Mr MARTYN EVANS (11:53 AM) —The National Measurement Amendment Bill 1998 is a relatively technical measure which makes certain drafting changes to the National Measurement Act to rectify drafting errors in relation to the certification of regulatory measurements. It also amends the act to remove the compulsory retirement age of the executive director of the National Standards Commission. As it is a particularly technical matter, the opposition does not propose to oppose this bill. In fact, we will support it and ensure a speedy passage if that is the government's wish.

However I think that it is appropriate at this point to place on the record some brief remarks about the national measurement system and the importance of it. It is often too easy to neglect the importance of standards and measurements systems in the technological age in which we now live. For our industry to be competitive on a global basis, and for us to take advantage of technological advances in other countries, it is very important that our national system of measurements—our system of standards in Australia—are well maintained and that adequate investment is undertaken in research and development in that area to ensure that industry is equipped to take advantage of these advances in the technology of measurement. It is a very precise and exacting science, and one in which Australia has a substantial presence. So I believe that it is important to acknowledge the work of the standards associations and the work of the National Measurement Laboratory in ensuring the global competitiveness of industry and encouraging industry throughout Australia to ensure that it is up to date in standards and measurement areas because that has a very significant impact on our ability to export and on the productivity of Australian industry generally.

Many Australian companies are now ensuring that their quality standards are to international best practice. However, it is certainly something which we need to continue to work on. We need also to continue to understand the importance of an aspect of industrial practice which is often not remarked upon because it is something which is so much an underlying part of the activity. Despite the fact that it is not particularly obvious, it is very important. This bill is a small contribution to that process and so I commend the bill to the committee.