House of Representatives

Customs Amendment (Alcoholic Beverages) Bill 2000

Second Reading Speech

McGauran, Peter, MP (Gippsland, Minister for the Arts and the Centenary of Federation, NP, Government)

I move:

That the bill be now read a second time.

The Customs Amendment (Alcoholic Beverages) Bill 2000 amends the Customs Act 1901 to reflect some of the government's tax reform measures insofar as they relate to excisable alcoholic beverages, as announced in the Tax reform: not a new tax, a new tax system document released in August 1998.

The bill makes minor changes to the Customs Act 1901 to ensure that imported products are subject to the same arrangements as similar locally manufactured excisable products. It mirrors the changes in the cise Amendment (Alcoholic Beverages) Bill 2000.

Full details of the measures in this bill are contained in the explanatory memorandum.

I commend the bill and present the explanatory memorandum.