Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Hansard source

I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, I shall move:

That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the following bills, allowing them to be considered during this period of sittings: Tax Laws Amendment (Simplified GST Accounting) Bill 2007 Wheat Marketing Amendment Bill 2007.

I also table statements of reasons justifying the need for these bills to be considered during these sittings and seek leave to have the statements incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The statements read as follows—

STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE IN THE 2007 WINTER SITTINGS

TAX LAWS AMENDMENT (SIMPLIFIED GST ACCOUNTING) BILL 2007

Purpose of the Bill

The Tax Laws Amendment (Simplified GST Accounting) Bill will amends the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 to allow the Commissioner of Taxation to determine in writing simplified accounting methods to reduce the GST compliance costs on small businesses that make mixed (taxable and GST free) supplies or have mixed purchases.

Reasons for Urgency

This measure was announced in the 2007-08 Budget and is a high priority for the government.  Enactment before 1 July 2007 will allow the Commissioner to put determinations in place for use in the 2007-08 financial year.

WHEAT MARKETING AMENDMENT BILL 2007

Purpose of the Bill

The bill:

• extends the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s current temporary power of veto over bulk wheat exports until 30 June 2008;
• inserts new information gathering powers for the Wheat Export Authority;
• inserts a power for the Minister to direct the Wheat Export Authority to undertake investigations into certain matters;
• inserts a power for the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to change nominated company B;
• deregulates wheat exports in bags and containers, but with the addition of a quality assurance mechanism; and
• makes changes to the governance arrangements for the Wheat Export Authority that will result in it becoming an agency subject to the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 with a skills based commission of between 4 and 6 members.

Reasons for Urgency

On 22 May 2007 the Prime Minister announced in the House of Representatives future arrangements for wheat marketing, including that the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry would have his bulk veto power extended for a further 12 months.  The current temporary bulk veto power held by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is due to expire on 30 June 2007.  Urgent amendment is required to the Wheat Marketing Act 1989 to extend the Minister’s power and prevent the veto power reverting to AWB (International) Ltd.

Senator Milne to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate:

(a)

notes that:

(i)

renewable electricity generators face significant barriers to entry into the electricity market,

(ii)

households selling electricity into the grid are typically paid low prices that do not fairly reflect the value of zero emission, distributed energy,

(iii)

‘feed-in’ tariffs have secured market incentives, driving an unprecedented expansion of the renewables industry in several European nations, and

(iv)

policies such as feed-in tariffs and renewable energy targets are intended to foster emerging industries to ensure that deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions can be achieved in the medium- and long-term; and

(b)

calls on the Government to reject the recommendation of the Prime Ministerial Task Group on Emissions Trading that, ‘All Australian schemes that set mandatory targets for deployment of particular technologies should be wound up over time, and new ones forestalled’.

Senator Nettle to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate:

(a)

notes that 10 June 2007 marks 40 years since the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Golan Heights; and

(b)

calls on the Australian Government to:

(i)

take action to ensure that Israel complies with United Nations Security Council Resolution 242 passed unanimously in 1967 that calls for a ‘withdrawal of Israel armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict’,

(ii)

ensure that humanitarian relief is provided to those who need it, particularly the children in Palestine,

(iii)

stop providing arms to Israel, and

(iv)

play a constructive role to ensure that peace and justice can be achieved in Palestine, Israel and the Middle East.

Senator Milne to move on 21 June 2007:

That the following matter be referred to the Economics Committee for inquiry and report by 6 October 2007: An assessment of the benefits and costs of introducing renewable energy feed-in tariffs in Australia, including an evaluation of:

(a)

barriers to the expansion of the renewable energy industry in general and within the electricity market in Australia in particular;

(b)

the likelihood that carbon prices generated by an emission trading system will be insufficient to overcome these barriers in the near term; and

(c)

options to link the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target scheme (with an increased target) with feed-in tariffs to guarantee a viable return on investment for investors in a range of prospective renewable energy technologies.