Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Deputy Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

To sum up the debate on the Export Control Amendment (Quotas) Bill 2015, the bill consolidates four acts that govern tariff export quotas into one act that covers all commodities. The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources currently administers 33 quotas and saves exporters millions of dollars in tariffs each year. These quotas are currently managed under four separate acts. This bill brings that regulation under a comprehensive quota regime.

The bill will amend the Export Control Act 1982 to provide the secretary with powers to make orders providing for, or in relation to, the establishment and administration of a system or systems of tariff rate quotas; enable the secretary to make directions in relation to matters covered by an order and to override the order; introduce new powers consistent with contemporary, flexible and efficient legislation; abolish one act in its entirety and parts or divisions of two other acts; and consolidate provisions currently sitting within the Export Control Act 1982.

The bill complements the government's strategic approach to capturing premium markets as outlined in the agricultural competitiveness white paper and builds on the gains from recent free trade agreements with our major trading partners. In response to the shadow minister for agriculture, I note that since the election the coalition have achieved over 50 key market access gains or restorations, as well as over 30 market access improvements.

This is basically a non-controversial bill. It has bipartisan support. I thank all those involved for their participation.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

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