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 Australian Grape and Wine Authority Amendment (Wine Australia) Bill 2017, allowing it to be considered during this period of sittings.

I table a statement of reasons justifying the need for this bill to be considered during these sittings and seek leave to have this statement incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The statement read as follows—

Purpose of the Bill

The bill will amend the Australian Grape and Wine Authority Act 2013 to broaden the Australian Grape and Wine Authority's (AGWA) functions and powers to implement the Export and Regional Wine Support Package and the Wine Tourism and Cellar Door grant. It will also change the name of the authority to Wine Australia.

The Export and Regional Wine Support Package comprises $50 million budget funding over four years for AGWA to fund a range of initiatives to promote Australian wine and Australian wine tourism, both domestically and overseas.

AGWA is currently able to implement components of the package relating to domestic and international wine promotion. However, amendments are required to allow AGWA to:

Reasons for Urgency

In the 2016-17 budget, the government allocated $50 million over four years to AGWA to deliver the Export and Regional Wine Support Package. AGWA has developed a business plan to support implementation of the package.

AGWA has been allocated $48.3 million over 2017-18 to 2019-20, with $16 million to be spent in 2017-18. The amendments need to be in place prior to 1 January 2018 to allow AGWA to utilise the funds allocated in the 2017-18 financial year and beyond.

AGWA was allocated $1.7 million in 2016-17, to develop the business plan on how to spend the $50 million and to start implementing the plan.