Bruce Billson (Dunkley, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Small Business, Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on the Tax Laws Amendment (2012 Measures No.5) Bill 2012. The coalition has a number of amendments to this legislation, which I understand the government is quite sympathetic to. My parliamentary colleague the member for Groom will be detailing those in much greater sophistication than I am able to at this time.

The bill does a number of things. It deals with the conservation tillage refund tax offset and some amendments to the definition about what is an eligible no-till seeder. It also phases out the mature-age worker tax offset, something I am particularly alert to, having been involved with the development of what was known as the mature age employment advantage in my electorate, where men and women over the age of 45 were finding it particularly challenging entering the workforce.

Through a local initiative that we organised through the Peninsula Job Team, we were able to bring together a range of providers to help mature-age people to re-enter the workforce with encouragement, which ultimately led to Prime Minister Howard announcing the mature-age worker tax offset in my electorate.

There are also some provisions dealing with gaseous fuels, and I am pleased that the coalition continues to be highly alert and receptive to the concerns of the LP gas industry, and the gaseous fuel industry more generally, about the impact of tax and compliance regimes on this important part of the economy. I am delighted that the member for Groom has arrived, and I might conclude my remarks at that point and thank the House for accepting that gripping contribution to the bill.

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