Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have a short statement to make before I call the Clerk. Yesterday, when the Treasurer introduced the Passenger Movement Charge Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2016, the member for Grayndler sought a ruling from the chair whether the legislation could proceed when it sought to bind future parliaments by legislating there would not be a further increase in the charge for five years after 1 July 2017.

It is not clear what point was being raised by the member for Grayndler. The houses frequently legislate measures that will apply many years into the future, so to that extent there is nothing for me to rule on but I do make the point it is open to any future parliament to amend such legislation.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On indulgence—I thank you for that ruling. It correctly points out that the legislation that is before the parliament and seeks to bind future parliaments has no effect, which is the point that I was seeking to make yesterday and will make when the bill is attempted to be brought on for debate later today.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Grayndler. He would have heard me say there was nothing for me to rule on, but I was able to point out it is open to any future parliament to amend such legislation. There are many examples where that has occurred, but I will not go through them for risk of picking one that might make members think I am not being impartial.