James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) 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) and (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the following bills, allowing them to be considered during this period of sittings:

Budget Savings (Omnibus) Bill 2016

Competition and Consumer Amendment (Country of Origin) Bill 2016

Corporations Amendment (Auditor Registration) Bill 2016

Customs Tariff Amendment (Tobacco) Bill 2016

Excise Tariff Amendment (Tobacco) Bill 2016

National Cancer Screening Register Bill 2016

National Cancer Screening Register (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2016

Statute Law Revision (Spring 2016) Bill 2016

Statute Update Bill 2016

Treasury Laws Amendment (Income Tax Relief) Bill 2016

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

Leave granted.

The statements read as follows—

STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE IN THE 2016 SPRING SITTINGS

BUDGET SAVINGS (OMNIBUS) BILL

Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of the Budget Savings Bill is to take steps towards demonstrating immediate and tangible progress towards fiscal repair.

The bill contains savings measures announced in the 2016-17 Budget and earlier budget updates.

Reasons for Urgency

Urgent consideration of the bill is necessary to demonstrate that the Government is willing to take immediate, necessary and tangible steps towards fiscal repair.

Further, many of the savings measures have start dates that require prompt consideration and passage in order to realise the fiscal savings incorporated into the forward estimates published in the 2016 Pre-Election Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

(Circulated by authority of the Treasurer)

STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE IN THE 2016 SPRING SITTINGS

COMPETITION AND CONSUMER AMENDMENT (COUNTRY OF ORIGIN) BILL

Purpose of the Bill

The bill will amend the country of origin safe harbour defences in the Australian Consumer Law (Schedule 2 to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010). The amendments form part of a package of country of origin labelling reforms announced by the Government in July 2015, and subsequently agreed by States and Territories earlier this year.

Reasons for Urgency

The bill will amend the country of origin safe harbour defences in the Australian Consumer Law (Schedule 2 to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010). The amendments form part of a package of country of origin labelling reforms agreed and announced by the Government on 21 July 2015 and agreed by all jurisdictions through the Legislative and Governance Forum on Consumer Affairs (CAF) on 31 March 2016.

The key element of the package, the Country of Origin Food Labelling Standard 2016, was made and registered in April 2016, and commenced on 1 July 2016. This bill was originally introduced on 4 May 2016 with a view to commencement at the same time as the Information Standard, but lapsed when the Parliament was dissolved prior to the 2016 Federal Election.

Introducing the amendments contained in this bill as soon as possible will ensure that all elements of Australia's new country of origin labelling system are aligned with minimum delay. This will provide consistency, clarity and certainty for businesses and consumers, and deliver the full benefit of the Government's reforms as soon as practicable.

(Circulated by authority of the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science)

STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE IN THE 2016 SPRING SITTINGS

CORPORATIONS AMENDMENT (AUDITOR REGISTRATION) BILL 2016

Purpose of the Bill

This Bill amends the Corporations Act 2001 to address the legal consequences arising from an approval issued by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission in November 2004. The approval was of an auditing competency standard (CPA/ICAA standard) produced by CPA Australia and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia. Certain requirements of the Legislation Act 2003 were not met, and as a result the validity of the registration of an auditor on the basis of the CPA/ICAA standard, after 1 December 2005, is uncertain.

Reasons for Urgency

Amends the Corporations Act 2001 to provide a permanent legislative solution to an issue of legal uncertainty in respect of the registration of certain company auditors. The issue was previously dealt with through a temporary class order, issued by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

(Circulated by authority of the Treasurer)

STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE IN THE 2016 SPRING SITTINGS

EXCISE TARIFF AMENDMENT (TOBACCO) BILL

CUSTOMS TARIFF AMENDMENT (TOBACCO) BILL

Purpose of the Bills

The purpose of the bills is to improve health outcomes for Australians by reducing their exposure to tobacco products. The bills increase the rates of duty on tobacco so that duty on tobacco is close to the World Health Organisation's recommendation that tax should comprise 70 per cent of the price of a cigarette.

Reasons for Urgency

The bills need to be introduced and passed in the 2016 Spring sittings to ensure that this important Government health initiative announced in the 2016-17 Budget is legislated as soon as possible.

(Circulated by authority of the Treasurer)

STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE IN THE 2016 SPRING SITTINGS

NATIONAL CANCER SCREENING BILL

NATIONAL CANCER SCREENING REGISTER (CONSEQUENTIAL AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS) BILL

Purpose of the Bill

The bills establish a new single National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR) which will replace the current National Bowel Cancer Screening Register and eight separate state and territory based registers and introduce mandatory reporting to the NCSR for some specialist health care providers.

Reasons for Urgency

Passage is required by 15 September 2016 to enable commencement of the NCSR by 20 March 2017 to support the expansion of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program. Delays in passage will significantly put at risk the ability of the NCSR to support the renewed National Cervical Screening Program commencing 1 May 2017. There are associated implications for pathology workforce, state and territory-based registers (due to be shut down on 1 May 2017) and education programs targeted at consumers and GPs, as well as the introduction of new MBS items.

(Circulated by authority of the Minister for Health and Aged Care)

STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE IN THE 2016 SPRING SITTINGS

STATUTE LAW REVISION (SPRING 2016) BILL 2016

Purpose of the Bill

The Bill corrects technical errors in Acts and makes other minor changes to improve clarity and usability. It does not change the substance of the law.

Reasons for Urgency

The Bill will correct technical errors that have occurred in Acts as a result of drafting and clerical mistakes, alter references to specific Ministers and Departments to reduce the need for substituted reference orders, and repeal spent and obsolete provisions and Acts. It will reduce regulatory burden by improving the quality of the Commonwealth statute book and will contribute to the necessary ongoing maintenance of legislation to ensure its accuracy, usability and currency.

(Circulated by authority of the Attorney-General)

STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE IN THE 2016 SPRING SITTINGS

STATUTE UPDATE BILL 2016

Purpose of the Bill

The Bill updates provisions in Acts to take account of changes to drafting precedents and practice. The amendments either make no change or only minor changes to the substance of the law.

Reasons for Urgency

The Bill will make minor and technical changes that are necessary as a result of changes to drafting precedents and practice. It will reduce regulatory burden by improving the quality of the Commonwealth statute book and will contribute to the necessary ongoing maintenance of legislation to ensure its accuracy, usability and currency.

(Circulated by authority of the Attorney-General)

STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE IN THE 2016 SPRING SITTINGS

TREASURY LAWS AMENDMENT (INCOME TAX RELIEF) BILL

Pur pose of the Bill

The purpose of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Income Tax Relief) Bill 2016 is to increase the 32.5 per cent personal income tax threshold from $80,000 to $87,000 from 1 July 2016.

Reasons for Urgency

Introduction and passage of the bill during the 2016 Spring sittings is required to provide certainty for taxpayers and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and provide sufficient time to put in place systems and processes to allow for the efficient administration of the tax system and a smooth roll out of Tax Time 2017. Tax cuts provided in the bill are to apply from 1 July 2016.

(Circulated by authority of the Treasurer)