Alex wrote on May 30
th, 2008 at 5:41pm:
deepthought wrote on May 30
th, 2008 at 5:13pm:
First, the 'predatory pricing laws' are not new. They were introduced by the coalition in 2007.
You can compare fuel prices side by side now - you don't need fuelwatch for that.
Do you support it?
The Birdsville amendment is so named because not only was it rushed through parliament as a last minute deal with the Nats, but Joyce was surprised to hear the Libs had finally agreed to introduce such a law after so many years of not addressing it, that when he was finally told he could write one he was traveling. They say it was done at the bar of the Birdsville pub. It was rushed and lacks detail.
That was the best the Libs were prepared to do after sitting back and watching independant and smaller businesses disappear for years.
Yes I support fuelwatch. It was an election promise and I am happy to see it introduced.
And no, I cant compare petrol prices side by side at all. I have to drive kilometers if I want to know what the various prices are.
So you oppose a 5 cent discount but support a scam which, according to some, alleges to offer a 1 or 2 cent saving. Even though there will be a considerable cost to the taxpayer to implement and run it? Isn't that hypocritical?
And if you support it so you can compare prices without driving "drive kilometers if I want to know what the various prices are" do you already use the available online services now? If not why will this be different?
And if you support it and the cheapest fuel requires you to "drive kilometers" to get it, will you do that anyway?
And if you do support it and it turns out that the anti-competitive nature of it causes fuel to rise (as it actually has in Perth) how will you feel knowing you are paying more for petrol plus paying for the system plus using a system which was already available for free?
Oh and incidentally, the Section 46 which was amended in 2007 was already capable of capturing companies guilty of predatory pricing, it just did not contain the words 'predatory pricing'.
It was used against Tel$tra in 2005, Time Warner in 2001 and Safeway in 2003.