Mr REID —I want to bring to the attention of the House a devastating fire which occurred just over two weeks ago at Castlemaine in Victoria. Victoria Carpet Mills suffered a loss of equipment and building. The result of that disastrous fire was that 80 people who had formerly been employed at that mill have lost their jobs. I want to compliment officers of the Department of Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs—the CES—and also the state government for their involvement with the Mount Alexander Shire at a meeting following that fire. They have now presented a program of works to try to maintain that 80-person work force in the district for the next 12 months.

I have written to the Minister for Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs (Senator Vanstone), the Minister for Sport, Territories and Local Government (Mr Warwick Smith) and the Minister for Transport and Regional Development (Mr Sharp). I have also appealed to the Prime Minister (Mr Howard) for financial assistance for these workers. Castlemaine, regrettably, has a very high unemployment base anyway, even prior to the fire, with a 20 per cent unemployment rate. It urgently needs financial assistance to help those workers.