❓ WA Treasurer responds to questions regarding National Competition Policy payments after a referendum rejecting trading hour changes, indicating WA is appealing directly to the Prime Minister and participating in a COAG review.
AnsweredQoN 13Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the article in The West Australian of 28 March 2005 headed “WA bids for retail payments”, which reported the Western Australian Treasurer’s intention to write to the commonwealth to ask that Western Australia not be fined $7.5 million a year in competition policy payments as a result of Western Australian voters overwhelmingly rejecting the referendum to overhaul trading hours. (1) Does the Treasurer believe the Western Australian government has comprehensively met all of its obligations as a signatory to the national competition policy agreement by conducting both a comprehensive public interest assessment and a referendum to prove the public interest benefits of maintaining Western Australia’s current retail trading hours regime? (2) If so, what action will the Western Australian government take if it is unsuccessful in its appeal to be included in the retail competition payments? (3) Will the Western Australian Treasurer ask the Premier to consider whether the government should collaborate with its interstate counterparts in a national campaign against the National Competition Council and the federal Treasurer’s serial breaches of the national competition policy agreements, which clearly give the states the final say on the legislative reviews, provided adequate public interest assessments have taken place? (4) If not, why not? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank Hon Dee Margetts for that very interesting question. (1)-(2) Western Australia is now able to make a strong case for having met its national competition policy obligations on retail trading hours. The referendum results have shown that the majority of the Western Australian public considers the restrictions to be in the public interest. The National Competition Council may or may not accept the referendum result as a sufficient public interest assessment to justify the retained restrictions. However, Western Australia is bypassing the National Competition Council in its bid to retain payments. The Premier wrote to the Prime Minister on 14 March 2005 informing him of the referendum questions and results and making the case that irrespective of the NCC’s payment recommendations for 2005, no payment penalty should be imposed on the state in 2005. (3) The future of the national competition policy and the role of the National Competition Council will be determined at the Council of Australian Governments level, with a review of NCP and the role of the NCC to be completed by COAG by September 2005. Institutions, funding arrangements and priorities for reform will be assessed with inputs from all states and territories and the federal government. Western Australia will participate fully in that review. (4) Not applicable.
(1) Does the Treasurer believe the Western Australian government has comprehensively met all of its obligations as a signatory to the national competition policy agreement by conducting both a comprehensive public interest assessment and a referendum to prove the public interest benefits of maintaining Western Australia’s current retail trading hours regime? (2) If so, what action will the Western Australian government take if it is unsuccessful in its appeal to be included in the retail competition payments? (3) Will the Western Australian Treasurer ask the Premier to consider whether the government should collaborate with its interstate counterparts in a national campaign against the National Competition Council and the federal Treasurer’s serial breaches of the national competition policy agreements, which clearly give the states the final say on the legislative reviews, provided adequate public interest assessments have taken place? (4) If not, why not? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Dee Margetts for that very interesting question. (1)-(2) Western Australia is now able to make a strong case for having met its national competition policy obligations on retail trading hours. The referendum results have shown that the majority of the Western Australian public considers the restrictions to be in the public interest. The National Competition Council may or may not accept the referendum result as a sufficient public interest assessment to justify the retained restrictions. However, Western Australia is bypassing the National Competition Council in its bid to retain payments. The Premier wrote to the Prime Minister on 14 March 2005 informing him of the referendum questions and results and making the case that irrespective of the NCC’s payment recommendations for 2005, no payment penalty should be imposed on the state in 2005. (3) The future of the national competition policy and the role of the National Competition Council will be determined at the Council of Australian Governments level, with a review of NCP and the role of the NCC to be completed by COAG by September 2005. Institutions, funding arrangements and priorities for reform will be assessed with inputs from all states and territories and the federal government. Western Australia will participate fully in that review. (4) Not applicable.
(2) If so, what action will the Western Australian government take if it is unsuccessful in its appeal to be included in the retail competition payments? (3) Will the Western Australian Treasurer ask the Premier to consider whether the government should collaborate with its interstate counterparts in a national campaign against the National Competition Council and the federal Treasurer’s serial breaches of the national competition policy agreements, which clearly give the states the final say on the legislative reviews, provided adequate public interest assessments have taken place? (4) If not, why not? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Dee Margetts for that very interesting question. (1)-(2) Western Australia is now able to make a strong case for having met its national competition policy obligations on retail trading hours. The referendum results have shown that the majority of the Western Australian public considers the restrictions to be in the public interest. The National Competition Council may or may not accept the referendum result as a sufficient public interest assessment to justify the retained restrictions. However, Western Australia is bypassing the National Competition Council in its bid to retain payments. The Premier wrote to the Prime Minister on 14 March 2005 informing him of the referendum questions and results and making the case that irrespective of the NCC’s payment recommendations for 2005, no payment penalty should be imposed on the state in 2005. (3) The future of the national competition policy and the role of the National Competition Council will be determined at the Council of Australian Governments level, with a review of NCP and the role of the NCC to be completed by COAG by September 2005. Institutions, funding arrangements and priorities for reform will be assessed with inputs from all states and territories and the federal government. Western Australia will participate fully in that review. (4) Not applicable.
(3) Will the Western Australian Treasurer ask the Premier to consider whether the government should collaborate with its interstate counterparts in a national campaign against the National Competition Council and the federal Treasurer’s serial breaches of the national competition policy agreements, which clearly give the states the final say on the legislative reviews, provided adequate public interest assessments have taken place? (4) If not, why not? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Dee Margetts for that very interesting question. (1)-(2) Western Australia is now able to make a strong case for having met its national competition policy obligations on retail trading hours. The referendum results have shown that the majority of the Western Australian public considers the restrictions to be in the public interest. The National Competition Council may or may not accept the referendum result as a sufficient public interest assessment to justify the retained restrictions. However, Western Australia is bypassing the National Competition Council in its bid to retain payments. The Premier wrote to the Prime Minister on 14 March 2005 informing him of the referendum questions and results and making the case that irrespective of the NCC’s payment recommendations for 2005, no payment penalty should be imposed on the state in 2005. (3) The future of the national competition policy and the role of the National Competition Council will be determined at the Council of Australian Governments level, with a review of NCP and the role of the NCC to be completed by COAG by September 2005. Institutions, funding arrangements and priorities for reform will be assessed with inputs from all states and territories and the federal government. Western Australia will participate fully in that review. (4) Not applicable.
(4) If not, why not? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Dee Margetts for that very interesting question. (1)-(2) Western Australia is now able to make a strong case for having met its national competition policy obligations on retail trading hours. The referendum results have shown that the majority of the Western Australian public considers the restrictions to be in the public interest. The National Competition Council may or may not accept the referendum result as a sufficient public interest assessment to justify the retained restrictions. However, Western Australia is bypassing the National Competition Council in its bid to retain payments. The Premier wrote to the Prime Minister on 14 March 2005 informing him of the referendum questions and results and making the case that irrespective of the NCC’s payment recommendations for 2005, no payment penalty should be imposed on the state in 2005. (3) The future of the national competition policy and the role of the National Competition Council will be determined at the Council of Australian Governments level, with a review of NCP and the role of the NCC to be completed by COAG by September 2005. Institutions, funding arrangements and priorities for reform will be assessed with inputs from all states and territories and the federal government. Western Australia will participate fully in that review. (4) Not applicable.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Dee Margetts for that very interesting question. (1)-(2) Western Australia is now able to make a strong case for having met its national competition policy obligations on retail trading hours. The referendum results have shown that the majority of the Western Australian public considers the restrictions to be in the public interest. The National Competition Council may or may not accept the referendum result as a sufficient public interest assessment to justify the retained restrictions. However, Western Australia is bypassing the National Competition Council in its bid to retain payments. The Premier wrote to the Prime Minister on 14 March 2005 informing him of the referendum questions and results and making the case that irrespective of the NCC’s payment recommendations for 2005, no payment penalty should be imposed on the state in 2005. (3) The future of the national competition policy and the role of the National Competition Council will be determined at the Council of Australian Governments level, with a review of NCP and the role of the NCC to be completed by COAG by September 2005. Institutions, funding arrangements and priorities for reform will be assessed with inputs from all states and territories and the federal government. Western Australia will participate fully in that review. (4) Not applicable.
I thank Hon Dee Margetts for that very interesting question. (1)-(2) Western Australia is now able to make a strong case for having met its national competition policy obligations on retail trading hours. The referendum results have shown that the majority of the Western Australian public considers the restrictions to be in the public interest. The National Competition Council may or may not accept the referendum result as a sufficient public interest assessment to justify the retained restrictions. However, Western Australia is bypassing the National Competition Council in its bid to retain payments. The Premier wrote to the Prime Minister on 14 March 2005 informing him of the referendum questions and results and making the case that irrespective of the NCC’s payment recommendations for 2005, no payment penalty should be imposed on the state in 2005. (3) The future of the national competition policy and the role of the National Competition Council will be determined at the Council of Australian Governments level, with a review of NCP and the role of the NCC to be completed by COAG by September 2005. Institutions, funding arrangements and priorities for reform will be assessed with inputs from all states and territories and the federal government. Western Australia will participate fully in that review. (4) Not applicable.
(1)-(2) Western Australia is now able to make a strong case for having met its national competition policy obligations on retail trading hours. The referendum results have shown that the majority of the Western Australian public considers the restrictions to be in the public interest. The National Competition Council may or may not accept the referendum result as a sufficient public interest assessment to justify the retained restrictions. However, Western Australia is bypassing the National Competition Council in its bid to retain payments. The Premier wrote to the Prime Minister on 14 March 2005 informing him of the referendum questions and results and making the case that irrespective of the NCC’s payment recommendations for 2005, no payment penalty should be imposed on the state in 2005. (3) The future of the national competition policy and the role of the National Competition Council will be determined at the Council of Australian Governments level, with a review of NCP and the role of the NCC to be completed by COAG by September 2005. Institutions, funding arrangements and priorities for reform will be assessed with inputs from all states and territories and the federal government. Western Australia will participate fully in that review. (4) Not applicable.
(3) The future of the national competition policy and the role of the National Competition Council will be determined at the Council of Australian Governments level, with a review of NCP and the role of the NCC to be completed by COAG by September 2005. Institutions, funding arrangements and priorities for reform will be assessed with inputs from all states and territories and the federal government. Western Australia will participate fully in that review. (4) Not applicable.
(4) Not applicable.
(1) Does the Treasurer believe the Western Australian government has comprehensively met all of its obligations as a signatory to the national competition policy agreement by conducting both a comprehensive public interest assessment and a referendum to prove the public interest benefits of maintaining Western Australia’s current retail trading hours regime? (2) If so, what action will the Western Australian government take if it is unsuccessful in its appeal to be included in the retail competition payments? (3) Will the Western Australian Treasurer ask the Premier to consider whether the government should collaborate with its interstate counterparts in a national campaign against the National Competition Council and the federal Treasurer’s serial breaches of the national competition policy agreements, which clearly give the states the final say on the legislative reviews, provided adequate public interest assessments have taken place? (4) If not, why not? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Dee Margetts for that very interesting question. (1)-(2) Western Australia is now able to make a strong case for having met its national competition policy obligations on retail trading hours. The referendum results have shown that the majority of the Western Australian public considers the restrictions to be in the public interest. The National Competition Council may or may not accept the referendum result as a sufficient public interest assessment to justify the retained restrictions. However, Western Australia is bypassing the National Competition Council in its bid to retain payments. The Premier wrote to the Prime Minister on 14 March 2005 informing him of the referendum questions and results and making the case that irrespective of the NCC’s payment recommendations for 2005, no payment penalty should be imposed on the state in 2005. (3) The future of the national competition policy and the role of the National Competition Council will be determined at the Council of Australian Governments level, with a review of NCP and the role of the NCC to be completed by COAG by September 2005. Institutions, funding arrangements and priorities for reform will be assessed with inputs from all states and territories and the federal government. Western Australia will participate fully in that review. (4) Not applicable.
(2) If so, what action will the Western Australian government take if it is unsuccessful in its appeal to be included in the retail competition payments? (3) Will the Western Australian Treasurer ask the Premier to consider whether the government should collaborate with its interstate counterparts in a national campaign against the National Competition Council and the federal Treasurer’s serial breaches of the national competition policy agreements, which clearly give the states the final say on the legislative reviews, provided adequate public interest assessments have taken place? (4) If not, why not? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Dee Margetts for that very interesting question. (1)-(2) Western Australia is now able to make a strong case for having met its national competition policy obligations on retail trading hours. The referendum results have shown that the majority of the Western Australian public considers the restrictions to be in the public interest. The National Competition Council may or may not accept the referendum result as a sufficient public interest assessment to justify the retained restrictions. However, Western Australia is bypassing the National Competition Council in its bid to retain payments. The Premier wrote to the Prime Minister on 14 March 2005 informing him of the referendum questions and results and making the case that irrespective of the NCC’s payment recommendations for 2005, no payment penalty should be imposed on the state in 2005. (3) The future of the national competition policy and the role of the National Competition Council will be determined at the Council of Australian Governments level, with a review of NCP and the role of the NCC to be completed by COAG by September 2005. Institutions, funding arrangements and priorities for reform will be assessed with inputs from all states and territories and the federal government. Western Australia will participate fully in that review. (4) Not applicable.
(3) Will the Western Australian Treasurer ask the Premier to consider whether the government should collaborate with its interstate counterparts in a national campaign against the National Competition Council and the federal Treasurer’s serial breaches of the national competition policy agreements, which clearly give the states the final say on the legislative reviews, provided adequate public interest assessments have taken place? (4) If not, why not? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Dee Margetts for that very interesting question. (1)-(2) Western Australia is now able to make a strong case for having met its national competition policy obligations on retail trading hours. The referendum results have shown that the majority of the Western Australian public considers the restrictions to be in the public interest. The National Competition Council may or may not accept the referendum result as a sufficient public interest assessment to justify the retained restrictions. However, Western Australia is bypassing the National Competition Council in its bid to retain payments. The Premier wrote to the Prime Minister on 14 March 2005 informing him of the referendum questions and results and making the case that irrespective of the NCC’s payment recommendations for 2005, no payment penalty should be imposed on the state in 2005. (3) The future of the national competition policy and the role of the National Competition Council will be determined at the Council of Australian Governments level, with a review of NCP and the role of the NCC to be completed by COAG by September 2005. Institutions, funding arrangements and priorities for reform will be assessed with inputs from all states and territories and the federal government. Western Australia will participate fully in that review. (4) Not applicable.
(4) If not, why not? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Dee Margetts for that very interesting question. (1)-(2) Western Australia is now able to make a strong case for having met its national competition policy obligations on retail trading hours. The referendum results have shown that the majority of the Western Australian public considers the restrictions to be in the public interest. The National Competition Council may or may not accept the referendum result as a sufficient public interest assessment to justify the retained restrictions. However, Western Australia is bypassing the National Competition Council in its bid to retain payments. The Premier wrote to the Prime Minister on 14 March 2005 informing him of the referendum questions and results and making the case that irrespective of the NCC’s payment recommendations for 2005, no payment penalty should be imposed on the state in 2005. (3) The future of the national competition policy and the role of the National Competition Council will be determined at the Council of Australian Governments level, with a review of NCP and the role of the NCC to be completed by COAG by September 2005. Institutions, funding arrangements and priorities for reform will be assessed with inputs from all states and territories and the federal government. Western Australia will participate fully in that review. (4) Not applicable.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Dee Margetts for that very interesting question. (1)-(2) Western Australia is now able to make a strong case for having met its national competition policy obligations on retail trading hours. The referendum results have shown that the majority of the Western Australian public considers the restrictions to be in the public interest. The National Competition Council may or may not accept the referendum result as a sufficient public interest assessment to justify the retained restrictions. However, Western Australia is bypassing the National Competition Council in its bid to retain payments. The Premier wrote to the Prime Minister on 14 March 2005 informing him of the referendum questions and results and making the case that irrespective of the NCC’s payment recommendations for 2005, no payment penalty should be imposed on the state in 2005. (3) The future of the national competition policy and the role of the National Competition Council will be determined at the Council of Australian Governments level, with a review of NCP and the role of the NCC to be completed by COAG by September 2005. Institutions, funding arrangements and priorities for reform will be assessed with inputs from all states and territories and the federal government. Western Australia will participate fully in that review. (4) Not applicable.
I thank Hon Dee Margetts for that very interesting question. (1)-(2) Western Australia is now able to make a strong case for having met its national competition policy obligations on retail trading hours. The referendum results have shown that the majority of the Western Australian public considers the restrictions to be in the public interest. The National Competition Council may or may not accept the referendum result as a sufficient public interest assessment to justify the retained restrictions. However, Western Australia is bypassing the National Competition Council in its bid to retain payments. The Premier wrote to the Prime Minister on 14 March 2005 informing him of the referendum questions and results and making the case that irrespective of the NCC’s payment recommendations for 2005, no payment penalty should be imposed on the state in 2005. (3) The future of the national competition policy and the role of the National Competition Council will be determined at the Council of Australian Governments level, with a review of NCP and the role of the NCC to be completed by COAG by September 2005. Institutions, funding arrangements and priorities for reform will be assessed with inputs from all states and territories and the federal government. Western Australia will participate fully in that review. (4) Not applicable.
(1)-(2) Western Australia is now able to make a strong case for having met its national competition policy obligations on retail trading hours. The referendum results have shown that the majority of the Western Australian public considers the restrictions to be in the public interest. The National Competition Council may or may not accept the referendum result as a sufficient public interest assessment to justify the retained restrictions. However, Western Australia is bypassing the National Competition Council in its bid to retain payments. The Premier wrote to the Prime Minister on 14 March 2005 informing him of the referendum questions and results and making the case that irrespective of the NCC’s payment recommendations for 2005, no payment penalty should be imposed on the state in 2005. (3) The future of the national competition policy and the role of the National Competition Council will be determined at the Council of Australian Governments level, with a review of NCP and the role of the NCC to be completed by COAG by September 2005. Institutions, funding arrangements and priorities for reform will be assessed with inputs from all states and territories and the federal government. Western Australia will participate fully in that review. (4) Not applicable.
(3) The future of the national competition policy and the role of the National Competition Council will be determined at the Council of Australian Governments level, with a review of NCP and the role of the NCC to be completed by COAG by September 2005. Institutions, funding arrangements and priorities for reform will be assessed with inputs from all states and territories and the federal government. Western Australia will participate fully in that review. (4) Not applicable.
(4) Not applicable.
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