Kerry O'Brien (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

I move opposition amendment (1) on sheet 5307:

(1)      Clause 2, page 2 (cell at table item 4, column 2), omit the cell, substitute:

                 The day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.

This amendment relates to the date from which the provisions that deregulate bagged and containerised wheat would apply. The opposition sees no reason for a delay in this regard. If the government is content for these provisions to go ahead, for the deregulation to occur, we see no reason to delay it. We see no justification in the measures which are said to justify the delay, there already being a variety of measures which relate to the quality of any goods exported from the country and particularly those that are administered by AQIS. We believe that, in respect of the commercial arrangements that are entered into, the measures which are placed around the export of containerised or bagged wheat are simply cost impositions that serve little or no purpose and in fact restrain the so-called deregulation of the wheat that would be permitted to be exported without an export permit; in other words, a backdoor constraint on the so-called deregulation.

The operative date would be no problem for the industry; indeed, that is the information which has been received by my office. There is no need for an extensive period to consider the matters which the government says necessitate the 60 days. We believe it is appropriate at this time that, if this amendment is accepted, it be given effect immediately the bill has received royal assent.