House of Assembly Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3) 51 3 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Bills Petroleum Products Subsidy Act Repeal Bill PETROLEUM PRODUCTS SUBSIDY ACT REPEAL BILL Introduction and First Reading Introduction and First Reading The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS House of Assembly West Torrens Minister for Correctional Services Minister for Road Safety Minister for Gambling Minister for Youth Minister for Volunteers Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Gambling, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (16:30): Obtained leave and introduced a bill for an act to repeal the Petroleum Products Subsidy Act 1965. Read a first time. Second Reading Second Reading The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS House of Assembly West Torrens Minister for Correctional Services Minister for Road Safety Minister for Gambling Minister for Youth Minister for Volunteers Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Gambling, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (16:30): I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading explanation inserted in Hansard without my reading it. Leave granted. The Bill I am introducing today removes redundant legislation from the State's statute books. The purpose of the Petroleum Products Subsidy Act 1965 was to administer the Commonwealth's former Petroleum Products Freight Subsidy Scheme in South Australia. The Scheme assisted consumers in eligible remote areas by off-setting the freight cost associated with transporting petrol, diesel, aviation gasoline and aviation turbine fuel over a long distance. All States had similar legislation in place to administer the Scheme on behalf of the Commonwealth. The Scheme was introduced in 1965 and closed by the Commonwealth Government on 1 July 2006. As part of the transition the Commonwealth provided time for claims to be settled by 1 July 2007. The Commonwealth repealed the legislation establishing the Scheme from that date. All eligible claims from South Australia have been received and paid and the Commonwealth has reimbursed the South Australian Government. Subsequent to the closure of the Scheme, Queensland has amended its Petroleum Products Subsidy Act 1965 to reflect the closure of the Scheme and the repeal of the Commonwealth Government funding legislation. The Queensland Act is due to expire on 1 July 2009. In summary, the Act's purpose has expired and there is no other reason to retain it. I commend the Bill to Honourable Members. Explanation of Clauses Explanation of Clauses Part 1—Preliminary 1—Short title This clause is formal. Part 2—Repeal of Petroleum Products Subsidy Act 1965 2—Repeal of Act This clause repeals the Petroleum Products Subsidy Act 1965. Debate adjourned on motion of Ms Chapman.