Senator SANDY MACDONALD (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence) (1:08 PM) —The government would like to thank those honourable senators who participated in the debate on the Trade Practices Amendment (National Access Regime) Bill 2006. This bill implements the government’s response to the Productivity Commission’s review of the national access regime. The regime provides an avenue by which firms can seek access to services provided through infrastructure facilities owned and operated by others. Importantly, the regime seeks to enhance the competitiveness of the Australian economy by promoting the efficient investment in and the use of infrastructure facilities of national significance. At the request of the government, the Productivity Commission conducted an inquiry into the operation of the national access regime. The commission supported retention of the regime and recommended a number of enhancements. The government accepted the majority of the recommendations, agreeing that scope exists for improvements to the regime including to clarify its objectives, promote more efficient investment in and operation of infrastructure, establish more timely and less costly regulatory procedures, and enhance the transparency and accountancy of decision-making processes under the regime.

The changes contained in this bill result from a robust consultation process that we have heard about. The changes are also consistent with the proposals of the export infrastructure task force report, released by the Prime Minister in June of last year. The task force examined the number and complexity of access regimes across Australia and made recommendations aimed at streamlining processes where appropriate. Significantly, this bill takes steps in the same direction. I also note that this bill is consistent with the underlying principles governing infrastructure regulation that were agreed to by the Council of Australia Governments in February this year as part of the new national reform agenda.

The government is committed to effective and efficient regulation and targeted laws. The bill we have before the Senate has been the subject of extensive consultation with industry and stakeholders consistent with our red tape commitments. There is a very high level of support for this bill by those stakeholders. The amendments that the ALP suggests need to be made—inserting the pricing principles into the Trade Practices Act 1974—have been effected in the other place and in this bill before the Senate. The Australian government has always recognised the need for effective infrastructure regulation and certainty in respect of the same. This is what this bill helps to achieve: a positive development that, I am pleased to say, is supported by the ALP. I note the leadership of this government in talking at COAG to continue moving forward with simpler and more consistent national regulation for significant infrastructure.

Finally, I was pleased to see that submissions provided by a wide range of industry stakeholders to the Senate Economics Legislation Committee during this inquiry were, as we have heard from Senator Webber, highly supportive of the bill, as was the committee itself. I note also the positive responses to this bill reported in the media following its introduction into parliament. In conclusion, this bill forms a key part of the government’s Trade Practices Act reform agenda, announced during the previous term, to benefit Australian consumers and businesses. This agenda also includes implementation of the government’s response to the Dawson committee’s review of the competition provisions of the Trade Practices Act, development of measures to afford additional protection to small business under the Trade Practices Act and to further clarify the misuse of market power provisions, and the development of proposals to introduce criminal penalties for serious cartel conduct.

I welcome the proposed improvements to the national access regime as contained in this bill, including the minor amendments moved by the government in the House of Representatives. I am hopeful the government will receive the support it needs to implement these important improvements to the regime. I commend the bill to the Senate.

Question negatived.

Original question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.