Page 4884 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 11 November 2009
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
assume that it stands by this finding in 2009. The ACCC recommended that governments lower barriers to entry and expansion in both retailing and wholesaling to independent supermarkets and potential new entrants. The ACCC considered more regard should be had to competition issues in considering zoning or planning proposals:
… all appropriate levels of government consider ways in which zoning and planning laws and decisions in respect of individual planning applications where additional retail space for the purpose of operating a supermarket is contemplated should have specific regard to the likely impact of the proposal on competition between supermarkets in the area. Particular regard should be had to whether the proposal will facilitate the entry of a supermarket operator not currently trading in the area.
The ACT government could not agree more. That is why we acted to ensure that the ACT would become the first jurisdiction in Australia to change its zoning and planning laws to promote competition. It is why we have been the first to take up the challenge thrown down by the ACCC and, as stated earlier, in taking up the challenge we did as a matter of course seek to involve the ACCC in the development of our new policy, rendering the last part of the Leader of the Opposition’s motion redundant.
This motion does not deserve the chamber’s support. It would lead, inexorably, to the abandonment of a policy that has been embraced wholeheartedly by virtually all commentators, and it should be rejected.
MR COE (Ginninderra) (5.32): We on this side of the chamber are absolutely committed to a fair and transparent marketplace and a marketplace that will ensure that business men and women, consumers and all others concerned will be delivered the best possible results. Largely, that is what I believe is the mandate of the ACCC. It is to ensure that the competitive environment that exists is one that does actually promote an environment which supports industry, supports jobs, supports competition and therefore supports wider society. It does concern me when you have people such as the head of the ACCC casting doubt about elements of this report, The review of ACT supermarket competition policy, and the impact it will have on Canberra business, Canberra families, Canberra consumers.
Canberra is a place that does not have much industry other than the government sector. Relatively speaking, Canberra is a government town. So it really does beggar belief when you do have a possible policy on the table that may hurt the very few businesses we do have in Canberra, relatively speaking. Family businesses are the lifeblood of any economy but in Canberra I think family businesses, as a proportion of the private sector, represent a very sizeable chunk. So it is for that reason that the Canberra Liberals are absolutely committed to ensuring that family businesses are given a fair go when it comes to operating their businesses, to expanding their businesses, to employing new staff and to delivering services for Canberrans.
In my electorate of Ginninderra, there are a number of business men and women that have contacted my office to express concerns about this document, The review of ACT supermarket competition policy, as tabled by the Chief Minister. This report does have the ability to limit the role that such businesses can have in Ginninderra.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video