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

On behalf of the government I thank Senator O’Brien for indicating the opposition’s fundamental support for this bill and their acknowledgement that it will result in improved arrangements for the petroleum retail industry. These are timely. We also agree that the so-called Dawson amendments and our proposed amendments to section 46 of the Trade Practices Act are important and that they need to be put in place. We hope that we can pass them through this parliament as soon as practicable; certainly, there is much endeavour to bring that about.

Again, in that spirit, we are happy to accept the opposition amendment with respect to the start date and that the start date be 1 March 2007. We will not oppose the amendment. We accept the spirit in which the opposition has participated in this debate and acknowledge the importance of the Dawson reforms and the form of section 46.