Cosgrove Clayton: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeCosgrove Clayton: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 19 February 2014. Volume:696;Page:16062. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]4.Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE (Labour) to theMinister of Commerce: When does he expect the Commerce (Cartels and Other Matters) Amendment Bill to be passed into law?Hon CRAIG FOSS (Minister of Commerce): It is my expectation that this bill will be passed this year.Hon Clayton Cosgrove: Given the serious concerns of supermarket suppliers that were raised last week in the House by the Hon Shane Jones and subsequently by the Food and Grocery Council and given that he admitted yesterday in the House that he knew of concerns regarding the behaviour of supermarkets towards suppliers well before it was raised here last week but did nothing why has he not expedited the passage of this bill?Hon CRAIG FOSS: The serious concerns raised by the Hon Shane Jones of alleged blackmail of alleged extortion of alleged retrospective payments are not part of the Commerce (Cartels and Other Matters) Amendment Bill. Some of those allegations actually should be referred to the police as I advised the member yesterday but they are ongoing matters.Hon Clayton Cosgrove: Given that he is not prepared to expedite this legislation and that he admitted and I invite him to check hisHansardfrom yesterday that he knew of these concerns prior to Mr Jones raising them in the House what is he prepared to do if anything in the interim to ensure that supermarket suppliers and ultimately consumers get a fair go and are protected?Hon CRAIG FOSS: As I have answered in this House I was not aware of any commentary about blackmail extortion or retrospective payments a week or so ago before the member raised them in the House.Hon Clayton Cosgrove: Will he accept the offer I made to him in writing prior to Christmas last year and support my Supplementary Order Paper 408 to the cartels bill which amends section 36 to ensure that when excessive market power is wielded based on consequences regardless of intent it can be acted on by the Commerce Commission?Hon CRAIG FOSS: Yes I thank the member for the Supplementary Order Paper and his letter. I also look forward to him replying to my various letters to him. I am still considering advice on this one and a similar issue was raised at the Commerce Committee as this bill went through the select committee. The committee as a whole unanimously agreed with the officials’ recommendation that such a proposal as outlined in the member’s Supplementary Order Paper probably should go through a full policy process.Hon Clayton Cosgrove: Given that the Minister continues to drag his feet on legislation he is responsible for such as the Insolvency Practitioners Bill which has languished on the Order Paper for 46 months the Consumer Law Reform Bill which languished for 25 months the Financial Markets Conduct Bill which languished for 23 months and the Commerce (Cartels and Other Matters) Amendment Bill which was introduced 28 months ago and counting when can I expect a decision on a simple matter of support or otherwise for a Supplementary Order Paper?Hon CRAIG FOSS: The member mentioned the Financial Markets Conduct Bill. That was passed last year. The Financial Reporting Bill was passed last year. The Patents Bill was passed last year. The legislation on international cooperation between the Commerce Commission and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission was passed last year. The biggest consumer law reform in decades was passed last year. We are working currently on the consumer credit legislation as well as the bills the member mentioned. I look forward to Labour’s continuing support for these bills although I am not sure of that support because that member has yet to reply to one letter from me seeking Labour’s position on these bills.Hon Clayton Cosgrove: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Although I accept there were some lengthy examples—Mr SPEAKER: If the member is going to argue—[Interruption] Order! If the member had asked that question I could have helped him.