Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) 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 various bills, as set out in the list circulated in the chamber.

Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave) Legislation Amendment Bill 2011

Maritime Legislation Amendment Bill 2011

Tax Laws Amendment (2011 Measures No. 7) Bill 2011

Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Participants in British Nuclear Tests) Bill 2011.

I 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 2011 SPRING SITTINGS

COAL MINING INDUSTRY (LONG SERVICE LEAVE FUNDING) LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL

Purpose of the Bill

The bill amends the coal mining industry long service leave funding scheme to embody the current award-based long service leave entitlement into Commonwealth legislation, with amendments to the qualification period from 'continuous service' to 'aggregate service'. The bill will also facilitate changes to employer reimbursement arrangements and the basis on which the levy is imposed. In addition, compliance arrangements for the scheme will be improved and changes will be made to the structure of the representation on the Board including establishing an independent Chair.

Reasons for Urgency

This bill gives effect to the agreed reforms of an Industry Working Party (IWP). The parties to the IWP agreement include the key stakeholders in the industry of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union – Mining and Energy Division, Electrical Trades Union, Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, NSW Minerals Council Limited, Queensland Resources Council, Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers Australia, NSW Colliery Officials Association and Mine Managers Association of Australia.

The Government has given a commitment to black coal mining industry stakeholders that it would use best endeavours to ensure that the amendments to the scheme could commence on 1 January 2012. The Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave Funding) Corporation has commissioned systems changes to take effect from this date.

The amendments benefit both employers and employees in the black coal mining industry. Employers will benefit from a closer alignment between the amount of levy payable by employers and the amount to which employers are entitled to be reimbursed under the scheme. Employees will have the certainty and benefit of a legislated long service leave entitlement with improved compliance arrangements.

The amendments also seek to remedy an unintentional effect of the Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave Funding) Amendment Act 2009 (the Amendment Act) which allows employees included into the scheme by Schedule 2 of the Amendment Act to be reimbursed for service in the black coal mining industry dating back indefinitely.

STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE IN THE 2011 SPRING SITTINGS

MARITIME LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL

Purpose of the Bill

The bill increases selected penalties to deter shipping companies and their crews from operating a vessel in a way that causes damage to environmentally sensitive marine ecosystems.

Reasons for Urgency

The grounding of the Shen Neng 1 at Douglas Shoal in the Great Barrier Reef on 3 April 2010 highlighted the inadequacy of existing provisions to act as an effective deterrent to shipping companies and their crew operating vessels in a way that damages, or is likely to damage, marine ecosystems critical to Australia, such as the Great Barrier Reef. Current Commonwealth provisions fall significantly short of penalties operating in State waters and have dissuaded prosecution for offences because the penalties are inconsequential. The bill will strengthen the Commonwealth's capacity to protect environmentally sensitive marine ecosystems and will give effect to action announced on 18 April 2010.

STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE IN THE 2011 SPRING SITTINGS

TAX LAWS AMENDMENT (2011 MEASURES NO. 7) BILL

Purpose of the Bill

The bill:

Reasons for Urgency

STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE IN THE 2011 SPRING SITTINGS

VETERANS' AFFAIRS LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (PARTICIPANTS IN BRITISH NUCLEAR TESTS) BILL

Purpose of the Bill

The bill amends the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 to enable the Repatriation Commission to determine, by legislative instrument, additional eligibility criteria relating to British nuclear test defence service. The bill also amends the Australian Participants in British Nuclear Tests (Treatment) Act 2006 to enable the Repatriation Commission to determine, by legislative instrument, additional eligibility criteria relating to nuclear test participants. These amendments will ensure that access to benefits can be provided to eligible participants in a timely manner.

Reasons for Urgency

Australian participants in the British nuclear test program are now elderly and in ill health. Introduction and passage of the bill in the 2011 Spring sittings will ensure that British nuclear test participants receive access to compensation, treatment and other benefits as soon as possible.