Dave Sharma (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of the coalition, I rise to indicate that we will be supporting the passage of the Export Control Amendment (Clarifying Obligations Relating to Registered Establishments) Bill 2026. We are supporting this legislation because it delivers sensible and practical amendments to the framework governing Australia's export operations. The Export Control Act 2020 provides the overarching legislative framework for the regulation of exported goods, including food and agricultural products, from Australia. It's important that this framework is regularly reviewed to ensure it remains streamlined, fit for purpose and responsive to the changing needs of industry and our international trading partners.

This bill seeks to reduce unnecessary regulatory burden on industry and facilitate reforms relating to certain nonprescribed goods, which are intended to become known as general products once prescribed under the act. In particular, the bill would amend the Export Control Act 2020 to allow export operations, including production and preparation activities, to be undertaken at registered establishments without every activity needing to be specifically included in the registration unless it is required as a prescribed export condition. This is a practical requirement that will remove excessive and unnecessary administrative burden for some export operations, and the coalition will always support measures aimed at cutting red tape, boosting productivity and improving efficiency across Australia's export system, particularly for the agricultural industries that depend on it.

This bill also includes amendments to expand the scope of export documentation that can be issued by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in relation to trade requirements. Specifically, the legislation would allow the department to issue additional export documentation covering a range of goods for up to 18 months, rather than being limited to a specific kind of goods. This is another sensible measure that recognises the evolving requirements of overseas markets and trading partners. We know that the department is currently undertaking export assurance reform work examining the regulatory oversight of certain nonprescribed goods, including wool and wool grease, skins and hides, animal food, honey and bee products, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, and technical and blood products. The amendments before the Senate today will be particularly beneficial for these general product categories because registered establishments are not proposed to be used as the primary regulatory mechanism for those commodities. The explanatory memorandum also notes that these amendments are supported by industry stakeholders, and that is an important consideration.

Australia's export system must remain efficient, robust and evidence based, because exports are fundamental to the profitability, sustainability and resilience of Australian culture and our hardworking primary producers. Australia exports around 70 per cent of total agricultural production. In 2025-26, agricultural exports are forecast to reach $80.5 billion. That is an extraordinary achievement on behalf of the agricultural sector and one that should never be taken for granted.

While this bill contains sensible reforms, it is impossible to discuss export regulation without acknowledging the serious concerns around the government's export cost recovery model. Over the past five years, between 2020 and 2025, the department's export regulatory costs charged to industries, including meat, seafood, grain, dairy, fruit and vegetables, have increased by 47 per cent. There has been a 47 per cent increase in just five years. These are the costs associated with documentation, inspections, audits and assessments—costs which, ultimately, are directly passed on to Australian exporters and producers.

At a time when farmers and exporters are already dealing with tariffs, escalating fuel prices and fertiliser costs, labour shortages and broader input pressures, including the oil shock from the Middle East, these increases are deeply concerning. The coalition does acknowledge that the government has delayed the implementation of its expanded cost-recovery increases by 12 months following strong industry opposition. That delay is welcome. It reflects the strength of concern coming from agricultural industries at a time of significant pressure right across the country. But delaying these increases for one year is not enough. The coalition believe these additional export cost-recovery charges should be abandoned entirely.

Australian exporters should not be forced to absorb the consequences of bureaucratic cost blowouts within the department. Industry deserves to know how the government allowed departmental export service costs to increase so dramatically—by 47 per cent in just five years—and why agricultural exporters are now being expected to foot the bill. We will continue to scrutinise this matter closely and stand up for the interests of Australian agricultural exporters and producers.

In conclusion, the coalition strongly supports Australia's agricultural exporters and their continued improvement of our export regulatory framework. The measures contained in the Export Control Amendment (Clarifying Obligations Relating to Registered Establishments) Bill 2026 are sensible, practical and proportionate reforms, and for those reasons the coalition will support the bill before the Senate.

Nita Green (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given that we're in the non-contro part of the program, I commend the bill to the Senate.

Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the bill be read a second time.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.