Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

The Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Amendment Bill 2016 is the first step to enable rural research and development corporations, RDCs, to establish a levy payer register if they choose to do so. This bill will strengthen the ability of RDCs to connect directly with those who fund their work. The levy payer registers will allow RDCs to identify and consult directly with the levy payers who fund the research and development system and ensure accuracy in the allocation of voting entitlements. As it currently stands, the department cannot distribute levy payer data to RDCs except in the wool and dairy industries. The bill will remedy this by allowing the government to provide levy payer information for the purposes of a levy payer register to 13 other RDCs should the RDCs choose to do so.

There are a number of steps in the process for each levy payer register to be established. We need to bring along a diverse range of industry and levy payers. That will necessarily take some time. Developing a fit-for-purpose, cost-effective system to deliver levy payer information to RDCs is a complex process. Each industry will need to take the time to consider what benefit a levy payer register will offer in view of the cost of establishing and maintaining such a register. Recognising that each agricultural industry is different, the distribution of levy payer information to an RDC for a levy payer register will only occur where an RDC, in consultation with industry, requests its distribution and that request is approved by the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources. Levy payer registers could include information such as the name, address, contact details and ABN of any person who has paid, or is liable to pay, a levy or charge. The information may also include details of the amount of the levy or charge that a person has paid or is liable to pay. To be clear, financial information will only be available to the RDC, and any requests for access to this information from a third party will be considered by the secretary of the department.

My department has already started consulting with RDCs, industry representative bodies, and levy collection agents on how to best collect levy payer data and on the systems that all parties will use to collect and distribute that data. Workshops are also under way to determine user requirements for the IT system underpinning levy payer registers. These consultations will inform the regulations that sit under this bill to mandate the collection of data to populate a levy payer register. The government will continue to work with industry and RDCs to ensure that Australia's R&D system remains transparent and consultative and delivers tangible benefits to Australia's rural industries into the future. I commend the bill to the House.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

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