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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 8 Hansard (27 June) . . Page.. 2243 ..

Mr Moore: That is already public. You have announced that view. You can proceed with that.

MR HUMPHRIES: We have, but there may be changes of direction that we need to take in the way that is developed. This is a rapidly changing area. The point I make is that I hope in passing this motion we do not say that nothing should happen in the way of change of policy in the next 12 months. If we have changes of policy to undertake, we certainly undertake to consult with the committee about them so that the committee is able at least to see how the Government's proposed change would impact on its own work. I want to make that clear, because I expect there to be a number of critical decisions to make in the course of the next year. The ACCC inquiry, for example, is likely to report in the next couple of months. Following from that it may be necessary to take some very quick action. I would hope that we would not be required to wait until the committee has reported in the middle of next year.

MS FOLLETT (11.25): I certainly take the point that Mr Humphries has made. I would like to say two things, Mr Speaker. First of all, in putting a reporting date in the motion that I have moved, I have put what I believe would be the last reasonable reporting date for such an inquiry to adopt. I certainly hope that we would be able to report well before the middle of next year, but I have taken a conservative view on the reporting date because I am aware of quite a large amount of continuing work and I would not want to think that the committee, by virtue of an earlier reporting date, might miss out on the benefits of other work. Secondly, if the Government wishes to make decisions in this area whilst the committee is still deliberating and before the committee has reported, then quite clearly the Government should be consulting quite closely with the committee before it takes such decisions. I think that is only commonsense, and I would certainly expect the Government to extend that courtesy to the committee.

Motion, as amended, agreed to.

MS TUCKER (11.30): I move:

That:

(1) the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment examine and report on further retail policy measures that can be taken to maintain diversity in the ACT retail market;

(2) the Committee will consider the following matters:

(a) the current retail hierarchy;

(b) the Government proposals as outlined in Striking a Balance;

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