Perin Davey (NSW, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to very quickly explain to the chamber why the Nationals will not be supporting the amendments put by Senator Patrick. While Senator Patrick quite rightly points out the issues facing farmers with farmgate prices and dealing with the monopoly powers of the retailers, we do not believe that a blanket approach such as that being put forward by Senator Patrick, without proper investigation and without proper review, will succeed in achieving the outcomes that we want.

We look forward to working with Senator Patrick to have a look at how we can address the market monopoly powers of the retailers. We have already undertaken and established the ACCC review into water to make sure that there is no market manipulation in the water market. You cannot apply a blanket approach. The issues happening in the water market are not necessarily the same issues that are happening in retailing or power. This bill today is specifically about power and dealing with the power market and divestiture in power companies. We support the bill as it is put. We do not support these amendments, despite their good intentions.