STATUTES AMENDMENT AND REPEAL (BUDGET 2012) BILL

Final Stages

Consideration in committee of the Legislative Council's amendments.

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: I move:

That the Legislative Council's amendments be agreed to.

I will say very little, other than I have some understanding of the issues—they relate to the biosecurity levy—and we commenced the process of negotiation when I was the minister for primary industry. It has been a long and tortuous process, and I believe that there is still more progress to be made on this particular issue, so we accept the amendments.

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: My understanding of the two amendments is that one relates the biosecurity levy that the minister has mentioned, and the other is in relation to costs in relation to police matters going to court which was also knocked out as part of the amendment which we had done last year as well. The government reintroduced it this year and we have knocked it out in the upper house. The amendments from the upper house take out the biosecurity levy and delete the cost matter in relation to police matters and the court jurisdictions.

Motion carried.