Customs Tariff Amendment (Incorporation of Proposals) Bill (No. 1) 2026, Treasury Laws Amendment (Fuel Excise Relief No. 2) Bill 2026, Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Building Cooperative Workplaces No. 1) Bill 2026

Senator AYRES (New South Wales—Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science) (16:48): I move: That these bills be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speeches incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted.

The speeches read as follows— CUSTOMS TARIFF AMENDMENT (INCORPORATION OF PROPOSALS) BILL (NO. 1) 2026 The Customs Tariff Amendment (Incorporation of Proposals) Bill (No. 1) 2026 (the Bill) amends the Customs Tariff Act 1995 to incorporate the measures in two customs tariff proposals moved in the House of Representatives in May this year, and another proposal that was moved in August 2025.

The Bill also makes certain minor technical amendments to the Customs Tariff Act. The first set of amendments repeals the general rates of duty for almost 500 tariff classifications and replaces the rates with 'Free'. These tariff classifications were selected because the majority of importers utilise relevant tariff concessions or free trade agreement preferential rates, which in practice reduce the 5 per cent duty rate to a 'Free' rate of duty.

Eliminating customs duty for these classifications will reduce business compliance costs and make it easier to import a range of goods including foodstuffs, homewares, items of clothing and personal hygiene goods. Cumulatively, these amendments together with similar amendments made in 2024, has reduced the customs duty rates for almost 1,000 tariff classifications.

The Albanese Government has reduced to 'Free' the general rates of customs duty for more tariff classifications than any other government in the last two decades. Reducing the duty rates for these additional tariff classifications helps to cut red tape and reduces compliance costs for Australian businesses. Amendments will also be made to the corresponding free trade agreement preferential rates to ensure they are not higher than the general rate of duty.

This ensures that importers utilising free trade agreements are not disadvantaged by the unilateral reduction of the general rate. These amendments are consistent with the alterations made by Customs Tariff Proposal (No. 1) 2026, moved in the House of Representatives on 14 May 2026. While other countries are putting up trade barriers, we are tearing them down.

This government is reducing more customs duty rates to 'Free' because we recognise that it delivers benefits to Australian businesses and to the Australian consumer. The second set of amendments extends the temporary additional customs duty on goods that are the produce or manufacture of Russia and Belarus for a further 24-months. The temporary 35 per cent duty applies in addition to the general rate of customs duty that would ordinarily apply.

In applying this measure, Australia joined with like-minded countries in response to Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, supported by Belarus. As Russia continues to violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and undermine the rules-based international order, this measure is necessary for Australia's essential security interests. Australia is committed to upholding these principles, which are necessary for Australia's international, regional and domestic stability and security.

These amendments are consistent with the alterations made by Customs Tariff Proposal (No. 2) 2025, moved in the House of Representatives on 28 August 2025. The third set of amendments extend the temporary 'Free' rate of customs duty applied to goods that are the produce or manufacture of Ukraine for a further 24-months. The 'Free' rate of duty applies to all Ukrainian goods, except for petroleum, fuel, tobacco and alcohol products.

The extension of the concessional treatment supports Ukraine's continued participation in international trade. The tariff concession is one part of Australia's package of defence, economic and humanitarian support and a sign of our ongoing and steadfast support for Ukraine and its people. These amendments are consistent with the alterations made by Customs Tariff Proposal (No. 2) 2026, moved in the House of Representatives on 14 May 2026.

The Bill also makes certain technical amendments to Schedule 6A of the Act, which provides for preferential rates of customs duty for goods that are originating under the Peru-Australia Free Trade Agreement. The amendments remove spent phasing rates and as such do not alter the operation of the Customs Tariff Act. TREASURY LAWS AMENDMENT (FUEL EXCISE RELIEF NO. 2) BILL 2026 I move that this Bill be read a second time.

Today the Albanese Labor Government is introducing the Treasury Laws Amendment (Fuel Excise Relief No. 2) Bill 2026. This Bill will extend fuel excise relief for another month to take some of the sting out of petrol prices and help Australians with the cost of living. It does so in a considered and calibrated way—acknowledging support is still needed while tapering that support over time as we return to more normal settings.

We welcome the agreement last week between the United States and Iran, but we desperately need it to stick. We need the Strait of Hormuz to be opened—and to stay open. We cannot afford another false dawn or another false start.

But even after the signing of that deal, even after the proper opening of the Strait of Hormuz, we'll still be paying a hefty price for these hostilities long after they end. Despite the welcome and substantial drop in fuel prices, we know people are still under pressure. That's why we are taking action to provide a bit more help to Australian motorists and businesses.

The Bill extends fuel excise relief for another month, making petrol and diesel 16 cents per litre cheaper compared with normal prices, saving Australians around $11 per tank. It follows our three-month cut to the fuel excise of 32 cents per litre we announced in March. This additional support will commence on the 1st of July and run to the 2nd of August, in line with the scheduled fuel excise indexation date.

Following discussions at National Cabinet, the States and Territories have also indicated they are willing to contribute to this discount. In addition to this Bill, we are also reducing the Heavy Vehicle Road User Charge by 16 cents per litre which will save truckies.$64 on a 400-litre tank of fuel. This Bill to extend fuel excise relief is both responsive and responsible.

It is responsive to changing global circumstances and the pressures people are under. Since the war in the Middle East broke out almost four months ago, we have seen higher fuel prices here and across the world. We welcome that prices have moderated significantly from these peaks, providing Australians some much needed relief.

Since the end of March, petrol prices in most capital cities are around 90 cents per litre lower and diesel prices in most capital cities are more than $1 per litre lower. Since the conflict started at the end of February, petrol prices are lower in almost all capital cities and diesel prices are on average around 20 cents per litre higher. This Bill recognises that although fuel prices have moderated recently, people remain under cost-of-living pressure.

Australians didn't choose this war, but they continue to face the costs and consequences of it. That's why a more modest but still meaningful discount is the appropriate way to continue this support for a bit longer. This Bill delivers that cost of living relief in a responsible way because it is temporary and it is tapered.

We know that economic and fuel market recovery will take time, and this extra month will help Australian motorists and businesses as this support tapers off and we return to normal excise settings. It is also a responsible way to help to manage demand at service stations across the country towards the end of this month. This responsible cost of living relief is in addition to all the other action we are taking on fuel including: Creating the $7.5 billion Fuel and Fertiliser Security Facility for additional supply and storage Securing over 800 million litres of diesel and 150 million litres of jet fuel by Export Finance Australia Providing $3.2 billion to establish the Australian Fuel Security Reserve and bring our total stocks of diesel and jet fuel to 50 days Legislating new ACCC powers to enable faster, coordinated industry responses during exceptional circumstances Supplying a $1 billion Economic Resilience Program for loans to eligible businesses, including heavy vehicle operators Releasing $1.1 billion in support for domestic production of low carbon liquid fuels Providing over $80 million to roll out more kerbside and regional EV chargers and electrify Australia Post's delivery fleet.

This all helps to take pressure off—for the farmers who grow our food, the truckies who get goods to where they're needed, and the businesses that sell our everyday essentials. It also builds on the other ways we are providing responsible cost of living relief, including income tax cuts for every taxpayer, making medicines cheaper, helping more Australians into a home, and backing higher wages for workers.

From July 1, we'll have more temporary cost of living help in an extension to the fuel tax cut, as well as more permanent cost of living help in another round of tax cuts for every taxpayer. It comes after a Budget that is all about making it easier for people to buy their own home, more income tax cuts and better aligning the treatment of income from labour and assets.

All of these measures are about helping Australians with the cost of living and responding to the very real pressures they are facing, while shoring up our critical supply chains and navigating all this global uncertainty. This extra fuel excise relief is just the latest, but still a very important, way we are continuing to help Australian families and businesses.

I commend this Bill to the House. WORKPLACE RELATIONS LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (BUILDING COOPERATIVE WORKPLACES NO. 1) BILL 2026 I move that this Bill now be read a second time. The government's first term workplace reforms were the most significant since the Fair Work Act commenced almost 17 years ago.

These reforms have delivered on our objectives to promote job security and gender equality, get wages moving, improve safety, and address loopholes that had undermined fairness in the workplace. With this Bill today, we build on those reforms with a package of practical measures to further improve the operation of the workplace relations system and support more co-operative and productive workplaces.

These include amendments designed to: Enable the Fair Work Commission to more effectively perform its vital functions Support good faith bargaining, which delivers benefits for employees and employers alike Ensure that road transport contractors can access protections with a new, fit for purpose, high income threshold Clarify reporting requirements for the CFMEU Administration Support the effective operation of important tripartite advisory bodies in the workplace relations system I now turn to outline the measures in the Bill in detail.

FWC workload measures This bill includes six important administrative measures which will streamline the operations of the Commission and assist it to manage its workload, without reducing protections for workers. The Commission plays a critical role as our national workplace relations tribunal, and the Government is committed to ensuring that it continues to provide efficient dispute resolution services to workers and employers across Australia.

The first measure will remove the requirement to hold a formal hearing to determine whether or an applicant in a general protections matter has or has not been dismissed. The amendment will allow the Commission to simply conduct a conference to seek to resolve the dispute. This will save the time and resources of the Commission, as well as the parties involved in the dispute.

Secondly, the Bill will allow the President of the Commission to delegate some functions to Commission staff, including the power to issue certificates that provide that parties to a general protections dispute have made all reasonable attempts to resolve their dispute but were unsuccessful. These certificates allow such matters to proceed to consent arbitration or a court.

The delegation power will ensure that the time of the President and Commission staff can be more effectively used. Thirdly, the Bill will give the Commission more discretion to determine matters 'on the papers', without the need for a formal hearing or conference, where it is appropriate to do so and the parties consent. Fourthly, the Bill will provide the Commission with additional powers to more effectively deal with vexatious and frivolous applications, including by enabling the Commission to make orders to prevent vexatious litigants from making further applications without permission.

Fifthly, the Bill will allow the Commission to dismiss unfair termination and unfair deactivation applications that are frivolous or vexatious or have no reasonable prospects of success. Finally, the Bill will streamline the process for obtaining supported bargaining authorisations from the Fair Work Commission. This is a practical measure that will reduce the administrative burden associated with applying for a supported bargaining authorisation, where there is an existing supported bargaining agreement and the new agreement would covers the same or substantially the same group of employees and employers, and the application is made no earlier than 3 months before, and no later than 2 years after, the nominal expiry date of the earlier agreement.

Under the provisions, employers can be removed from a further authorisation by the Commission, both before and after an authorisation is made, where the Commission is satisfied there has been a change in their circumstances. Supporting Good Faith Bargaining The government inherited a bargaining system that was not working effectively and had not worked effectively for a long time.

It had got to the point where less than 15% of employees were covered by a current federal enterprise agreement. The government's first term reforms have reinvigorated the bargaining system, reducing barriers to bargaining to make it easier for employers and employees to negotiate agreements that meet their needs. The result is we have seen record high numbers of employees covered by enterprise agreements delivering real wage increases for Australian workers, and productivity and flexibility improvements for employers.

The Bill contains a measure designed to enable Commonwealth spending to encourage the use of good faith bargaining which supports secure jobs and fair conditions. The Bill allows Commonwealth Government spending to preference employers with enterprise agreements negotiated in good faith and genuinely agreed, where appropriate to do so. Importantly, the Bill does not impose any obligation on the Commonwealth to do this—how and when it would be appropriate to do so is being carefully considered as part of the development of the Secure Australian Jobs Code, which will sit alongside requirements to ensure value for money and high-quality, timely delivery.

All Commonwealth entities will continue to be bound by the Commonwealth Procurement Rules and Commonwealth Grant Guidelines. Road transport measures In 2024, the government introduced new protections in the Fair Work Commission for truckies and small road transport businesses from unfair contract terminations and unfair contract terms. Currently, access to these provisions is limited by a high-income threshold.

However, because of the high operating costs of road transport contractors to pay for fuel and maintain their vehicles, particularly for long-distance owner drivers, this threshold is not fit for purpose. This change will enable the establishment of a separate, fit for purpose road transport contractor high income threshold, which will allow these hard-working Australian truckies and small road transport businesses to access our protections against unfair termination and unfair contracts.

CFMEU Administration measure The Australian Government took the strongest possible action by legislating for the appointment of an administrator to the Construction and General Division of the CFMEU. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the groundbreaking work of outgoing Administrator, Mr Mark Irving KC, and thank him sincerely on behalf of the Government for his leadership and the unprecedented progress he has made in improving the culture of the construction industry and tackling criminality and corruption in the CFMEU.

This Bill will give the Administrator an appropriate timeframe to prepare and submit a bi-annual financial report to the Minister, as required under the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009. There is no change to the content or scope of the financial reporting requirements, or the timing for the Administrator's separate bi-annual report on the operation of the administration.

Measures supporting the operation of tripartite bodies This Government has provided strong support for co-operative and productive approaches to workplace relations, including through tripartite arrangements to bring employers, workers and government together. National Construction Industry Forum One of those tripartite statutory advisory bodies is the NCIF. Its function is to provide advice to the Australian Government in relation to work in the building and construction industry.

The bill makes minor updates to the ministerial membership of the NCIF and enables travel allowance for members of the NCIF who are not Ministers to also be prescribed by reference to Remuneration Tribunal determinations. Road Transport Advisory Group The bill confirms that RTAG members can receive a travel allowance, in line with other consultative bodies, and clarifies the RTAG's members, Chair and subcommittee members are not otherwise entitled to receive remuneration or allowances.

Conclusion Reform is never a set and forget job. It requires ongoing stewardship and responsiveness. Our landmark Secure Jobs Better Pay and Closing Loopholes reforms laid the foundations, and this bill builds on and continues that work.

This bill reflects the government's ongoing commitment to ensuring our workplace relations framework supports cooperative and productive workplaces—the kind of workplaces that work for businesses, workers, and the broader economy. Debate adjourned. Ordered that the bills be listed on the Notice Paper as separate orders of the day.