Page 4403 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 14 October 2009

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MR SPEAKER: That is the question I was just about to put. Is it the wish of the Assembly to adjourn this matter to a later hour this day, or a later day? Mr Barr, what is your position? A later day?

Mr Barr: Not today, no. I mean, whatever the Greens—

Members interjecting—

MR SPEAKER: Order, members! I am going to put the question that the matter be made an order of the day for a later day. That appears to be the will of the Assembly.

Question put:

That the resumption of the debate be made an order of the day for the next sitting.

The Assembly voted—

Question so resolved in the affirmative.

Supermarkets—competition policy

MS PORTER (Ginninderra) (10.24): I move:

That this Assembly supports efforts to increase competition in the ACT’s supermarket sector both at the retail and wholesale level.

I am very happy to move this motion this morning that this Assembly supports efforts to increase competition in the ACT’s supermarket sector. The ACT government is committed to promoting diversity and choice in Canberra’s retail and wholesale supermarket sector. We believe further competition is good for all Canberrans and will inevitably result in a wide range of benefits including lower prices and increased choice for all Canberra consumers.

As members know, in June 2009 John Martin, former commissioner of the ACCC, was appointed to review the ACT supermarket competition policy. John Martin was a commissioner on last year’s national ACCC inquiry into the competitiveness of retail grocery prices, so he was the ideal person to undertake this review.

The ACCC inquiry considered Australian consumers would significantly benefit if Coles and Woolworths faced more competition that encouraged more aggressive

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