Andrew Robb (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade and Investment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I present a supplementary explanatory memorandum to the bill and move government amendment (1):

(1) Schedule 1, page 6 (after line 13), after item 9, insert:

9A Section 105

  Omit "The costs", substitute "(1) The costs".

9B At the end of section 105

  Add:

(2) Paragraph (1)(b) does not apply in relation to the financial year that started on 1 July 2013. Despite paragraph (1)(a), to the extent that the costs of the administration of this Act for that financial year exceed 5% of the appropriation amount for that financial year, those costs are to be paid otherwise than out of that appropriation amount.

The government proposes to amend section 105 of the Export Market Development Grants Act relating to administration costs for 2013-14 only to provide for additional administration costs above the amount provided for in the EMDG Act to be met from departmental appropriations. Additional funding will ensure that Austrade is able to promptly process EMDG applications while prudently protecting taxpayer resources by carefully evaluating claims. This is a technical amendment to allow us to meet our fiscal responsibilities and to ensure the rapid introduction of these measures. Austrade will pick up any additional costs so as not to be at the expense of the grants we are seeking to provide. I commend the amendment to the House.

Question agreed to.

Bill, as amended, agreed to.