PETROLEUM PRODUCTS SUBSIDY ACT REPEAL BILL

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 30 April 2009. Page 2174.)

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (11:45): I rise on behalf of the opposition to speak to the bill, and I indicate that we will be supporting it. I note in the Hansard from the House of Assembly that my colleague, Mitch Williams, managed to keep his contribution to 5½ lines. I do not know whether I will be quite that brief. This is a relatively minor matter. It repeals the Petroleum Products Subsidy Act which gave the parliament the mechanism to allow the disbursement of funds paid as a subsidy by the commonwealth government for transport of fuel to remote communities.

The commonwealth no longer provides those funds, and so, as a consequence, that scheme is now quite redundant. I also believe that the fuel was often used for the generation of electricity and other things in the remote communities of South Australia, such as the Aboriginal lands and other parts of Outback South Australia. As the commonwealth no longer pays that subsidy, this act is redundant. The opposition has much pleasure in supporting the bill.

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (11:46): I thank the Hon. Mr Ridgway for his indications of support for this bill on behalf of the opposition. I understand other members also support the bill. I commend it to the council.

Bill read a second time and taken through its remaining stages.