Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

(): I present report No. 77 of the Selection Committee, relating to the consideration of bills. The report will be printed in the Hansard today. Copies of the report have been placed on the table.

The report read as follows—

Report relating to the consideration of bills introduced 12 to 14 March 2013.

1. The committee met in private session on 13 and 14 March 2013.

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

Standing Committee on Climate Change, Environment and the Arts:

REASONS FOR REFERRAL/PRINCIPAL ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION:

This is a major change to the EPBC Act and requires very close scrutiny.

Standing Committee on Infrastructure and Communications:

REASONS FOR REFERRAL/PRINCIPAL ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION:

Referral is proposed because of the extremely short timeframe the Government has proposed for consideration of these laws. The Government's so-called 'media reforms' are the largest shakeup of media regulation since 2006. Some of the most important elements of these measures, such as the precise criteria defining the 'public interest' which the legislation will apply to changes of media ownership, have not been publicly disclosed prior to introduction of these bills. As a result there has been no opportunity to consider any unintended consequences or conflicts with existing laws and regulations. The laws also propose the first direct government controls over material published in newspapers in peace time in Australian history. To expect the Parliament to debate and vote on such far-reaching bills without the opportunity to call witnesses, to hear evidence and to undertake the detailed objective scrutiny only a committee process provides would be an abuse of the democratic process.