Yvette D'Ath (Petrie, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency) Share this | Hansard source

It is my pleasure to sum up the debate on the Australian Jobs Bill 2013. The Gillard government has a strong commitment to supporting and creating Australian jobs, and to support the future of our businesses and industries. There is no doubt that parts of the economy are under pressure from fundamental changes in the global economy since the global financial crisis. The government's industry and innovation statement, A Plan for Australian Jobs, is a detailed and fully funded response to these pressures, containing long-term systemic changes to ensure we can increase prosperity, broaden our economic base and compete in an increasingly competitive world. The important issues for manufacturing to innovate and to improve productivity are equally important for businesses and jobs across our entire economy. After detailed consultations with industry and workers, the Gillard government firmly believes that higher priority should be given to identifying and taking advantage of untapped opportunities for Australian businesses to participate in major projects.

This bill supports the creation and retention of Australian jobs by requiring Australian Industry Participation Plans, or AIP Plans, for major projects which will ensure that Australian businesses have full, fair and reasonable opportunity to win work and provide key goods and services. Under this bill, any domestic project worth $500 million or more must demonstrate how it will provide opportunities to local businesses through an Australian Industry Participation plan. This requirement will effectively unlock the international supply chains used by major projects and provide the opportunity Australian businesses need to demonstrate their capability and professionalism and to win work not just domestically but also all over the world.

The bill also creates a new Australian Industry Participation Authority to administer these changes, as well as related programs to build capability and capacity within local business and to link them with new business opportunities. Through consultations and consideration in the Senate Economics Legislation Committee we know there is strong stakeholder support for the measures included in this bill. Australian industry knows it is the right thing to do. Australian workers know it is the right thing to do. There is one overriding objective in all of this: the Gillard government's strong commitment to supporting and creating Australian jobs. I thank members for their support in passing this bill and I urge our colleagues in the other place to pass this bill into law without delay.

See this speech in context