COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SENATE Official Hansard WEDNESDAY, 27 MAY 1998 THIRTY-EIGHTH PARLIAMENT FIRST SESSION—SEVENTH PERIOD BY AUTHORITY OF THE SENATE CANBERRA CONTENTS WEDNESDAY, 27 MAY Parliamentary Zone: National Archives of Australia 3149 Taxation Laws Amendment Bill (No. 3) 1998— In Committee ........................................ 3149 Third Reading ....................................... 3161 National Transmission Network Sale Bill 1997, National Transmission Network Sale (Consequential Amendments) Bill 1997— Second Reading ...................................... 3161 Consideration of Legislation ............................... 3184 Matters of Public Interest— National Debt ....................................... 3184 Prime Minister ...................................... 3187 Whistleblowing: Heiner Inquiry .......................... 3190 New South Wales Electricity Industry ...................... 3192 Information Superhighway ............................... 3195 Questions Without Notice— Employment Services .................................. 3198 Mr Christopher Skase .................................. 3198 Distinguished Visitors ................................... 3200 Questions Without Notice— Minister for Resources and Energy: Farm Assistance Package ...... 3200 Gold Industry: Native Title .............................. 3201 Employment Services .................................. 3202 Education: Funding ................................... 3203 Minister for Resources and Energy: Farm Assistance Package ...... 3204 Australian Broadcasting Corporation ....................... 3205 Trusts: Taxation ...................................... 3206 Australian Broadcasting Corporation ........................ 3208 Minister for Resources and Energy ......................... 3210 Answers to Questions Without Notice— Aboriginal Housing ................................... 3211 Answers to Questions Without Notice— Medicare Offices ..................................... 3212 Answers to Questions on Notice— Indonesia ........................................... 3220 Telstra .............................................. 3220 Personal Explanations .................................... 3220 Answers to Questions on Notice— Question No. 1121 .................................... 3221 Question No. 1118 .................................... 3222 Question No. 1129 .................................... 3222 Answers to Questions Without Notice— Trusts: Taxation ...................................... 3231 Petitions— Uranium ........................................... 3235 Uranium ........................................... 3235 Gender Identity ...................................... 3235 Medicines .......................................... 3236 Notices of Motion— Consideration of Legislation ............................. 3236 Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee ........ 3236 Higher Education ..................................... 3236 One Nation Party ..................................... 3236 Pork Industry ........................................ 3236 Introduction of Legislation .............................. 3237 Native Title ......................................... 3237 Australian Conservation Foundation ........................ 3237 Native Title ......................................... 3237 CONTENTS—continued Health ............................................. 3238 Australasian Police Ministers’ Council ........................ 3238 Committees— Selection of Bills Committee—Report ...................... 3239 Order of Business— Census ............................................ 3245 Medical Research ..................................... 3245 Committees— Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee— Meeting .......................................... 3245 Order of Business— Film Classification .................................... 3245 Foreign Policy ......................................... 3245 Consideration of Legislation .............................. 3249 India: Nuclear Testing ................................... 3249 Committees— Community Affairs Legislation Committee—Extension of Time .... 3249 Scrutiny of Bills Committee—Report ....................... 3249 Ministerial Statements— National Reconciliation Week ............................ 3249 Committees— Employment, Education and Training References Committee—Report: Government Response ................................ 3257 Legal and Constitutional References Committee—Report: Government Response ......................................... 3272 Treaties Committee—Report: Government Response ............ 3275 Membership ......................................... 3278 Child Support Legislation Amendment Bill 1998— First Reading ........................................ 3278 Second Reading ...................................... 3278 National Transmission Network Sale Bill 1997, National Transmission Network Sale (Consequential Amendments) Bill 1997— Second Reading ...................................... 3279 Documents— Australian National University ........................... 3281 Antarctic Science Advisory Committee ...................... 3285 Adjournment— Ecumenical Prayer .................................... 3286 Queensland: Environment ............................... 3287 Torres Strait: Drugs Trafficking ........................... 3287 Australian Broadcasting Corporation ....................... 3288 Kundun ............................................ 3290 Legal Aid .......................................... 3292 Documents— Tabling ............................................ 3294 Unproclaimed Legislation ................................. 3294 Questions On Notice— Export Finance Investment Corporation—(Question No. 1091) ..... 3295 Natural Heritage Trust—(Question No. 1112) ................. 3297 Ministerial Code of Conduct—(Question No. 1124) ............. 3297 Department of Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs: Qualitative and Quantitative Research—(Question No. 1144) ..... 3297 Commonwealth Employment Service—(Question No. 1148) ....... 3298 Department for Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs: Advertising—(Question No. 1162) ....................... 3299 SENATE 3149 Wednesday, 27 May 1998 Treasurer, is absent. I am sure he is rushing down here, eagerly anxious to answer your question, but I am certainly not capable of an- The PRESIDENT (Senator the Hon. swering it. I regret to say that, until Senator Margaret Reid) took the chair at 9.30 a.m., Kemp arrives, I am at some disadvantage. and read prayers. I do have here some advice from the advis- ers on withholding arrangements rationalis- PARLIAMENTARY ZONE: NATIONAL ation and I will put to you the rationalisation. ARCHIVES OF AUSTRALIA Senator Faulkner—This is a filler! Motion (by Senator Minchin) agreed to: That, in accordance with section 5 of the Parlia- Senator MINCHIN—That is right. I am ment Act 1974, the Senate approves the proposal by advised that remittances made by cash or the National Capital Authority, on behalf of the cheques increase ATO handling costs. National Archives of Australia, for signage on its Cheques, in particular, have a minimum new headquarters, formerly known as East Block clearing time affecting delays in collection. In in the Parliamentary Zone. recent years the commercial trend has shifted TAXATION LAWS AMENDMENT significantly towards conducting business by BILL (No. 3) 1998 electronic means. In fact, financial institutions are actively encouraging the use of EFT In Committee because of the benefits it provides: better Consideration resumed from 26 May. security, reduced paper flows, certainty of delivery, improved cash management, and The CHAIRMAN—Order! The Committee reduced processing and reconciliation costs is considering the Taxation Laws Amendment compared to cheques. It has been estimated Bill (No. 3) 1998, to which the government that 95 per cent of large remitters are already has moved amendment No. 1 on sheet connected to or have access to EFT. B98AF338WB. When the Committee was last considering the bill Senator Margetts had Senator Margetts—Sorry, was that 95? moved amendment No. R1 on sheet 1003 as Senator MINCHIN—Ninety-five per cent an amendment to the government amendment. of large remitters are already connected to or The question is that Senator Margetts’ amend- have access to EFT. I am advised that there ment be agreed to. are 5,500 large remitters, therefore we are Senator MARGETTS (Western Australia) only talking about five per cent of large (9.32 a.m.)—I would like to ask Senator remitters incurring the cost of setting up an Minchin, the Minister representing the Assist- EFT facility—five per cent of 5,500. In most ant Treasurer, how large remitters currently cases, it is merely a matter of extending the make their payments. Do they all do so by use of the EFT package to handle payments electronic transfer? Or do some use other to the ATO. It is not envisaged that this new means such as a cheque? If so, what propor- arrangement will place any unrealistic burden tion and/or numbers pay other than by elec- on this group of taxpayers as the approximate tronic transfer? Are some large remitters cost of the necessary software is between $75 paying other than by electronic transfer and, and $400. if they are, why did the government amend Senator MARGETTS (Western Australia) the original clause to eliminate the option for (9.35 a.m.)—I thank Senator Minchin, the a large remitter to make other arrangements