Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation) Share this | Hansard source

To assist the Leader of the Nationals, this amendment is proposed to assist the tribunal's functioning. Currently the bill confers dispute resolution functions on the tribunal, to commence on 1 July 2012. These amendments provide that the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal must not deal with a dispute under part 4 of the Road Safety Remuneration Act 2012 before 1 January 2013 unless it is satisfied that exceptional circumstances exist in relation to the dispute. The government has moved this amendment because we understand the tribunal will need some time to establish its operations to consider research, begin formulating work programs and make road safety remuneration orders before commencing its dispute resolution function. Delaying the start date of the dispute resolution function will allow the tribunal to manage the implementation of the bill and will also give industry stakeholders time to become familiar with the new regulatory framework in relation to dispute resolution.

Question agreed to.

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