Steve Hutchins (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Coonan as the Minister representing the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Revenue. Does the minister recall the Prime Minister last year dismissing as ‘simplistic’ the suggestion that the ACCC be given enhanced powers to police petrol prices? Can the minister confirm that the Prime Minister has now changed his tune and said that he will examine how the ACCC can expand its powers to police petrol prices? Didn’t the Prime Minister also say to oil companies that Australians will not tolerate being taken for a ride? Why have motorists had to wait 11 years for the Prime Minister to even acknowledge that the ACCC might be able to do something about petrol prices?