Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

The Excise Levies Legislation Amendment (Honey) Bill 2016 is a companion bill to the Agriculture and Water Resources Legislation Amendment Bill 2016. Together, the bills aim to reduce unnecessary regulation and improve legislation so that it is clear, easy to read and easy to understand.

The Excise Levies Legislation Amendment (Honey) Bill 2016 will amend the Primary Industries (Excise) Levy Act 1999 to remove an obsolete provision whereby a buyer may give to the seller a certificate of the buyer's intention to export honey.

The bill will also make mirror amendments to the National Residue Survey (Excise) Levy Act 1998 to remove an obsolete provision whereby a buyer may give to the seller a certificate of the buyer's intention to export honey.

Participants in the honey industry no longer issue, receive, or rely upon either of these certificates when selling to a buyer who intends to export the honey. The changes will not alter the amounts of levy or customs charges collected in relation to honey.

The Australian Honey Bee Industry Council supports these amendments.

During the 2015-16 financial year, Australian honey producers exported almost 4.5 million kilograms of honey valued at over $45 million.

Although these are minor amendments, it is another example of the government's commitment to ensuring administrative practices are streamlined and efficient and that agricultural industries are clear about the regulations that apply to them—especially to honey.

Debate adjourned.