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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 3 Hansard (7 March) . . Page.. 814 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

issue that we need to continue to focus on. I do not think it is an issue that, after this debate today, we can afford to walk away from.

I think it is a matter of the greatest gravity that we should learn from just one of the service providers in this area that they have been forced into the heartbreaking circumstance of turning away from their doors, once every second day, a woman who is seeking to escape violence; that there are women who live in constant fear of violence, that there are women who are constantly beaten, and that we do not have a service able to meet their needs or to protect them from the violence and abuse that they are suffering in their daily lives.

In the case studies that I referred to I sought to give some understanding of the tortured lives of some people in our community-that some of our neighbours, perhaps some of our friends, some people we know, live quite tortured, desperate, lonely and awful lives. It behoves us as legislators to ensure that we redress that need and that gap in services that obviously exist here in the ACT.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Motor vehicle fuel prices

Proposed reference to Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission

MR RUGENDYKE (5.52): I seek leave to amend my motion on the notice paper by inserting the words "including petroleum, diesel and gas" after the words "motor vehicle fuel" in line 3.

Leave granted.

MR RUGENDYKE: I move:

That the Legislative Assembly recommends that the Government issue to the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission a reference to investigate and advise the Assembly on matters relating to motor vehicle fuel, including petroleum, diesel and gas prices in the ACT. The reference should require the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission to have regard to the following in its advice:

(1) whether an efficient retail price for petroleum is being delivered in the ACT;

(2) whether there is a higher average cost of fuel in the ACT compared to other capital cities and neighbour Queanbeyan;

(3) whether there is efficient competition in the ACT distribution and retail sectors in the ACT;

(4) whether the fluctuation of ACT fuel prices, particularly prior to public service pay days and peak holiday periods, is indicative of a failure in the retail market that disadvantages consumers;

(5) the efficacy of the Petroleum Products Pricing Amendment Act 2000 passed in Western Australia and whether similar reforms would provide a net benefit to the community as a whole in the ACT;

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