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 the following bills, allowing them to be considered during this period of sittings:

Civil Aviation Amendment (CASA Board) Bill 2014

Farm Household Support Bill 2014

Farm Household Support (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2014

Quarantine Charges (Collection) Bill 2014

Quarantine Charges (Imposition—Customs) Bill 2014

Quarantine Charges (Imposition—Excise) Bill 2014

Quarantine Charges (Imposition—General) 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

FARM HOUSEHOLD SUPPORT BILL 2014

FARM HOUSEHOLD SUPPORT (CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS) BILL 2014

Purpose of the Bill

These bills will establish the Farm Household Allowance (FHA) and amend related legislation to provide for financial assistance to farmers and their partners who are experiencing financial hardship. They provide a time-limited payment and support to help them improve their situation.

The bills will also repeal the Farm Household Support Act 1992 to remove redundant provisions, including provisions relating to the Exceptional Circumstances Relief Payment (ECRP).

Reasons for Urgency

Introduction and passage in the 2014 Autumn sittings is required to allow commencement of the FHA no later than 1 July 2014. The FHA is the Australian Government’s key commitment under the Intergovernmental Agreement on National Drought Program Reform (IGA), agreed on 3 May 2013, and was announced in the 2013–2014 Budget. The IGA requires that programs forming part of National Drought Program Reform, including the FHA, are to be implemented prior to or on 1 July 2014.

The FHA will replace the existing ECRP and Transitional Farm Family Payment (TFFP). The Department of Human Services (DHS) has undertaken considerable work on the Information Technology (IT) system to administer the FHA. Any changes to the settings as a result of the legislative process will need to be included in the IT system.

Passage of the bill in the 2014 Autumn sittings will allow the Government to make the FHA available to farmers in hardship, which would coincide with the expiration of TFFP. Without passage of this legislation in the Autumn sittings, the existing Exceptional Circumstances (EC) arrangements will remain in place, requiring an EC declaration in order for assistance to flow to affected farmers.

Given climatic conditions are deteriorating in some states, in particular Queensland and New South Wales, it is essential that the Government can provide financial support to farmers and their partners in hardship, whether it is caused by drought or other circumstances.

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

QUARANTINE CHARGES (COLLECTION) BILL

QUARANTINE CHARGES (IMPOSITION – GENERAL) BILL

QUARANTINE CHARGES (IMPOSITION – CUSTOMS) BILL

QUARANTINE CHARGES (IMPOSITION – EXCISE) BILL

Purpose of the Bills

The purpose of the bills is to enable the imposition and collection of charges associated with operating Australia’s biosecurity and quarantine imports system. Specifically it will enable cost recovery of services that provide general benefits to users of the biosecurity system.

It is important to note that this action will not lead to any change to the quantum of charge imposed on clients. Rather, the legislation will ensure that quarantine and biosecurity cost recovery arrangements are consistent with the Australian Government Cost Recovery Guidelines.

Reason for Urgency

Introduction and passage during the 2014 Autumn sittings is required to ensure that Australia’s biosecurity imports system is supported by an appropriate cost recovery structure. The risk based operating model that underpins biosecurity services has shifted the emphasis from high rates of direct intervention (funded through fees for service) to targeted interventions informed by risk assessments and supporting information (derived from compliance history, intelligence, assessments, surveillance and audit programs). These supporting services benefit users of the system generally and are not adequately cost recovered through a fees-for-service model.

The bills will provide the appropriate legislative basis to recover costs associated with biosecurity services that provide broad benefits to users of the biosecurity system. The legislation will complement the existing fee-for-service cost recovery mechanism and support Australia’s capacity to manage biosecurity risks into the future.

The amount of the charges will be detailed in subordinate legislation. Three fees for service will be converted to charges under this legislation.

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

CIVIL AVIATION AMENDMENT (CASA BOARD) BILL 2014

Purpose of the Bill

The Bill amends the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (the Act) to give effect to the Government's commitment, announced on 30 August 2013 in the Coalition's Policy for Aviation, to expand the membership of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Board by two members and allow for more aviation experience on the Board.

The Bill would also make minor amendments, consequential to the expansion of the Board, to increase the number of Board members required to constitute a quorum at a Board meeting and to increase the number of Board member requests required to call an ad hoc Board meeting.

Reasons for Urgency

The Government expects to receive the report of the Independent Aviation Safety Regulation Review in May 2014.

It is important therefore that the expanded and strengthened CASA Board be in place and stand ready to implement the Government's response to the Review. This response will include the Government issuing a new Statement of Expectations to CASA, establishing a new strategic direction for the Board.

Accordingly, the Government requests that this Bill is debated and achieves passage through both Houses during the current Autumn sitting period.

If the Bill is not introduced into the Senate until the Winter sitting period, the process for strengthening the Board's aviation experience would be unnecessarily delayed.

This delay would result in a situation where the new Board would not be in place before the commencement of the next financial year when the new strategic direction for CASA is intended to take effect.