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Wednesday, 23 November 2011
Page: 13588

Mr ALBANESE (Grayndler—Leader of the House and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) (12:55): I move:

That the amendment be agreed to.

The purpose of this amendment is to amend the commencement provision of the bill to commence proposed sections 1 to 3 and schedule 1 part 2 on royal assent and the remainder of schedule 1 on earlier of proclamation or six months. Commencing schedule 1 part 2 on royal assent will extend the operation of transport security programs for regulated air cargo agents. This means that transport security programs due to expire before 31 December 2012 will be taken to be in force until 31 December 2012 unless the TSP is either revised or cancelled at an earlier date.

This item will allow industry to adjust to new measures to help secure Australia's air cargo supply chain that were announced on 9 February 2010, thereby minimising the administrative burden on industry during the transition to the new air cargo security framework. Delaying the commencement of the other parts of schedule 1 will provide more time for consultation with industry about consequential regulations that will implement changes to the air cargo security framework contained in the bill. This will also prevent a period where the act and regulations may not align and provide certainty to the air cargo and aviation industries about security arrangements over the busy Christmas period. I commend the bill as amended to the House.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms K Livermore ): The question is that the amendment be agreed to.

Question agreed to.