Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I present the ninth report for 2007 of the Selection of Bills Committee. I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The report read as follows—

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

REPORT NO. 9 OF 2007

1.

The committee met in private session on Tuesday, 12 June 2007 at 4.16 pm.

2.

The committee resolved to recommend—That—(a)   the provisions of the National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) Bill 2007 be referred immediately to the Community Affairs Committee for inquiry and report by 18 June 2007 (see appendix 1 for statements of reasons for referral);(b)   the provisions of the Australian Citizenship Amendment (Citizenship Testing) Bill 2007 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee for inquiry and report by 31 July 2007 (see appendix 2 for statements of reasons for referral); and (c)   the provisions of the Fisheries Legislation Amendment Bill 2007 and the Fisheries Levy Amendment Bill 2007 be referred immediately to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee for inquiry and report by 18 June 2007 (see appendix 3 for a statement of reasons for referral).

(a)

the provisions of the National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) Bill 2007 be referred immediately to the Community Affairs Committee for inquiry and report by 18 June 2007 (see appendix 1 for statements of reasons for referral);

(b)

the provisions of the Australian Citizenship Amendment (Citizenship Testing) Bill 2007 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee for inquiry and report by 31 July 2007 (see appendix 2 for statements of reasons for referral); and

(c)

the provisions of the Fisheries Legislation Amendment Bill 2007 and the Fisheries Levy Amendment Bill 2007 be referred immediately to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee for inquiry and report by 18 June 2007 (see appendix 3 for a statement of reasons for referral).

3.

The committee resolved to recommend—That the following bills not be referred to committees:

• Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Administration) Amendment Bill 2007
• Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Legislation Amendment (2007 Measures No. 1) Bill 2007
• Corporations (Fees) Amendment Bill 2007
• Corporations (Review Fees) Amendment Bill 2007
• Corporations Amendment (Insolvency) Bill 2007
• Corporations Legislation Amendment (Simpler Regulatory System) Bill 2007
• Customs Tariff Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2007
• Defence Force (Home Loans Assistance) Amendment Bill 2007
• Evidence Amendment (Journalists’ Privilege) Bill 2007
• Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Legislation Amendment (Child Care and Other 2007 Budget Measures) Bill 2007
• Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Child Care Management System and Other Measures) Bill 2007
• Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2007
• Financial Sector Legislation Amendment (Restructures) Bill 2007
• Indigenous Education (Targeted Assistance) Amendment (2007 Budget Measures) Bill 2007
• Migration (Sponsorship Fees) Bill 2007
• Migration Amendment (Statutory Agency) Bill 2007
• Product Stewardship (Oil) Amendment Bill 2007
• Schools Assistance (Learning Together—Achievement Through Choice and Opportunity) Amendment (2007 Budget Measures) Bill 2007
• Social Security Amendment (Apprenticeship Wage Top-Up for Australian Apprentices) Bill 2007.

The committee recommends accordingly.

4.

The committee considered a proposal to refer the provisions of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Amendment (Township Leasing) Bill 2007 to the Community Affairs Committee, but was unable to reach agreement on whether the bill should be referred (see appendix 4 for a statement of reasons for proposed referral).

5.

The committee considered a proposal to refer the provisions of the Higher Education Legislation Amendment (2007 Budget Measures) Bill 2007 to the Employment, Workplace Relations and Education Committee, but was unable to reach agreement on whether the bill should be referred (see appendix 5 for a statement of reasons for proposed referral).

6.

The committee deferred consideration of the following bill to its next meeting:

(Stephen Parry)

Chair

13 June 2007

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

REPORT NO. 9 OF 2007

Appendix 1

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill(s):

National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) Bill 2007

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration

Consideration of the bill as necessary.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Community Affairs

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date:

18 June 2007

(signed) Stephen Parry

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee member

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill(s):

National Health Amendment (PBS) Bill 2007

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration

Bill proposes significant changes to the PBS which require scrutiny

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Health sector, consumer groups, DOHA

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Community Affairs

Possible hearing date(s):

15 June

Possible reporting date:

19 June 2007

(signed) G Campbell 12/6/07

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee member

Appendix 2

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill(s):

Australian Citizenship Amendment (Citizenship Testing) Bill 2007

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration

Consideration of the bill as necessary.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Committee to which bill is to be referred: Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport

Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date:

30 July 2007

(signed) Stephen Parry

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee member

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill(s):

Australian Citizenship Amendment (Citizenship Testing) Bill 2007

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration

To examine the viability and operation of the provisions of the bill which intends to impose the requirements of a Citizenship test on prospective migrants.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Prof Helena Rubenstein

Multicultural Development Association (MDA) – Brisbane

Migrant Resource Centres

Ethnic Communities Councils and other multicultural organisations

Southern Cross groups

Migration Institute of Australia

Committee to which bill is to be referred: Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport

Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date:

August 7 ^th 2007

(signed) Andrew Bartlett

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee member

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill(s):

Australian Citizenship Amendment (Citizenship Testing) Bill 2007

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration

To examine the provisions of the bill which will introduce a formal Citizenship test for prospective citizens.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Prof Helena Rubenstein

Prof Bob Birrell,

FECCA,

MRCS

AMEP providers

Other Ethnic/Multicultural Community Organisations (especially those who made submissions to discussion paper on Citizenship Test)

Southern Cross groups

Committee to which bill is to be referred: Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport

Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date:

Week commencing 7 ^th August

(signed) George Campbell 12/6/07

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee member

Appendix 3

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill(s):

Fisheries Legislation Amendment Bill 07

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration

On the basis of consultation with Fisheries stakeholders – principally Torres Strait representatives – to ensure their concerns have been effectively addressed by the proposed legislation.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Toshi Kris – Torres Strait Regional Authority Chairman

Contact: Wayne See Kee, GMgr, TSRA 0740690700

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

RRATC

Possible hearing date(s):

This week

Possible reporting date:

By Tuesday, Next Week 19/6/07

(signed) George Campbell 12/06/07

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee member

Appendix 4

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill(s):

Aboriginal Land Rights (NT) Am (Township Learning) Bill 2007

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration

To consider the merits of township learning model, particularly the entity holding the land lease

Possible submissions or evidence from:

NT Land Councils and other relevant parties

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Legal and Con

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date:

23/8/07

(signed) George Campbell 12/6/07

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee member

Appendix 5

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill(s):

Higher Education Legislation Amendment (2007 Budget Measures) Bill 2007

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration

To examine the impact of the 2007 higher education Budget measures on the university sector and university students: and

To seek further information on how these proposed measures will operate.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Universities Australia

National Tertiary Education Union

National Union of Students

Group of Eight Universities

Australian Technology Network of Universities

Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations

Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies

Department of Education, Science and Training.

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Employment, Workplace Relations and Education

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date: 3 August 2007

(signed) Andrew Bartlett

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee member

I move:

That the report be adopted.