Swan defends fuel watch scheme

buy canada goose jacket cheap KERRY O’BRIEN, PRESENTER: Treasurer Wayne Swan has been given the job of trying to defuse the news that the Government has so comprehensively rejected advice from four departments. buy canada goose jacket cheap

And I spoke with Mr Swan from our Canberra studio just a few moments http://www.canadagoosesalesus.com ago.

Canada Goose sale Wayne Swan, we now know that four Government departments, at least four Government departments have raised serious concerns about whether fuel watch will work in the way you say it will. So why are you going canada goose outlet factory ahead with it? Canada Goose sale

WAYNE SWAN, TREASURER: Well, because we strongly backed it because particularly the ACCC, the competition watchdog recommended it to us. They made a canada goose outlet very significant presentation to our ERC, canada goose outlet london we also had the petrol price commissioner there. And ministers were convinced that this would deliver the best deal for Australian families at canada goose outlet toronto address the petrol bowser.

Canada Goose Jackets I’m strongly supportive of any move such as this, canada goose outlet uk sale which can give information and knowledge to consumers so that they can get the best price on canada goose outlet buffalo any given day. Canada Goose Jackets

canada goose black friday sale KERRY O’BRIEN: But PM and C, the Prime Minister’s own department says “econometric modelling canada goose outlet in canada undertaken by the ACCC is somewhat inconclusive with respect to the overall pump price, but indicates that a small overall price increase cannot be ruled out”. canada goose black friday sale

WAYNE SWAN: I don’t believe that it is an accurate reflection of the ACCC modelling. The ACCC modelling shows a number of canada goose outlet store uk things that in Western Australia canada goose outlet mississauga over a period of time it has delivered a two cents a litre advantage. But what it really delivers is knowledge and power to consumers. Because at the moment canada goose outlet uk all the power lies with canada goose outlet boston the petrol retailers who get to set and change their prices when they want, and most consumers can’t take advantage of that.

What we have in this scheme is the ability of any consumer, particularly a price sensitive consumer, to canada goose outlet mall know where the best price is and to access that price on any given day.

Canada Goose online I just don’t think some of the advice that came from some of the departments was all that practical or realistic or really rooted in the real world. Canada Goose online

KERRY O’BRIEN: The department of resources expresses concern that quote, “the scheme will reduce competition and market flexibility, increase compliance costs and has more potential to increase prices.” I mean this is an expression of no confidence in a sense in the clear advice of four Government departments, including the Prime Minister’s own department.

canada goose deals WAYNE SWAN: Kerry, it is no such thing. We did that. To test the views of ministers at the Cabinet table and to test them with the experts. In this case, the expert is Graeme Samuel from the ACCC. canada goose deals

canada goose clearance They are the body that did the modelling. They are the body that has extensively studied what’s gone on in canada goose outlet eu Western Australia. canada goose clearance

And in addition to that, we have the petrol price canada goose outlet new york city commissioner from that State as well. All of the practical, realistic advice the Cabinet received was to go for this scheme and I believe canada goose outlet usa the Cabinet took a correct decision.

And frankly I can’t understand why the Federal Opposition is playing politics with this scheme in this way. Because when people from Western Australia get the opportunity canada goose outlet store new york to have their say, they think it’s a pretty good scheme.

KERRY O’BRIEN: Mr Swan, if you were if this had canada goose outlet website legit happened six months ago when you were in Opposition and there were leaks from four Government departments expressing objections to Government policy you’d have absolutely gone to town on it.

canada goose store WAYNE SWAN: Well, I may well have talked about it extensively because I did during the election campaign. I was interviewed by Laurie Oakes on the Sunday program and he put this question to me, Kerry. canada goose store

He said can you guarantee if you win Government petrol prices will fall. And my reply was this, canada goose factory outlet toronto location “no, I can’t guarantee that, but I can guarantee that we will do the maximum amount canada goose outlet uk fake possible to make sure that people aren’t being ripped off.”

Let me tell you, Kerry, fuel watch canada goose outlet vip does that.

It makes sure that motorists are not being ripped off.

KERRY O’BRIEN: But what the Prime Minister’s department is arguing is that you could have this scrutiny at the petrol bowser without potentially the problems.

canada goose coats PM’s department canada goose parka outlet uk suggested another option simply providing increased price information to canada goose outlet phone number consumers, possibly on an hourly basis, would canada goose uk site be preferable to the scheme that you’ve actually adopted. Quote, “it would be more likely to enhance competition and lower the overall pump price without a significant increase in the compliance burden”. I mean you just seem to have gone against various departments’ advice on a whole range canada goose coats uk of fronts. canada goose coats

canadian goose jacket WAYNE SWAN: Because it’s wrong, Kerry. Cabinet made the assessment that fuel watch provides the best opportunity to give the fullest canada goose outlet kokemuksia range of information to consumers to access the best price at any one time. And frankly that recommendation won’t work. canada goose shop uk We had the interests of Australian motorists foremost in our mind when we took this decision. canadian goose jacket

Canada Goose Parka We took this decision because we canada goose outlet store quebec do understand that the price of petrol is hurting people. We understand that people are stretched when it comes to living costs and so on. Canada Goose Parka

canada goose coats on sale If they can save cent or two cents or three cents or up to 10 or more through fuel watch, well that’s a great thing. canada goose coats on sale

canada goose KERRY O’BRIEN: But you’ve got Government departments, Mr Swan, arguing that canada goose outlet toronto location it might canada goose outlet canada have the opposite effect that the price might actually go up. Are you sure canada goose outlet jackets that you haven’t stubbornly gone down this road simply because you made the promise before the last election and you want to be seen to be honouring that promise come hell or high water? canada goose

cheap Canada Goose WAYNE SWAN: No. What we want to honour is our commitment to the Australian people to get some competition back into retail in petrol. That was the commitment we made and that’s what we have done through canada goose outlet in vancouver our commitment to fuel watch. It’s practical, it’s realistic, it’s based in the real world and we believe it will work. cheap Canada Goose

Canada Goose Outlet And that is also, that is also the evidence of the ACCC. Canada Goose Outlet

KERRY O’BRIEN: Well you’ve got two serious leaks within 24 hours, Mr Swan, including this latest leak which covers advice from four different departments. What are you going to do about that?

canada goose clearance sale WAYNE SWAN: Well, that does indicate there are some problems out there with the integrity of the Cabinet process so those matters will be investigated canada goose clearance sale.