Clare O'Neil (Hotham, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Home Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Riverina for what was, broadly, a typically very thoughtful and sensible contribution. I really want to thank him for making the time to speak in this debate and also for sharing with the House a little bit about the unique implications this has for his own community. Of course, Parkes dish belongs right in the heart of Riverina, and he's the proud custodian of what is an enormously important piece of infrastructure for our country. Thank you to the member for Riverina, and thank you to all the members who made the time to speak on what is an important bill before the House today.

The Customs Tariff Amendment (Incorporation of Proposals) Bill (No. 2) 2023 will amend the Customs Tariff Act 1995 to incorporate the amendments in four customs tariff proposals that were moved in the House of Representatives in 2023. I'll very briefly go through the changes for the House. The first is that the amendments contained in the bill will alter table item 9 of schedule 4 to provide a free rate of customs duty to goods that are covered by the agreement between the government of Australia and the European Space Agency for a cooperative space vehicle tracking program. As a result, materials, equipment and supplies that will be used in certain projects and in personal and household goods of persons employed or engaged by the European Space Agency will be eligible for concessional treatment on import.

The second change relates to something I know everyone in this parliament was enthusiastic to get behind, and that is concessional rates for things related to the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. These amendments insert a new table item 59 into schedule 4 to provide a free rate of customs duty to goods for use in connection with an international sporting event to which the Australian government has agreed to provide a customs duty concession. This has allowed specified goods for sporting events such as the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup to access concessional treatments when imported.

The final two changes are very important for this parliament. We have stood as one parliament very unified in our disgust, frankly, at the illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine, a great democracy of the world, by Russia. There are ways we can use customs and tariffs to demonstrate and support Ukraine and also to show our distaste for the actions of Russia. This bill will ensure that we reduce the rate of customs duty for Ukrainian goods as they are imported to Australia. Under this extension, goods other than fuel, tobacco, alcohol and petroleum products will be eligible for a free rate of customs duty. The bill also extends for 24 months the 35 per cent additional customs duty on goods that are the product or manufacture of Russia or Belarus in direct response to the continuation of Russia's illegal, immoral and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine with the support of Belarus.

In summary, this is a really important bill that helps us engage in the world of space, supports Ukraine, penalises Russia and Belarus and supports an international sporting event that was hugely enlivening and supportive of women's sport around our country. I'm really pleased to commend the bill to the House.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Ordered that this bill be reported to the House without amendment.

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