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. the loss of expertise within the water industry

. the implications of privatisation for prices and charges

. the loss of developing trade opportunities for water and wastewater technology and expertise.

Also, some very interesting comments on the national competition policy have come to us from the Public Interest Advocacy Centre. I will not read the whole document, obviously, but - - -

Mr Berry: Why not? I have not read that.

MS TUCKER: I know that you would encourage me to, Mr Berry, but I will not do so. I do not want to be here until 3.00 am.

Mr Berry: No; I am interested now because it is important. This could affect the way I vote.

Mr De Domenico: Nothing would affect the way you vote.

MS TUCKER: We wish; we wish. This paper states:

While some improvements were made to the draft National Competition Package, it is now to be implemented by all States and Territories and insufficient attention has been given to some very difficult but fundamental issues, such as:

. the development of consumer protection mechanisms in deregulated industries of gas, water and electricity where suppliers vigorously compete for large industrial customers but continue to be monopoly providers for domestic and captive consumers;

. the incorporation of environmental sustainability principles in deregulated and profit seeking industries of gas, water and electricity - for example by establishing regulatory regimes which encourage demand management rather than excess consumption of scarce natural resources;

. ensuring universal access on reasonable terms to essential services by remote, rural and economically disadvantaged consumers from profit seeking and competitive public utilities.

Another point that they make clearly is this:

... governments committed to maximising the well-being of society are confronted with how to balance efficiency and equity objectives.

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