House debates

Thursday, 18 March 2010

Textile, Clothing and Footwear Strategic Investment Program Amendment (Building Innovative Capability) Bill 2009

Consideration of Senate Message

Bill returned from the Senate with amendments.

Ordered that the amendments be considered immediately.

Senate’s amendments—

(1)    Schedule 1, item 32, page 9 (after line 33), after section 37ZM, insert:

        37ZMA Consultation

                 Before formulating the Clothing and Household Textile (BIC) scheme, the Minister must consult with industry about the products that are to be taken, under the scheme, to be eligible clothing and household textile products.

(2)    Schedule 1, item 32, page 10 (after line 20), after section 37ZQ, insert:

        37ZQA Commitment to Australian operations

                 It is a policy objective for the Clothing and Household Textile (BIC) scheme that entities that wish to obtain innovation grants under the scheme must be required to demonstrate a commitment to Australian-based manufacturing or Australian-based design for manufacture in Australia activities.

        37ZQB Household textile products—manufacture using in-house fabrics

                 It is a policy objective for the Clothing and Household Textile (BIC) scheme that, for an activity of an entity that consists of the manufacture of household textile products to be taken to be an eligible clothing and household textile activity, such activity must result directly and predominantly in the manufacture of such products using fabric manufactured by the entity (in addition to complying with any other applicable requirements of scheme).

4:23 pm

Photo of Anthony AlbaneseAnthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | | Hansard source

I move:

That the amendments be agreed to.

I thank all the members and senators who contributed to the debate on the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Strategic Investment Program Amendment (Building Innovative Capability) Bill 2009. This is important legislation. It sets the framework for the Clothing and Household Textile (Building Innovative Capability) Scheme, which is a key component of the Australian government’s textile, clothing and footwear innovation package.

The amendments moved by the opposition and accepted by the government in the Senate will reinforce the policy objectives that underpin the BIC scheme and will ensure that the scheme will operate in a manner that will support and encourage innovation in the Australian TCF industries. I thank the opposition for their support of this bill, and I commend the amended bill to the House of Representatives.

Photo of Ms Anna BurkeMs Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The question is that the amendments be agreed to.

Question agreed to.