Gary Gray (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development and Northern Australia) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to bring the debate on Appropriation Bill (No. 5) 2008-2009 and Appropriation Bill (No. 6) 2008-2009 to a close, and I thank all those members who have made a contribution. Since the passage of the nation building and jobs appropriation bills, it has become necessary to introduce a further two annual appropriation bills. The supplementary additional estimates bills propose appropriations that give effect to and complement elements of the December 2008 nation-building package and the more recently announced Nation Building and Jobs Plan. They also include appropriations for enhancements to employment and apprenticeship programs and other urgent measures and variations. The total additional appropriations being sought through these supplementary additional estimates bills is $2.2 billion. This funding will be used to strengthen the Australian economy now and in the future. This will be achieved through the immediate support for jobs at this critical time and the delivering of the long-term investments needed for future economic growth.

Infrastructure is one of the key drivers of productivity growth. This funding will provide for critical infrastructure in transport. It deals with rail and it deals with road. The government will inject $1.189 billion into the Australian Rail Track Corporation in 17 projects to improve the reliability and competitiveness of the nation’s rail freight network. The funding provided through the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government includes $580 million for the expansion of capacity along the rail corridors connecting the Hunter Valley coalmines to the Port of Newcastle. This expansion of capacity will more than double the amount of coal capable of being transported to port from 97 million tonnes a year to 200 million tonnes a year.

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government will be provided with $392 million in 2008-09 for payments to the states, territories and local government to accelerate the commencement of a number of important projects on the national road network and other strategic roads. This will bring forward expenditure on projects including the Bulahdelah bypass on the Pacific Highway, Melbourne’s Western Ring Road, the Douglas arterial on the Bruce Highway in Townsville, Adelaide’s Northern Expressway, and the Brighton bypass on the Midland Highway in Tasmania. The payment to the states also includes an additional $60 million investment this year in the highly successful Road Safety Black Spots Program.

Consistent with the agreement reached with the minor parties during the passage of the Nation Building and Jobs Plan, the government proposes to bring forward expenditure totalling $500 million over four years, beginning in 2008-09, to assist in expediting the return of water to the environment and to deliver long-term benefits to the Murray-Darling Basin. The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts will be provided with $250 million in 2008-09 for this purpose. The government considers that this is the maximum pace of water recovery that can be pursued without causing unnecessary disruption to the water market, and without compromising the amount of water that can be returned to the rivers over time.

The government is continuing to deliver on its commitment to protect Australian jobs at risk due to the impact of the severe global recession. To support and secure the jobs and training of apprentices, trainees and adult workers who are vulnerable to redundancy in the economic crisis, the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations will be provided with funding for a range of employment and training programs, including an additional $43.6 million for the increase in the commencements and claims under the Australian apprenticeship scheme, which provides financial support for employers and their apprentices; and $38.9 million to assist apprentices and trainees to return to the workforce and maintain their training. Employers will also be encouraged to retain apprentices and trainees through an additional payment on completion of training.

Thirty-four million dollars will be provided to keep 241 ABC Learning Centres open until 31 March 2009. The receiver assessed these centres as being unviable under the ABC Learning business model. However, the government believes that a number could be viable under different arrangements, and that these centres could represent an opportunity to gain greater diversity in the childcare market.

The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations will also be provided with additional funding to provide assistance to recently retrenched workers. Some $36.8 million will be provided to ensure that any Australian worker made redundant will receive immediate and personalised assistance to help them get back into the workforce rather than having to wait at least three months to receive intensive customised assistance. All newly redundant workers will receive this support immediately. A further $70 million will be provided to meet an anticipated increase in expenditure against the General Employee Entitlements and Redundancy Scheme. This scheme assist employees who have lost their employment due to the liquidation or bankruptcy of their employer and who are owed certain employee entitlements.

These bills contribute to the government’s response to the global financial crisis in providing immediate support for Australian jobs. They also look beyond the crisis to enhance the long-term capacity required to strengthen the Australian economy, build long-term productivity and promote future economic growth. I commend the supplementary additional estimates bills to the House.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Ordered that this bill be reported to the House without amendment.

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