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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 8 Hansard (26 June) . . Page.. 2167 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

Mr Xyrakis, president of the Canberra Small Business Council, issued a statement, I think yesterday, in which he supported the Government's proposals. He ran an ad in yesterday's Canberra Times, or today's Canberra Times, I think it was, whenever, saying:

The Carnell Government's proposal is the first opportunity given to small local businesses to rebuild and survive. Trading hours regulation is needed.

It went on to say - - -

Ms Follett: Mr Speaker, again I raise the point of order of Minister's responses being concise, but I would also ask whether the Minister has actually anticipated debate on the Bill which I know he does not have carriage of but - - -

Mrs Carnell: Well, what did you do all of question time yesterday?

MR HUMPHRIES: You asked questions about this all day yesterday.

MR SPEAKER: Order!

Ms Follett: He is going into some detail on matters which ought properly to be debated in the context of that Bill.

MR SPEAKER: I would simply draw Mr Humphries's attention to the need not to anticipate debate. I am sure Mr Humphries is sufficiently experienced to avoid that pitfall.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, I will limit myself to comment from those outside this chamber on the issues which we are going to debate later. The ad continues:

The intention of the national supermarket chains is to kill off local small businesses ... Once the national chains have total control your local small business will no longer exist and consumers will have NO shopping choice. You will be told what hours you can shop and the prices you will pay.

Mr Speaker, it is a pity that the friends of the corporate giants opposite do not realise that. The Commercial and Retail Tenants Association raised similar points, making comments about the predatory and ruthless campaigns to drive out and take over suburban supermarkets. The national meat association of Australia has also bought into this debate. Bear in mind that in the last five years something like 44 butchers in this town have gone bust, mainly under the previous Government. Those opposite do not care, but 44 family butchers have gone bust in this Territory. That is probably at least 100 jobs.

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