❓ Mr Graham questions the government's inaction against major oil companies regarding fuel prices, alleging they favour these companies over independent businesses. Mr Kobelke defends the government's approach, stating they are not intimidated and are pursuing a regulatory regime to lower prices.
AnsweredQoN 28Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PETROLEUM PRICES, MAJOR OIL COMPANIES
I have a supplementary question. As every hour goes by during which fuel companies do not have to sell to their competitors, their competitors are disadvantaged. I wonder why the Government will not take action against the major oil companies and is in fact siding with them against small Western Australian independent businesses. The SPEAKER: Before I ask the minister to respond to that, the member for Pilbara knows very well that he should not include argument in a supplementary question. However, I think the nature of the question is known to the minister, and I ask him to respond. Mr J.C. KOBELKE
I have a supplementary question. As every hour goes by during which fuel companies do not have to sell to their competitors, their competitors are disadvantaged. I wonder why the Government will not take action against the major oil companies and is in fact siding with them against small Western Australian independent businesses. The SPEAKER: Before I ask the minister to respond to that, the member for Pilbara knows very well that he should not include argument in a supplementary question. However, I think the nature of the question is known to the minister, and I ask him to respond. Mr J.C. KOBELKE
AnswerView source ↗
My friend the member for Pilbara is engaging in a bit of gross misrepresentation. The fact is that when BP Australia Ltd threatened to close down if the Government proceeded with its program, the Government said that it would go forward with it. The Government has not been intimidated in any way by the major oil companies. However, people have been going to the media - I know the member for Mitchell has engaged in this today - saying there is a quick, simple fix, there is a magic bullet, there need be only a stroke of the magic pen of the minister and the situation will be fixed. I do not work on that basis. I work on the basis that the Government will continue to pursue this regulatory regime so that it will make the oil companies accountable, and the prices in Western Australia will be lower because of that regime.
The SPEAKER: Before I ask the minister to respond to that, the member for Pilbara knows very well that he should not include argument in a supplementary question. However, I think the nature of the question is known to the minister, and I ask him to respond. Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: My friend the member for Pilbara is engaging in a bit of gross misrepresentation. The fact is that when BP Australia Ltd threatened to close down if the Government proceeded with its program, the Government said that it would go forward with it. The Government has not been intimidated in any way by the major oil companies. However, people have been going to the media - I know the member for Mitchell has engaged in this today - saying there is a quick, simple fix, there is a magic bullet, there need be only a stroke of the magic pen of the minister and the situation will be fixed. I do not work on that basis. I work on the basis that the Government will continue to pursue this regulatory regime so that it will make the oil companies accountable, and the prices in Western Australia will be lower because of that regime.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: My friend the member for Pilbara is engaging in a bit of gross misrepresentation. The fact is that when BP Australia Ltd threatened to close down if the Government proceeded with its program, the Government said that it would go forward with it. The Government has not been intimidated in any way by the major oil companies. However, people have been going to the media - I know the member for Mitchell has engaged in this today - saying there is a quick, simple fix, there is a magic bullet, there need be only a stroke of the magic pen of the minister and the situation will be fixed. I do not work on that basis. I work on the basis that the Government will continue to pursue this regulatory regime so that it will make the oil companies accountable, and the prices in Western Australia will be lower because of that regime.
My friend the member for Pilbara is engaging in a bit of gross misrepresentation. The fact is that when BP Australia Ltd threatened to close down if the Government proceeded with its program, the Government said that it would go forward with it. The Government has not been intimidated in any way by the major oil companies. However, people have been going to the media - I know the member for Mitchell has engaged in this today - saying there is a quick, simple fix, there is a magic bullet, there need be only a stroke of the magic pen of the minister and the situation will be fixed. I do not work on that basis. I work on the basis that the Government will continue to pursue this regulatory regime so that it will make the oil companies accountable, and the prices in Western Australia will be lower because of that regime.
The SPEAKER: Before I ask the minister to respond to that, the member for Pilbara knows very well that he should not include argument in a supplementary question. However, I think the nature of the question is known to the minister, and I ask him to respond. Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: My friend the member for Pilbara is engaging in a bit of gross misrepresentation. The fact is that when BP Australia Ltd threatened to close down if the Government proceeded with its program, the Government said that it would go forward with it. The Government has not been intimidated in any way by the major oil companies. However, people have been going to the media - I know the member for Mitchell has engaged in this today - saying there is a quick, simple fix, there is a magic bullet, there need be only a stroke of the magic pen of the minister and the situation will be fixed. I do not work on that basis. I work on the basis that the Government will continue to pursue this regulatory regime so that it will make the oil companies accountable, and the prices in Western Australia will be lower because of that regime.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: My friend the member for Pilbara is engaging in a bit of gross misrepresentation. The fact is that when BP Australia Ltd threatened to close down if the Government proceeded with its program, the Government said that it would go forward with it. The Government has not been intimidated in any way by the major oil companies. However, people have been going to the media - I know the member for Mitchell has engaged in this today - saying there is a quick, simple fix, there is a magic bullet, there need be only a stroke of the magic pen of the minister and the situation will be fixed. I do not work on that basis. I work on the basis that the Government will continue to pursue this regulatory regime so that it will make the oil companies accountable, and the prices in Western Australia will be lower because of that regime.
My friend the member for Pilbara is engaging in a bit of gross misrepresentation. The fact is that when BP Australia Ltd threatened to close down if the Government proceeded with its program, the Government said that it would go forward with it. The Government has not been intimidated in any way by the major oil companies. However, people have been going to the media - I know the member for Mitchell has engaged in this today - saying there is a quick, simple fix, there is a magic bullet, there need be only a stroke of the magic pen of the minister and the situation will be fixed. I do not work on that basis. I work on the basis that the Government will continue to pursue this regulatory regime so that it will make the oil companies accountable, and the prices in Western Australia will be lower because of that regime.
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