Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 8 Hansard (27 June) . . Page.. 2242 ..

MR MOORE (11.23): Mr Speaker, I think the issue of petrol and petrol pricing in the ACT is one of great community interest. During Mr Connolly's time as Minister in this area, he was fortunate enough to have Matthew Abraham running the issue constantly and keeping the pressure on the Minister through 2CN's morning show. That pressure was also kept on by other elements of the media. It was then and is now of clear community concern. I think that this is a very positive move to see what we can do to find any possible way to improve the situation in the ACT and to understand what it is that drives our prices and makes them so different from those in surrounding areas.

Mr Speaker, I have circulated an amendment to the motion to expand it a small amount. My experience of select committees is that sometimes you need a tiny bit more room to move. Therefore I move the following amendment:

After "ACT" insert "and any related matters".

The select committee may find that they want to look at multiple franchising, and there may be some debate as to whether or not that is clearly within the ambit of the committee. That is just one example. Perhaps it would be interpreted that it was, but to save any confusion, if we say "any other related matters", then the committee itself can determine the sorts of issues that it needs to extend its inquiry to. It will have the freedom to do that. I think that will be a positive addition and will assist in fostering the spirit that Ms Follett is trying to achieve. I think it is an appropriate move, and it behoves us to ensure that we do whatever we can to look after the people of the ACT in this respect.

Amendment agreed to.

MR HUMPHRIES (Attorney-General and Minister for Consumer Affairs): I seek leave to make a few further comments to the Assembly on the subject of the motion. I meant to make them before but I forgot to do so.

Leave granted.

MR HUMPHRIES: I thank members. I just want to draw to the attention of members of the Assembly a couple of issues which may be important to bear in mind in passing this motion. The reporting date in the motion is the last sitting day in June 1997, a year from now. The normal courtesy extended by the Government to committee inquiries is that it will not make major decisions in the area such as to impinge on the work that the inquiry is doing. A year is a long time in the course of the debate about petrol. May I say to members of the Assembly that there are a number of critical issues which are going to have to be decided by the Government in the course of the next 12 months. If this motion is passed today, it will say to the Government that we need to consult with the committee's chair about things we propose to do if we want to do them. For example, there are a number of petrol station sites in the ACT which I believe oil companies intend to redevelop. The Government has taken the view that a strong line should be held against that process happening if that is possible.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .