Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

I present report No. 73 of the Selection Committee relating to private members' business and referrals of bills to committees. The report will be printed in the Hansard for today, and the committee's determination will appear on the Notice Paper. Copies of the report have been placed on the table.

The report read as follows—

Report relating to private Members ' business and the consideration of bills introduced 26 to 29 November 2012

1. The committee met in private session on 28 and 29 November 2012.

2. The committee determined that the following referrals of bills to committees be made—

Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs

REASONS FOR REFERRAL/PRINCIPAL ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION:

To specifically examine and report on the benefits or otherwise of an amendment to the Bill that would reverse the onus of proof for claimants on on-going connection to land. This has a long list of public commentary that would be available, and organisations like the Law Council of Australia have previously held strong and positive views for such a change.

Standing Committee on Agriculture, Resources, Fisheries and Forestry

REASONS FOR REFERRAL/PRINCIPAL ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION:

The new legislation for the chemical regulator has ignored stakeholder concerns and will massively increase regulation, increase the cost of chemical registration by one third or around $8 m, and add another layer of red tape. This is despite the Minister for Finance and Deregulation listing Agvet chemical reform in the 2012 update on the Australian Government deregulation agenda as a key example that will reduce regulatory compliance costs for business and improve their competitiveness.

The reform process was supposed to address two key areas; the cumbersome assessment and registration process to make it more cost efficient for business and to provide industry with timely access to the best and safest crop and animal protectants; and slowness of review of chemicals identified with potential environmental and safety hazards.

However the new legislation instead focuses on adding another layer of red tape with an automatic 7-15 year review process. Despite the RIS for the Agvet reform stating that it is envisaged that the numbers of chemicals referred for review broadly equate to the existing numbers of review nominations.

Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services

REASONS FOR REFERRAL/PRINCIPAL ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION:

Significant reform of superannuation; controversial and complex subject matter; stakeholders have expressed concerns over a number of the provisions; and the potential unintended consequences.

Standing Committee on Economics

REASONS FOR REFERRAL/PRINCIPAL ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION:

Implication of policy decisions, in particular: interim streaming rules for managed investment trusts until the commencement of the new tax system for managed investment trusts; income test to the rebate for medical expenses from 1 July 2012; definition of 'limited recourse debt' includes arrangements where, in substance or effect, the debtor is not fully at risk in relation to the debt; removal of the concessional fringe benefits tax treatment for in-house fringe benefits accessed by way of salary packaging arrangements.

Standing Committee on Education and Employment

REASONS FOR REFERRAL/PRINCIPAL ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION:

To enable the committee to consult with school communities regarding the development and implementation of the National Plan for School Improvement.

REASONS FOR REFERRAL/PRINCIPAL ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION:

To determine whether the bill adequately addresses the nature and effects of insecure work in Australia.

Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters

REASONS FOR REFERRAL/PRINCIPAL ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION:

To further scrutinise the bill to ensure consideration is given to any unintended consequences.

3.The committee recommends that the following items of private Members' business listed on the notice paper be voted on:

Orders of the Day—

Government investment in research (Mr Bandt)

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Making Marine    Parks Accountable) Bill 2012 [No. 2] (Mr Christensen)

Health in the Torres Strait Protected Zone (Mr Entsch)

National Critical Care and Trauma Centre (Mrs Griggs)

World Hepatitis Day (Ms Gambaro)

Viability of rural producers (Ms Marino)

Code of conduct for Members of Parliament (Mr Oakeshott)

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