Sepuloni CarmelCOMMERCE AMENDMENT BILLThird ReadingHon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Social Development) on behalf of the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: I move That the Commerce Amendment Bill be now read a third time. The passage of the Commerce Amendment Bill is part of the Government's agenda to build a productive sustainable and inclusive economy. This bill will support increased competition and better performing markets for goods and services. Healthy competition promotes affordable goods and services for consumers and encourages innovation and productivity by businesses. A key measure in this bill is the new market studies function for the Commerce Commission. The Government is committed to encouraging an honest business environment. We want the commission to have the tools it needs to promote competition and protect consumers. Market studies will shine a light into poor performing markets so we can better understand why markets are not working effectively. As a Government we can then make an informed decision as to whether intervention is desirable and if so what form that intervention may take. The Commerce Commission has been allocated $1.5 million per annum to carry out this new market studies function. This is in addition to the $5.7 million over four years the Government committed to ensure the commission is adequately resourced to use the tools it has to protect consumers and honest businesses.There have been a number of Ministers who have raised concerns about certain markets that are not performing effectively and delivering the best outcome for consumers. Once the bill receives the Royal assent Minister Faafoi will be writing to Ministers asking them to nominate poor performing markets for consideration. The intention is to make an announcement on the first market study in December. The bill also makes amendments to strengthen the regulatory regime for the three major international airports. These amendments do not impose new regulation on these airports. Rather they provide a regulatory backstop in the event that the Commerce Commission finds that the current information disclosure regime for airports is not working effectively. Following the passage of this bill if the Commerce Commission considers that the airport companies are acting contrary to the interests of users of airport services the bill makes clear that it may inquire into whether further regulation is desirable and make recommendations accordingly.Finally the bill improves the Commerce Commission's tools to resolve enforcement cases in a cost-effective and timely manner. It repeals the current regime for cease and desist orders in the Act. This regime has not worked as intended. However I want to thank the current and past statutory officers that have held the position of Cease and Desist Commissioner under the Act. In particular I would like to acknowledge the inaugural commissioner Terence Stapleton QC who issued the only cease and desist order under the regime and the two current commissioners the Hon Sir Bruce Robertson and Michael Behrens QC.In conclusion I would like to thank all those people who have contributed to this bill. This includes those parties that made submissions as part of the policy and legislative processes the officials who have provided advice and the Transport and Infrastructure Committee members that considered the bill. I commend the Commerce Amendment Bill to the House.