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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 2 Hansard (29 February) . . Page.. 337 ..

MR HUMPHRIES: That is understandable but we have gone beyond five. To quote a character my sons like to watch, we are now to infinity and beyond. I think the arrangement put forward in the Bill provides for a strong capacity for specialisation in appropriate circumstances, combined with a relatively low-cost model. We bring these resources forward only as and when we need them for particular inquiries. They are not standing there all the time unnecessarily if the volume of work is sufficient or if the budget does not stretch that far.

On a related issue, I note that in the Canberra Times on Saturday, 12 February, Mr Quinlan called for an independent regulatory authority to oversee the operation of electricity, water, sewerage and gas supply to the community. Subject to the passage of the proposed Utilities Bill, the new ICRC will be responsible for administering utility licences and a range of utility regulatory tasks. In other words, what Mr Quinlan was calling for is not only within the Government's contemplation but actually embodied in legislation which is now before the Assembly. I look forward to Mr Quinlan's support for that proposal, since he has called for it.

Even if the Utilities Bill is not enacted, the ICRC will continue to have a responsibility for pricing, access and other regulatory issues described in this Bill. Members will be aware that the decision on the Territory's application to the National Competition Council for certification of the ACT's third-party gas access arrangements has been delayed pending resolution of a mechanism for dealing with disputes about access pricing determinations. This Bill provides an independent mechanism that addresses the appearance of a conflict of interest which concerned the National Competition Council. My advice is that as soon as this Bill is enacted the NCC will certify the access arrangements.

There is an high degree of accountability in the arrangements that have been presented in this Bill. The ICRC will be accountable to the Government and to the Assembly through legislative reporting requirements, annual reporting requirements, accountability forums such as the Estimates Committee and the portfolio committees of the Assembly, and its own reports published from time to time. It will be responsive to stakeholders through its reporting requirements and through its potential role in communicating the benefits of economic and regulatory reform.

The ICRC will retain IPARC's current public processes such as conducting public hearings, publishing submissions and publishing issues papers and draft and final reports. These reporting requirements are strengthened in the ICRC Bill. For example, it will be mandatory for the ICRC to disclose the details of any inquiry except where the public interest would best be served by non-disclosure. Also the provision for appointing assistant commissioners for particular inquiries will extend the skill base available for the ICRC and opportunities for input from specialists in a variety of fields.

Consideration of social and environmental issues will continue to be mandatory in determining prices and access issues. Again, the problems and concerns raised by Ms Tucker have been addressed in the way this Bill has been presented. The full range of issues the ICRC must consider in an inquiry, found in section 20 of the IPARC Act, will remain in tact in the ICRC legislation.

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