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Pages tagged "Vote: against"

AGAINST – Bills — Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Accountability and Fairness) Bill 2023; Second Reading

Sue Lines

I will first deal with the second reading amendment circulated by the opposition. The question is that the amendment on sheet 2623 be agreed to.

Opposition's circulated amendment

At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate:

(a) notes that:

(i) the Treasurer has failed to engage in negotiations with the Opposition on sensible proposals to support investment in the gas industry, which is the revenue base for this tax,

(ii) the Government still cannot answer simple questions about this tax, including whether it is new or a bring forward of revenue, its impact on investment in the industry, and its impact on energy prices, despite having had more than six months to do so, and

(iii) that the cynical and absurd stapling of changes to the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax to measures with cross-party support responding to the PwC and Tax Practitioners Board issue demonstrates the lack of seriousness from the Government towards this legislation; and

(b) calls on the Government to support the Opposition's proposals to acknowledge its own Future Gas Strategy and support the future of the gas industry".

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AGAINST – Bills — New Vehicle Efficiency Standard Bill 2024, New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2024; First Reading

Sue Lines

The question now is that the remaining amendments on sheet 2523 and the amendments on sheet 2524 and sheet 2525 revised be agreed to.

Opposition's circulated amendments—

NEW VEHICLE EFFICIENCY STANDARD BILL 2024

SHEET 2523

(1) Clause 4, page 3 (line 11), omit "Failure to achieve this may result in a civil penalty.".

(2) Clause 11, page 10 (lines 16 and 17), omit "Failure to achieve this may result in a civil penalty.".

(3) Clause 17, page 15 (lines 8 and 9), omit the penalty.

(4) Clause 17, page 15 (line 10), omit the note.

(5) Clause 46, page 36 (lines 8 and 9), omit "(other than section 17)".

(6) Clause 57, page 42 (lines 22 and 23), omit "(other than section 17)".

(7) Clause 70, page 55 (lines 13 to 15), omit the paragraph beginning "This Part also".

(8) Clause 75, page 61 (line 7), omit "(other than section 17)".

(9) Clause 76, page 64 (lines 12 and 13), omit paragraph 76(7)(a).

(10) Clause 78, page 66 (line 7), omit "(other than section 17)".

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SHEET 2524

(1) Clause 11, page 10 (line 15), omit "third", substitute "fourth".

(2) Clause 17, page 15 (line 11), omit "third", substitute "fourth".

(3) Clause 17, page 15 (line 13), omit "2028", substitute "2029".

(4) Clause 37, page 27 (line 19), omit "3 years", substitute "5 years".

(5) Clause 42, page 33 (line 14), omit "second 31 December", substitute "third 31 December".

(6) Clause 42, page 33 (line 21), omit "2027", substitute "2028".

(7) Heading to clause 44, page 34 (line 8), omit "3", substitute "5".

(8) Clause 44, page 34 (line 14), omit "third", substitute "fifth".

(9) Clause 44, page 34 (line 21), omit "2029", substitute "2031".

(10) Clause 44, page 34 (line 29), omit "3 years", substitute "5 years".

(11) Clause 45, page 35 (after line 6), after subclause (2), insert:

(2A) The transferor must give the Secretary:

(a) a declaration that the transferor and transferee are the same business; and

(b) such evidence (if any) as is specified in the rules that the transferor and transferee are the same business.

(2B) A declaration must be in writing and meet the requirements (if any) prescribed by the rules.

(12) Clause 45, page 35 (after line 12), after subclause (3), insert:

(3A) However, the Secretary must not take the actions described in subsection (3) to transfer units from the transferor to the transferee unless the Secretary is satisfied that the transferor and the transferee are the same business.

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SHEET 2525

(1) Clause 22, page 17 (lines 2 to 12), omit subclause (1), substitute:

Years in introductory period

(1) The headline limit for a vehicle for a year in the introductory period is:

(a) if the vehicle is a type 1 vehicle—the number determined in an instrument in force under section 31 for type 1 vehicles for the year; or

(b) if the vehicle is a type 2 vehicle—the number determined in an instrument in force under section 31 for type 2 vehicles for the year.

(2) Clause 31, page 24 (lines 3 to 17), omit subclause (2), substitute:

Minister must consider effect of number for headline limit

(2) The Minister may determine a number for the headline limit for type 1 or type 2 vehicles for a particular year only if the Minister has considered the effect of the number on consumer prices, emissions reduction, choice and fairness.

Statement and tabling

(2A) If the Minister determines a number for the headline limit for type 1 or type 2 vehicles for a particular year under subsection (1), the Minister must cause to be laid before each House of the Parliament:

(a) a copy of the determination; and

(b) a statement explaining how the number supports the achievement of net zero by 2050.

(2B) The Minister must comply with subsection (2A) within 2 sitting days of each House of the Parliament after the day on which the determination is made under subsection (1).

(3) Clause 31, page 24 (after line 22), at the end of the clause, add:

(4) Subsection (3) does not apply to the determination of a number for the headline limit for type 1 or type 2 vehicles for a year in the introductory period.

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AGAINST – Bills — Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Legislation Amendment (Safety and Other Measures) Bill 2024; Second Reading

Sue Lines

The question now is that amendment (1) on sheet 2490 be agreed to.

Opposition 's circulated amendment—

(1) Schedule 2, item 6, page 61 (line 9), omit "Subject to paragraph (1C)(b) and subsection (6), if", substitute "If".

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AGAINST – Bills — Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Legislation Amendment (Safety and Other Measures) Bill 2024; Second Reading

Katy Gallagher

I table a supplementary memorandum relating to the government amendments to the bill.

Sue Lines

I will now deal with the Committee of the Whole amendments, and I will start with government amendment (2) on sheet SK114. The question is that part 2 of schedule 2 stand as printed.

The government opposed part 2 of schedule 2 in the following terms

(2) Schedule 2, Part 2, page 61 (line 1) to page 64 (line 21), to be opposed.

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AGAINST – Bills — Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Legislation Amendment (Safety and Other Measures) Bill 2024; Second Reading

Sue Lines

I will first deal with the second reading amendments circulated by the opposition. The question is that the amendments on sheets 2496 and 2624 be agreed to.

Opposition's circulated amendments—

SHEET 2496

At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate:

(a) notes that:

(i) gas has been and will remain a crucial energy and manufacturing fuel for Australia, and our international partners, and we must continue supporting the development of new gas supplies to bring down energy prices which have skyrocketed under this Government,

(ii) the Government's disastrous record of gas policies over the last two years has left Australia's gas market in a state of disarray,

(iii) the last offshore petroleum acreage release was in August 2022, and the release was originally initiated under the previous Coalition Government,

(iv) since the Tipakalippa decision of the Federal Court in September 2022, the offshore petroleum industry has faced significant regulatory uncertainty, with some approval times extending to over 560 days without a decision,

(v) the Coalition has been calling for urgent regulatory reform since November 2022, and this has yet to occur,

(vi) the Coalition offered bipartisan support for the passage of this Bill, to enable the Government to progress the reforms needed to provide certainty to the offshore oil and gas industry,

(vii) a misinformation campaign from the Greens, Teals, Independents and environmental activist organisations has plagued the progress of this Bill,

(viii) pressure from activists within the Labor Environment Action Network forced the Government to amend their own legislation, weakening the Resources Minister's authority,

(ix) the amendment puts unnecessary additional burdens on the offshore oil and gas sector and gives the Environment Minister additional powers to undermine the Resources Minister; and

(b) calls on the Government to:

(i) support the Opposition's amendment removing unnecessary red and green tape,

(ii) urgently release new offshore petroleum acreage to allow for continued development of new gas supply, and

(iii) curtail the powers of environmental activists by cutting taxpayer funding to the Environmental Defender's Office".

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SHEET 2624

At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate notes that:

(a) there is an urgent need to clarify consultation requirements for offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas storage activities;

(b) gas plays a critical role in Australia's economy;

(c) natural gas supports our standard of living and Australia's energy security, providing over a quarter of our energy needs;

(d) natural gas is needed through to 2050 and beyond;

(e) we need continued investment in, and development of, gas supply and transport infrastructure;

(f) we cannot turn off Australia's gas without significant adverse impacts on Australians and our region; and

(g) Australian gas will continue to be required, not only by us, but by our trading partners".

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AGAINST – Bills — Fair Work Amendment Bill 2024; Second Reading

Sue Lines

I will now deal with the Fair Work Amendment Bill. I will first deal with the second reading amendment circulated by Pauline Hanson's One Nation. The question is that the amendment on sheet 2412 revised to be agreed to.

Pauline Hanson's One Nation circulated amendment—

At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate:

(a) notes that:

(i) the bill only addresses one small aspect of Australia's workplace relations system and there are many other issues that still need to be addressed, and

(ii) the bill does not address concerns about underpayments of casual miners working under enterprise agreements in the black coal mining industry; and

(b) requires the Government to investigate claims that casual miners working under enterprise agreements in the black coal mining industry are, and have been, underpaid; and

(c) if underpayments are found to have occurred, facilitate the reimbursement of the underpayments".

Question agreed to.

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

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

I will now deal with the Committee of the Whole amendments circulated by the opposition. The question is that the amendments on sheets 2415, 2416 and 2417 be agreed to.

Opposition's circulated amendments—

SHEET 2415

(1) Clause 2, page 2 (table item 1), omit the table item, substitute:

(2) Schedule 1, item 1, page 3 (lines 4 to 7), omit the item, substitute:

1 Section 12 (definition of right to disconnect term )

Repeal the definition.

2 Section 149F

Repeal the section.

3 Section 321 (paragraph beginning "Division 6")

Repeal the paragraph.

4 Division 6 of Part 2-9

Repeal the Division.

5 Subsection 539(2) (table item 10E)

Repeal the item.

6 Division 5A of Part 16 of Schedule 1

Repeal the Division.

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SHEET 2416

(1) Clause 2, page 2 (table item 1), omit the table item, substitute:

(2) Page 3 (after line 7), at the end of the Bill, add:

Schedule 2 — Civil penalties

Fair Work Act 2009

1 Section 333Q (note)

Repeal the note.

2 Subsection 539(2) (table item 10E)

Repeal the item.

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SHEET 2417

(1) Clause 2, page 2 (table item 1), omit the table item, substitute:

(2) Page 3 (after line 7), at the end of the Bill, add:

Schedule 3 — Employers that employ fewer than 20 employees

Fair Work Act 2009

1 Before Subdivision A of Division 6 of Part 2-9

Insert:

Subdivision AA — Application of this Division

333MA Division does not apply to certain employers and employees

(1) This Division does not apply in relation to:

(a) an employer that employs fewer than 20 employees; or

(b) an employee of an employer that employs fewer than 20 employees.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), in calculating the number of employees employed by an employer at a particular time:

(a) subject to paragraphs (b) and (c)—all employees employed by the employer at that time are to be counted; and

(b) a casual employee is not to be counted unless, at that time, the employee is a regular casual employee of the employer; and

(c) a part-time employee (including a part-time casual employee counted under paragraph (b)) is to be counted as an appropriate fraction of a full-time equivalent.

2 Clause 111D of Schedule 1

Repeal the clause.

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AGAINST – Business — Consideration of Legislation

Andrew McLachlan

The time allotted for consideration of the bills listed in the order agreed to earlier today has expired.

Bridget McKenzie

Pursuant to contingent notice standing in my name as Leader of the Nationals in the Senate, I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent further consideration of the bills without limitation of time.

The Albanese government and the Greens have joined forces to rush Labor's family car and ute tax through without any debate on the impact of this tax on families, car dealerships and the automotive industry. This will result in millions of dollars in billionaire Elon Musk's back pocket and in the back pockets of Chinese EV manufacturers. It is absolutely appalling that the Australian House of Representatives was gagged in a Bowen head blowout this morning, when he thought there was an inquiry.

Sue Lines

Senator McKenzie, please refer to—

Bridget McKenzie

Minister Bowen—who lost the plot in the House of Representatives this morning and slammed through the legislation without any debate, only to get it up here in time to be part of the Greens' and the Labor Party's guillotine. Labor refuses to allow contributions to the second reading debate in both the House and the Senate. Labor refused debate and blocked attempts to investigate this. It is a right of the Senate to have an inquiry.

Labor has been incredibly secretive about the impacts of the family car and ute tax from the start. They refused to release the modelling. Today they were prepared to ride roughshod over our democratic institutions to deny debate, investigation or questions to ministers—legitimate questions that still need to be asked on behalf of the Australian people. Labor has refused to release the modelling that cost Australian taxpayers $750,000. What will the cost of this tax be for everyday Australians who can't afford an electric vehicle or where there isn't an electric vehicle in production that meets their needs on a continent like ours? It is a policy that will increase the cost to families of buying a new car in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. What a way to finish budget week!

We support a policy that will result in families actually holding onto their existing vehicles for longer. That's actually what is going to happen because they won't be able to afford what's coming to them. Under Labor only one type of road user is exempt from contributing to the maintenance and safety of our roads, and they are those Australians who can afford to purchase an electric vehicle. They are not low-income earning Australians. They are not vulnerable families. They are not people in rural and communities. Everyone else—our tradies, apprentices, teachers, nurses and retail workers who are driving regular cars and can't afford electric vehicles—is actually going to be paying fuel excise to make sure our road maintenance is funded and to make sure our roads are safe. That includes truck drivers, bus drivers and families who drive ICE or hybrid engine cars. Let's not forget that this particular policy, which is going to be slammed through this chamber in the next few hours without debate, actually taxes hybrid vehicles.

The coalition believes there should be a technology-neutral approach to achieving net zero and a low-emissions transport future, and that includes hybrids as a transition technology. It includes biofuels, hydrogen vehicles and other technologies which could be commercialised over the next decade. We are seeking to amend this bill, and we wanted to have an inquiry to get well-rounded, well-thought-out amendments to make this a better bill. We are not against a transition to net zero by 2050, but you cannot hurt and harm low-income families and rural and regional families through the bill that's going to be slammed through.

We are seeking to amend the bill to oppose the family car and ute tax. We want to delete the ratchet mechanism and make sure the minister is required to give consideration to price impact on Australians. We want to know what the emissions reductions will actually be because Australians are just going to keep these cars in the garage for longer because they won't be able to afford to transition in the timeframe and with the penalties that you're going to subject them to. We want to understand vehicle choice. We have one of the greatest ranges of choice in the world. You can buy cars here that you can't buy anywhere else, and it is because we need them to be different. We have vast differences. We have a lot of rurality and dirt roads and quite a challenging environment.

We don't think it's fair to ask car manufacturers to subsidise their competitors. We're actually subsidising Elon Musk and Chinese EV manufactures as a result of the policy that Labor will push through tonight.

Katy Gallagher

I move:

That the question be now put.

Sue Lines

The question is that the question be put.

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AGAINST – Committees — Legislation Committees; Reference

Katy Gallagher

I move:

That—

(1) To ensure appropriate consideration of time critical bills by Senate committees, the provisions of all bills introduced into the House of Representatives after 16 May 2024 and up to and including 6 June 2024 that contain substantive provisions commencing on or before 1 July 2024 (together with the provisions of any related bill) are referred to committees for inquiry and report by 24 June 2024.

(2) The committee to which each bill is referred shall be determined in accordance with the allocation of departments and agencies to standing committees agreed to by the Senate.

(3) A committee to which a bill has been referred may determine, by unanimous decision, that there are no substantive matters that require examination and report that fact to the Senate.

(4) This order does not apply in relation to bills which contain:

(a) no provisions other than provisions appropriating revenue or moneys (appropriation bills); and

(b) commencement clauses providing only for the legislation to commence on Royal Assent.

Larissa Waters

by leave—I move:

After subparagraph (4)(b), add:

(c) any provisions relating to the 2024-25 Budget measure—Future Made in Australia.

Question agreed to.

Original question, as amended, agreed to.

Katy Gallagher

I move:

That—

(1) To ensure appropriate consideration of bills by Senate committees, the provisions of the following bills introduced into the House of Representatives after 16 May 2024 and up to and including 6 June 2024 are referred to committees for inquiry and report by 24 June 2024:

(a) Treasury Laws Amendment (Responsible Buy Now Pay Later and Other Measures) Bill 2024;

(b) Health Insurance Amendment (Assignment of Medicare Benefits) Bill 2024;

(c) Social Security Amendment (More Support in the Safety Net) Bill 2024;

(d) National Health Amendment (Supporting Patient Access to Cheaper Medicines and Other Measures) Bill 2024; and

(e) any bills relating to provisions in the 2024-25 Budget.

(2) The committee to which each bill is referred shall be determined in accordance with the allocation of departments and agencies to standing committees agreed to by the Senate.

(3) A committee to which a bill has been referred may determine, by unanimous decision, that there are no substantive matters that require examination and report that fact to the Senate.

Jonathon Duniam

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jonathon Duniam

While the coalition supported the previous motion to ensure appropriate consideration of time critical bills by Senate committees, we do oppose this motion. It's, frankly, farcical that the government believes this motion would ensure appropriate consideration of bills by Senate committees. This motion, if passed, would allow not only those bills listed in the motion but any bill related to the 2024-25 budget to be referred to a Senate committee to report by 24 June this year. The Senate should deal with these bills and any future bills that relate to the budget in the ordinary way. When they're introduced, the Senate can then decide which bills are or are not referred to committees and when the committees will report.

Sue Lines

The question is that government business No. 3 standing in the name of Senator Chisholm and moved by Senator Gallagher be agreed to.

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AGAINST – Business — Rearrangement

Sue Lines

The question is that the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Enhancing Consumer Safeguards and Other Measures) Bill 2023 be included in the amendment as moved by Senator Gallagher.

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AGAINST – Business — Rearrangement

David Pocock

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines

Leave is granted for one minute.

David Pocock

What we're seeing here is selling Australians out—the Labor Party with some ridiculous omnibus bill which takes important changes off the back of the PWC scandal and puts them with a dud deal for Australians when it comes to the export of our gas. They should be ashamed of themselves. You're selling us out. You're telling people on JobSeeker, youth allowance, all these other social security payments, 'Stay in poverty. We can't afford to help you guys, sorry.'

We don't have the money to do it and at the same time we're not collecting anything from our offshore gas. Hundreds of billions of dollars of LNG gets exported and today there is not a cent of petroleum resource rent tax. We'll hear people cry, 'Well, they're paying corporate tax.' They've minimised it below one per cent in recent years. This is embarrassing. More Australians need to know what you're doing. You're selling us out.

Sue Lines

The question is that the Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Accountability and Fairness) Bill 2023 be included in the amendment as moved by Senator Gallagher.

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