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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 2 Hansard (28 February) . . Page.. 413 ..

Mr Osborne: Where is it?

MR DE DOMENICO: Mr Osborne interjects, "Where is it?". Things do not just occur overnight. What has happened is this: The New South Wales Labor Government agreed to amend their legislation to enable them to do the job for us because, as regards value for money, that is the best way to go. We are cooperating very well with the New South Wales Labor Government; in fact, better than the former ACT Labor Government did with them, anyway.

Mrs Carnell has written to the Premier, Mr Carr. Mr Carr has written back to Mrs Carnell saying that the New South Wales Labor Government would amend their legislation. That legislation was amended some two or three weeks ago. It will mean that any changes to electricity prices in the ACT will not be known until October next year. My press release stands. There will be no change to electricity prices, unless those changes are recommended by the proper channel, which is the tribunal that you, in your amendment, put in.

MR OSBORNE: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. Thank you for that, Mr De Domenico. I am pleased that it is someone else's fault once again.

Mr Moore: Mr Keating's, this time.

MR OSBORNE: Mr Keating's. On ABC radio this morning, Alan Morrison, ACTEW's General Manager of Corporate Markets, stated that having an independent pricing tribunal as a watchdog over our electricity prices would in fact increase our prices even further. Is this so? If it is, what do you plan the tribunal to do that will cause it to have an impact on electricity and water prices?

MR DE DOMENICO: I thank Mr Osborne for the supplementary question. As Mr Osborne and other members will know, I do not listen to the ABC; so I did not hear what Mr Morrison had to say. I assume that Mr Morrison is alluding to the fact that it will cost us more money to enable us to purchase the services of the tribunal to do a job of work for us. But can I say to Mr Osborne that that tribunal, being a tribunal that is at arm's length from the Government, will make a decision based on what the national competition policy is all about for electricity.

Ms Follett: That is not what Mr Morrison said.

MR DE DOMENICO: I am answering Mr Osborne's question. That tribunal will be at arm's length from the Government. Any increases in prices - and I am not conceding that there will be increases - will be based on what the national price of electricity is in accordance with the national competition policy.

Mrs Carnell: I ask that all further questions be placed on the notice paper.

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