Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Hansard source

The Export Control Act 1982 provides the basis for ensuring exports meet the requirements of the importing country. Labor welcomes this bill, the Export Legislation Amendment Bill 2014, which will provide a fairer and more consistent approach to cost recovery for services provided by the Department of Agriculture to exporters. The bill seeks to remedy technical defects and inconsistencies, which will in turn allow the Department of Agriculture to recover an estimated $1.9 million each year for the provision of export services for commodities which are currently excluded from cost-recovery mechanisms. It does so in part by tidying up and standardising the definition of 'prescribed goods' across, I think, seven statutes.

These changes are important because Australia exports around 65 per cent of our farm products, 75 per cent of our fish products and some 60 per cent of our forest products. So, obviously, our international markets are absolutely critical to the health, wellbeing and profitability of our agriculture sector. As we strive to fully capitalise on the Asia-led dining boom, a full and efficient cost recovery of export services will be of increasing importance, given how important our brand image is in those international markets.

Changes to the export legislation will ensure that Australia's exports meet importing-country standards and that our reputation for clean, safe, green food is maintained in those markets. However, changes will be required to Australia's biosecurity legislation more generally for the above points to be achieved and maintained. At this point, I will move the second reading amendment which has been distributed in my name. I move:

That all words after “That” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

“whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading the House notes:

(1)   the importance of updating legislative requirements that impact on Australia’s biosecurity;

(2)   that the Quarantine Act 1908 is over a century old and new legislation is needed to support safe and seamless transition of goods and services across Australia’s borders; and

(3)   the Beale review recommended that Australia update its biosecurity legislation to ensure Australia’s biosecurity systems remain world-class.”

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