Kerry O'Brien (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Transport) Share this | Hansard source

The opposition support this legislation, and we agree that it is time to move on from the previous regime of regulation in this area. We are, however, extremely concerned that the competition model that underpins the new environment ought to be the best we can achieve. We are concerned that the Dawson reforms have not yet been given passage and that the Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) has not yet been given passage. We would prefer that those things had happened before this new regime came into effect.

With that intent we understand that the government will be using its best endeavours to achieve that end by the time of our proposed operation of this legislation, which is 1 March 2007. We are caught in the dilemma of wanting three things to occur, but we are not prepared to stand in the way of the implementation of this legislation awaiting that. We think it is appropriate to set an operative date that gives the best possibility of the achievement of those three objectives.

I move opposition amendment (1) appearing on sheet 5055, which will have the effect of causing this bill, if passed at the third reading and going through the appropriate processes, to come into effect from 1 March 2007:

(1)    Clause 2, page 2 (cell at table item 2, column 2), omit the cell, substitute:

               1 March 2007.