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

My question is to the Attorney-General. Can the Attorney-General advise the House how the government’s Fuelwatch scheme will apply to unincorporated small fuel retailers?

Robert McClelland (Barton, Australian Labor Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for his question. The extent to which that matter is being considered by the government is a question that we will address through the implementation of the policy. The extent to which the Constitution permits the federal government to legislate and regulate the affairs of unincorporated bodies, including small businesses, partnerships, sole traders and the like, is obviously one to explore in the development and implementation—

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Finance, Competition Policy and Deregulation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If  you haven’t thought about it, just say so!

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

Order! Member for Dickson, a question has been asked; the Attorney-General has the call.

Robert McClelland (Barton, Australian Labor Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

but the government will ensure that Fuelwatch applies across the board and that the full gamut of constitutional powers will be utilised to ensure that it applies to corporations, unincorporated bodies, partnerships, sole traders and the like and, if it be necessary to discuss the matter with state governments, ensure that there are necessary arrangements in place. The arrangements will apply across the board to all those bodies—being corporations, sole traders or partnerships—selling petrol. That will be done utilising the full scope of the federal Corporations Law. It will be done using the full gamut of constitutional arrangements and it will be done in consultation with the states.