House debates

Wednesday, 28 February 2024

Bills

Agriculture (Biosecurity Protection) Charges Bill 2024; Second Reading

9:10 am

Photo of Ms Catherine KingMs Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government) Share this | | Hansard source

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

The Agriculture (Biosecurity Protection) Charges Bill 2024 (charges bill) is part of a package of bills to provide for the imposition, collection and administration of a new biosecurity protection levy to support Commonwealth sustainable biosecurity funding.

This bill provides for the imposition of biosecurity protection charges that are duties of customs in relation to agriculture, fisheries and forestry products exported from Australia.

The charges bill is being introduced with another imposition bill, the Agriculture (Biosecurity Protection) Levies Bill 2024, and the Agriculture (Biosecurity Protection) Levies and Charges Collection Bill 2024.

Together, the package of bills will establish a new legislative framework for implementation and management of the biosecurity protection levy to support the government's commitment to sustainable biosecurity funding and the benefits it brings to all Australians.

I commend the bill to the House.

Debate adjourned.