Alex Hawke (Mitchell, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

That is a mouthful. These are good bills, and it is a privilege to follow the member for Brand, who, I would like to acknowledge, did have worthy intentions in government, along with the former member Martin Ferguson. They were two excellent ministers in the previous government, in a pretty shabby line-up. They were ministers we could all admire, the member for Brand and Martin Ferguson were amongst those warning against the carbon tax, notably inside the cabinet of the government. I think that is a pretty brave thing to do, as is their stance against the MUA in WA. It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge that there are some Labor figures willing to stand up to the MUA in WA and the antics there. Even Martin Ferguson is facing expulsion from the Labor Party—a very sad moment for the Labor Party in general. He was a good minister who knew that this bill is a worthy initiative, and therefore the government is continuing to build on the work of the very few competent elements of the former government, namely the member for Brand and Martin Ferguson. They are old Labor, good Labor, the kind of Labor you used to vote for in the fifties and sixties but it has been replaced.

This bill is part of the government's one-stop shop green agenda to ensure that we eliminate red tape and create a better business environment—of course, offshore petroleum greenhouse gas storage being a most relevant component of modern environmental legislation. These amendments are quite technical in nature. They are making several amendments to ensure the effective commitments of pending amendments to the OPGGS Act relating to regulatory powers and enforcement measures.

This bill also inserts a regulation-making power into the OPGGS Act to enable regulations to be made to provide for remittal and refunds of amounts of annual titles, administration levy in certain circumstances and other minor policy and technical amendments. It is very administrative in nature, but it is important that we continue to ensure that we have a one-stop shop policy. We have had several bills in the House in recent weeks—including today's amendments to the EPBC Act, which have passed this House—to ensure that there is one set of environmental assessments and regulations in Australia, high standards that are enforced by the Commonwealth but assessed by the states, and enhanced with strong measures from this chamber.

The bill also amends the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Regulatory Levies) Act, ensuring annual titles administration levies be imposed for a year of the term of the title, even if the title does not remain in force for the full year. These are good, common sense amendments that ensure that we minimise bureaucracy and red tape for business and allow for the proper operation and the intention of these acts.

These acts are important. As I said, when they were in government, the opposition commenced many of these changes, but never got around to doing it. The last government was full of too much delay and chaos in too many areas. The administration of these acts was another thing where they never quite got around to. However, we are getting on with the job. It is necessary for us to make these amendments, and we are ensuring that these very technical amendments will allow for an immediate operation, with the removal of the carbon tax.

The environmental plan levy amendment is important. It both relates to and supports the streamlining of environmental approvals for offshore petroleum activities. This is part of the government's early agenda, as you have seen, in relation to red tape reduction and green tape reduction. I am currently chairing an inquiry into green tape and one-stop shops, and we are looking forward to more evidence this week. Offshore petroleum is a significant part of environmental assessments and approvals in the modern era. These amendments—the environmental plan levy amendment in particular—are very important to ensure that the streamlining of environmental approvals is carried through to this vital area of economic activity.

Without further ado, I would like to use my last few remaining seconds speaking on this very important legislation to strongly recommend these bills to the House. This is the government's deregulation agenda for green tape and red tape reduction. These bills form part of that worthy initiative— (Time expired)

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