Graham Perrett (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs, I present the committee's advisory report on the Courts and Tribunals Legislation Amendment (Administration) Bill 2012 together with the minutes of proceedings in evidence received by the committee. I ask leave of the House to make a short statement in connection with the report.

Leave granted.

I rise today to table the advisory report of the Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs into the Courts and Tribunals Legislation Amendment (Administration) Bill 2012. The bill proposes reforms to the administrative structures and processes of the National Native Title Tribunal, the Federal Court of Australia, the Family Court of Australia and the Federal Magistrates Court of Australia. These reforms have been presented as a means to improve the operations of the affected bodies and achieve savings.

The House of Representatives Selection Committee referred this bill to our committee for inquiry and advisory report on 1 November 2012 to consider the means by which proposed efficiencies will be achieved, the effects on the administration of the courts, and whether the proposed amendments will improve access to justice. After consulting with stakeholders through a public hearing and submissions, the committee was satisfied with the objectives and implementation of the reforms. This bill is predominantly finalising and providing the legislative authority for a number of arrangements already in place or certainly well advanced. The courts, tribunal and Attorney-General's Department have been working together over quite some time to implement the reforms. While commending the bodies on their work to date, the committee considers it prudent for an external review to be undertaken by the Australian National Audit Office at an appropriate point in time. This would provide reassurance that the anticipated benefits in terms of efficiency and effectiveness of the affected courts and tribunal have been achieved.

In regard to ongoing reporting, the committee was satisfied that existing parliamentary processes such as agency annual reports and Senate estimates provide sufficient resourcing oversight. However, the committee recommended additional safeguards for the National Native Title Tribunal by asking the Attorney-General to direct the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner to report on the adequacy of the services provided by the National Native Title Tribunal. In terms of any proposed savings, the committee would like to take the opportunity to remind members that the Parliamentary Budget Office is the most appropriate body to provide advice on potential financial implications of a bill. The committee unanimously recommended that this House pass the Courts and Tribunals Legislation Amendment (Administration) Bill 2012. It is my understanding that the deputy chair of the committee would also like to speak. I commend this report to the House.

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