Northern Territory Second Reading Speeches

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TRADE MEASUREMENT LEGISLATION REPEAL BILL 2009

Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a second time.

The purpose of this bill is to repeal the Trade Measurement legislation and establish transitional provisions for transfer of Trade Measurement functions to the Commonwealth and consequential amendments.


On 13 April 2007, the Council of Australian Governments, COAG, agreed to the establishment of a national system of trade measurement, funded and administered by the Commonwealth. That decision was part of a national reform agenda to establish a seamless national economy to boost productivity and deliver better services to the community. The Northern Territory government welcomes the substantial progress made on the COAG reform agenda across business regulation and competition, and this bill delivers on one of those reforms.


Administration of trade measurement by the Commonwealth will commence on 1 July 2010, and transitional provisions have been developed in consultation with states and territories. The Commonwealth regulator will be the National Measurement Institute in the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.


The Commonwealth will be making offers of employment to officers currently employed by the states and territories in the regulation of trade measurement. Commonwealth, state and territory officials are working together on the transitional arrangements, including facilitating the transfer of staff and resources for the operation of the new national system.


The states and territories also agree to transfer to the Commonwealth specialist equipment and information used in administering trade measurement regulation. The legislation will repeal the
Trade Measurement Act and the Trade Measurement Administration Act. and make transitional provisions and consequential amendments.

The related Trade Measurement Regulations will expire once the acts are repealed. From 1 July 2010, the Trade Measurement Provisions in Commonwealth legislation will prevail over current state and territory trade measurement laws. To avoid legislative confusion and unwarranted duplication, the Northern Territory legislation should be repealed.


I commend the bill to honourable members, and I table a copy of the Explanatory Statement.


Debate adjourned.


 


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