Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Finance Minister on Deregulation) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I present a supplementary explanatory memorandum and move government amendments (1) and (2):

(1)    Clause 3, page 2 (lines 14 to 17), omit subclause (1), substitute:

        (1)    The object of this Act is:

             (a)    to encourage competitive investment and innovation in the Australian automotive industry; and

             (b)    to place the industry on an economically sustainable footing;

by providing assistance to a participant in the Automotive Transformation Scheme based on the participant’s investment if the investment is of a kind prescribed by the Scheme.

(2)    Page 18 (after line 8), after clause 27, insert:

27A Annual report

                 The Secretary must include the following in the Department’s annual report for a financial year:

             (a)    the total amounts of capped assistance and uncapped assistance paid to ATS participants under the Automotive Transformation Scheme during the 12 month period ending on 31 March in the financial year;

             (b)    details of the progress of the Australian automotive industry towards achieving economic sustainability, environmental outcomes and workforce skills development.

The government is proposing two amendments to the ATS bill. The first amendment expands the object of the bill to make it clear that this scheme will place the industry on an economically sustainable footing. This will help to secure the long-term economic viability of the Australian automotive industry. It sends a strong message that ATS assistance is not a blank cheque to the industry. Assistance under this scheme is directly linked to the industry continuing to invest and produce in Australia. The changes contained in this amendment put beyond doubt the government’s position that assistance comes with strings attached. The Rudd government is also committed to transparency and openness. We are including clear reporting provisions to assure the Australian taxpayer that assistance under the ATS delivers a long-term future for the Australian automotive industry, automotive workers and their families, and the broader community.

Question agreed to.

Bill, as amended, agreed to.

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