The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today announced the schedule of public hearings to be held as part of its inquiry into the price of unleaded petrol.
A national round of public hearings will begin in Canberra on 21 August 2007. The ACCC inquiry will visit all capital cities as well as a number of regional centres (Ballarat, Mt Gambier, Townsville and Wagga Wagga).
| Location | Venue | Start time |
|---|---|---|
| Canberra 21/8/07 |
Rydges Lakeside London Ct |
10 am |
| Brisbane 22/8/07 |
Mercure Hotel |
12 noon |
| Townsville 23/8/07 |
Rydges Southbank 23-29 Palmer Street South Townsville |
9 am |
| Melbourne 24/8/07 |
Jasper Hotel 489 Elizabeth Street |
9 am |
| Darwin 27/8/07 |
Crowne Plaza |
3 pm |
| Perth 28/8/07 |
Duxton Hotel 1 St Georges Terrace |
1 pm |
| Adelaide 29/8/07 |
Stamford Plaza |
1 pm |
| Sydney 3/9/07 |
Novatel Brighton |
2 pm |
| Sydney 4/9/07 |
Novatel Brighton Cnr. Grand Parade and Princess Street, Brighton-le-Sands
|
9 am |
| Melbourne 5/9/07 |
CQ Functions 123 Queen Street
|
10 am |
| Wagga Wagga 10/9/07 |
Country Comfort |
12 noon |
| Mount Gambier 11/9/07 |
Quality Inn International |
12 noon |
| Melbourne 12/9/07 |
Jasper Hotel |
10 am |
| Melbourne 13/9/07 |
CQ Functions |
9 am |
| Hobart 14/9/07 |
Grand Chancellor |
11 am |
| Melbourne 19/9/07 |
Jasper Hotel |
1 pm |
| Melbourne 20/9/07 |
Jasper Hotel |
9 am |
| Ballarat 21/9/07 |
Mid City Motel 19 Doveton Street Nth Ballarat |
11 am |
The hearings are the next step in the ACCC's consultation process. Public written submissions made to the petrol inquiry are available on the ACCC's website.
"The public hearings will allow the ACCC to hear additional evidence that will help inform the ACCC in reporting to the Treasurer on the matters covered in the terms of reference to the inquiry," ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, said today.
Key participants in the petrol industry and certain motoring and business associations will be asked by the ACCC to attend the public hearings to discuss the issues covered by the inquiry. The possibility of others providing information at the public hearings will be at the discretion of the ACCC.
Members of the public are welcome to attend the hearings. However, it is likely that commercially sensitive information will be discussed at some of the public hearings. As a result, it may be necessary for the ACCC to conduct some parts of the hearings in private.