Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

I introduce to the House the Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law (Consequential Amendment) Bill of 2012.

This bill was agreed at the Standing Council on Infrastructure and Transport meeting held in South Australia on 18 May 2012.

This bill complements the marine safety national law now before you and gives effect to agreements reached with the states and the Northern Territory on the national marine safety regulatory reform.

The bill provides that the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) board will include a member with knowledge and experience in the construction or operation of domestic commercial vessels.

This is important to make certain that in the future AMSA, as the national maritime regulator, has available to it the necessary knowledge to inform and guide decision making.

This bill amends the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act 1990 to give this effect.

Jurisdictions have also agreed that the offences and penalties attached to the general safety provisions in the national law should align with those in the model work health and safety legislation.

Some jurisdictions are yet to enact the model work health and safety legislation.

This alignment will therefore occur as a consequential amendment when all states and territories have enacted work health and safety legislation which corresponds substantially with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011. I commend this bill to the House.

Debate adjourned.