Page 229 - Week 01 - Thursday, 14 February 2019
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
respond with lower prices. I commend those operators in the territory who are doing the right thing and pricing their fuel in a competitive way.
One thing Canberrans can do in the short term is to support those outlets. I am pleased that they are taking further steps to expand their capacity and reduce the amount of time it takes for those who utilise those particular outlets. Costco deserve great credit here for what they have already done and what they are proposing to do. I have been pleased to engage with them on those questions.
I look forward to a robust committee inquiry process. This appears to be an issue where we have agreement across this chamber. We may disagree on the best approach to get a lasting solution, and it may be that a combination of measures might achieve the outcomes we are seeking for Canberra motorists. But today I commend the select committee process to the Assembly.
I also indicate the government’s willingness over the next six months, through the work of the ICRC, to take a serious look at a very, very significant market intervention as part of the suite of options available to the government. I note that that is not something we would undertake lightly, and we want to see the results of this select committee and the ICRC’s work and the input of the ACCC before reaching a final conclusion on this matter. I commend the motion to the Assembly.
MR COE (Yerrabi—Leader of the Opposition) (11.21): The opposition welcome this motion put forward by Mr Barr today and we look forward to participating fully in this inquiry. We also welcome his new-found interest in the issue of fuel pricing in the territory. This has been going on for a very long time. Why is it that today, not last year, not two years ago, not three years ago—why is it that today—we have this inquiry before us? What has changed in the last period? The Canberra Liberals joined others in putting pressure on the government and, indeed, on many others to try to get some downward pressure on petrol prices in the territory.
There are some practical things that the ACT government could do, like having a 24-hour cap on petrol prices. That is something that the government could do. That is something that the WA government has been doing for a couple of decades, and it is worth a trial. And that was what the Canberra Liberals called for. We called for a trial of 24-hour capping.
It does not stack up that petrol prices should be what they are in the territory. How is it that petrol in Boorowa is 20c a litre cheaper than here? How is it that in Bowral it is sometimes 30c a litre cheaper than here? Canberrans are being gouged and we have been gouged for a long, long time.
I certainly hope that this select committee is able to look into this in some depth. I do agree with the Chief Minister that it is not easy. There are not simple solutions. But there are some options that are worth exploring.
I note that the Chief Minister and his government are now looking to change the board advertising of petrol prices. We look forward to seeing that legislation. What impact that actually has on petrol prices remains to be seen. I expect very little impact,
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video