Page 2614 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 24 August 1994
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A particular area of competition reform to which the council paid attention was the development of a national market in electricity. The principles to underpin the final form of such a market were agreed, and further work was commissioned in relation to the interim market arrangements that will apply from 1 July 1995. The development of a competitive national electricity market has the ACT's strong support as a consumer.
The Territory also supports the structure of the ultimate market developed by the National Grid Management Council. However, I drew the council's attention to our concern that the transitional market that is now in prospect may have specific weaknesses for the ACT. In particular, I expressed concern that the commitment to and the pace of reform of the Snowy scheme might not be matched by a similar certainty in relation to other aspects of the interim market structure. If this were to occur, the ACT would face the probability of increased costs from a corporatised Snowy, but without sufficient confidence that this could be offset by lower prices from other sources due to the slower pace of reform elsewhere.
Clearly, our preferred approach is to see reform across the whole electricity industry proceed speedily and relatively evenly. However, if this cannot occur, the ACT may be forced to pursue transitional assistance in relation to any additional costs resulting from the corporatisation of the Snowy which are not capable of being offset because of the inadequacies of a transitional market structure compared to the form of the ultimate market. I made it clear that the Government regards this issue as additional to our bilateral disagreement with the Commonwealth in relation to the prospect of losing access to our current Snowy power entitlement. I will be following up these matters with the Prime Minister in the near future.
The matters on the agenda that the council did not address will be progressed by correspondence or, where this is not practical, referred to the next meeting of COAG, which will be held in Adelaide on 23 and 24 February 1995. For the information of members, I have made available to the Assembly the communique of the fourth meeting of the Council of Australian Governments and a copy of this statement. I move:
That the Assembly takes note of the papers.
Debate (on motion by Mrs Carnell) adjourned.
CRIMINAL CODE - COMMONWEALTH BILL
Ministerial Statement and Paper
MR CONNOLLY (Attorney-General and Minister for Health): Mr Deputy Speaker, I seek leave to make a statement on the document entitled "Criminal Code Bill 1994" of the Commonwealth.
Leave granted.
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