Kerry O'Brien (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I present the fourth report of 2009 of the Selection of Bills Committee.

Ordered that the report be adopted.

I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The report read as follows

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

REPORT NO. 4 OF 2009

(1)

The committee met in private session on Thursday, 19 March 2009 at 1.01 pm.

(2)

The committee resolved to recommend—That—

(a)

the order of the Senate of 18 March 2009 adopting the committee’s 3rd report of 2009 be varied to provide that the Australian Business Investment Partnership Bill 2009 and a related bill be referred immediately to the Economics Committee for inquiry and report by 7 May 2009 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(b)

the provisions of the Evidence Amendment (Journalists’ Privilege) Bill 2009 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee for inquiry and report by 7 May 2009 (see appendix 2 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(c)

the provisions of the Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Bill 2009 be referred immediately to the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Committee for inquiry and report by 7 May 2009 (see appendix 3 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(d)

the provisions of the Family Assistance and Other Legislation Amendment (2008 Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2009 be referred immediately to the Community Affairs Committee for inquiry and report by 7 May 2009;

(e)

the provisions of the Financial Sector Legislation Amendment (Enhancing Supervision and Enforcement) Bill 2009 be referred immediately to the Economics Committee for inquiry and report by 7 May 2009 (see appendix 4 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(f)

the provisions of the Law and Justice (Cross Border and Other Amendments) Bill 2009 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee for inquiry and report by 7 May 2009 (see appendix 5 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(g)

the provisions of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Amendment Bill 2009 be referred immediately to the Finance and Public Administration Committee for inquiry and report by 7 May 2009 (see appendix 6 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(h)

the provisions of the Native Title Amendment Bill 2009 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee for inquiry and report by 7 May 2009 (see appendix 7 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(i)

the provisions of the Social Security Legislation Amendment (Improved Support for Carers) Bill 2009 be referred immediately to the Community Affairs Committee for inquiry and report by 7 May 2009 (see appendix 8 for a statement of reasons for referral); and

(j)

the provisions of the Tax Laws Amendment (2009 Measures No. 2) Bill 2009 be referred immediately to the Economics Committee for inquiry and report by 7 May 2009 (see appendix 9 for a statement of reasons for referral).

(3)

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

• Defence Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2009
• Fuel Quality Standards Amendment Bill 2009
• Higher Education Support Amendment (VET FEE-HELP and Providers) Bill 2009
• International Tax Agreements Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2009
• Migration Amendment (Abolishing Detention Debt) Bill 2009
• Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Legislation Amendment Bill 2009
• Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Safety Levies) Amendment Bill 2009
• Tax Laws Amendment (Small Business and General Business Tax Break) Bill 2009
• Therapeutic Goods Amendment (2009 Measures No. 1) Bill 2009.

The committee recommends accordingly.

(4)

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

• Food Safety (Trans Fats) Bill 2009
• International Monetary Agreements Amendment Bill 2009.

Kerry O’Brien

Chair

19 March 2009

Appendix 1

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bills: Australian Business Investment Partnership Bill 2009

Australian Business Investment Partnership (Consequential Amendment) Bill 2009

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Economics Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date: 6 May 2009

(signed)

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee member

Appendix 2

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill: Evidence Amendment (Journalists Privilege Bill 2009

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

To assess adequacy of coverage of journalists in balancing public considerations interest

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Media and Entertainment Arts Alliance

Reporters without Borders

Australian Press Council

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Legal and Constitutional Committee

Possible hearing date(s): June

Possible reporting date:

July

(signed)

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee member

Appendix 3

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill: Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Bill 2009

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Bill deals with transition from Workplace Relations Act to the Fair Work Act.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Unions

Employer organisations

Employment law academics

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date: 22 May 2009

(signed)

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee member

Appendix 4

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill: Financial Sector Legislation Amendment (Enhancing Supervision and Enforcement) Bill 2009

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Examine the provisions of the bill that relate to the regulation of non-operating holding companies of life insurance companies and the provisions of the bill that relate to the harmonisation of powers for APRA to seek court injunctions.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Businesses and entities affected by this bill

APRA

Treasury

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Economics Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date:

7 May 2009

(signed)

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee member

Appendix 5

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill: Law and Justice (Cross Border and Other Amendments) Bill 2009

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Examine the provisions of the bill which set up the new cross-jurisdictional arrangements and also provisions that extend the trans-Tasman arrangements, between Australia and New Zealand.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

State Law Societies - WA, SA and NT

Legal Practitioners

Law enforcement agencies

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Legal and Constitutional Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date:

7 May 2009

(signed)

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee member

Appendix 6

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill: National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Amendment Bill 2009

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Examine the provisions of the bill that relate to the power and authority of the GEDO.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

The Greenhouse and Energy Data Officer

Industry Groups that interact with auditors and the GEDO

Auditors registered by the GEDO

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date:

7 May 2009

(signed)

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee member

Appendix 7

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill: Native Title Amendment Bill 2009

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Significant change to the Native Title legislation.

Major institutional change to the NNTT

Possible submissions or evidence from:

NTRBs. Land Councils. CAEPR. HREOC Social Justice Commissioner.

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Legal and Constitutional Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date:

(signed)

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee member

Appendix 8

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill: Social Security Legislation Amendment (Improved Support for Carers) Bill 2009.

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Examine the provisions of the bill to ensure that they adequately meet the needs of carers.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Carers

Carer groups and peak bodies

State Government agencies involved with carers

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Community Affairs Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date:

7 May 2009

(signed)

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee member

Appendix 9

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill: Tax Laws Amendment (2009 Measures No. 2) Bill 2009

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Examine all provisions of the bill to ensure that the aims stated in the legislation will be met and it will have no adverse impact on the Australian population.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

ATO

Small business groups

Stakeholders who will be impacted upon by the bill

Treasury

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Economics Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date:

7 May 2009

(signed)

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee member

Ordered that the report be adopted.