Sophie Mirabella (Indi, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Is the Prime Minister aware that the average price of unleaded petrol in Melbourne today is 140.8c per litre whilst the average price in Perth is 147.2c per litre under FuelWatch? Prime Minister, isn’t FuelWatch supposed to save motorists money?

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government appointed Mr Pat Walker as Petrol Commissioner and announced a national fuel watch scheme, which is to come into force later this year. The commissioner will oversee the ACCC’s formal monitoring of unleaded petrol prices as well as providing an annual report on the ACCC’s findings. The government has directed the ACCC to monitor prices, costs and—

Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Deputy Leader of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The question clearly asked why motorists in Perth were paying quite a lot more for petrol than motorists in Sydney, who should be paying more.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mention was made of pricing in Melbourne and Western Australia and it asked whether FuelWatch will save people money. I call the Prime Minister.

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government has directed the ACCC to monitor the prices, costs and profits relating to the supply of unleaded petrol products in the petroleum industry, including imports, refining, wholesaling and retailing. Furthermore, the commissioner will also be responsible for a renewed focus on the informal monitoring of LPG and diesel and will advise the government on whether any further powers for the ACCC are necessary in this area as well. The national FuelWatch scheme is to commence on 15 December 2008. FuelWatch will apply to unleaded petrol, premium unleaded petrol, LPG, diesel, 98 RON and biodiesel blends.

We believe that this is a positive step forward. It does not represent a silver bullet when it comes to petrol prices; it does, however, represent a government which (a) recognised that petrol prices were hurting working families and (b), rather than sitting on its hands, directed the competition policy regulator to act in this area. Therefore, we believe long term that this will assist overall in dealing with the challenges of higher fuel prices faced by Australian motorists. I contrast that with a statement by one of those opposite. Peter Dutton is the shadow minister for what?

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Finance.

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. He said:

I think Brendan Nelson would have a greater capacity to deliver lower petrol prices for families ...

Given that the shadow minister for finance—the alternative minister for finance—has said that Brendan Nelson would have a greater capacity to deliver lower petrol prices, I simply ask: by what means?