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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 14 Hansard (11 December) . . Page.. 5077 ..

Mister Speaker, I would like to say a few words about the Government's response to the Report of the Select Committee on Petrol Pricing.

As is noted in the Report it does not contain anything new nor offer dramatic solutions to what has been a perennial complaint that people pay too much for the price of petrol. This is not a complaint made only by ACT consumers but one that has been echoed throughout Australia.

It is also the changes that have been taking place nationally that are being felt locally. Oil companies are rationalising their operations but where people buy their petrol and what people expect to find at a service station is changing.

The Committee has recommended that the planning policies for service stations be reviewed and this is supported by the Government. As is pointed out in the response service stations are a permitted use within a variety of land use policies but given the changes that I have just referred to it seems appropriate to reconsider the planning policies

That review will also consider the recommendation of the Committee that restrictions be eased on the amount of retail space available in service stations. I should make clear that this is only a review of the policy. Quite clearly, the recent moratorium imposed on retailing expansion in town and local centres would come into play if an application was received.

The Government is also willing to look at the relationship between oil companies and their franchisees and distributors and is considering the arrangements which relate to multi-site franchising.

The Government has sought to facilitate the entry of independents, such as Woolworths, into the market in an attempt to introduce price competition. However,

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