Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The speech read as follows—

It is important to ensure that the administrative processes and regulation under legislation remain fit for purpose and that obsolete legislation is removed from the Commonwealth statute book.

The Agriculture Legislation Amendment (Modernising Administrative Processes) Bill 2024 will achieve this by removing unnecessary regulation, modernising administrative processes required under agriculture legislation, and repealing a redundant Act.

Research and development corporations play a vital role in the advancement of the agriculture sector. This Bill will streamline processes under the Primary Industries Research and Development Act 1989 by removing unnecessary requirements that are barriers to efficient administrative processes. The modernisation of administrative processes includes enabling the requirement to invite nominations for appointments to research and development corporation director positions to be met through advertisements on appropriate websites or publications, instead of requiring newspaper advertisements. The Bill will also provide for a more efficient process for winding up Selection Committees after nomination processes for research and development corporations directors are complete, and allow for lists of suitable persons to be utilised for nominations for a further 6-month period.

This Bill will also contribute to the clean-up of the Commonwealth's statute book, by repealing the obsolete Rural Adjustment Act 1992. The provisions within this Act are now obsolete or have been superseded by other legislation and arrangements. This Bill will also make amendments to the Natural Heritage Trust ofAustralia Act 2013 that are consequential to the repeal of the Rural Adjustment Act 1992.

This Bill will ensure that the administrative processes under agriculture legislation remain fit for purpose for modem times and contribute to keeping the statute book up to date.

Ordered that further consideration of the second reading of this bill be adjourned to the first sitting day of the next period of sittings, in accordance with standing order 111.