Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

The Agriculture (Biosecurity Protection) Levies and Charges Collection Bill 2024 (collection bill) is part of a package of bills to provide for the imposition, collection and administration of a new biosecurity protection levy to support Commonwealth sustainable biosecurity funding.

The collection bill provides for the collection and administration of biosecurity protection levies and charges, including through the making of rules. The bill will trigger monitoring, investigation and enforcement powers of the Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Act 2014, and will thus provide access to a set of modern and flexible compliance and enforcement tools, as well as information management, and offences and civil penalties.

Compliance measures and penalties will be proportionate to the seriousness of the infringement.

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 two companion bills: the two imposition bills, the Agriculture (Biosecurity Protection) Levies Bill 2024 and the Agriculture (Biosecurity Protection) Charges Bill 2024.

Together, the package of bills will establish a new legislative framework for implementation and management of the biosecurity protection levy to support the government's commitment to sustainable biosecurity funding and the benefits it brings to all Australians.

I commend the bill to the House.

Debate adjourned.