Steve Fielding (Victoria, Family First Party) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Macdonald for allowing me to get to the chamber. I move Family First request for amendment (1) on sheet 5680 revised:

That the House of Representatives be requested to make the following amendment:

(1)    Page 2 (after line 11), after clause 3, insert:

4 Review of Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program

        (1)    The Minister must cause a review of the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program to be conducted.

        (2)    The review must:

             (a)    start on the third anniversary of the commencement of this section; and

             (b)    be completed within 6 months.

        (3)    The Minister must cause a written report about the review to be prepared.

        (4)    The Minister must cause a copy of the report to be laid before each House of Parliament within 15 sitting days after the Minister receives the report.

Statement pursuant to the order of the Senate of 26 June 2000—

These amendments are framed as requests because they are to a bill which imposes taxation within the meaning of section 53 of the Constitution. The Senate may not amend a bill imposing taxation

Statement by the Clerk of the Senate pursuant to the order of the Senate of 26 June 2000—

As this is a bill imposing taxation within the meaning of section 53 of the Constitution, any Senate amendment to the bill must be moved as a request. This is in accordance with the precedents of the Senate.

This is about a review of the heavy vehicle safety and productivity program which the government has announced and has allocated $70 million for additional truck stops, which is good news. The amendment is pretty straightforward. It says that the minister must cause a review of the heavy vehicle safety and productivity program to be conducted and says when the review should start. It says that there must be a written report prepared and that a copy of that report must be laid before each house of parliament. That is very important so that we can ascertain how this productivity program has progressed and also have a review of it. It is a very important program and I am hoping that all senators will support this amendment as this review is important to make sure that we look at what else needs to be done in the future.