Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave of the House to move the third reading immediately.

Leave not granted.

I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the motion of the third reading being moved without delay.

Bert Van Manen (Forde, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order: could I have clarification from the minister? Excuse me for asking. If I'm out of order, please tell me I'm out of order. I just want to know whether you're closing down the bill, because I want to speak on that bill. Are you closing down the bill now? Is that what you're doing?

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The debate on the second reading has concluded. The second reading has been put. We've now sought leave of the House to continue with the third reading. Leave has been denied. This motion is to allow the third reading to be dealt with now. That's where we're up to.

Scott Buchholz (Wright, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What I think has happened is that no-one jumped to speak on the second reading. So now we're going to the third reading. We're going to put that, and there will be an opportunity to speak during the third reading and potentially during consideration in detail. So I'll put that question before the House, brought by the minister.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question before the House is that the motion moved by the Leader of the House be agreed to.

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

by leave—I move:

That this bill be now read a third time.

It has been 20 years since we've talked about having a fuel efficiency standard in this country. We stand alongside Russia as the only advanced economy that does not have fuel a efficiency standard.

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The minister will pause. The minister is on her feet. She has been speaking for about 15 seconds. That is not the reason for everyone to start screaming and yelling. We're not having that.

The member for Barker. We will listen to the minister. The minister has the call.

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

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. As I said, we have stood alongside Russia as one of the only advanced economies that does not have a fuel efficiency standard, so consumers in Australia are not getting the benefits of the most efficient vehicles, whether they be petrol vehicles, whether they be hybrid, whether they be electric vehicles or diesel vehicles like the one that I drive. This is an important reform, one that is long overdue, one that used to be supported by those opposite. They know that it is an important measure to make sure that people in regional areas get the fuel savings that are desperately needed. We know in country Australia just how important it is that we are part of the net zero transformation and that is what this bill is very much part of—making sure the people in regional Australia get the benefit of fuel-efficient cars. That is what this bill does. I'm very proud that we are bringing this into the House today and getting it through and getting this done, something the member for Bradfield could only dream about.

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move as an amendment to the motion before the House that the word 'now' be omitted and replaced with the word 'not', so the question would be 'that this bill be not read a third time'. The reason I move that—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just pause, I want to hear from the Leader of the House.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the question be put.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question before the House is the question be put.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question before the House is that this bill be now read a third time.