May 27, 2008 RESOURCES Minister Martin Ferguson has said he strongly supports the Rudd Government's planned national FuelWatch scheme despite opposing it in Cabinet as an anti-competitive waste of money.
Mr Ferguson, in a submission to federal Cabinet last month, warned the scheme would seriously damage the Government's economic and regulatory reform credentials.
Cabinet correctly dismissed his views, Mr Ferguson said today.
"Cabinet decided that my views were not appropriate and Cabinet correctly decided to introduce a FuelWatch scheme," Mr Ferguson said on ABC Radio today.
"The decision had been made and I fully support it.
"It (Fuelwatch) is the best available option in a very tough global market to ensure that consumers have transparency in the determination of prices and the best available information for purchasing petrol at the bowser."
Mr Ferguson said he was disappointed his Cabinet submission was leaked to the media.
"I am ... one who absolutely believes in the Cabinet process and I accept my responsibility to argue out what is appropriate," he said.
Mr Ferguson said he supported the final decision because it reflected the views of the 20 Cabinet ministers and research by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
"FuelWatch is the right decision because it reflected the view of the Government at large. I am only one member of that Cabinet."
