Page 3476 - Week 11 - Thursday, 14 October 1993
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We have heard the litany that everybody else is to blame. Mr Connolly and Ms Follett, in turn, have blamed the Prices Surveillance Authority; they have blamed the Industry Commission at various times for things, saying that they are wrong as well and the ACT Government is right; they have blamed the local traders; they have blamed wholesalers; and they have blamed oil companies. But, with the stroke of a pen, Labor governments, federally and in the ACT, have increased costs for motorists by over 5c per litre. That was not done by anybody else. Mr Humphries covered this quite adequately. He pointed out that 40.8c or 53 per cent of the money that people hand over at the petrol pump goes into the pockets of these people across the way here and their mates up on the hill. Fifty-three per cent of every dollar that is spent on petrol goes to this mob over here.
Mr Lamont: Mr Berry, with a loss of $26m, Mr Humphries will probably suggest that we open Acton hospital soon.
Mr Berry: Twenty-six million dollars is about eight wards in a hospital.
MR DE DOMENICO: Don't you talk about hospitals. If you want a debate about hospitals we will have you on any time. As I said, Ms Follett has said nothing about the impact on business. As I have said before, the price of everything goes up because of transport costs. She continues to say that it is a very small number and a minimal tax increase. It is humbug to talk about social justice. It is humbug to talk about these things. What they are saying is, "Listen, it is not good enough for a retailer to get 5c a litre. We want to make them go broke by introducing independents". There you go.
Ms Ellis: We will sell so much petrol; it will be so cheap.
MR DE DOMENICO: Ms Ellis interjects. Ms Ellis finds it hard to realise that it was Mrs Kelly, as Federal Minister for the Environment, who upped the price of petrol again.
Mr Lamont: Mr Deputy Speaker, I refer to standing order 62.
MR DE DOMENICO: Mr Deputy Speaker, we are talking about the price of petrol, and whether Mr Lamont likes it or not, it has been the Labor governments, federally and here, that have upped the price of petrol.
Mr Lamont: Mr Deputy Speaker, I again rise, pursuant to standing order 62. Not only is this irrelevant; it is becoming repetitious and tedious. I think it is the height of hypocrisy for the person who will now be referred to as the $26m man to make these sorts of accusations.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Lamont, are you making a speech or are you raising a point of order?
Mr Lamont: It is a point of order.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you. Mr De Domenico, I am sure that you will get back to the topic.
MR DE DOMENICO: I have been there all the time. Noting the sly smile on Mr Lamont's face, I know that he is trying very hard to put me off. I will continue to say what I want to say, notwithstanding that Mr Lamont, Mr Berry and Ms Ellis might not agree with me.
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