Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For the information of honourable members I present a schedule of outstanding government responses to reports of the House of Representatives and joint committees, incorporating reports tabled and details of government responses made in the period between 17 July 2014 and the date of the last schedule and 3 December 2014. Copies of the schedule are being made available to honourable members and will be incorporated into Hansard.

THE SPEAKER ' S SCHEDULE OF OUTSTANDING GOVERNMENT RESPONSES TO REPORTS OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND JOINT COMMITTEES

(also incorporating reports tabled and details of Government responses made in the period between

17 July 2014, the date of the last schedule, and 3 December 2014)

4 December 2014

THE SPEAKER ' S SCHEDULE OF OUTSTANDING GOVERNMENT RESPONSES

TO COMMITTEE REPORTS

The attached schedule lists committee reports tabled and government responses to House and joint committee reports made since the last schedule was presented on 17 July 2014. It also lists reports for which the House has not received a government response. Schedules of outstanding responses will continue to be presented at approximately six monthly intervals, generally in the last sitting weeks of the winter and spring sittings.

The schedule does not include advisory reports on bills introduced into the House of Representatives unless the reports make recommendations which are wider than the provisions of the bills and which could be the subject of a government response. The Government's response to these reports is apparent in the resumption of consideration of the relevant legislation by the House. Also not included are reports from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, the House of Representatives Committee of Privileges and Members' Interests, and the Publications Committee (other than reports on inquiries). Reports from the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights are only listed where the committee has examined and reported on a specific item(s) of existing legislation. Not listed are that committee's regular reports on the human rights compatibility of bills and legislative instruments that come before either House of Parliament.

Government responses to reports of the Public Works Committee are usually reflected in motions for the approval of works after the relevant report has been presented and considered. Reports from other committees which do not include recommendations are only included when first tabled.

Reports of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit primarily make administrative recommendations but may make policy recommendations. A government response is required in respect of such policy recommendations made by the committee. Responses to administrative recommendations are made in the form of an Executive Minute provided to, and subsequently tabled by, the committee. Agencies responding to administrative recommendations are required to provide an Executive Minute within six months of the tabling of a report.

4 December 2014

Notes

1. The date of tabling is the date the report was presented to the House of Representatives or to the Speaker, whichever is earlier. In the case of joint committees, the date shown is the date of first presentation to either the House or the Senate. Reports published when the House (or Houses) are not sitting are tabled at a later date.

2. If the source for the date is not the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives or the Journals of the Senate, the source is shown in an endnote.

3. For reports up to the end of 42nd Parliament, the time specified is three months from the date of tabling. While the Government has undertaken to continue to respond to reports within three months, from the 43rd Parliament (28 September 2010 onwards) the period within which the House requires a response is six months—see resolution of the House of Representatives of 29 September 2010. This resolution also puts in place additional steps for reports not responded to within that six month period. The period from when the 43rd Parliament was prorogued on 5 August 2013 and the commencement of the 44th Parliament on 12 November 2013 is not included in the response period.

4. Since July 2011 the Government has advised that it does not intend to respond to the report because of the time elapsed since the report was tabled. The committee has not agreed to the removal of this report from the schedule.

5. Since December 2013 the Government has advised that it does not intend to respond to the report because of the time elapsed since the report was tabled. The committee has not agreed to the removal of this report from the schedule.

6. In December 2013 the Government advised that it did not intend to respond to the report as this matter is being considered as part of the Government's Financial System Inquiry. The committee has not agreed to the removal of this report from the schedule. In December 2014 the Government advised that it does not intend to respond to the report because of the time elapsed since the report was tabled.

7. In December 2014 the Government advised that it does not intend to respond to the report because of the time elapsed since the report was tabled.

8. In December 2014 the Government advised that the need for a response was overtaken by legislation introduced by the previous Government and passed by the previous Parliament.

9. In December 2014 the Government advised that given the passage of time and the change of government, the Government does not intend to respond to the report.

10. In December 2014 the Government advised that given the passage of time and the change of government, the Government does not intend to respond to the report.

11. In June 2009 the Government advised that it did not intend to respond formally to this report. The committee awaits a response to recommendations of the report. In November 2009 the Government indicated a response is being considered and will be tabled in due course. In November 2011 and December 2013 the Government indicated it was in discussion with the committee on this matter. In July 2014 the Government advised that the Independent Contractors Act 2006 was assented to on 1 December 2006 and that the Government's response was covered during debate on the Bill.

12. In July 2014 the Government advised that the Broadcasting Services Amendment (Advertising for Sports Betting) Bill 2013 lapsed when the 43rd Parliament was prorogued. As at 13 May 2014, this Private Senator's Bill has not been restored to the Notice Paper, or re-introduced. The Government noted that in the report the committee recommended the bill not be passed. The report will be removed from the next schedule.

13. In July 2014 the Government advised that the response was provided by the introduction, passage and Royal Assent of the Act on 24 October 2012, and indicated that no further response would be provided. The committee has agreed to accept the Second Reading speech and the Senate summing up statement as the formal response to the Committee's comments. This report will be removed from the next schedule.

14. In December 2014 the Government advised that it will not be tabling a response to this report and commented that the Committee's report was effectively responded to by the enactment of the Coastal Shipping (Revitalising Australian Shipping) Act 2012 under the previous government. The Government indicated that is considering options to improve regulation of Australian shipping.

15. The Government has now responded to the recommendations by Executive Minute, excluding recommendation 14. A partial response was provided on 5 February 2012 and the final part of the response was provided on 22 September 2014. The Committee has resolved that no further action is required regarding a response by the Australian National Audit Office to recommendation 14. The report will be removed from the next schedule.

16. The Australian National Audit Office has responded by Executive Minute.

17. On 14 July 2014 the Government advised the Committee that on 25 June 2014 it has announced funding for the National FASD Action Plan, and that the plan would form the basis of the formal response to the inquiry. The Committee still awaits a response to recommendations of the report.

18. On 2 October 2014 the Chair of the Committee wrote to the Speaker seeking assistance to resolve the matter of the outstanding government response, in accordance with paragraph (3) of the resolution on government responses to committee reports, adopted on 29 September 2010. The Speaker subsequently wrote to the Minister for Justice seeking his assistance in resolving this matter. The government response was tabled on 24 November 2014.