Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) 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 various bills, as set out in the list circulated in the chamber, allowing them to be considered during this period of sittings.

The list read as follows—

Excise Tariff Amendment (Tobacco) Bill 2014

Customs Tariff Amendment (Tobacco) Bill 2014

Governor-General Amendment (Salary) Bill 2014

Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Amendment (Dairy Produce) Bill 2014

Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2014 Measures No. 1) Bill 2014

I table statements of reasons justifying the need for these bills to be considered during these sittings and seek leave to have the statements incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The statements read as follows—

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

EXCISE TARIFF AMENDMENT (TOBACCO) BILL

CUSTOMS TARIFF AMENDMENT (TOBACCO) BILL

Purpose of the Bill

These bills amend the Excise Tariff Act 1921 and the Customs Tariff Act 1995 to validate changes to tobacco excise and excise equivalent customs duty, which were given effect to under tariff proposals. The changes:

Reasons for Urgency

Tariff proposals were introduced in the 2013 Spring sittings to give effect to these changes, the first of which took effect on 1 December 2013. Validating legislation must be passed within 12 months of the tariff proposals to ensure that any additional duty collected under the authority of the tariff proposals was validly collected.

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

GOVERNOR GENERAL AMENDMENT (SALARY) BILL

Purpose of the Bill

This bill sets the salary for the incoming Governor-General.

Reasons for Urgency

The Prime Minister has announced that General Peter Cosgrove AC MC will be sworn as Governor General on 28 March 2014.

The salary of the Governor-General is laid down in the Act and, by operation of section 3 of the Constitution, cannot be varied during the term in office.

In line with convention, the Governor-General’s salary has been calculated to exceed moderately the estimated average salary of the Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia over the notional term of the appointment.

To enable the salary to be set in time, the Governor-General Amendment (Salary) Bill must pass both Houses and receive Royal Assent before General Cosgrove assumes office on 28 March 2014.

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

PRIMARY INDUSTRIES (EXCISE) LEVIES AMENDMENT (DAIRY PRODUCE) BILL 2014

Purpose of the Bill

Changes to primary industries levies are brought into effect by government in response to a request from a relevant peak industry representative body. The Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Act 1999 provides maximum amounts or ‘caps’ for each specified levy.

The purpose of the bill is to increase the Australian Animal Health

Council (AAHC) levy caps for milk fat and protein to provide a higher ceiling for the levy rates, to allow Australian Dairy Farmers to increase the levies in the future if required. The increase to the caps will not increase the current operative rate of the levies. Should Australian Dairy Farmers consider it necessary to increase the operative rates in future, it will be required to demonstrate widespread industry consultation and majority support—as outlined in the Australian Government’s Levy Principles and Guidelines.

Reasons for Urgency

In the case of the AAHC levy for the dairy industry the current operative levy rates for milk fat and protein are set at the maximum levels. These caps were last set in 1999. Without these cap increases, a risk exists that Australian Dairy Farmers, the peak industry representative body for the dairy industry, will not be able to provide increased funding to AAHC by subscription fees for animal health and welfare initiatives. AAHC subscription fees provide funding for core Animal Health Australia programs to benefit the dairy industry. This amendment was first requested by industry in early 2012 and has been delayed. Introduction and passage in autumn 2014 will ensure that legislative arrangements are in place to increase the levy rates if required.

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

TAX AND SUPERANNUATION LAWS AMENDMENT (2014 MEASURES NO. 1) BILL

Purpose of the Bill

This bill will:

Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993Taxation Administration Act 1953

Reasons for Urgency

The new penalties for the promotion of illegal early release schemes, criminalises conduct undertaken after Royal Assent of the bill. Urgent passage is necessary to prevent future inappropriate conduct which is detrimental to the retirement savings of Australia.

The administrative penalty regime will start on 1 July 2014 and the Commissioner of Taxation needs time to implement systems and provide information to industry.

As the NMETO measure commences from 1 July 2013, this measure needs to be enacted by 30 June 2014 or earlier to provide individuals with certainty about the transitional arrangements and their entitlement to NMETO for the 2013-14 income year.

Keeping the list of specifically listed deductible gift recipients up to date is necessary to provide certainty for affected organisations and their donors.

Sean Edwards (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I give notice, on the next day of sitting, to withdraw Business of the Senate notices of motion Nos. 1 and 2 standing in my name for two sitting days after today for the disallowance of:

Veterans’ Entitlements (Actuarial Certificate—Life Expectancy Income Stream Guidelines) Determination 2013, made under subsection 5JB(1C), paragraph 5JB(1A)(b) and subsection 5JB(5) of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 [F2013L00671], and

Veterans' Entitlements (Actuarial Certificate—Lifetime Income Stream Guidelines) Determination 2013, made under subsection 5JA(1B), paragraph 5JA(1)(b) and subsection 5JA(6) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 [F2013L00670].

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Sean Edwards (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On 2 December 2013, the committee gave notice to disallow two instruments whilst it sought further information on the incorporation of extrinsic material in the two instruments. The committee has received a satisfactory response to its concerns from the Minister for Veterans' Affairs. The committee's concluding remarks are documented in Delegated Legislation Monitor No. 2 of 2014. Accordingly, the committee seeks to withdraw the notice of motion to disallow the two instruments.