Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Minister for Energy) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the shadow minister for his cooperation with getting the bill to this point and for his speech. The Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Legislation Amendment Bill 2018 will ensure that the registration scheme, set up under the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act 2018, will be fully operational in time for the upcoming federal election. It was always intended that historical information about persons registered under the FITS Act should continue to be published after the registration ceases. The bill will ensure that this will occur. It was also always intended that the FITS Act scheme would be fully operational in time for the next election. This bill will make sure of that. The provisions in this bill will better give effect to the FITS Act's underlying purpose, which is to ensure transparency with respect to foreign influence in Australia's government and political processes. The bill will ensure that the public can access information about both past and present instances of foreign influence, registered under the FITS Act, improving transparency for all elections to come. I commend the bill to the House.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

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