Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to thank all members who have contributed to the debate on the Public Governance and Resources Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2015. I look forward tonight to speaking after the member for Grayndler at the Bus Industry Confederation annual dinner. Of course, buses play such an important part in tourism, particularly regional tourism.

I would like to take the member for Grayndler up on a few of the points that he made in his final remarks on this bill about tourism. I would like to quote from the Minister for Trade and Investment, Andrew Robb, who on 29 October 2014 announced record expenditure of $30 billion—that is up seven per cent—by international visitors to Australia in 2013-14. He announced that at the fourth annual Tourism and Transport Forum leadership summit. The member for Grayndler made a fair few accusations about tourism and our level of interest in it, but rest assured, Member for Grayndler, that we are very much engaged with tourism and very much aware of the great role that it plays in driving not just investment in Australia but recognition of our great role globally. As the member for Goldstein said at that summit:

"This is a major vote of confidence in Australia's tourism sector which is extremely well placed to experience strong continued growth," …

…   …   …

Total overnight visitor expenditure – the measure used to track industry progress—

and I will admit that the member for Grayndler talked about this in his speech—

grew five per cent for the year—

that is, 2013-14—

to $83.4 billion, meaning the industry is well positioned to reach the Tourism 2020 goal of doubling overnight visitor expenditure to between $115 and $140 billion.

I need to point out that we have made tourism one of five national investment priorities. The minister responsible has 'welcomed the record value of international investment in tourism infrastructure achieved' during 2013-14. The report of Tourism Research Australia showed:

… the tourism investment pipeline is now worth almost $50 billion across the accommodation, transport (aviation) and attractions sectors.

It is certainly hardly an industry that the coalition government would be ignoring. This is really important, and this is the clincher. I quote Minister Robb here:

Having scrapped the carbon tax, frozen the Passenger Movement Charge for the current term of parliament and by providing additional funding for Tourism Australia, it is clear that Australian tourism is open for visitors and investment—

and that is important.

I note that the shadow minister did not talk about the two New South Wales tourism ministers, because he is well aware that the member for Dubbo, the Nationals leader, Troy Grant, who is the Minister for Tourism and Major Events, and his offsider, the member for Monaro, John Barilaro, who is the Minister for Regional Tourism, are doing such a good job. They are doing such a good job, and I look forward to them continuing to do that job in a strengthened Baird government after this Saturday.

The Public Governance and Resources Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2015 represents a further step in the journey towards more streamlined and simplified resource management and governance arrangements right across the Commonwealth. It forms part of the ongoing Public Management Reform Agenda, which is intended to support the government's deregulation agenda and the active management of risk by Commonwealth entities. This bill involves a range of technical amendments that would further improve the operation of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013, the PGPA Act, including a provision to support the administration of goods and services tax obligations by non-corporate Commonwealth entities. The amendments contained in this bill will provide greater certainty in relation to the operation of the PGPA Act.

The volume and variety of enabling legislation that Commonwealth entities are subject to mean that the process of harmonising and streamlining arrangements with the PGPA Act is an ongoing process, notwithstanding the inroads made to date. The bill would, if enacted, amend a further 33 acts across the Commonwealth. It is another small but very important step towards a better governance and resource management framework for the Commonwealth.

The government has circulated amendments that I will move shortly that will amend two further acts in relation to parliamentarians' superannuation, and I thank the member for Brand for his comments in relation to that. The amendments will enable parliamentarians to direct their superannuation contributions and make salary sacrifice contributions to a self-managed superannuation fund.

Once again, I thank all members for their contributions, and I commend the bill to the House.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Message from the Governor-General recommending appropriation announced.

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