Anne McEwen (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I present the 12th report of 2010 of the Selection of Bills Committee.

Ordered that the report be adopted.

I seek leave to move a motion in relation to bills referred to committees as a result of the adoption of Selection of Bills Committee reports Nos 11 and 12 of 2010.

Leave granted.

I move:

That in respect of each of the bills referred to committee as a result of the adoption of Selection of Bills Committee reports nos 11 and 12 of 2010, where relevant, the committee have the power to consider and use the records of its predecessor committee appointed in the previous Parliament relating to its consideration of an earlier version of the bill.

I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The report read as follows—

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

REPORT NO. 12 OF 2010

1. The committee met in private session on Tuesday, 26 October 2010 at 4.29 pm.

2. The committee resolved to recommend—That the Food Standards Amendment (Truth in Labelling—Palm Oil) Bill 2010 be referred immediately to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by the fourth sitting day in 2011 (see appendices 1 and 2 for statements of reasons for referral).

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

• Banking Amendment (Delivering Essential Financial Services) Bill 2010
• Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Political Donations and Other Measures) Bill 2010.
• Health Insurance Amendment (Pathology Requests) Bill 2010
• Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Student Services and Amenities) Bill 2010
• Higher Education Support Amendment (2010 Budget Measures) Bill 2010
• Higher Education Support Amendment (FEE-HELP Loan Fee) Bill 2010
• Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2010
• National Radioactive Waste Management Bill 2010
• Poker Machine (Reduced Losses—Interim Measures) Bill 2010
• Restoring Territory Rights (Voluntary Euthanasia Legislation) Bill 2010
• Social Security Legislation Amendment (Connecting People with Jobs) Bill 2010
• Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Competition and Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2010
• Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment (Weekly Payments) Bill 2010

The committee recommends accordingly.

4. The committee considered the Water (Crisis Powers and Floodwater Diversion) Bill 2010 and noted that the Senate had agreed to refer the provisions of the bill to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report.

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

• Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2010
• Responsible Takeaway Alcohol Hours Bill 2010.

(Anne McEwen)

Chair

27 October 2010

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

APPENDIX 1

Proposal to refer a Bill to a committee

Name of Bill: Food Standards Amendment (Truth in Labelling - Palm Oil) Bill 2010

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

In undertaking the inquiry, the Committee should consider:

(1) The rights of consumers to be provided with accurate and truthful information to enable them to make an informed choice about the products they are eating and purchasing;

(2) That allowing palm oil to be listed as “vegetable oil” on food packaging is misleading to consumers;

(3) That the impact of palm oil production on wildlife, specifically Orang-utan’s in South East Asia is significant unless it is done sustainably;

(4) That sustainable palm oil can be produced with low impact on the environment and wildlife and with better labour laws on plantations; and,

(5) That manufacturers should be encouraged to use sustainable palm oil in their production process and subsequently use the status of “Certified Sustainable Palm Oil” under this Bill.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Submissions received to this Bill under the 42nd Parliament Zoos Victoria

Humane Society International

Perth Zoo

WWF

Royal Zoological Society of South Australia

The Australian Orang-utan Project

Palm Oil Action Group

Friends of the Earth Australia

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs (Legislation)

Possible hearing date(s):

October and November 2010

Possible reporting date:

24 November 2010

(signed)

Rachel Siewert

Whip / Selection of Bills Committee member

APPENDIX 2

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill: Food Standards Amend (Truth in Labelling - Palm Oil) Bill 2010

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

This Bill has already gone to committee with a report date scheduled for August 2010. However on 19 July 2010, the Governor General prorogued the 42nd Parliament and the Committee was not able to conclude its inquiry.

This inquiry received over 400 submissions. With the re-introduction of the Bill, the Committee should be provided with the opportunity to complete its inquiry and report.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Australian Food and Grocery Council Melbourne Zoo

Zoological Park Authority (Perth)

Taronga Conservation Society Australia Food Standards Australia New Zealand National Heart Foundation of Australia State and Territory Governments

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Community Affairs Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

November or December

Possible reporting date:

Fourth sitting day in 2011

(signed)

Stephen Parry

Whip / Selection of Bills Committee member