Chris Hayes (Werriwa, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Speaking on the Trade Practices Amendment (National Access Regime) Bill 2005 prior to the adjournment last night, I indicated that the development of a sound framework that gives certainty to all businesses—both owners and access seekers—involved in using infrastructure for the purpose of moving goods and services is essential to our economy. In most instances the negotiation of access arrangements involves significant information asymmetry, and this information gap can only be reduced through effective and well-structured oversight.

Businesses in south-west Sydney realise the importance of infrastructure that operates efficiently. That is why the Hume Highway’s on-ramps and off-ramps at Ingleburn were a critical issue in my election campaign. The ramps are needed to allow effective and efficient access to Ingleburn’s industrial park so that businesses there are able to move their products to domestic and international markets. The construction of these ramps continues to be one of the biggest concerns for local businesses—both those who are seeking to expand their markets and those who just want to make sure their business has the best opportunity it possibly can in our region. These businesses know it is essential that our road and rail transport networks are operating efficiently and effectively so that they can move their product to other parts of the country and overseas. They know how important it is to move their products through efficiently operating ports so that they can compete on a world scale—and they do.

Given that the Hume Highway is a federally funded highway and the Ingleburn on-ramps and off-ramps cost $13 million, it is regrettable that local businesses and residents were forced to raise $4.5 million to secure this essential piece of infrastructure in our region. Businesses that operate in the Ingleburn industrial estate will be levied about $2 million of that $4.5 million and residents of Campbelltown will be footing the rest of the bill for this critical piece of infrastructure.

I agree that timely, transparent and accountable decisions need to be made on important issues relating to access. Timely decision making adds to the certainty surrounding access arrangements. This bill applies ‘target’ time limits to various decisions under part IIIA. This is an important first step but, quite frankly, after all this time, I think the government has missed an important opportunity to produce a single, clear and pro-competitive legislative framework for infrastructure regulation. The micro-economic reform agenda that led to the development of the national competition policy, the relevant sections of the Trade Practices Act and the competition principles agreement are being left to wither on the vine.

The micro-economic reforms of the Hawke and Keating governments that led to the strong period of growth that this government has inherited are now being squandered as the government fails to introduce the legislative framework that is needed. The efficient operation of our roads, rail, ports, airports, water, electricity and gas assets is essential to lower the input costs of Australian businesses, which ultimately results in Australian businesses being more competitive in global markets and reduces the price for domestic consumers. Efficient infrastructure is a critical part of removing impediments to exports. (Time expired)

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