Senator DUNIAM (Tasmania—Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries and Assistant Minister for Regional Tourism) (15:45): I give notice that on the next day of sitting I shall move: That provisions of paragraphs 5 to 8 of standing order 111 not apply to various bills as set out in the list circulated in the chamber, allowing them to be considered during this period of sittings. I also table statements of reasons justifying the need for these bills to be considered during the sittings and seek leave to have the statements incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The statement read as follows— STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE IN THE 2019 SPRING SITTINGS AUSTRALIAN CRIME COMMIS SION AMENDMENT (SPECIAL OPERATIO NS AND SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS) BILL Purpose of the Bill The purpose of the bill is to amend the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002 to confirm the validity of current and former special ACC operations and special ACC investigations determinations, amend the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission's Board's process for making future special operations and investigations determinations, and make related consequential amendments. Reasons for urgency The bill requires introduction and passage in the 2019 Spring sittings to ensure the ongoing validity of Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission special operations and investigations ahead of litigation currently in the High Court. STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE IN THE 2019 SPRING SITTINGS FARM HOUSEHOLD SUPPORT AMENDMENT (RELIEF MEASURES) BILL (NO.2) 2019 Purpose of the Bill The bill amends the Farm Household Support Act 2014 (FHS Act) and relevant subordinate legislation as the third instalment of changes to simplify the Farm Household Allowance (FHA) and adjust key policy settings of the FHA program. The bill: provides for a rate of FHA that is not varied by the person's income. That is, if FHA is payable to a person, the person's income will not affect their final rate of FHA payment. simplifies the assets test so that all assets (farm and non-farm) will be subject to a combined single net value threshold of $5.5 million. This will include amendments to assess the value of the person's water entitlement together with the value of the farm to which it is connected. provides flexibility and clarity in relation to the conduct of farm financial assessments. Changes include removing the requirement to have assessments conducted by a person prescribed by the Minister's rule, providing a requirement that a person conducting the assessment must have appropriate qualifications or expertise to conduct the assessment, and clarifying that the person is entitled to the amount as provided in the invoice for the farm financial assessment (up to the cap). strengthens the case management approach to better support farmers in hardship through periods of financial difficulty. Changes include increasing the activity supplement to $10,000 (amendment to the Farm Household Support Minister's Rule 2014), providing that the cost of the activity is to be worked out according to the cost provided in the invoice for the activity, and extending the activity supplement to include travel and accommodation cost associated with eligible activities, provided the costs are reasonable as determined by the Secretary. Reasons for Urgency Passage of the Bill is urgently required in the 2019 Spring sittings to give effect to key recommendations from the independent review of the FHA program. The persisting drought conditions make the requirement to change key FHA settings more urgent as many farmers are in great need of support. The independent review found that FHA is not meeting farmers' expectations because of the complexity of the payment and the length of the application process. FHA provides income support to meet basic household needs when farmers are experiencing financial hardship, and to create breathing space while they consider the future of their farm and take actions to improve their circumstances. The bill seeks to implement key recommendations from the review, to deliver improvements to fanners and their partners who are experiencing hardship and seeking support through the FHA program. STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE IN THE 2019 SPRING SITTINGS INTERACTIVE GAMBLING AMENDMENT (NATIONAL SELF-EXCLUSION REGISTER) BILL AND NATIONAL SELF-EXCLUSION REGISTER (COST RECOVERY LEVY) BILL Purpose of the Bill This Bill package establishes a National Self-Exclusion Register, to allow consumers to self-exclude from all regulated interactive wagering services in Australia. Reasons for Urgency Passage of legislation would deliver on commitments made by Commonwealth, state and territory governments. Key stakeholder groups, including the wagering industry and the community sector, are already applying pressure to governments to implement the National Self-Exclusion Register as quickly as possible. Passage of legislation during the Spring 2019 sitting period is required to enable the Australian Communications and Media Authority to engage a third-party provider to develop and implement the National Self-Exclusion Register. The Australian Communications and Media Authority has since advised that these processes are expected to take 12 to 18 months, from the passage of legislation, to complete. This means that the National Self-Exclusion Register is likely to be delayed at least 12 months longer than the initial implementation timeframe. Currently, there is no self-exclusion system available across all regulated interactive wagering services. The Commonwealth is the only jurisdiction with the power to enact and fully enforce a legislative scheme with application across Australia. STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE IN THE 2019 SPRING SITTINGS SPECIAL RECREATIONAL VESSELS BILL Purpose of the Bill The bill allows special recreational vessels trading to apply for temporary licences under the Coastal Trading (Revitalising Australian Shipping) Act 2012. Reasons for Urgency The proposed bill should be brought forward as a matter of urgency in order for the legislation to commence before the end of the year. The special recreational vessels industry has advised they are expecting a large number of these vessels to be in the Pacific over the this summer and over the next 18 months for the Tokyo Olympics and the America's Cup in Auckland, and want certainty that they can sail to Australia and be able to offer charters. Broader economic benefits are expected from the operation of these vessels in Australian waters.