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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 11 Hansard (4 November) . . Page.. 3571 ..

MR SPEAKER: Order! It being 5.00 pm, I propose the question:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

Mr Humphries: I require the question to be put forthwith without debate.

Question resolved in the negative.

Debate resumed.

MRS CARNELL: In addition to this forum, all treaties considered by COAG members sitting as the Treaties Council are scrutinised by the Commonwealth Parliament. A national interest analysis is prepared for each treaty being developed. This sets out the consultations on each treaty. These arrangements reflect even more checks and balances in the COAG system. Furthermore, Mr Osborne has been advised by the Attorney-General of this Government's support for protections against erosions of individual rights that could be overlooked in national legislative schemes.

Mr Speaker, I refute any suggestion that this Government is part of any backroom deals. We are conscious of the need for open and accountable government. Mr Osborne's sudden interest in national competition policy makes it worth touching on the history of COAG agreements in this area, the process by which they have been reached and the means by which the Government is seeking to implement the agreements.

The national competition policy has many threads. They have been developed over many years but all with one fundamental outcome in mind, that is, to capture the benefits to the general public and business of increasing competition in the various product and service markets in Australia. This means ensuring that there are no regulatory constraints that prevent the benefits from accruing to all Australians. More than seven years ago, the work started which subsequently led to agreements on electricity, gas and water reform. Over five years ago, the work on other key elements of national competition policy covered by the 1993 Hilmer report got under way.

For the benefit of the members of the Assembly, the process generally followed is as follows: If an area appears to require reform, governments commission an independent study into the area. The independent study is conducted with the benefit of public submissions and consultations, and a report is prepared for government. Governments and others consider the report and decide on the appropriate responses to the issues raised. This often involves further public consultation, negotiations between interested parties and examination of the issues by parliamentary committees in various jurisdictions. Where more than one Australian government is involved, extensive discussions and negotiations occur between government officials and Ministers. Only then can COAG agree on the best way forward.

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