Nick Minchin (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance and Administration) Share this | Hansard source

For the record may I state what I think most senators understand clearly to be the government’s position, and that is that the amendments that the Democrats have moved—and I think others have similar proposals on the table—really have nothing to do with the legislation before us. We are discussing the Petroleum Retail Legislation Repeal Bill 2006, not the Trade Practices Act per se. It is a bill to repeal two antiquated, out-of-date, specific pieces of legislation that were introduced many years ago to deal with petrol retailing in particular. They have been shown by industry practice to be totally out of date and not to deal with the realities of this particular industry. The amendments that are being proposed are quite inappropriate with regard to the bill before us. The government’s position is clear. The government’s proposed amendments to sections 46 and 51AC of the Trade Practices Act are well known. They have been clearly stated publicly by the Treasurer on many occasions, as has the Treasurer’s position with regard to their progress, and that is that once the Dawson package of amendments has been passed by this parliament then the government will move to amend sections 46 and 51AC in the fashion outlined publicly, which I think meets many of the desires of the Democrats and others in this place.