Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I move:

That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the Export Market Development Grants Amendment Bill 2014, allowing it to be considered during this period of sittings.

I also table a statement of reasons justifying the need for this bill to be considered during these sittings and seek leave to have this statement incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The reasons read as follows—

STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE IN THE 2014 AUTUMN SITTINGS

EXPORT MARKET DEVELOPMENT GRANTS AMENDMENT BILL

Purpose of the Bill

The bill implements the Government's Election commitment to provide additional funding for the EMDG scheme.

Amendments to the Export Market Development Grants Act 1997 will align scheme parameters with the increased funding by increasing the number of grants payable from 7 to 8 and reducing the minimum expenses threshold amount from $20,000 to $15,000, set the amount of scheme administration funds via Ministerial determination, and make minor policy and technical amendments to improve the scheme administration arrangements.

Reasons for Urgency

The bill implements an election commitment to provide additional funding for the EMDG scheme. The measures must be in place to enable the amendment to operate for the 2013-14 grant year.

Two legislative instruments must be made immediately following the passage of the Bill, namely a 'not fit and proper person' instrument for EMDG consultants and an 'administration expenses' threshold instrument. The 'administration expenses' instrument, must be in place by 1 June 2014 following the passage of this bill.

Question agreed to.