Archived at the Flinders Academic Commons:

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1 Archived at the Flinders Academic Commons: This is a scan of a document number DUN/Speeches/2970 in the Title: Officially commissioning Cable Makers' new plant Please acknowledge the source as: Dunstan Collection, Flinders University Library. Identifier: DUN/Speeches/2970 Copyright Estate Donald Allan Dunstan

2 O F F I C I A L L Y COMMISSIONING CABLE MAKERS 1 NEW ^ P L A N T D r. S t e w a r t, Mr. Hincksman, Your W o r s h i p the M a y o r - o f E l i z a b e t h, My f e l l o w P a r l i a m e n t a r i a n from N. S. W., Mr. F r e n c h M. L. C., Mr. Ramsay, L a d i e s and Gentlemen : I t ' s a welcome change f o r a p o l i t i c i a n to look at something which d o e s n ' t change i r r e s p e c t i v e o f whether you take the broad ^ i e w or the narrow v i e w. But t h e r e Eire many more r e a s o n s o t h e r than the u n u s u a l c o n s t r u c t i o n of t h i s p l a n t which make i t a s i g n i f i c a n t a d d i t i o n to South A u s t r a l i a ' s m a n u f a c t u r i n g c a p a c i t y..2 Cableniakers i n v o l v e m e n t in South A u s t r a l i a has grown s t e a d i l y since the company f i r s t ^ s t a r t e d o p e r a t i o n s at E l i z a b e t h in The foam c o n v e r s i o n p l a n t t h a t i t e s t a b l i s h e d then was d e s i g n e d m a i n l y to s e r v i c e the a u t o m o t i v e i n d u s t r y, but the range of a p p l i c a t i o n s for p l a s t i c s has i n c r ^ s e d enormously and the number of f i r m s in South A u s t r a l i a using these m a t e r i a l s has a l s o grown. Thr r e s u l t i n g i n c r e a s e in demand nade i t p o s s i b l e to b u i l d t h i s f ).:" c o n v e r s i o n p l a n t, the most s o p h i s t i c a t e d of i t s type in A u s t r a l i a -, i n s t e a d of t r a n s p o r t i n g raw s l a b

3 f o f r o m N.S.vl., c n o w be able t o s u p p l y a Cablemakers -nil t o n i y w i t h i n q r e a t d e a l more - - r A u s t r a l i ojjth A u s t r a l i a,. a s w e l l. + H?., r v s t s -for p o l y u r e t n a n e. T h e 9 r «t n - - s a p l a s t i c s o c i e t y. r e f l e c t s the ' d r i v e ' are The i n t e r i o r s of c * D r o d u c t s, our u p h o l s t e r e d t h i B a t a r n d f u r n i t u r e rs s p r u g. s.. t h e r e are a.4 It is e s s e n t i a l t h a t South A u s t r a l i a have ^ h e c a p a c i t y to s u p p l y our i n d u s t r i e s w i t h t h i s p r o d u c t, and the c o m m i s s i o n i n g of t h i s c o n v e r s i o n t u n n e l t o d a y w i l l g r e a t l y b o o s t our m a n u f a c t u r i n g s k i l l s and t e c h n i c a l e x p e r t i s e in t h i s i n d u s t r y. It w i l l g i v e Cablemakers g r e a t e r f l e x i b i l i t y and a l l o w the company to d i v e r s i f y, and t h i s w i l l in t u r n a l l o w o t h e r companys to d i v e r s i f y t h e i r o p e r a t i o n s. South A u s t r a l i a n i n d u s t r i a l d e v e l o p m e n t needs to be i m a g i n a t i v e, but i t cannot be e c o n o m i c a l l y i m p r a c t i c a l. The whole t h r u s t of the G o v e r n m e n t ' s p o l i c i e s is to b r i n g

4 J.5 i n d u s t r i e s to South Aus tral i a wh i ch are v i a b l e and which w i l l not o n l y p r o v i d e a d d i t i o n a l j o b s, but ensure t h a t the p e o p l e who take those jobs have s e c u r i t y of employment. It is no use t a k i n g the a t t i t u d e t h a t we w i l l t r y to g e t e v e r y i n d u s t r y h e r e, r e g a r d l e s s of t h e economics of the o p e r a t i o n, by s u b s i d i s i n g them up to the h i l t. That not the b a s i s f o r long term i n d u s t r i a l g r o w t h, and most companies would r e a l i s e i t is not the b a s i s f o r any company to o p e r a t e. The Government p r o v i d e s v e r y g e n e r o u s a s s i s t a n c e to companies which are i n t e r e s t e d. 6 in coming here to s t a r t o p e r a t i o n s, and t h i s f a c t o r y is- an example of the p r a c t i c a l A s s i s t a n c e we o f f e r. The new f o a m i n g t u n n e l was b u i l t f o r Cablemakers by the South A u s t r a l i a n H o u s i n g T r u s t as p a r t of the Government p o l i c y of prov.i di ng i n d u s t r i a l land and b u i l d i n g s on long term l e a s e back f a c i l i t i e s. The foaming t u n n e l is the l a t e s t p r o d u c t of v e r y c l o s e ' c o - o p e r a t i o n between the T r u s t and C a b l e m a k e r s, which s t a r t e d in 1970 when the T r u s t b u i l t the o r i g i n a l f a c t o r y.

5 7 Of the S S Q Q, O O O. t o t a l cost f o r p l a n t and e q u i p m e n t, the Housing T r u s t e f f o r t is worth more than , and, as I'm sure you would a l l agree a f t e r your i n s p e c t i o n, the T r u s t has done a f i r s t c l a s s j o b. The Government p r o v i d e s t h i s p a r t i c u l a r s e r v i c e to i n d u s t r y as p a r t of a much l a r g e r package o f i n c e n t i v e s, which i n c l u d e loan g u a r a n t e e s, low or d e f e r r e d i n t e r e s t ^ o a n s, e x p e r t a d v i c e and r e s o u r c e s in a wide range of f i e l d s and, in g e n e r a l, an i m a g i n a t i v e and f l e x i b l e a p p r o a c h to p r o v i d i n g f i n a n c i a l and p h y s i c a l measures to a s s i s t new i n d u s t r y. We have been s u c c e s s f u l in b r i n g i n g many i n d u s t r i e s to our S t a t e, even over the l a s t * e w years when i n d u s t r i a l development in the r e s t of A u s t r a l i a has been a l m o s t s t a t i c. Companies want to r e l o c a t e here because we have a c i t y in which i t is p o s s i b l e to move about f r e e l y and q u i c k l y and because we have a s t a b l e r e c o r d of i n d u s t r i a l harmony and c l o s e c o - o p e r a t i o n between the S t a t e G o v e r n - ment and i n d u s t r y. T h i s advanced foaming h a l l has been f a c i l i t a t e d by one example of c o - o p e r a t i o n between government and i n d u s t r y, and t h e r e are many o t h e r f i r m s who have used our r e s o u r c e s.

6 i We want t h a t to happen, because we want f i r m s to expand,, to d i v e r s i f y, to p r o v i d e more employment and to add to the d e v e l o p m e n t of South A u s t r a l i a. South A u s t r a l i a has a t r a d i t i o n of c l o s e l i n k s t h r o u g h o u t d i f f e r e n t s e c t i o n s of the community, and more i m p o r t a n t l y we have a t r a d i t i o n of those s e c t i o n s b e i n g a b l e to work f o r the good of the whole community.9 % Government wants to s t r e n g t h e n t h a t t r a d i t i o n, j u s t as we want to s t r e n g t h e n and d i v e r s i f y the i n d u s t r i a l base of our S t a t e. 10 New f a c i l i t i e s such as t h i s w i l l help the h o l e community a c h i e v e t h a t o b j e c t i v e, and I have g r e a t pleasure in c o m m i s s i o n i n g t h i s new foam c o n v e r s i o n p l a n t.

7 O F F I C I A L L Y COMM S SS I ONI NG CAB L MAKERS 1 NEW P L A N T D r. S t e w a r t, Mr. Hincksman, Your Worship the Mayor of E l i z a b e t h, My f e l l o w P a r 1 i a m e n t a r i a n from N. S. W.., Mr. F r e n c h M. L. C., Mr. Ramsay, L a d i e s and G e n t l e m e n : I t ' s a welcome change f o r a p o l i t i c i a n to look at s o m e t h i n g which d o e s n ' t change i r r e s p e c t i v e of whether you take the broad i e w or the narrow v i e w. But t h e r e s(re many more r e a s o n s o t h e r than the u n u s u a l c o n s t r u c t i o n of t h i s p l a n t which make i t a s i g n i f i c a n t a d d i t i o n to South A u s t r a l i a ' s m a n u f a c t u r i n g c a p a c i t y..2 C a b l s m a k e r s i n v o l v e m e n t in South A u s t r a l i a has grown s t e a d i l y since the company f i r s t s t a r t e d o p e r a t i o n s at E l i z a b e t h in The foam c o n v e r s i o n p l a n t t h a t i t e s t a b l i s h e d then was d e s i g n e d m a i n l y to s e r v i c e the a u t o m o t i v e i n d u s t r y, but the range of a p p l i c a t i o n s for p l a s t i c s has i n c r. ^ s e d enormously and the number of f i r m s in South A u s t r a l i a using these m a t e r i a l s has a l s o grown. Trv r e s u l t i n g i n c r e a s e in demand nade itp o s s i b l e to b u i l d t h i s fne-.n* c o n v e r s i o n p l a n t, the most s o p h i s t i c a t e d of i t s type in A u s t r a l i a, i n s t e a d of t r a n s p o r t i n g raw s l a b

8 from N.S.W.- cs - * as w e l l. ^ ;~v 3ts f o r p o l y u r e t n a n e The g r o w t h - i n.. ^. " e t s l a s t i c s o c i 3 t y. + c the t r e n d towaras> h r e f l e c t s the x a r e The i n t e r i o r ' o r o d u c t s, our u p h o l s t e r e d m a i n l i n - m a t e r U 1 a n d f u r n i t u r e is sprung w ^ ^ use various foa,s..4 It is e s s e n t i a l that South A u s t r a l i a have the c a p a c i t y to s u p p l y our i n d u s t r i e s with i s p r o d u c t, and the commissioning of t h i s c o n v e r s i o n t u n n e l today w i l l g r e a t l y boost our m a n u f a c t u r i n g s k i l l s and t e c h n i c a l e x p e r t i s e in t h i s i n d u s t r y. It w i l l g i v e Cablemakers g r e a t e r f l e x i b i l i t y and a l l o w the company to d i v e r s i f y, and t h i s w i l l in t u r n a l l o w other companys to d i v e r s i f y t h e i r o p e r a t i o n s. South A u s t r a l i a n i n d u s t r i a l development needs to be i m a g i n a t i v e, but i t cannot be e c o n o m i c a l l y i m p r a c t i c a l. The whole t h r u s t of the G o v e r n Dunstan m e ncollection, t ' s Special p Collections, o l i cflinders i e s University is Library. to b r i n g

9 i n d u s t r i e s to South Aus tral i a whi ch are v i a b l e and which w i l l not o n l y p r o v i d e a d d i t i o n a l j o b s, but ensure t h a t the p e o p l e who take those jobs have s e c u r i t y of employment. It is no use taking, the a t t i t u d e t h a t we w i l l t r y to get e v e r y i n d u s t r y h e r e, r e g a r d l e s s of the economics o f the o p e r a t i o n, by s u b s i d i s i n g them up to the h i l t. That As not the b a s i s f o r long term i n d u s t r i a l g r o w t h, and m o s t companies would r e a l i s e i t is not the b a s i s f o r any company to o p e r a t e. The Government p r o v i d e s v e r y generous a s s i s t a n c e to companies which are i n t e r e s t e d.6 in coming here to s t a r t o p e r a t i o n s, and t h i s f a c t o r y is an example of the p r a c t i c a l a s s i s t a n c e we o f f e r. The new foaming t u n n e l was b u i l t f o r C a b l e m a k e r s by the South A u s t r a l i a n H o u s i n g T r u s t as p a r t of the Government p o l i c y of p r o v i d i n g i n d u s t r i a l land and b u i l d i n g s on long term l e a s e back f a c i l i t i e s. The foaming t u n n e l is the l a t e s t p r o d u c t of v e r y c l o s e c o - o p e r a t i o n between the T r u s t and C a b l e m a k e r s, which s t a r t e d in 1970 when the T r u s t b u i l t the o r i g i n a l f a c t o r y. 5

10 Of the SS00, 00.0~ t o t a l cost f o r p l a n t and e q u i p m e n t, the Housing T r u s t e f f o r t is worth more than $ 2 0 0, and, as l f m sure you would a l l agree a f t e r your i n s p e c t i o n, the T r u s t has done a f i r s t c l a s s j o b. The Government p r o v i d e s t h i s p a r t i c u l a r s e r v i c e to i n d u s t r y as p a r t of a much l a r g e r package of i n c e n t i v e s, which i n c l u d e loan g u a r a n t e e s, low or d e f e r r e d i n t e r e s t ^ o a n s, e x p e r t a d v i c e and r e s o u r c e s in a wide range of f i e l d s and, in g e n e r a l, an i m a g i n a t i v e and f l e x i b l e a p p r o a c h to p r o v i d i n g f i n a n c i a l and p h y s i c a l measures to a s s i s t new i n d u s t r y..8 We have been s u c c e s s f u l in b r i n g i n g many i n d u s t r i e s to our S t a t e, even over the l a s t ew years when i n d u s t r i a l development in the r e s t of A u s t r a l i a has been a l m o s t s t a t i c. Companies want to r e l o c a t e here because we have a c i t y in which i t is p o s s i b l e to move about f r e e l y and q u i c k l y and because we have a s t a b l e r e c o r d of i n d u s t r i a l harmony and close c o - o p e r a t i o n between the S t a t e G o v e r n - ment and i n d u s t r y. T h i s advanced foaming h a l l has been f a c i l i t a t e d by one example of c o - o p e r a t i o n between government and i n d u s t r y, and t h e r e are many o t h e r f i r m s who have used our r e s o u r c e s.

11 r 'We want t h a t to happen, because we want f i r m s to expand, to d i v e r s i f y, to p r o v i d e more employment and to add to the d e v e l o p m e n t o f South A u s t r a l i a. South A u s t r a l i a has a t r a d i t i o n of c l o s e l i n k s t h r o u g h o u t d i f f e r e n t s e c t i o n s of the community, and more i m p o r t a n t l y we have a t r a d i t i o n of those s e c t i o n s b e i n g a b l e to work f o r the good of the whole community. ty Government wants to s t r e n g t h e n t h a t t r a d i t i o n, j u s t as we want to s t r e n g t h e n and d i v e r s i f y the i n d u s t r i a l base of our S t a t e..10 New f a c i l i t i e s such as t h i s w i l l help the ^ i o l e community a c h i e v e t h a t o b j e c t i v e, and r h a v e g r e a t pleasure i n-commi ssi oning t h i s new foam c o n v e r s i o n p l a n t.