Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I move government amendments on sheet ZA379 as revised:

(1) Clause 2, page 1 (line 8), omit "1 January 2015", substitute "the day after this Act receives the Royal Assent".

(2) Schedule 1, page 4 (after line 1), insert:

Productivity Commission Act 1998

1A Section 25

  Before "The", insert "(1)".

1B At the end of section 25

  Add:

(2) Despite subsection (1), the Minister must appoint an Associate Commissioner for the purposes of an inquiry on the matter mentioned in subsection 87(1) or (2) or 88(1) or (2) of the Water Act 2007.

(3) An Associate Commissioner appointed under subsection (2) must have extensive skills and experience in water resource management.

(3) Schedule 1, item 6, page 5 (line 17), at the end of the heading to subsection 87(3), add "etc.".

(4) Schedule 1, item 6, page 5 (after line 26), after subsection 87(3), insert:

  (3A) Once the matter has been referred to the Productivity Commission for inquiry, the Chair of the Productivity Commission must establish a stakeholder working group in accordance with section 89.

(5) Schedule 1, item 6, page 6 (line 23), at the end of the heading to subsection 88(3), add "etc.".

(6) Schedule 1, item 6, page 7 (after line 3), after subsection 88(3), insert:

  (3A) Once the matter has been referred to the Productivity Commission for inquiry, the Chair of the Productivity Commission must establish a stakeholder working group in accordance with section 89.

Regard to be had to objectives of National Water Initiative

  (3B) When conducting an inquiry, the Productivity Commission must have regard to the objectives provided for in clause 23 of the National Water Initiative.

(7) Schedule 1, item 6, page 7 (after line 14), at the end of Part 3, add:

89 Stakeholder working group

(1) A stakeholder working group is to be established for each matter referred to the Productivity Commission for inquiry (a referred matter).

(2) A stakeholder working group for a referred matter:

  (a) is to exchange information and views on the referred matter or any issues relevant to it; and

  (b) may provide advice to the Productivity Commission on the referred matter or any issues relevant to it.

(3) A stakeholder working group for a referred matter is to consist of such persons as the Chair of the Productivity Commission thinks fit who are representative of any:

  (a) agricultural, environmental, industry, Indigenous or urban water body; or

  (b) other body with an interest in the referred matter.

(4) Subject to subsections (5) and (6), the Chair of the Productivity Commission may determine:

  (a) any allowances that are payable to a member of a stakeholder working group in relation to his or her contribution as a member of the stakeholder working group; and

  (b) any other matter relating to the functioning of a stakeholder working group.

(5) Despite the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973, a member of a stakeholder working group is not to be paid any remuneration in relation to his or her contribution as a member of the stakeholder working group.

(6) A stakeholder working group for a referred matter must meet at least twice about the referred matter before the Productivity Commission submits its report on the matter to the Productivity Minister.

(7) To avoid doubt, a member of a stakeholder working group is not a public office within the meaning of the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973.

(8) Schedule 1, item 7, page 8 (line 6), omit paragraph (b) of the definition of final reporting period, substitute:

  (b) ending at the end of the day occurring before the transition time.

Also I table two supplementary explanatory memoranda relating to these government amendments.