Cory Bernardi (SA, Australian Conservatives) Share this | Hansard source

I will be moving the amendment on sheet 8542, which seeks to uphold one of the Australian Conservatives' key policy platforms: to review all agreements and treaties after a period of 10 years so that we can ensure that they're acting in Australia's national interest, that the intention when they were implemented is being fulfilled and that the benefits are being felt for all Australians. There are two parts to this amendment, effectively. It is asking the minister to initiate a review at the six-year mark, which is when most of the agreements in place and the steps in the TPP will have been implemented and introduced, and then that report should be made available to the parliament; and then, at the end of 10 years, they can decide whether to extend it or not. I don't intend to delay the Senate much further, because I know there are a number of amendments to deal with. I move the amendment standing in my name:

(1) Page 2 (after line 12), after clause 3, insert:

4 Review of this Act

(1) The Minister must cause a review to be conducted of the operation of this Act.

(2) The review must be conducted as soon as practicable after the end of 6 years after Schedule 1 to this Act commences.

(3) The persons who conduct the review must give the Minister a written report of the review.

(4) The Minister must cause copies of the report to be tabled in each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the report is given to the Minister.

5 Sunset provision

This Act and the Customs Tariff Amendment (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership Implementation) Act 2018 cease to have effect at the end of 10 years after Schedule 1 to this Act commences.