in 1970? (Wednesday, 17th August, 1977].67 675

(3) Relating to (2), have any changes been DEFOLIANT CHEMICAL - made to the acceptable limits of radon Avaiflability and Effect gas exposure since 1967 ini- 378. Mr BARNETT, to the Minister for (a) America; Health: (b) Australia? (t) Is it a ract- that a defoliant chemical, (4) If "No" to (3), why? similar to that used by the United Stales army in Vietnam, is being produced by Mr RIDGE replied: a chemical company at Kwinana? (1) (a) Since 1967 the maximum radiation (2) Is it a fact that this chemical is freely level for uranium miners and pro- available for purchase from the said cessors is set by the National company? Health and Medical Research (3) Council "Revised radiation protec- If "No" to (2)- tion standards for individuals ex- (a) to whom is it available; and posed to ionising radiation". This 0b) under what restrictions? sets a maximum permissible dose of 141 What are the toxic effects to- 5 Reins per year for the whole (a) the public; body exposure. tb) the flora and fauna of the State? (b) This level is based on the recom- mendations of the International r5 iIs it a fact that at least one malfunction Commission on Radiation Protec- has occurred in the process of the chemi- tion on which the American stan- cal necessitating evacuation of the pro- dard is also based. The American cess area? standard is 5 Reins per year for Mr RIDGE replied: whole body exposure. 41) Yes, however, the United Slates chemical 12) (a) The current standard for radon used in Vietnam contained a highly toxic daughters exposure for uranium material called tetrachlorodivenzxo dioxin miners and processors is contained (TCDD). The chemical process used at in the Commonwealth Departmnent Kwinana is entirely different from the of Health "Code of Practice for United States method of production. Radiation Protection in the Mining TCDD is not present. and Milling of Radioactive Ores of (2) Yes, through established retail channels 1975". in approved formulations for approved (b) In Austra lia there were no stan- uses dards adopted- in 1970, but the pro- I 3) Not applicable. posed revised American standard of (4) (a) Nil-when used according to the that time was used as a guideline. direction for use approved by the (c) The American standard in 1970 Health Department with due regard was that no uranium miner or pro- to the safety instructions included cessor should be exposed to radon on the label; and daughter products in excess of (b) no significant effect when used twelve working level months in a according to standard practice. calendar year. 45) No. (3) (a) Is America the radon and daugh- ter exposure standard was revised HAWKER-SI DDEI.EY to take effect from Iuly, 197t, at which lime it was reduced to a Debt to Government total of four working level months 379. Mr DAVIES, to the Treasurer: exposure in a calendar year. (I) What amount of money is owing to the (h) This exposure limit is that adopted State Government as at 30th June, 1977, in the Australian Department of as a result of the sale of the State Build- Health Code in 1975 and no ing Supplies to Hawker-Siddeley? changes have been made subse- (2) Has any approach been made by the quently. Cove rnnent or the company to clear the (4) Not applicable. debt before (the contract date in t992? 676 676[ASSEMBLY]

Sir CHARLES COURT replied: (2) (a) and (b) The general working plan (1) $761 507.75 also provides that detailed informa- 42) In 1976 the company offered to transfer tion of the type requested is confi- eight acres of land at Victoria Park to dential. the State in partial reduction by This is necessary to avoid undue $500 000 of the debt due to the State. distress to the employees involved As the asked price exceeded the Govern- pending Orderly arrangements for ment valuation, the offer was declined. their re-location. This is also necessary to protect the trading HOUSING arrangements of the companies con- High-rise Accommodation cerned. As the member is already aware, 380. Mr TONKIN, to the Minister for Housing: the companies concerned have made Adverting to question 275 of 1977 which formal announcements regarding the asked where the high rise apartments are impending closures of sawmills to be built, will he please answer part operated by Bunnings (Donnelly) (4) of the question as his answer did Pty Ltd at Donnelly River, Bun- not indicate the locality? nings (Nyamup) Ply Ltd No. I Mr O'CONNOR replied: mill at Tone River and by Millars North Perth. W.A. fly Ltd at Boyup Brook.

ARCHITECTS ACT EDUCATION FUNDS A"tending Legislation Waste and Diversion 38). Mr DAVIES to the Minister for Works: 383. Mr PEARCE, to the Premier: Is it proposed to amend the Architects (1) Did he tell the First Australian Con- Act during the current session of Par- ference of the Family and Health that liament or in the foreseeable future? the community was not getting value for Mr O'CONNOR replied: money in education, as reported in The West Australian of 16th August, 1977? The Government has been trying to settle the draft of a Bill to amend the (2) If so, will he tell the House in which Architects Act with the Architects' Board area of education money is being wasted? for some time. Progress has been slow (3) What action does his Government plan, and, at this stage, it would appear to divert those funds at present being unlikely that the drafting of the Bill wasted to cover areas of clear eduta- will be completed to permit it to be tional need, such as the- introduced in the current session. (a) replacement of Bristol prefabs and other sub-standard educational TIMBER MILLS IN SOUTH-WEST buildings; Closure (b) the reduction of class sizes; and 382. Mr H. D. EVANS. to the Minister for For- Cc) the employment of qualified but ests: out-of-work teachers? (1) How many timber mills in the south- Sir CHARLES COURT replied: west will close in the next five years 1I) to (3) 1 am endeavouring to ascertain with the implementation of the current whether a transcript is being made of working plan? the actual words I used at this parf of 42) (a) What are the names of these mills; the address I gave in opening the first and Australian conference on the family (b) how many men are employed in and health, on 15th August. each? If a transcript is available, I shall make Mrs CRAIG replied: the appropriate section dealing with (1) As slated in the Forests Department's question (1) available to the member. general working plan No. 86, it is In any case, my remarks were directed expected that about 18 sawmills will at the same theme that I have publicly close during the period 1977-1981. stated on many occasions, viz., greater [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.167 677

care will need to be taken in future to metropolitan area for the various ensure that the taxpayer is getting full common categories of residences, as value for the very heavy proportions of at 19th February, 1971; State and Federal Budgets applied to (h) 29th March, 1974; educatidn and health-the two biggest (c) 18th February, 1977? spending departments within State gov- ernments. (2) Was there a reduction or increase in rentals in the Pitbara between 29th Obviously, any savings made will be March, 1974, and 18th February, 1977? applied as circumstances dictate at the time. (3) What was the approximate percentage of the rental increase/Ireduction? STATE ELECTIONS Mr O'CONNOR replied: Use of AMJ Membership Fees (l) (a) and (b). 3114. Mir SODEMAN, to the Minister for Labour Standardisation of rentals in the and Industry: north-west and country areas was (1) Did he read the lead article in the San- effected as from the 1st October, day Independent of 7th August, 1977, 1975. Prior to that, rentals were wherein the Secretary and convenors of based on an economical formula the AMWU, Karratha Branch, alleged and a wide range of r-entals that union 'membership fees had been approved. used to assist the Labor Party candidate (c) Rentals payable by tenants on two for Pilbara for campaign purposes, lead- and three bedroom units are as ing up to the 1977 State election? follows:- (2) (a) Is the Department of Labour and Metro- Differ- Industry able to ascertain the con- politan Pitbara cise amount of union membership Two-bedroom 15.00 I2.00 3.00 funds used for this purpose; Two-bedroom 19.00 16.20 2.80 (bi) if so, what was the amount involved, Two-bedroom 21.50 20.40 1.t0 (c) which unions contributed member- Three-bedroom 16.00 14.90 1.1to ship funds and how much was con- Three-bedroom 21.50 18.80 2.70 tributed by each? Three-bedroom 23.50 23.50 Mr GRAYDEN replied: (21 Reduction effective from the 1st October, (1) Yes. 1975. (2) (a) to (c). This information is not avail- (3) An approximate average reduction of able to my department. However, section 17.5 per cent was evidenced in the north- 9B of the Industrial Arbitration Act says west. that the rules must provide for the inspection of the books of the society ELECTRICITY CHARGES and the resister of members by every Pi/bara and Metropolnian Area person having an interest in the funds. 386. Mr SODEMAN, to the Minister for Fuel In addition, section 25(l) of the Act and Energy: provides that an industrial union shall (1) (a) What was the differential in dom- keep an account in proper form of the estic State Energy Commission receipts, payments, funds and effects or charges between the Pilbara and the the industrial union. metropolitan area as at 19th Feb- ruary, 197 1? RENTAL ACCOMMODATION (b) 29th March, 1974; Pilbarn and Met-opolit an Area (c) 18th February, 1977? 3845. Mr SODEMAN, to the Minister for Hus- (2) (a) Was there a reduction in charges ing: during the period 29th March, 1974, (1) (a) What was the differential in the and 18th February, 19777 State Housing Commission home (b) If so, in which towns and by how rentals between the Pilbara and the much was such a reduction effected? 678 678[ASSEM BLYI

Mr MENSAROS replied: (I) (a) (b) (c) S S Purt Hedland R.C. 400 .. F.C. 3.80 P.C. Nit E-.0.60 2. 0. 20 E. Roebourne P.C. 4.00 .. F.C. 3. 80 F.C. E. 2. 10 .. E. 1.70 E, Marble Bar ...... Not SEC P.C. 3.890 P.C, 99 E. 1.70 E. Wittenoomn ... -...... Not SEC .. Not SEC F.C. E. 91 Onslow 11 .... 1-1 Not SEC .. F.C. 3.-80 F.C. E. 1.70 2. Karratha ...... C.4.-00 _ P.C. 3.80 F.C. '9 E.0.60 .. 2. 0. 20 E. Nullagite ...... Not SEC .. FC. 3.80 F.C. E. 3.20 E. Note: F.C.-Pixed charge differential in S per quarter. 2.-Enrgy charge differential in cents per kWh. (2) (a) Yes. (hi Roebotirne energy charge reduced from 4.0c to 3.83c/kWh. Marble Bar energy charge reduced from 4.Oc to 3 .83c/kWh. Wittenoom energy charge reduced from 4.5c to 3.83c/kWh. Onslow energy charge reduced from 4.Oc to 3.S3c/kWh. Nullagine energy charge reduced from 5. Sc to 3. S3c/kWh.

WATER SUPPLY RATES consumer using !he 1974 average Port H-edland and Metropolitn Artea consumption of 1 091 kilolitres was less. 387. Mr SODEMAN, to the Minister for Water Su pp1lies: Ib) This reduction was approximately IS per cent. 0I ()0 What was the differential in dam- estic water charges for average con- sumption between Port Hedland and RAILWAYS the metropolitan area as at 19th February, 197 1; -X"-class Locomotivesv tbi 291h March, J974; 3M8. Mr McIVER, to the Minister representing 4c) 181h February, 1977? -the Minister for Transport: (1)P What year was the X-class diesel loco- (a) Was there a reduction in charges 42) motive introduced into the Western based on average domestic usage Australian rail network? during the period 29th March, (974. and 18th Febr~jary, 1977; '21 How many years does the Minister anti- cipate the X-class locomotive can remain Cli) is so, what was the -approximate operating? percentage of the reduction based on the previous charges 'for average (3) Is it envisaged These locomotives will be domestic usage? replaced with a more modern type of locomotive? Mr O'CONNOR replied: (4) If "Yes" to (3)- (1) (a) $62.09 (a) when will they he ordered; and (b) $88.12 (bi) what type? (c) $46.86 12) It is assumed this question relates to Mr O'CONNOR replied: Port H-edland, and on this basis- (It Progressively over the period March 1954 (a) The total charges payable by a con- to September 1956. sumner using the 1977 average con- c2) Most of the X class locomotives have sumption of 955 kilolitres compared reached the end of their economic lives. with the toan charges payable by a At a cost, the operational lives of most jWednesday, 17th August, 1977.]69 679

of the locomotives can be further ex- TRAIL BIKES tended, but it is not possible to provide Goviernmnent Policy a more precise answer in terms of years. 391. Mr TONKIN, to the Minister for Local (3) Yes. Government: (4) (a) Subject to the availability of funds What is the Government's policy with Westrail is looking to commence- respect to the control of trait motor ment of a programme of progressive Cycles? replacement* in 1979-80 which Mr RUSHTON replied: would necessitate ordering in L~egislat ion is being prepared which will 1978-79. provide for areas of operation of off-road (hi Not yet determined. vehicles. QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE SENIOR CITIZENS' CENTRES WORKERS' COMPENSATION BOARD Federal Funds Delays i Hearings 1.Mr JAMIESON, to the Minister for Com- 3119. Mr TONKIN, to the Minister for L~abour munity Welfare: and Industry: (D) Will he protest to the Prime Minister Adverting to question 284 of 1977 and about the 12.3 per cent cut in the last -a later question without notice: Federal Budget in grants for senior citi- zens' centres in Western Australia, as 1I) How many cases have been referred all other States, except for Western to the local court since the instruc- Australia and Queensland, received tion was given late Inst year? increases in -grants and there was 'a (2) In what categories were these cases? total increase in these grants of 5 per cent over all the States? Mr GRAYDEN replied: (2) What will the effects of the cut-backs be I) and (2) None, the power of delega- on the provision of senior citizens' centres tion lies exclusively with the board. in Western Australia for the next finan- My request was made in writing on cial year? 5th January 1977. Mr RIDGE replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for some notice of the *question. The TERTIARY EDUCATION GRADUATES answer is as follows- Unemiployment (I) The Federal Government has had to adopt a three-year programme in 390. Mr TAYLOR, to the Minister for Labour order to rectify the gross over-spend- .nnd Industry: ing which was the result of the How manny persons who graduated fronm -policies of its predecessors. tertiary institutions at the end of 1977 Mr Jamieson: You will still be saying that remain unemployed? in 50 years' time. Mr GRAYDEN replied: Mr RIDGE: To continue- A total of 99 persons who graduated in In the circumstances the State 1977 are at present registered with the acknowledges the need to adopt the professional section of the Common- three-year prpogramme which the wealth Employment Services Office. Commonwealth has announced. It is not possible to identify thec number I did not hear the interjection from the of graduates, if any, who are registered member for Balcatta. as unemployed with other than the pro- Mr B. T. Burke: You will have plenty of fessional section. time to catch up. Source: Verbal advice fromt the Depart- Mr RIDGE: We will, and one day we will ment of Employment and Industrial get around to discussing the matter the Relptions. member alluded to. 680 680[ASSEM BLYJ

Mr B. T. Burke: Answer the question. So as far as I am concerned, I do The DEPUTY SPEAKER; Order! not regard it as one of the critical factors in the fight against in- Mr RIDGE: I would like to tell the member flation. I applaud the way it has been opposite a few things about questions handled and the sensitivity with which which have been asked. To continue it has been handled. the reply to the question- (2) There will be no effect on the second The second question, as I understood and third years of the programme. the honourable member, related to the percentage of inflation that I would regard as the figure below which we INFLATION have to get before the enemy has been Peirol Price Increase defeated. I would not be precise as 2. Mr BRYCE, to the Premier: to the exact figure, but I would say this: Before we can relax at all we In the light of the Premier's statement must get today that inflation remains the number our inflation rate down at least around the vicinity of one enemy to be defeated- that of our trading partners and major trading (1) Is his Government aware of the nations. It is quite impossible for us extent of the inflationary impact of to compete in this world at the present the decision of the Federal Govern- time if we have a rate of inflation such ment to increase the price of Aus- as we have today. It is quite impos- tralian crude oil to full import sible for us to attract the investment we parity? need while we have the rate of infla- (2) To what point will the rate of tion that we have today, a rate of in- inflation have to be reduced before flation which is so out of parity with his Government-that is, the that of the trading nations for whom Premier's Government-considers we must have a very serious regard. the enemy has been defeated? I remind the honourable. member of (3) Does his Government propose to act the statements that are issued from time to establish a more uniform price to lime by the OECD countries. It is for petrol throughout Western Aus- very important that we look at our tralia, thereby reducing the heavy relativity in the totat picture. burden currently borne by country Mr H. D. Evans: You did not pay much people? attention to this during the term of the Sir CHARLES COURT replied: Whitlam Government. (1) to (3) In answer to the member for Sir CHARLES COURT: We must try to Ascot, as I recall his questions, first bring our inflation down. of all I do not think the impact of the Even if we can- not bring inflation down to the adjustment of the indigenous crude figure price will have any serious inflationary we once regarded as the maximum ac- ceptable, at least we must bring it down effect at all. to the position where we are competitive If the member is one who believes we and we can attract investment, restore want to get on with the job of develop- investment confidence, so that we can ing more indigenous sources of energy, achieve a reduction in the unemploy- I should imagine he would be one of ment percentage. Unemployment will the first to applaud the way the Com- not be reduced to a proper extent until monwealth Government has handled such time as We are On top of the in- this matter in its Budget. flation factor. Mr Jamieson: What about inflation? So far as a uniform price Sir CHARLES COURT: The Commonwealth for petrol throughout the State Government has shown sensitivity in is concerned, the honourable member trying to get to grips with this question would know it is the policy of the in an attempt to get us to the situation Government parties to press for the where there is maximum encourage- restoration of the price equalisation ment to seek indigenous sources of fuels system that existed. While it was not and energy. perfect, we believe at least it took [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.] 6818

much of the burden off the people who Mr P. V. JONES replied: had the greatest cost to bear because I thank the honourable member for some of their isolation. notice of this question. The answer is as follows-- (1) These figures are estimates based on the financial year 1977-78. Final HOUSING allocations (or the 1978 calendar Federal Funds year are not yet known. 3. Mr B. T. BURKE, to the Minister for Hous- (2) Submissions have been made already ing: by the institutions concerned and the Western Australian Post Second- (1) t ask the Minister whether he is con- ary Education Commission. cerned about the Federal Budget decision to increase by only 3.6 per cent the (3) No. The universities and colleges housing funds to be made available in will have very little growth. Their levels of services will fall by about the next financial year? 2 per cent because of unavoidable (2) If he is concerned, will he transmit that increases in salaries and super- concern through representations to the annuation, and because the non- Federal Government? salary items will not be adjusted for inflat ion. Mr O"CON NOR replied: (t) and (2) 1 have not yet had time to give proper consideration to the Federal PENSIONER HOUSING Budget. I would like time to peruse the Federal Funds Budget before replying. 5. Mr B. T. BURKE, to the Minister for Housing: (1) Is he aware that Western Australia received a 45.7 per cent cut-back in grants for capital expenditures on pensioners' TERTIARY EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS dwellings in the last Federal Budget, and Federal Funds that this was by far the greatest cut- back of any State? 4. Mr TAYLOR, to the Minister for Educationi: (2) Is he also aware Ihat the cut-back in these (1) Is he aware that estimates of grants for grants for the total of all States was only universities for Western Australia 7.7 pei cent, and that New South Wales Federal Budget were announced in the received a 60.7 per cent increase in increased by only- 8.66 per cent and grants for these purposes? grants for colleges of advanced educa- tion and teachers' colleges were increased (3) Does he intend to approach the Prime by only 0.36 per cent? Minister see king a substantial increase and mare equitable allocation of grants (2) As these figures are only estimates and for Western Australia for thes purposes? Anal amounts will be determined follow- ing recommendations of the Tertiary (4) What will be the effects for Western Education Commission to the Federal Australia in the nest financial year of Government, will he or the Premier make cut-backs in grants for capital expendi- an urgent appeal to the Prime Minister tures on pensioner dwellings? seeking upgrading of Western Australia's Mr O'CONNOR replied: allocation to a sensible and realistic (1) to (4) 1 thank the honourable member level? for brief notice of the question. I have (3) Will the universities and other tertiary told him already that I have not had an institutIions, *such as colleges of advanced opportunity to peruse the Federal Budget- education and teachers' colleges, be able However, I have been advised that for to maintain their growth and services ihe first time in four years we will have this financial year at the same rate as an increase in the amount of money last financial ye!ar? available. from the Commonwealth in this 682 682ASSEMBLYI

particul 'ar grant. I will advise the hon- Federal Budget indicate that Western ourable member ont the other matters Australia has had its allocation reduced he has asked-about after I have had an by approximately 53 per cent? opportunity to peruse the Budget. (2) What will be the effects of this cut? Mrs CRAIG TERTIARY EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS replied: In reply to the honourable Federal Funds member, for whom I thank for minimal notice of this 6. Mr PEARCE, to the Minister for Education: question, the answer is as follows- (1) Is he aware that, before allowing for the (1) Yes. There will be a substantial effects of current inflation rates, the reduction in funds available to West- grants announced in the Federal Budget ern Australia in 1977-78 under the for technical and further education in Softwood Forestry Agreements Acts, Western Australia were increased by 1967, 1972, and 1976. Negotia- only 0.05 per cent, and in real terms tions are currently proceeding and have been cut by over 14 per cent? the actual level of the reduction has (2) Does he intend to protest to the Federal yet to he finalised. However re- 'Government over the size of Western cent discussions have indicated that Australia's allocation? it is likely to be somewhat less than that staled by the honourable (3) What will be the elfects of the reductions member. on the programmes of technical and other institutions by these grants? (2) As a result of the reduction, Com- monwealth funds will be available Mr P. V. JONES replied: only during 1977-78 for the main- I thank the honourable member for some tenance of plantations established notice of the question. The reply is as under the former Softwood Forestry follows- Agreements Acts during the period (1) These figures in the Budget are esti- 1966- 1977. mates and are for the financial year 1977-78, The allocations most meaningful are those expressed in RECREATION the c alendar year. It is understood Federal Funds that final decisions for 1978 have 8. Mr TAYLOR, not yet been made on these alloca- to the Minister for Recreation: tions and on the amount that will I would like to ask a question without be available to Western Australia. notice of the Minister, and I understand that some minimal notice was given- (2) 1'he Education Department and the The question is as follows- Western Australian Post Secondary Education Commission have made (I) is the Minister aware that in the submissions already. last Federal Budget grants for capital expenditures on leisure and (3) Not possible to indicate until full cultural facilities in Western Aus- information is available. tralia were cut by 90 per cent from I would like to add that the final figures $667 000 to $65 000? have been referred to already because U2) What will be the effects of these they were the subject of the review which, cut-backs on the programmes of as I indicated in my reply to previous State, local government and volun- questions, is already under way. tary bodies for the development of community, sporting, and leisure SOFTWOOD FORESTRY PROGRAMME facilities? Federal Funds Mr P. V. JONES replied: t Mr BtARNETT, to the Minister for Lands (1) Yes. In fact the $65 000 related and Forests: to commitments made the previous (1)~ Is the Minister aware that advances to year; no new commitments were Western Australia under the softwood given to recreation projects by the forestry programme announced in the Commonwealth in 1976-77. [Wednesday, 17th August, 1977.]68 683

(2) During 1976-77 the Slate Govern- (b) radiuim, with a radioactive half life ment committed $1 029 000 through of 1 602 years; the communities sporting facilities (c) radon, with a radioactive half life fund and a further $500 000 through of 3.8 days, and the Community Recreation Council (d) lead, with a radio active half life to assist local government auth- of 21 years? orities and community groups to develop recreation facilities, and al- (2) Will the Minister advise the House the located some $438 000 to State and exact location of the tailings dam in local authorities for the develop- which the tailings from the Western ment of recreational camping. Mining Xwinana uranium experiments are stored? WAR SERVICE HOUSING (3) H-ow many tons of ore were processed Federal Funds during the experiments? 9. Mr B. T. BURKE, to the Minister for Hous- (4) How many tons of tailings were disposed of in Ihe ing: area mentioned in (2)? (1) Was he aware that grants under the Mr MENSAROS replied: Commonwealth-State Housing Agree- I thank the honourable member for some ment for housing for servicemen in notice of the question. The reply is -as Western Australia were to be cut back follows- by 86 per cent in yesterday's Budget? (1) The tailings contain traces of the (2) If he was aware of this, did he consent heavy metals thorium, radium, and to it? lead. (3) Is he aware that the average cut-back in (2) Western Mining Corporation has a these grants over all the States was only tailings area at location Cockburn 25 per cent? Sound 16 East Rlockingham. The (4) What will be the effect in Western Aus- tailings area was constructed and tralia of these cut-backs on the main- tested under agreement with the tenance and provision of new housing Government 10 take relatively small for servicemen and on the home building quantities of residues from the Kwi- industry? nana refinery. Mr O'CONNOR replied: (3) 50 tonnes, equivalent to approxi- (1) to (4) No, from the information I have, mately two truck loads. the figures given by the honourable mlem- (4) Approximately 50 tonnes. ber are inaccurate. I will endeavour to obtain some accurate figures for him at HEALTH a later stage. I have been informed also, Radioactive Substances and I thought the honourable member would have known this, that the Com- 11.- Mr BARNETT, the Minister for Health: monwealth-State Housing Agreement Is it a fact that the following radioactive provides money for the States to build substances, if ingested into the body, homes for the Commonwealth and we can cause cancer- do not know the amount that will be thorium; provided. radium; radon? URANIUM PROCESSING Mr RIDGE replied: Experimental Work The member for Rockingham gave 10. Mr BARNETT', to the Minister for Mines: adequate notice of this question. The (1) Is it a fact that the tailings from the reply is as follows- Western Mining experiments contain the Radium causes cancer by ingestion. following radioactive substances- There is no convincing evidence that (a) Thorium, with a radioactive half thorium causes cancer by ingestion. life of 76 000 years: Radon is a gas. 684 684[ASSEMBLY]

EMPLOYMENT Mr Tonkin: Give us the details. Creation in Industry Sir CHARLES COURT: If the honourable 12. Mr TONKIN, to the Premier: member wants to be petty, he can play (1) Is he aware that in Parliament on the his own games. However, he has no 30th May this year the Federal Treas- need to waffle on about things of which urer (Mr Lynch) doubted the ability he knows nothing. It is important to of the nation to create 50000 jobs "out get the projects launched. The Govern- of the air" as he put it? mrent has spelt out loudly and clearly how 100 000 new jobs can be created (2) If the Federal Treasurer doubts the in this State in seven years, and we capacity of the nation to create 50000 stick to this statement. jobs, what credibility does the Premier expect the people of the State to find The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I will take two in his bland assertion that he would further questions without notice. personally create 100 000 jobs, not only out of the air but out of an atmosphere that was, redolent with electoral hyper- bole? FEDERAL BUDGET Sir CHARLES COURT replied: Instruction of Ministers (1) and (2) One would be entitled to treat 13. Mr B. T. BURKE, to the Premier: the question of the member for Morley In view of the dismal performances of with contempt, but I will answer it. his Ministers during this series of ques- First of all, I am not aware of what Mr lions without notice, I ask the Premier Lynch said, so I will not comment on whether he intends to instruct his Min- it. However, so far as the employment isters as to the im'portance of the Federal programme of this Government is con- Budget, and whether he intends to ensure cerned, it is not created out of thin air, that in future years, Ministers are able imagination, or anything else at all. It to answer legitimate questions about the is something to which this Government provisions of the Budget. is committed and our goal will he achieved as the projects already Sir CHARLES COURT replied: announced are implemented. The Ministers need no instruction