Debate resumed on the motion by Mr Cobb:

That this House:

(1) requires the responsible Minister to:

(a) immediately commission an independent study on the legitimate costs to the Government of Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) Export Service Inspection Fees and Charges for the six affected industries (Meat, Fish, Dairy, Horticulture, Grain, and Live Export) as evidenced at the AQIS – Australian Meat Industry Council joint ministerial taskforce meeting No. 15 on 7 May 2010; and

(b) table in the House:

(i) a document that explains how the Government will provide a reduction in annual regulatory costs to the export industries in the order of $30 million per year from 1 July 2011; and

(ii) a document that outlines the completion of reforms that were to be delivered as part of the agreement to remove the AQIS Export Service rebate between the Government and the six affected industries;

(2) notes that the above commitments were part of a package agreed to by the former Minster for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in return for the passage of the Government’s legislation to remove the 40 per cent AQIS Export Service rebate; and

(3) calls on the Government to continue the AQIS Export Service rebate until the reforms are delivered, as agreed to by the Government.

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