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(2) the use by any television station of any part of the recorded proceedings in subsequent news, current affairs and documentary programs and not for the purposes of satire or ridicule; and

(3) the taking of still photographs during questions without notice and the presentation of the Appropriation Bill 1995-96 today and the Leader of the Opposition’s speech on the resumption of the debate on Thursday, 21 September 1995, and the use of such photographs in the print media generally.

FAIR TRADING (PETROLEUM RETAIL MARKETING) BILL 1995

MR HUMPHRIES (Attorney-General and Minister for Consumer Affairs) (10.49), by leave: Mr Speaker, I present the Fair Trading (Petroleum Retail Marketing) Bill 1995, together with the explanatory memorandum.

Title read by Clerk.

MR HUMPHRIES: I move:

That this Bill be agreed to in principle.

Mr Speaker, the Fair Trading (Petroleum Retail Marketing) Bill is part of this Government's commitment to promote a fair and competitive marketplace for business and consumers. This Bill is a major initiative to address competition issues in the retail petrol market in the ACT.

I announced on 17 August 1995 that from that day there would be a moratorium on multisite franchise agreements between oil companies and petrol retailers. Multisite franchising is a new marketing approach pioneered by Shell whereby a single person or company operates a number of retail petrol sites under franchise. I am advised that one such multisite operator in Brisbane operates some 20 sites. This approach has the potential to destroy one entire level of retailing in the petrol market - that of the single-site franchisee. This Bill will ensure that, for the time being, the single-site franchisee remains part of the ACT retail petrol industry, and honours another part of the Government's commitment to encourage the local small business community.

The Government has met with both Shell and Mobil recently, and we have heard their reasons for wanting to introduce multisite franchising. They argue that the petrol industry has in recent years suffered a period of low profitability, with returns on investments being as low as 6 per cent. They say that in corporate terms this is a poor result and they are looking for ways to increase their profitability and provide scope for future investment.

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