Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The coalition supports the Statute Stocktake (Appropriations) Bill 2013. This is a housekeeping bill. It repeals 84 redundant appropriation acts from July 1999 until 30 June 2010. While the coalition supports the bill, let me just point out, though, that it is rather disingenuous—dare I say hypocritical—of the government to state that this bill is part of its deregulation agenda. We all remember the government's 'one in, one out' promise regarding new regulation. However, we also know that since 2008 the Rudd-Gillard Labor governments have added about 21,000 new regulations and repealed only 104. That is, the Rudd-Gillard Labor governments have imposed massive additional red and green tape on our economy, driving up the cost of doing business, putting more lead into our saddlebags, making it harder for us to compete internationally and undermining our capacity to grow our economy more strongly. The coalition believes that we should be creating an environment for greater investment and productivity, not continuing to strangle business with more red tape and costly regulation. The coalition supports this bill but is very conscious of the fact that after six years of Labor red and green tape much more needs to be done in this area.

David Feeney (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Cormann for his effusive support for this very important government bill and commend it to the Senate.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.