Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to 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 the Tax Laws Amendment (2010 GST Administration Measures No. 1) Bill 2010, 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 the statement incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The statement read as follows—

Purpose of the Bill

The bill implements the Board of Taxation’s recommendations arising from the review of the legal framework for the administration of the GST, including:

• GST adjustments for third party payments; and
• tax invoices and attribution.

Reasons for Urgency

While the bill commences on 1 July 2010, a range of measures contained within it must receive passage well in advance of their start date to provide certainty and to allow sufficient time for the Australian Taxation Office, businesses and the tax profession to make system changes in order to be ready to comply with the new law by 1 July 2010.

Senator Ludlam to move on the next day of sitting:

That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, no later than 10 am on Wednesday, 17 March 2010, a copy of the National Broadband Network Implementation Study.

Senator Fierravanti-Wells to move on the next day of sitting:

That—

(a)

Parts 8, 9 and 10 of Schedule 1 of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits – Therapeutic Groups) Determination 2010 (Instrument Number PB 1 of 2010), made under subsection 84AG(1) of the National Health Act 1953, be disallowed [F2010L00151]; and

(b)

Amendment determination – Drugs on F1 and drugs in Part A of F2 (Instrument number PB 2 of 2010), made under subsections 85AB(1) and 85AC(1) of the National Health Act 1953, be disallowed [F2010L00152].

Fifteen sitting days remain, including today, to resolve the motion or the instrument will be deemed to have been disallowed. (to be resolved on 24 June 2010)

Senator Siewert to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that:

(i)

Thursday, 11 March 2010 is World Kidney Day,

(ii)

World Kidney Day is a global health awareness campaign focusing on the importance of our kidneys, and on reducing the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide, and

(iii)

the focus of World Kidney Day is diabetes which, along with high blood pressure are the key risk factors in chronic kidney disease;

(b)

recognises the early detection of kidney disease can reduce the risk of complications and thereby dramatically reduce the growing burden of disability and death from chronic renal disease;

(c)

acknowledges that Type 2 diabetes is the fastest growing chronic disease in Australia, with on average 1 500 new cases identified every week and nearly one in four Australians having either impaired glucose metabolism or diabetes;

(d)

calls attention to the alarmingly high rates of diabetes, high blood pressure and renal disease within Aboriginal Australians, noting:

(i)

Aboriginal people are 3.4 times more likely than non-Aboriginal people to have diabetes or pre-diabetes,

(ii)

the Kimberly population has the 4th highest prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in the world,

(iii)

gestational diabetes is up to 20 per cent higher in the Aboriginal population compared with the non-Aboriginal population, and

(iv)

kidney disease is 10 times more likely to occur in Aboriginal people when compared with non-Aboriginal people;

(e)

notes the special ecumenical service for renal sufferers being held on 11 March 2010 in Alice Springs in recognition of the anguish experienced by Nura Ward and others like her who must leave their homelands forever to receive dialysis in a city far from their family and culture; and

(f)

calls:

(i)

on the Federal Government to put greater resources into education and prevention for diabetes and kidney disease, particularly targeting Aboriginal communities and others at high risk, and

(ii)

for a much greater commitment to planning to meet the emerging need for services and support for those with renal disease, particularly in regional and remote communities.

Senator Carol Brown to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1) during the sitting of the Senate on Monday, 15 March 2010, from 12.30 pm.

Senator Ludwig to move on the next day of sitting:

That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the Tax Laws Amendment (2010 GST Administration Measures No. 1) Bill 2010, allowing it to be considered during this period of sittings.

Senator Johnston to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity:

(a)

be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1) during the sitting of the Senate on Thursday, 11 March 2010, from noon; and

(b)

be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Thursday, 11 March 2010, from 12.15 pm, to take evidence for the committee’s inquiry into the examination of the annual report 2008-09 of the Integrity Commissioner.

Senator Hanson-Young to move on the next day of sitting:

That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Ombudsman Act 1976 to establish the Education Ombudsman, and for related purposes. Ombudsman Amendment (Education Ombudsman) Bill 2010.

Senator Xenophon to move on the next day of sitting:

That the following matters be referred to the Economics References Committee for inquiry and report by 24 June 2010:

(a)

the appropriateness of applying the Public Benefit Test currently in place in the United Kingdom’s Charities Act 2006, including balancing benefits against any detriment or harm, to charitable and religious organisations in Australia with respect to their tax exempt status;

(b)

whether there is a need to amend Division 50 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 to accommodate such as test; and

(c)

any related matters.