2nd Sep 2014, 2:04 PM – Senate Minerals Resource Rent Tax Repeal and Other Measures Bill 2014 — Motions — Suspension of Standing Orders

The majority voted against a motion introduced by Labor Senator Penny Wong, which means that it was rejected. The motion was: "That so much of standing orders be suspended as would prevent me from making such a statement."

Senator Wong introduced this motion after she was refused leave to make a statement.

Background to the bill

This bill was introduced following the Minerals Resource Rent Tax Repeal and Other Measures Bill 2013 (No. 2) being laid aside because it could not "be progressed in its current form".(Read more about this bill being set aside here. The division which resulted in that bill being laid aside is available here. )

This bill repeals the Minerals Resource Rent Tax as well as related measures such as the low income superannuation contribution, the income support bonus and the schoolkids bonus. The bill also revises the capital allowances for small business entities and the superannuation guarantee charge percentage increase.(Read more about the changes made in the bill in the explanatory memorandum. ) Under the previous Labor government, the superannuation was set to increase to 12 per cent by 2019 (as of 1 July 2014, it is at 9.5 per cent).(Read more about superannuation in Australia here.) However, this bill will push that rise up until 1 July 2025.