Page 5826 - Week 18 - Tuesday, 10 December 1991
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MS FOLLETT (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (8.43), in reply: I thank members for their comments on the Bills that we are looking at this evening. I will have a brief word on each of the major issues raised by speakers. Mr Humphries raised the issue of the Gas Levy Bill being a revenue Bill, and of course it is. He mentioned that in a full year this Bill will bring into the Territory over $600,000 in revenue. It is, however, a bit more than that. To this point, we have not had any sort of a dividend or a return from the gas supply, as we do from ACTEW. So, in terms of equity between the different forms of energy, I think it is appropriate to have a look at revenue from the supply of gas. Indeed, that is what we are doing with this Gas Levy Bill.
To respond to Mr Stevenson, I would like to say that this measure was announced on 23 July of this year. We can hardly be accused of ramming it through when a period of approximately six months has elapsed. Members and indeed the public had adequate opportunity to take this matter on board and to make comment, had they wished. Like Mr Collaery, I am not aware that I have had any comment from the community on the Bill. For that reason, it is probably a matter that is generally regarded by the public as reasonable, as it appears to be in this chamber.
Mr Berry: Dennis would not let the truth interfere with a good story, though.
Mr Stevenson: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Mr Berry's comment was unparliamentary.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Stevenson, I did not hear the comment. Would you like to advise just what was said.
Mr Berry: I withdraw anything that you might find in the transcript that would offend you, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Berry.
MS FOLLETT: Mr Humphries and Mr Stevenson both referred to the effect of this levy on price. It is the case that there has been a price freeze on natural gas in the ACT since 1989. That freeze was imposed by Labor in its first term in government and is still in place. Mr Speaker, despite 2 years of price freeze, the price of gas in the ACT is still slightly higher than it is in New South Wales, or in Queanbeyan just across the border.
Far from this levy in any way increasing the price of gas, we hope that the overall negotiation process that is taking place with AGL will reduce the ACT's prices to the same level as applies in New South Wales, and in Queanbeyan in particular. It seems to me that there is very little reason for consumers just over the border to be paying less for their gas than we are in the ACT. Far from the price rising, it would be my intention that the price be reduced to the same level as in New South Wales.
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