Urgency

I move, That urgency be accorded the introduction, first reading, and referral to a select committee of the Care and Support Worker (Pay Equity) Settlement Bill, and the introduction and passing through all stages of the Taxation (Budget Measures: Family Incomes Package) Bill. The Government is moving to take urgency on these bills because they are all a part of a package of moves that has been signalled today in Budget 2017.

The Care and Support Worker (Pay Equity) Settlement Bill gives effect to elements of the care and support worker pay equity settlement agreement. As part of that agreement, the parties agreed that certain matters would be provided for in legislation. A settlement was agreed between the Crown, Crown agencies, and relevant unions in April 2017. The parties to the settlement agreed that elements of it would be legislated. As the bill needs to be in effect by 1 July 2017, it will go to a select committee for a short amount of time so it can be reported back to the House by 6 June 2017. This intention has been well signalled.

The Taxation (Budget Measures: Family Incomes Package) Bill gives effect to many of the changes announced as part of the Budget 2017 Family Incomes Package. As a package, the changes are intended to provide better rewards for hard work, improve incomes those with young children or high housing costs, and start to simplify the tax and transfer system. Urgency is necessary to give effect to the proposal so that certainty can be provided and the measures can be implemented in time for 1 April 2018. Thank you.