Ursula Stephens (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Science and Water) Share this | Hansard source

I want to comment on the suggestion made by Senator Macdonald. He has made a good case for fishermen and those regional producers who still consider that they will be affected by the transitional arrangements. The suggestion that we might ask the Treasurer to look at the particular impacts for that industry really does not resolve the concerns of those who gave evidence at the inquiry. Certainly, the representative of the National Farmers Federation was very concerned about the lack of flexibility for claiming fuel credits. We heard very strong evidence from the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well about the range of people who might be affected and their concerns about their cash flow and compliance costs going up—but not as much as they will at the end of the two years. They did not think it was a vast improvement.

Finally, the concerns that were expressed by the National Farmers Federation are the subject of the additional information that was tabled today—the letter from Minister Dutton—seeking an amendment to the report on the bill from the Senate Economics Legislation Committee. I refer to the e-grant system. During the committee inquiry we understood that that would be extended throughout the transition period. That seemed to be the evidence that we were provided with by Treasury, but we have been advised through this letter from the minister that that in fact is not the case. So those people do not have the option of the e-grant system and they will have to submit a paper invoice to get their rebates through. I am not confident that withdrawing the transition amendment will actually achieve what we need to do for those people.