Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Cyber Security) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Solomon for his contribution. I thank all members who contributed to the debate on this bill and acknowledge the bipartisan support shown in the second reading debate.

The Defence Legislation Amendment (2017 Measures No. 1) Bill 2017 addresses four separate measures. The first measure amends the Defence Act 1903 to enable a policy framework to broaden and expand the conditions under which a positive test result for prohibited substances must be disregarded. The second measure amends the Defence Reserve Service (Protection) Act 2001 to ensure all reservists would be eligible for the full range of protections under the act in respect of their employment and education. The third measure amends the Intelligence Services Act 2001, the Navigation Act 2012 and the Telecommunications Act 1997 to include the transfer of hydrographic, meteorological and oceanographic functions from the Royal Australian Navy to the Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation, in accordance with one of the recommendations from the first principles review. The fourth measure amends the Australian Defence Force Cover Act 2015 to align a small number of the provisions in the act with the other military superannuation schemes and to provide clarity on the definition of an eligible child of a member or invalid.

The bill moves to make small but significant changes to Defence and other legislation. This will be significant to the operations of Defence, providing streamlining to practices and common sense to policy. They will be significant to members of the Defence Reserves, who will receive greater protection. They will be significant to family members of the ADF, who will now benefit from the changes to superannuation. I want to reinforce what other speakers have said: when it comes to the commitment of our Defence Reserves they put their lives on the line, like members of the full-time ADF. They serve and sacrifice on behalf of our nation and deserve the recognition that comes along with that which we give to our full-time ADF.

I thank all members of the House who have made special mention of the Reservists and what they do for this nation and what they do for the capability of our ADF. I also want to recognise the contribution made by family members of those who serve: the spouses, the children and the extended family. When a member serves, their family serves with them. When I go around the country visiting the Defence bases, and meet with the spouses and children of those who are serving, it strikes me every single time that they are part and parcel of the member who is serving. I thank them for the contribution they make in allowing their loved ones to serve on behalf of our nation. I commend this bill to the House.

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