Page 3710 - Week 12 - Thursday, 13 October 1994
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We have had national consideration of violence against women. That was another ACT initiative. We have had progress towards micro-economic reform and national agreement to the principles of competition policy articulated in the Hilmer report. We have had progress in developing a regulatory framework for free and fair interstate trade in gas, and a national water resources policy. We have seen the initiation of joint Commonwealth, State and Territory reviews of government service provision aimed at improving delivery efficiency, and we have national agreement to a comprehensive Asian languages and culture program which will see an immediate and significant expansion nationally in the study of Australia's principal economic partners in East Asia.
Madam Speaker, the fourth meeting of the council, on 19 August in Darwin, was the most difficult to date; but I am pleased to report that subsequent scrutiny of that process seems to suggest that lessons have been learnt. It is proposed that in the future the meeting agendas will be shorter and more focused, and any areas where there is likely to be substantial disagreement will be refined and referred to the relevant governments for resolution between meetings, and, of course, the communique will also be improved. I think it is fair to say that communiques have been less than transparent, at times. In addition to the work that has gone into improving the process of the meetings, work is also progressing on competition policy and on the respective roles and responsibilities of the different levels of government as they relate to a variety of specific purpose payments programs.
As I advised in the August speech, after considerable discussion about competition policy the council agreed that draft legislation would be distributed for public consultation. Some of the characteristics of this legislation include amendment and application of Part IV of the Trade Practices Act to all persons within State jurisdictions; establishment of pricing and access arrangements; and establishment of the Australian Competition Commission and the Australian Competition Council. During the consultation period, the Commonwealth, States and Territories will continue to meet in an effort to resolve the issues which remain outstanding. The legislation package is expected to be finalised by the next meeting of COAG. Madam Speaker, I have to say that I think it is somewhat doubtful whether there will be an ACT representative at the next meeting of COAG, given that it will occur, I think, two days after our February election.
You might also recall that a particular area of competition reform to which the council paid attention was the development of a national market in electricity. The principles to underpin the final form of such a market were agreed, and further work was commissioned in relation to the interim market arrangements that will apply from 1 July 1995. The development of a competitive national electricity market has the ACT's strong support as a consumer. The Territory also supports the structure of the ultimate market developed by the National Grid Management Council.
I should emphasise, Madam Speaker, that I drew the council's attention to our concern that the transitional market which is now in prospect may have specific weaknesses for the ACT. In particular, I expressed concern that the commitment to and the pace of reform of the Snowy Mountains scheme might not be matched by a similar certainty in relation to other aspects of the interim market structure. Members will be aware that, following the council's meeting, I wrote to the Prime Minister again raising this issue.
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