Sponsor speech Supports
Catherine King
Ms King supports the bill, saying it removes unnecessary regulation, modernises agricultural administrative processes, and repeals an obsolete act to keep the statute book up to date.
Read in Hansard ↗Agriculture Legislation Amendment (Modernising Administrative Processes)
Current status
This bill became law on May 30th, 2024.
Policy area
Industry, agriculture & resources
What does this bill do?
Research and development corporation selection committees will now end automatically after the appointing chair's term ends and any current appointment round is finished, instead of needing a separate step to close them.
Why was it introduced?
Outdated agriculture laws left rural R&D appointments tied to newspaper ads, manual committee shutdowns and extra reporting, while the old Rural Adjustment Act still covered functions now handled by other bodies. The bill modernises those processes, lets committees end automatically, expands advertising options, reduces repeat paperwork and repeals the obsolete Act.
Broader context
Old agriculture law still carried the Rural Adjustment Act long after the Rural Adjustment SchemeThe older scheme created under the Rural Adjustment Act that had finished long before this bill repealed the Act., the Farm Business Improvement ProgramAn old farm support program mentioned in the repealed law, but its funding had already ended years earlier. and the National Rural Advisory CouncilAn old advisory council created under the Rural Adjustment Act; by this bill's time its work had already been taken over by other bodies. had been replaced or allowed to lapse, while rural research and development corporationA body that helps fund and guide research for parts of Australian agriculture and related industries. appointments still depended on newspaper advertising, manual committee shutdowns and reporting even when nothing happened. The bill responded by updating those appointment rules, extending how long suitable candidate lists could be reused and repealing the obsolete Act, and it became law after Parliament passed it in May 2024.
Key criticism
No significant public case against the bill is recorded so far, with the debate presenting it as a narrow administrative cleanup rather than a contested policy change. Government and coalition speakers supported it, and no party represented in the debate argued the streamlined appointment and reporting changes would cause harm.
Who supported it?
Catherine King MP introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.
Introduced in House 28 Feb 2024
Passed House 20 Mar 2024
Passed Senate 16 May 2024
Became law 30 May 2024
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 30 May 2024
Final passage
Passed without a counted vote
Members called out ‘aye’ or ‘no’ — no individual votes were recorded.
Passage speed
92 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
What does this bill do?
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Research and development corporation selection committees will now end automatically after the appointing chair's term ends and any current appointment round is finished, instead of needing a separate step to close them.
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Appointments for rural research and development corporationA body that helps fund and guide research for parts of Australian agriculture and related industries. boards can now be advertised on suitable websites or other publications, so the process no longer has to rely on national newspaper ads.
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Lists of people already found suitable for rural research and development corporationA body that helps fund and guide research for parts of Australian agriculture and related industries. board roles can be reused for 18 months instead of 12 months, cutting repeat nomination processes.
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Rural research and development corporations will not have to produce a yearly selection committeeThe group that runs the appointment process for some rural research and development corporation board roles. report when no appointments or other committee work happened that year.
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Australia repeals the old Rural Adjustment Act, removing outdated drought and farm business program laws that were replaced years ago.
Show source excerpts
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New subsection 129(1) differs from current section 129 in that the Presiding member is no longer required to abolish the Selection Committee. Instead, the Selection Committee would be abolished automatically at the later of the two provided times under subsection 129(1).
Agriculture Legislation Amendment (Modernising Administrative Processes) explanatory memorandum -
This amendment would enable a Selection Committee to meet the requirement under paragraph 130(2)(a) by inviting nominations through placing advertisements in a publication or on websites such as employment and recruitment websites, as appropriate. The amendment of paragraph 130(2)(a) would modernise the requirement to invite nominations by no longer requiring a Selection Committee to place advertisements in a newspaper.
Agriculture Legislation Amendment (Modernising Administrative Processes) explanatory memorandum -
This amendment would mean that a Selection Committee must not invite nominations from persons under paragraphs 130(2)(a) to (c) of the PIRD Act in relation to an appointment, if the Selection Committee is satisfied that a person included on a list made within the previous 18 months under paragraph 130(2)(d) is suitable for nomination, and the person has not been included on a list of persons given to the Minister under paragraph 132(2)(b) in relation to the appointment. This amendment would have the effect that the timeframe a list made under paragraph 130(2)(d) remains effective is extended from 12 months to 18 months. The intention of this amendment is to improve the administrative process for a Selection Committee in selecting persons for nominations.
Agriculture Legislation Amendment (Modernising Administrative Processes) explanatory memorandum -
While there may be a Selection Committee established for an R&D Corporation during a financial year, in some years, there will be no operations conducted by the Selection Committee and therefore nothing to report on. This could be because there were no vacancies required to be filled during that year. This amendment would allow for a more efficient administrative process by removing the requirement to provide a report for a financial year where there have been no operations to report on.
Agriculture Legislation Amendment (Modernising Administrative Processes) explanatory memorandum -
The Rural Adjustment Act contains obsolete provisions relating to the Rural Adjustment Scheme and the Farm Business Improvement Program. The Rural Adjustment Scheme ceased in 1997 and all financial commitments were acquitted by 30 June 2000. Funding for the Farm Business Improvement Program ceased on 29 February 2008. The programs were superseded by new reforms for drought support as part of the Intergovernmental Agreement on National Drought Program Reform (agreed on 3 May 2013).
Agriculture Legislation Amendment (Modernising Administrative Processes) explanatory memorandum
Context
Broader context for this bill
Old agriculture law still carried the Rural Adjustment Act long after the Rural Adjustment SchemeThe older scheme created under the Rural Adjustment Act that had finished long before this bill repealed the Act., the Farm Business Improvement ProgramAn old farm support program mentioned in the repealed law, but its funding had already ended years earlier. and the National Rural Advisory CouncilAn old advisory council created under the Rural Adjustment Act; by this bill's time its work had already been taken over by other bodies. had been replaced or allowed to lapse, while rural research and development corporationA body that helps fund and guide research for parts of Australian agriculture and related industries. appointments still depended on newspaper advertising, manual committee shutdowns and reporting even when nothing happened. The bill responded by updating those appointment rules, extending how long suitable candidate lists could be reused and repealing the obsolete Act, and it became law after Parliament passed it in May 2024.
- 1997-2000
Rural Adjustment SchemeThe older scheme created under the Rural Adjustment Act that had finished long before this bill repealed the Act. winds down under the old Act
The explanatory memorandum says the Rural Adjustment SchemeThe older scheme created under the Rural Adjustment Act that had finished long before this bill repealed the Act. ceased in 1997 and all financial commitments were acquitted by 30 June 2000, leaving part of the Rural Adjustment Act without an active program behind it.
Agriculture Legislation Amendment (Modernising Administrative Processes) explanatory memorandum ↗ - 29 Feb 2008
Farm Business Improvement ProgramAn old farm support program mentioned in the repealed law, but its funding had already ended years earlier. funding ends
The explanatory memorandum says funding for the Farm Business Improvement ProgramAn old farm support program mentioned in the repealed law, but its funding had already ended years earlier. ceased on 29 February 2008, adding to the outdated material still left in the Rural Adjustment Act.
Agriculture Legislation Amendment (Modernising Administrative Processes) explanatory memorandum ↗ - 03 May 2013
National drought reform replaces older farm support settings
The explanatory memorandum says the old programs were superseded by new drought support reforms agreed through the Intergovernmental Agreement on National Drought Program ReformThe 2013 agreement that replaced earlier drought support settings and made parts of the old Rural Adjustment Act obsolete. on 3 May 2013.
Agriculture Legislation Amendment (Modernising Administrative Processes) explanatory memorandum ↗ - 30 June 2015
National Rural Advisory CouncilAn old advisory council created under the Rural Adjustment Act; by this bill's time its work had already been taken over by other bodies. positions lapse
The explanatory memorandum says NRACAn old advisory council created under the Rural Adjustment Act; by this bill's time its work had already been taken over by other bodies. member positions were allowed to lapse or were revoked on 30 June 2015, with government engagement then handled directly with stakeholders instead.
Agriculture Legislation Amendment (Modernising Administrative Processes) explanatory memorandum ↗ - 28 Feb 2024
Government introduces a bill to modernise agriculture administration
In the second reading speech, the government said the bill would remove unnecessary regulation by replacing newspaper-only advertising, automating selection committeeThe group that runs the appointment process for some rural research and development corporation board roles. abolition and repealing redundant legislation.
Hansard ↗ - 16 May 2024
Parliament passes the bill
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, clearing the way for the outdated Rural Adjustment Act to be repealed and the appointment changes for statutory rural R&D corporationsA body that helps fund and guide research for parts of Australian agriculture and related industries. to take effect.
Parliamentary timeline ↗ - 30 May 2024
Royal AssentThe formal step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. turns the changes into law
Royal AssentThe formal step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. on 30 May 2024 made the measure an Act, and the explanatory memorandum states the whole Act would commence on the following day.
Parliamentary timeline ↗
Legislative route
How did it move through Parliament?
House Senate
Introduced 28 Feb 2024
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
Second reading opened 28 Feb 2024
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Second reading debate 19 Mar 2024
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Sent to Federation Chamber for debate 19 Mar 2024
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Referred to Federation Chamber
Second reading debate 20 Mar 2024
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House second reading agreed 20 Mar 2024
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
Returned from Federation Chamber 20 Mar 2024
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Reported from Federation Chamber
House third reading agreed 20 Mar 2024
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Introduced 21 Mar 2024
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
Second reading opened 21 Mar 2024
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Second reading debate 16 May 2024
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate second reading agreed 16 May 2024
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
Senate third reading agreed 16 May 2024
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Passed both houses 16 May 2024
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
Assent 30 May 2024
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe formal step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament., turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
The main case against this bill
No significant public case against the bill is recorded so far, with the debate presenting it as a narrow administrative cleanup rather than a contested policy change. Government and coalition speakers supported it, and no party represented in the debate argued the streamlined appointment and reporting changes would cause harm.
Criticism appears minimal because the bill mainly updates processes and repeals obsolete law.
Votes
Recorded votes
How the bill itself passed
The bill passed both chambers on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage.
Passed House passed the bill
House agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed
House passed the bill
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Passed Senate passed the bill
Senate agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed
Senate passed the bill
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Parliamentary debate
Who spoke, and what they said
Start here — lead voices
Lead supporting voice Supports
Bridget McKenzie
McKenzie says the coalition will support the bill because it modernises outdated agriculture laws, streamlines administrative processes, and repeals an unnecessary act.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead voice Supports
David Littleproud
Littleproud says the coalition will support the bill because its changes to agriculture administration are sensible, practical, and will improve how the research and development system is run.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead voice Supports
Katy Gallagher
Gallagher supports the bill, saying it will remove unnecessary regulation, modernise agriculture administration and repeal obsolete legislation.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
Labor
2 speakers · 3 contributions · 2 support
Labor
2 speakers · 3 contributions · 2 support
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Katy Gallagher ★ Gallagher supports the bill, saying it will remove unnecessary regulation, modernise agriculture administration and repeal obsolete legislation.
“The Agriculture Legislation Amendment (Modernising Administrative Processes) Bill 2024 will achieve this by removing unnecessary regulation, modernising administrative processes required under agriculture legislation, and repealing a redundant Act.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Catherine King ★ 2 contributions Ms King supports the bill, saying it removes unnecessary regulation, modernises agricultural administrative processes, and repeals an obsolete act to keep the statute book up to date.
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Catherine King on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Minister's second reading speech
Ms King supports the bill, saying it removes unnecessary regulation, modernises agricultural administrative processes, and repeals an obsolete act to keep the statute book up to date.
“Agriculture Legislation Amendment (Modernising Administrative Processes) Bill 2024 will achieve this by removing unnecessary regulation, modernising administrative processes required under agriculture legislation and repealing a redundant act.”
Read this contribution in Hansard ↗Second reading speech
Ms Catherine King supports the bill, saying it will modernise and streamline agricultural administrative processes, keep the framework fit for purpose, and remove obsolete legislation from the statute book.
“I again thank the chamber for bringing the Agriculture Legislation Amendment (Modernising Administrative Processes) Bill 2024 on. This bill will ensure administrative processes and regulation under agriculture legislation remain fit for purpose. It amends the Primary Industries Research and Development Act 1989 to modernise and streamline administrative processes, such as allowing for a more efficient process for selection committees to nominate directors for appointment to research and development corporations.”
Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Coalition
2 speakers · 2 support
Coalition
2 speakers · 2 support
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Bridget McKenzie ★ McKenzie says the coalition will support the bill because it modernises outdated agriculture laws, streamlines administrative processes, and repeals an unnecessary act.
“On behalf of the federal coalition, I can advise the Senate that we will be supporting the Agriculture Legislation Amendment (Modernising Administrative Processes) Bill 2024. Overall, it has our support because we believe that the amendments outlined in this legislation are sensible, responsible and practical.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
David Littleproud ★ Littleproud says the coalition will support the bill because its changes to agriculture administration are sensible, practical, and will improve how the research and development system is run.
“On behalf of the federal coalition I can advise the House we will be supporting the Agriculture Legislation Amendment (Modernising Administrative Processes) Bill 2024. Overall, it has our support because we believe the amendments outlined in this legislation are sensible, responsible and practical.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
Full record
- Act title
- Agriculture Legislation Amendment (Modernising Administrative Processes) Act 2024
- Act number
- Act No. 28, 2024
- Became law
- 30 May 2024
- Takes effect
- The whole of this Act 31 May 2024
- Registered
- 31 May 2024
- Administered by
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
- Final law metadata was collected from the APH progress table; commencement rows were parsed from the bill text.
- Status
- Act -- Collected from the APH bill page.
- Originating house
- House of Representatives
- 28 Feb 2024
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
- 28 Feb 2024
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
- 19 Mar 2024
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 19 Mar 2024
House · Referred to Federation Chamber
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 20 Mar 2024
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 20 Mar 2024
House · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
- 20 Mar 2024
House · Reported from Federation Chamber
Reported from Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 20 Mar 2024
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
- 21 Mar 2024
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
- 21 Mar 2024
Senate · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
- 16 May 2024
Senate · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 16 May 2024
Senate · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
- 16 May 2024
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
- 16 May 2024
Parliament · Finally passed both Houses
Passed both houses
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
- 30 May 2024
Assent · Assent
Assent
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe formal step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament., turning the bill into an Act.