2013-2014

 

 

 

 

THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Australian Workforce and productivity agency

repeal Bill 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Circulated by authority of the Minister for Industry,

the Honourable Ian MacFarlane MP)

AUSTRALIAN WORKFORCE AND PRODUCTIVITY AGENCY

REPEAL BILL 2014

 

 

OUTLINE

 

The purpose of the Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency Repeal Bill 2014 (the Bill) is to repeal the Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency Act 2008 and abolish the Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency (the Agency).

 

The Bill is part of the Government’s commitment to streamline its advisory arrangements and to rationalise the number of portfolio bodies across government.

 

Currently the Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency Act 2008 establishes the legislative framework for the Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency, which provides independent advice in relation to Australia’s current, emerging and future skills and workforce development needs. It is the Government’s intention that these functions will be brought into the Department of Industry to strengthen resources and the capacity of the Department of Industry to provide targeted advice.

 

 

FINANCIAL IMPACT STATEMENT

 

A low degree of financial savings are expected to be achieved from this measure, primarily from abolishing the Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency Board.

 

 

REGULATION IMPACT STATEMENT

 

The Office of Best Practice Regulation has confirmed that the repeal of the Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency Act 2008 does not have more than a minor regulatory impact on business, community organisations or individuals and will not require a regulatory impact statement.

 

 

 

STATEMENT OF COMPATIBILITY WITH HUMAN RIGHTS

 

Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011

 

 

australian workforce and productivity agency

repeal bill 2014

 

 

This Bill is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

Overview of the Bill

The purpose of the Bill is to abolish Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency by repeal of the Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency Act 2008 (the Act). The Bill is part of the Government’s commitment to rationalising the number of portfolio bodies across government by streamlining its advisory arrangements.

 

Human Rights Implications

Schedule 1 to the Bill does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms. Item 1 of Schedule 1 provides for the repeal of the Act in its entirety.

The Agency’s role, as identified in section 6 of the Act, includes providing advice to the Minister on Australia’s workforce skills needs and workforce development needs to improve the productivity of the Australian workforce. The Agency’s statutory mandate to provide advice and recommendations to the Government does not create or modify any legal rights, duties or liberties which impact on Australia’s compliance with its international human rights obligations.

 

Conclusion

The Bill is compatible with human rights and does not raise any human rights issues.

 

The Minister for Industry, the Honourable Ian Macfarlane MP

 

Australian workforce and productivity agency

repeal Bill 2014

 

NOTES ON CLAUSES

 

 

Clause 1 - Short title

 

Clause 1 provides that, when enacted, the new Act may be cited as the Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency Repeal Act 2014.

 

Clause 2 - Commencement

 

Subclause 2(1) inserts a three column table setting out commencement information for various provisions in the Act. Each provision of the Act specified in column 1 of the table commences (or is taken to have commenced) in accordance with column 2 of the table and any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

 

The table has the effect of providing for:

• sections 1 to 3 and anything in the Act not elsewhere covered by the table shall commence on Royal Assent;
• Schedule 1 shall commence the later of 30 June 2014 and the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.

 

Subclause 2(2) provides that column 3 of the table is for additional information which may be added to or edited in any published version of the Act but that information is not part of the Act.

 

Clause 3 - Schedule(s)

 

Provides that each Act that is specified in a schedule is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the schedule and that any other item in a schedule has effect according to its terms.

 

 

 

Schedule 1— Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency Act 2008

 

Item 1 - The whole of the Act

 

Item 1 will repeal the Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency Act 2008 in its entirety.

 

In accordance with the Government’s intention to streamline its advisory arrangements, the purpose of the Bill is to repeal the Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency Act 2008 to abolish the Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency (the Agency).

 

As part of its winding down, the Agency’s core research and other key functions will be transferred to the Department of Industry to integrate the Agency’s work within the industry portfolio. The new arrangements will put the Department in the best place to deliver its core functions more efficiently. The change will streamline processes and strengthen resources and capability across the portfolio and provide stronger linkages between skills and industry sectors.