Kristy McBain (Eden-Monaro, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

The Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Bill 2023 is part of a package of bills to streamline and modernise the agricultural levies legislative framework.

The collection bill will replace the Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Act 1991.

It will enable collection of existing levies and charges without significantly changing how they are collected and will provide the framework required for collection of any new levies and charges in the future.

It will trigger monitoring, investigation and enforcement powers of the Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Act 2014. This means more modern and flexible compliance and enforcement tools will be available to support compliance with levy collection requirements. And compliance measures and penalties will be proportionate to the seriousness of the infringement.

This will bring the levy system in line with other Commonwealth regulatory schemes.

The collection bill will also provide for the appropriate use and disclosure of information, while ensuring effective safeguards for sensitive information.

Alongside the collection bill are four companion bills:

A separate bill is also being introduced to manage the consequential changes and arrangements to ensure a smooth transition to the new framework.

Together, the package of bills will establish a new legislative framework that provides the basis for a more effective and efficient levy system that will support more sustainable, competitive and productive agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors now and into the future.

Debate adjourned.