Senator QUIRKE (2:48 PM) —My question is to Senator Minchin, the Minister for Industry, Science and Resources. Does the minister recall telling the Senate that the bill proposed by the shadow minister for small business, the Better Prices and Fairer Access for All (Petroleum) Bill 1999, was a `dumb idea'? Is the minister aware that the Chairman of the ACCC, Professor Alan Fels, told the Senate Economic References Committee that the member for Hunter's bill `has merit'. Just who is wrong on this proposal for competition to keep petrol prices down—the chair of the ACCC or the minister himself?

Senator MINCHIN (Minister for Industry, Science and Resources) —I am not going to be invited into a public slanging match with the good Professor Fels, who is an outstanding public servant and does an exceptional job as head of the ACCC. I did notice some of the remarks he made. I have not read them in full, but I will do so as prompted by Senator Quirke. I do not resile from my view that what has been proposed by others in relation to this matter in their opposition to our sensible proposals for reforming petrol retailing in this country could and probably would amount to the most extraordinary tearing up of franchise agreements that we have ever seen. I think it is an inadequate and unsatisfactory proposal. It is a stalling tactic to divert attention from the fact that the opposition parties refuse to cooperate in what is a sensible reform of petrol retailing in this country. But I will read more carefully what Professor Fels said.

Senator QUIRKE —Madam President, I ask a supplementary question. Given that the minister has been an abject failure on fuel policy issues within his portfolio, including changes to oil—

Senator Alston —Madam President, I raise a point of order. Could this be a substitute for a sensible question? Surely you cannot allow that.

The PRESIDENT —There is no point of order.

Senator QUIRKE —Why won't the minister take up the constructive policy ideas which get a tick from the competition watchdog?

Senator MINCHIN (Minister for Industry, Science and Resources) —I know Senator Quirke normally spends his time abusing people on his own side like Senator Schacht, who is trying to get preselection, given that Senator Quirke wants to try to stop that. But I will ignore that petty abuse and simply note that I think it is a gross overstatement of what Professor Fels said to assert that that is an endorsement of this opposition policy. What is proposed is a complete tearing up of franchise agreements in this country—something we will not tolerate.