Page 6400 - Week 19 - Tuesday, 17 December 1991

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WE ARE PLACING THE ISSUE BEFORE THE COMMUNITY IN ACCORDANCE

WITH THIS GOVERNMENTS GENUINE COMMITMENT TO CONSULTATION AND WE INTEND TO LET IT LIE ON THE TABLE UNTIL THERE HAS BEEN TIME TO ASSESS THE BILL AND RECEIVE RESPONSES TO IT IN THE NEW YEAR.

HOWEVER, MR SPEAKER, WE DO NOT INTEND TO LEAVE IT AT THAT. THE GOVERNMENT IS OF THE VIEW THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A

COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH. EVEN IF WE DO DECIDE TO ADOPT

REGULATION OF PETROL PRICES THAT WILL NOT BE THE WHOLE ANSWER

IN THE A.C.T. THERE ARE A RANGE OF LONGER TERM ISSUES THAT AFFECT THE CANBERRA MARKET AND WE ARE ALSO ADDRESSING THESE. THERE ARE FACTORS RELATED TO PLANNING AND SITING OF PETROL STATIONS FOR EXAMPLE. THERE ARE A RANGE OF MATTERS THAT ARE BEING

LOOKED AT AT A NATIONAL LEVEL BY THE SPECIAL FEDERAL

PARLIAMENTARY LABOR CAUCUS COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY INTO ASPECTS OF THE AUSTRALIAN PETROLEUM INDUSTRY CHAIRED BY MR KEITH

WRIGHT AND THERE WILL BE A RESPONSE TO THOSE MATTERS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

WE HAVE DECIDED TO APPROACH THESE MATTERS BY THE

ESTABLISHMENT OF A WORKING GROUP TO EXAMINE ALL A.C.T.

GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND PRACTICES WHICH AFFECT PETROL PRICES,

INCLUDING THE NUMBER AND LOCATION OF PETROL STATIONS, AND TO EXAMINE ALL RELEVANT ISSUES WHICH MAY ARISE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS RESPONSE TO THE WRIGHT COMMITTEE REPORT.

MR SPEAKER THIS GROUP IS COMPRISED OF SENIOR OFFICERS LED BY MY

DEPUTY LAW OFFICER MR LEN SORREL. IT HELD ITS FIRST MEETING ON 4 DECEMBER 1991 AND IT WILL BE REQUIRED TO MAKE A REPORT TO THE

GOVERNMENT WITHIN SIX MONTHS.

IN THE MEANTIME THE GOVERNMENT AND THE RELEVANT AGENCIES WILL BE CLOSELY MONITORING THE PRICING SITUATION IN THE A.C.T. OVER THE CHRISTMAS PERIOD AND INTO THE NEW YEAR TO SEE HOW THE MARKET PERFORMS.

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