Steven Ciobo (Moncrieff, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Small Business, the Service Economy and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Small Business, Independent Contractors and the Service Economy. I refer the minister to the advice of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet which warned that FuelWatch would involve increased compliance costs of $4,000 a year to affected small businesses. Why did the minister advise parliament yesterday that small business will be the big beneficiaries from the introduction of FuelWatch when Prime Minister and Cabinet advice is the opposite?

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Order! The minister has the call.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Finance Minister on Deregulation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You’ll find out.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

The minister will resume his seat.

Opposition Member:

An opposition member—Now he’s got a chance to read it.

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

I just make the observation: his chance to read it is an unintended consequence of the actions I am taking. The question having been asked, the minister should be at least allowed to start his answer, and hopefully complete his answer, in silence.

Brendan Nelson (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Dr Nelson interjecting

Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Finance Minister on Deregulation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will read it out to you.

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

The minister will refer his answer through the chair.

Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Finance Minister on Deregulation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I will read it out to him. At the government’s urging the FuelWatch scheme was designed in such a way as to minimise any compliance costs. There is no need for businesses to establish and maintain IT infrastructure to communicate with the ACCC under the approved FuelWatch scheme. They can use a toll-free number. They will still have to notify petrol prices to the ACCC but this is a once-a-day event and integral to the scheme as a whole. I compare that with present subscribers to Informed Sources. Do you know about Informed Sources?

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Order! Those on my left will curb their enthusiasm.

Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Finance Minister on Deregulation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Under Informed Sources those subscribers must subscribe and notify of any price changes many times a day. Under this scheme they will have to do it only once. Treasury has ensured that the legislation is simple and easy to comply with. There is no need to establish record-keeping IT systems or records on petrol prices. The ACCC will wear the cost and will keep the records.

My attention has been drawn to a statement that has obviously just been made today by the Queensland Liberal leader Mark McArdle—he is a relatively new leader in Queensland. He was on ABC radio today and I am advised that he has contradicted his federal counterparts and expressed support for FuelWatch. Mr McArdle says FuelWatch is worth considering. He said:

The issues around FuelWatch are very complicated, but certainly it is an initiative that appears to have worked in Western Australia and I think it should be looked at here in Queensland and across Australia as well.

Go Mark! He said:

I understand that my federal colleagues may have a different view, but that is their point of view.

Here is the Liberal leader in Queensland saying FuelWatch is worth considering. So, Brendan, give Mark—the Liberal leader in Queensland—a ring on the toll-free number. Ring Mark McArdle. Mark McArdle knows what is in the interests of motorists. Mark McArdle has contradicted you—

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

Order! The minister will refer his remarks through the chair.

Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Finance Minister on Deregulation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

the Leader of the Opposition. He has contradicted the shadow Treasurer and he has contradicted his Queensland colleague the shadow minister for small business, and the member for Moncrieff. The Liberal leader in Queensland, the Liberal leader who introduced FuelWatch in Western Australia and the Liberal leader in New South Wales are all right. They support FuelWatch and so they should, and it is about time you got onside.

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. On his way to the dispatch box, the minister was handed an answer, which he read. I ask him to table the answer which he read off that piece of paper, which is in his hand.

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

Was the minister reading from a document?

Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Finance Minister on Deregulation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was, Mr Speaker.

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

Is the document confidential?

Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Finance Minister on Deregulation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, it is not, Mr Speaker. I table the statement from Mark McArdle.

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

Before calling the honourable member for Solomon, I know that in his enthusiasm the minister made some remarks. I do not know Mark McArdle. I will not be actually ringing him, but I ask the minister to refer his remarks through the chair.