Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank all senators for contributing to the debate in relation to the Mutual Recognition Amendment Bill 2021. In particular, I acknowledge the speech and the comments made by Senator Pauline Hanson. As you said, Senator Hanson, this bill is the culmination of efforts by the national cabinet, the Council on Federal Financial Relations and officials from the Commonwealth, states and territories. You are indeed correct that the bill is a culmination of that. As you know, Senator Hanson, in December 2020, the Prime Minister, state premiers and the Northern Territory Chief Minister signed an intergovernmental agreement to implement a uniform scheme for mutual recognition from 1 July 2021. That is this year, of course. Automatic mutual recognition or AMR, as it has been referred to, will deliver an estimated $2.4 billion in economic activity over the next 10 years. The Mutual Recognition Amendment Bill 2021 will save licensed workers time and money when they want to work in other states.

It is important to address some of the comments that have been made by Senator McAllister on behalf of the opposition and Senator Faruqi on behalf of the Australian Greens. It is important that we pass the bill today for the scheme to commence on 1 July, as agreed by the national cabinet, state premiers and the Northern Territory Chief Minister. We need to do this to cut red tape, to keep the economy moving and, of course, to provide job opportunities for the 168,000 workers who will benefit from automatic mutual recognition each year. Australians living in a cross-border region will benefit every day, and communities will be better supported to respond and rebuild following natural disasters. I foreshadow that the government will move minor and technical amendments to the bill to ensure that the scheme will be implemented as intended.

Again, to address the comments made by Senator McAllister and Senator Faruqi, the government does not agree that a Senate inquiry is necessary. That is because the bill that we have presented to the Australian Senate already reflects extensive public consultation. The Commonwealth, state and territory governments have worked collaboratively—and I commend the assistant minister Ben Morton on this—to develop and deliver this important reform from 1 July this year. These governments have committed to working together on implementation, with the Morrison government announcing $11 million over three years in the 2021-22 budget to support the implementation of these important reforms. Industry groups, unions and regulators have all expressed broad support for the intent and the framework of automatic mutual recognition. Their feedback has improved the bill to strengthen oversight by regulators and to protect workers and the public. Automatic mutual recognition will make it simpler, quicker and less expensive for business and registered workers to operate across Australia. It will help to better use the skills of the Australian labour force.

I just reconfirm for the Senate that, as Senator Hanson said, this bill is the culmination of efforts by the national cabinet, which is literally state parliaments, not all of the same political persuasion; the Council on Federal Financial Relations; and officials from the Commonwealth, states and territories. As a result of the work that has been done between those bodies, the Prime Minister, state premiers of both political persuasions and the Northern Territory Chief Minister signed an intergovernmental agreement to implement a uniform scheme for automatic mutual recognition from 1 July 2021. With those comments, I commend the bill to the Senate.