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) to (8) of standing order (111) not apply to the following bills, allowing them to be considered during this period of sittings:

Agriculture and Water Resources Legislation Amendment Bill 2016

Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Amendment Bill 2017

Customs and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016

Customs Tariff Amendment Bill 2016

Excise Levies Legislation Amendment (Honey) Bill 2016

Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority Bill 2017

Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2017

Parliamentary Entitlements Legislation Amendment Bill 2017

Superannuation Amendment (PSSAP Membership) Bill 2016

Transport Security Amendment (Serious or Organised Crime) Bill 2016

Transport Security Legislation Amendment Bill 2016

Treasury Laws Amendment (2016 Measures No. I) Bill 2016

Treasury Laws Amendment (Bourke Street Fund) Bill 2017

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 statement s read as follows

AGRICULTURE AND WATER RESOURCES LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2016

EXCISE LEVIES LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (HONEY) BILL 2016

Purpose of the Bills

The Agriculture and Water Resources Amendment Bill 2016 will make amendments to a range of portfolio legislation and repeal redundant legislation.

A companion bill called the Excise Levies Legislation Amendment (Honey) Bill 2016 will make minor amendments to the Primary Industries (Excise) Levy Act 1999 and to the National Residue Survey (Excise) Levy Act 1998 to remove unnecessary regulation relating to the giving of certificates that are no longer used by the honey industry.

The Agriculture and Water Resources Amendment Bill 2016 will amend 13 portfolio Acts to cease four redundant statutory bodies, remove unnecessary regulation and improve the operation of existing legislation.

The Agriculture and Water Resources Amendment Bill 2016 will also repeal 12 Acts that are redundant or no longer required relating to legislation covering agricultural and veterinary chemicals, the national residue survey, export charges and quarantine fees, rural adjustment and the meat and live-stock and wool industries.

Reasons for Urgency

Passage of the Bills in the 2017 Autumn sittings will enable a number of portfolio industries to directly benefit from the removal of unnecessary regulatory burden, streamlined government administrative practices and reduced legislative complexity.

BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY (IMPROVING PRODUCTIVITY) AMENDMENT BILL 2017

Purpose of the Bill

The bill would amend a provision of the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Act 2016 that transitionally exempts building industry participants from the requirement to comply with the enterprise agreement content rules in the Code for the Tendering and Performance of Building Work 2016 (the Code) as a condition of eligibility to submit expressions of interest, tender for or be awarded Commonwealth funded building work. The exemption currently runs until 28 November 2018 and the bill would bring this forward to 31 August 2017. The bill would also provide that building industry participants could submit expressions of interest and tender for Commonwealth funded building work within this shortened exemption period, but it would no longer extend to being awarded that work if the relevant enterprise agreement is not compliant with the Code.

Reasons for Urgency

The timely introduction and passage of this bill would bring forward the full implementation of key provisions of the Code that seek to improve productivity and reduce costs in the building and construction industry.

CUSTOMS AND OTHER LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2016

Purpose of the Bill

The Customs and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 (the Bill) amends the Customs Act 1901 (the Customs Act) the Commerce (Trade Descriptions) Act 1905 (the Commerce (Trade Descriptions) Act) and the Maritime Powers Act 2013 (the Maritime Powers Act).

The Bill amends the Customs Act to:

Allow the Governor-General to make regulations for the purposes of section 112 to permit the revocation of a licence or permission to export goods if the Defence Minister is satisfied that the exportation of the goods would prejudice the security, defence or international relations of Australia;

Remove the requirement in Part XA of the Customs Act that the Comptroller-General of Customs enter into an interim trusted trader agreement with an entity;

Allow for the exemption from paying import declaration processing charge;

Extend the circumstances in which an application can be made to move, alter or interfere with goods for export that are subject to customs control;

Clarify and simplify the provisions concerning the making of tariff concession orders for made-to-order capital equipment;

Remove unnecessary and outdated provisions.

The Bill amends the Commerce (Trade Descriptions) Act and the Maritime Powers Act. The Bill also repeals the Customs (Tariff Concession System Validations) Act 1999 and the Import Processing Charges (Amendment and Repeal) Act 2002 as these Acts are now obsolete.

Reasons for Urgency

The amendments made by Schedule 1 of the Bill support the security, defence and international relations of Australia. The amendments made by Schedule 2 of the Bill confer on industry the deregulation benefits that will flow from not having to enter into an interim trusted trader agreement with the Comptroller-General of Customs.

The amendments made by Schedule 3 of the Bill give effect to Australia's international obligations regarding the exemption of payments of import declaration processing charge.

CUSTOMS TARIFF AMENDMENT BILL 2016

Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of the Customs Tariff Amendment Bill 2016 (the Bill) is to make a number of minor amendments to the Customs Tariff Act 1995 (the Tariff Act) to:

a) Repeal Schedule 1 of the Tariff Act;

b) Repealing section 16A of the Tariff Act;

c) insert three new Additional Notes into Chapters 7, 8 and 19 of Schedule 3 to the Tariff Act; and

d) Close the Enhanced Project By-law Scheme.

Reasons for Urgency

The Bill gives effect to a 2016-17 Department of Industry, Innovation and Science Budget measure to close the Enhanced Project By-law Scheme and provide certainty to importers.

These amendments are also urgent as they are required to align the Australian classification of provisional preserved fruits and vegetables and certain pastas with our major trading partners, following recent interpretation by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

Australian classifications of such goods are currently misaligned with that of our major trading partners and international commitments, and present administrative problems for importers of such goods.

INDEPENDENT PARLIAMENTARY EXPENSES AUTHORITY BILL

Purpose of the Bill

To establish an independent parliamentary expenses authority to monitor and adjudicate all expenses claims by parliamentarians, ensuring that taxpayers' funds are spent appropriately and in compliance with the rules.

Reasons for Urgency

On 13 January 2017 the Prime Minister announced the establishment of an independent parliamentary expenses authority to improve transparency and accountability of the parliamentary work expenses system. The bill needs to be passed as soon as possible to expedite the implementation of this reform.

INDEPENDENT PARLIAMENTARY EXPENSES AUTHORITY (CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS) BILL 2017

Document not available at the time of printing.

PARLIAMENTARY ENTITLEMENTS LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL

Purpose of the Bill

To amend the Parliamentary Entitlements Act 1990 to implement the reforms announced by the Government on 9 November 2013 to:

impose a 25 per cent loading on travel claims submitted after 1 January 2014 that require subsequent adjustment; and

limit the travel provided to the dependent children of Senior Officers to those who are less than 18 years of age.

To give effect to changes to the Members of Parliament (Life Gold Pass) Act 2002 to:

cease Life Gold Pass travel of spouses and de facto partners of Life Gold Pass holders, other than the spouse or de facto partner of a former Prime Minister who has left the Parliament;

cease Life Gold Pass travel of former parliamentarians, other than Ministers, Presiding Officers and Leaders of the Opposition (Senior Office Holders) who left the Parliament on or before 13 May 2011;

cease Life Gold Pass travel of former Senior Office Holders who qualified for a Life Gold Pass when they left the Parliament on or before 13 May 2008;

phase out Life Gold Pass travel of former parliamentarians, other than Senior Office Holders, to five return domestic trips per year from their retirement date to whichever is the earliest of:

- three years from the date of their retirement;

- the expiry date of the next full parliament after their retirement; or

- the day after the Bill receives the Royal Assent

phase out Life Gold Pass travel of former Senior Office Holders to 10 return domestic trips per year, from their retirement date to whichever is the earliest of:

- six years from the date of their retirement;

- the expiry date of the second full parliament after their retirement; or

- the day after the Bill receives the Royal Assent

reduce Life Gold Pass travel of former Prime Ministers to 30 return domestic trips per year;

reduce Life Gold Pass travel of the spouse or de facto partner of a former Prime Minister

to 20 return domestic trips per year; and

require that all Life Gold Pass travel be subject to a public benefit test in that it may not be used for private or commercial purposes.

The effect of these changes will be that Life Gold Pass travel will cease upon commencement of the Bill for all current pass holders with the exception of former Prime Ministers and their spouses.

Reasons for Urgency

On 9 November 2013, the Government announced that changes to the Parliamentary Entitlements Act 1990 would take effect from 1 January 2014. The changes to the Members of Parliament (Life Gold Pass) Act 2002 took retrospective effect from 14 May 2014.

SUPERANNUATION AMENDMENT (PSSAP MEMBERSHIP) BILL 2016

Purpose of the Bill

To extend Public Sector Superannuation Accumulation Plan (PSSAP) membership eligibility to allow a PSSAP member to choose to remain a contributory member where they move to non-Commonwealth employment and have been an ordinary employer-sponsored member of the scheme for a period of twelve months or more.

Reasons for Urgency

To allow eligible members to continue their PSSAP membership from the earliest time, reducing the need for members to consolidate accounts and incur fees associated with this process.

TRANSPORT SECURITY AMENDMENT (SERIOUS OR ORGANISED CRIME) BILL

Purpose of the Bill

This bill will amend the Aviation Transport Security Act 2004 (ATSA) and the Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003 (MTOFSA) to:

1. create an additional purpose in the ATSA and MTOFSA to prevent the use of aviation and maritime transport or offshore facilities in connection with serious or organised crime;

2. clarify and align the legislative basis for undertaking background security checking of individuals under the ATSA and MTOFSA;

3. support the strengthening of the eligibility criteria for the aviation security identification card and maritime security identification card schemes to target serious criminal offences; and

4. support machinery of government changes to transfer administrative responsibility for the discretionary card scheme to the Attorney-General's Department.

Reasons for Urgency

This bill lapsed when the previous Parliament was dissolved. Its urgent re-introduction and passage will ensure the earliest possible implementation (and consequential impact) of legislation to combat serious or organised crime at Australia's airports and ports.

The passage of this bill will help give effect to the Government's election commitment to strengthen background checking regimes to ensure that individuals with links to serious and organised crime cannot gain access to secure areas of our airports and ports (the Coalition's policy to keep illegal guns off our streets and our communities safe).

The amendments supported by this bill will also implement a key action in the Government's response to the final report of the National Ice Taskforce, strengthening the Government's ability to disrupt the supply of the drug ice. Prior to the dissolution of Parliament, these changes were expected to commence on 1 July 2016.

TRANSPORT SECURITY LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2016

Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of the Bill is to allow people, vehicles and goods to undergo aviation security screening within an area or zone at a security controlled airport. The Bill will also allow the Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development (the Department) to delegate his powers in the Aviation Transport Security Act 2005 and the Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Act 2003 (Aviation and Maritime Acts) to lower level Australian Public Service employees.

Reasons for Urgency

These airside security components of the Bill, once passed, will assist in reducing the risk of an insider attack against passenger aircraft. Such an attack could result in loss of life, severe economic consequences, public loss of confidence in both the Government and the aviation sector, and damage Australia's reputation as a safe and secure destination for international air travel.

The Bill is crucial to Australia demonstrating that it is meeting its obligations under Annex 17 (Security) to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (the Chicago Convention).

Passage of the amendments to the delegations in both the Aviation and Maritime Acts are required by the end of April 2017 to enable a new, more effective and efficient way of regulating transport security to be put in place by 1 July 2017.

TREASURY LAWS AMENDMENT (2016 MEASURES NO. 1) BILL 2016

Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of the Treasury Laws Amendment (2016 Measures No. 1) Bill 2016 is to:

amends the Terrorism Insurance Act 2003;

improve employee share schemes;

add six organisation as deductible gift recipients;

provide income tax relief to eligible New Zealand special category visa holders; and

provide greater protection for retail client money and property held by financial services licensees in relation to derivative products.

Reasons for Urgency

Introduction and passage of the Bill during the 2017 Autumn sittings is required to give taxpayers and the Australian Taxation Office 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.

TREASURY LAWS AMENDMENT (BOURKE STREET FUND) BILL

Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of the fund is to provide financial support to the immediate families of the deceased and injured individuals and their immediate families affected by the 2017 Bourke Street tragedy (Bourke Street, Melbourne, on 20 January 2017).

Reasons for Urgency

The Minister for Revenue and Financial Services, with the support of the Prime Minister, has told the Victorian Government that the Bill will be introduced as an urgent priority in the 2017 Autumn sittings.