Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

Typically, as with so much legislation rushed through this parliament, there has been insufficient time for stakeholders to comment about the bills being debated.

Those who could have, would have and—most importantly—should have had a say in Shipping Reform (Tax Incentives) Bill 2012, Shipping Registration Amendment (Australian International Shipping Register) Bill 2012, Coastal Trading (Revitalising Australian Shipping) Bill 2012, Coastal Trading (Revitalising Australian Shipping) (Consequential Amendments And Transitional Provisions) Bill 2012 and Tax Laws Amendment (Shipping Reform) Bill 2012 were given little time to respond despite the complexity and wide range of changes in the package.

The number of Australian-flagged vessels has declined by 34 to just 21 during the past decade. Only four now operate on international routes. This, as the member for La Trobe correctly pointed out, is an astonishing figure. She pointed out that it is an astonishing figure, and she is quite correct given the resources boom Australia is presently enjoying. I am so pleased the said member is using her spare time to read the Nationals policy platform. I urge her to read on. There are many other outstanding issues and policy ideas in the document to which she referred that would and will make a great boost to this nation yearning for good government. A number of reforms were recommended when the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development and Local Government tabled a report into Australia's coastal shipping industry in 2008. That committee was headed by the member for Ballarat with the member for Hinkler as her deputy, and its report was entitled Rebuilding Australia's Coastal Shipping Industry.The following year the minister formed a shipping policy advisory group, and a discussion paper was published in December 2010 as a result of advice given. The minister then, in February 2011, set up three industry reference groups to investigate different aspects of legislative reform: taxation, skills and training, and regulatory change.

Last September the minister declared he would introduce a shipping reform package and broadly summarised its contents. When he did so, scant detailed information was provided to the industry on exactly what form the reforms would take. This is not an uncommon practice for this government. Only this morning the health industry in general and doctors in particular expressed concern about their readiness for the electronic health record system which this government rushed through this parliament and which will take effect in just five weeks.

Also today, the independent Murray-Darling Basin Authority, commissioned by the government, released to the states its basin plan, which retains the 2,750 gigalitres of surface water to be taken from agriculture and given to the environment.

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