Harry Jenkins (Scullin, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question before the chair is that the remaining stages of this bill, including the government amendment as circulated, be agreed to.

The government amendment read as follows—

(1)    Clause 65-5, page 32 (after line 29), at the end of the clause, add:

        (5)    Subsection (4) does not apply in respect of the whole or a part of a fuel tax credit that you are not entitled to take into account under subsection 45-5(1) (Certain entities to be members of Greenhouse Challenge Plus Programme).

Ian Causley (Page, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The honourable member for Hunter on a point of order—because there can be no debate.

Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer and Revenue) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy Speaker, I seek leave to table the amendments I intended to move during the in detail stage of this debate—

Ian Causley (Page, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Is there any objection to leave being granted?

Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer and Revenue) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

which would have allowed small businesses and businesses generally—

Ian Causley (Page, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The honourable member for Hunter will resume his seat!

Leave not granted.

Tony Windsor (New England, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy Speaker, I seek leave to incorporate the amendments that I was to present in this debate so that the farming community’s and the renewable energy community’s voice can be heard—

Ian Causley (Page, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is there any objection to leave being granted?

Kim Wilkie (Swan, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That’s your question. Der!

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Kim. You are contributing well, mate.

Kim Wilkie (Swan, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Try and answer some questions and then we will get some contributions.

Leave granted.

The amendments read as follows—

(1)    Clause 2-1, page 3 (line 10), omit

“This Act provides a single system of fuel tax credits.”;

substitute:

“This Act provides a single system of fuel tax credits, other than fuel tax credits related to primary production businesses.”

(2)    Clause 41-5, page 10 (lines 8-10), omit subsection (1),

substitute:

“(1) You are entitled to a fuel tax credit for taxable fuel that you acquire or manufacture in, or import into, Australia to the extent that you do so for use in *carrying on your *enterprise, provided that your enterprise does not comprise a primary production business.”

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer and Revenue) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy Speaker, on a point of order: how can the Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer possibly justify allowing the member for New England to table his proposed amendments but deny the opposition the same right? You are a disgrace!

Ian Causley (Page, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no point of order. The honourable member will resume his seat. The question before the chair is that all remaining stages of this bill be agreed to.

A division having been called and the bells being rung—

The member for O’Connor on a point of order.

Gavan O'Connor (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Corio.

Ian Causley (Page, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We are going well!

Gavan O'Connor (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy Speaker, can I seek clarification on this. As I understand it, the honourable member for Hunter sought leave to table his amendment and that was refused by the government. The honourable member for New England—

Ian Causley (Page, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The honourable member for Corio will resume his seat. I call the honourable member for Batman.

Martin Ferguson (Batman, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Primary Industries, Resources, Forestry and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy Speaker, the government has indicated its willingness to now consider the amendments as a formal part of this debate. On that basis, I think it is more appropriate that we give time to proper consideration of these issues, and the opposition, therefore, withdraws its request for a division.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy Speaker, on the point of order: the point that I was trying to make before was that the government, in accordance with normal practice, is happy for the amendment to be put after the third reading.

Ian Causley (Page, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We are only talking about incorporating the amendments and not about debating the amendments?

Roger Price (Chifley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is when the Deputy Speaker will call it off.

Ian Causley (Page, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Chief Opposition Whip is being very unhelpful at this stage.

Roger Price (Chifley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am trying to be very helpful.

Ian Causley (Page, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Chief Opposition Whip should be very careful.

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

Ian Causley (Page, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The chair is in a very difficult position, because the chair is not privy to any agreements that have been made. If the Chief Opposition Whip has made an agreement, he might make sure that the chair is aware of it and that the government is aware of it.

Roger Price (Chifley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government has agreed.

Ian Causley (Page, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Lock the doors!

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Ian Causley (Page, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Lock the doors! The question is that the remaining stages of this bill be agreed to. The ayes will pass to the right of the chair, the noes to the left. I appoint the honourable members for Mallee and Corangamite as tellers for the ayes and the honourable members for Chifley and Shortland as tellers for the noes.

Roger Price (Chifley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy Speaker, I appreciate you are in an invidious position; however, there was an accommodation offered by the government and the opposition accepted that and respectfully requests that the division be called off. It is to facilitate the business of the House and the good conduct of the House, not a reflection on you. These things do occur from time to time. I apologise.

Ian Causley (Page, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Would the Chief Opposition Whip articulate his understanding of the agreement.

Roger Price (Chifley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My understanding is that the amendments will be allowed to be incorporated at the third reading stage.

Ian Causley (Page, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

So the Chief Opposition Whip is happy not to have the debate?

Roger Price (Chifley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.

Ian Causley (Page, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think it would suit the convenience of the House, therefore, if I were to call off the division.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a third time.