Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to thank all those members who have contributed to the debate on the Tax Laws Amendment (2011 Measures No. 6) Bill 2011, including the member for Robertson.

Schedule 1 to this bill ensures that the outer regional and remote payments to support families with children with disabilities will be exempt from income tax. This is an important amendment to ensure families with children with disabilities will not have to pay tax on the outer regional and remote payments they receive.

Schedule 2 extends the fringe benefits tax exemption for Australian residents working in remote locations on a fly-in fly-out basis to Australian residents working on a fly-in fly-out basis in similar remote locations overseas. Extending the exemption will ensure that Australian residents working for Australian employers in remote areas in fly-in fly-out arrangements will be taxed consistently, regardless of whether they are working in Australia or overseas. This measure will apply to fringe benefits provided after 1 July 2009, when Australian residents working in remote areas overseas became potentially assessable on their foreign employment income.

Schedule 3 amends the deductible gift recipient, DGR, provisions of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997. Taxpayers can claim an income tax deduction for gifts to organisations that are DGRs. This schedule adds two new organisations to the act, namely: the New Zealand government's Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust and the Cancer Australia Gift Fund. Making these organisations deductible gift recipients will assist them in attracting public support for their activities. It also recognises the name change of WorldSkills Australia Inc. to WorldSkills Australia.

This bill deserves the support of the parliament. I commend the bill to the House.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

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