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senate vote 2021-05-13#20

Edited by mackay staff

on 2022-01-28 15:51:13

Title

  • Bills — Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility Amendment (Extension and Other Measures) Bill 2021; Second Reading
  • Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility Amendment (Extension and Other Measures) Bill 2021 - Second Reading - Condemn Government

Description

  • <p class="speaker">Scott Ryan</p>
  • <p>The question is that the second reading amendment on sheet 1284, moved by Senator Watt, be agreed to.</p>
  • The majority voted against an amendment to the usual [second reading](https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/how-parliament-works/bills-and-laws/making-a-law-in-the-australian-parliament/) motion, which is "*that the bill be read a second time*" (parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of the bill).
  • ### Amendment text
  • > *At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate:*
  • >
  • > *(a) notes the Government's failure to:*
  • >
  • >> *(i) deliver what it promised as part of its Northern Australia Agenda, and*
  • >>
  • >> *(ii) get money out the door of the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF); and*
  • >
  • > *(b) further notes that the bill includes amendments that the Opposition has been calling for over a number of years; and*
  • >
  • > *(c) calls on the Prime Minister and the Government to:*
  • >
  • >> *(i) learn from their failures with the NAIF over the past five years,*
  • >>
  • >> *(ii) deliver the funding they have promised for development in Northern Australia by speeding up the release of funds from the NAIF, and*
  • >>
  • >> *(iii) realise the potential in Northern Australia and re-commit to delivering on their Northern Australia agenda".*
  • ### What does the bill do?
  • According to the [bills digest](https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd2021a/21bd062), the bill was introduced in order to:
  • > * *extend the period when the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (the Facility) can issue financial assistance*
  • > * *expand who the Facility can give assistance to, and how it provides this assistance*
  • > * *add the Finance Minister as a responsible minister for the Facility and*
  • > * *change some governance arrangements in relation to the Facility.*
  • Currently, the [purpose of the Facility](https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd2021a/21bd062#_Toc71535773) is:
  • > *...to provide financial assistance to the states and territories for the construction of economic infrastructure in Northern Australia. It does this through providing concessional loans and guarantees.*