Cross Border Commissioner Bill 2022

Wednesday July 06, 2022

Mr BELL (Mount Gambier): I also want to thank all the MPs who have made a contribution to this bill. I especially want to thank those who have put in time and effort for careful consideration and amendments in the other place, the Legislative Council. I do believe that those amendments were put in with very good intent, but I also believe that what we have done in this chamber is to simplify the bill—not to confuse that with a simplified bill, which was a disaster, but that is another story—and really give the cross-border commissioner position the best chance of being an active position, not just a planning and reporting type of position, although both of those aspects are extremely important.

To give some comfort to those in the Legislative Council, where this bill will now go back, I really want to highlight the review of the act that is in this bill. The review of the act should give comfort because the minister, legislatively, must cause an independent review of the operation of the act to be conducted and a report on the review to be prepared and submitted to the minister. After this act has been in operation for a period of three years, and at the end of each period of five years thereafter, the minister must cause a copy of a report submitted under subsection (1) to be laid before both houses of parliament within 12 sitting days after receiving the report.

That is a very important part that is unique to this commissioner's role: it is not under the Small Business Commissioner and it is not under any other commissioner's role. This provision is specifically in the bill to give comfort—the ability to have independent oversight or an independent review of the act and a report back to this house, so that if changes need to be made or if it is not working as it is intended, corrective action can be taken.

I want to highlight that part because I think it is very important for people to realise that what we have done here tonight is streamlined and less bureaucratic, with less red tape. The most important part, which I think is a sticking point and unique in comparison to other commissions, is the review of this act. It should give everybody comfort that there will be independent oversight. Going forward, I think there is nothing to be worried about. The bill should be embraced because the review is clearly in the legislation if, of course, it passes the Legislative Council.

Bill read a third time and passed.

Speeches