Helen Kroger (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I present the second report for 2014 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. 2 OF 2014

1. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 5 March 2014 at 7.15 pm.

2. The committee resolved to recommend—That—

(a) the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Unexplained Wealth and Other Measures) Bill 2014 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 15 May 2014 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(b) the Fair Work Amendment Bill 2014 be referred immediately to the Education and Employment Legislation Committee for inquiry and report, but was unable to reach agreement on a reporting date (see appendices 2, 3, 4 and 5 for statements of reasons for referral);

(c) the Land Transport Infrastructure Amendment Bill 2014 be referred immediately to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 24 March 2014 (see appendices 6 and 7 for statements of reasons for referral);

(d) contingent upon its introduction in the House of Representatives, the provisions of the Qantas Sale Amendment Bill 2014 be referred immediately to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report, but was unable to reach agreement on a reporting date (see appendices 8, 9, 10 and 11 for statements of reasons for referral);

(e) the Social Security Legislation Amendment (Green Army Programme) Bill 2014 be referred immediately to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 25 March 2014 (see appendix 12 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(f) the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Amendment Bill 2014 be referred immediately to the Education and Employment Legislation Committee for inquiry and report, but was unable to reach agreement on a reporting date (see appendices 13 and 14 for statements of reasons for referral); and

(g) the Trade and Foreign Investment (Protecting the Public Interest) Bill 2014 be referred immediately to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 16 June 2014 (see appendix 15 for a statement of reasons for referral).

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

Farm Household Support (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2014

Quarantine Charges (Imposition-Customs) Bill 2014

Quarantine Charges (Imposition-Excise) Bill 2014

Quarantine Charges (Imposition-General) Bill 2014

The committee recommends accordingly.

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

(Helen Kroger) Chair

6 March 2014

APPENDIX 1

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

Name of bill:

Crimes Legislation Amendment (Unexplained Wealth and Other Measures) Bill 2014

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Bill has serious implications for procedural fairness in relation to proceeds of crime matters.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Law Council of Australia; other legal bodies

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Possible hearing date(s):

April 14/15

Possible reporting date:

May 15

Senator Siewert

(signed)   

Whip / Selection of Bills Committee member

APPENDIX 2

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

Name of bill:

Fair Work Amendment Bill 2014

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Detailed consideration of the Government's legislation that amends the Fair Work Act 2009 consistent with the Government's Policy to Improve the Fair Work Laws.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Employer associations

Employee associations

State Governments

Department of Employment

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Education and Employment Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

To be determined by the committee

Possible reporting date:

13 May 2014

Senator Fifield

(signed)

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee Member

APPENDIX 3

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

Name of bill:

Fair Work Amendment Bill 2014

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Education and Employment Legislation. Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date:

5 June, 2014

Senator McEwen

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee Member

APPENDIX 4

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

Name of bill:

Fair Work Amendment Bill 2014

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Research and consideration of Bill's implications

Consultation with stakeholders

Possible submissions or evidence from:

ACTU, ETU, UFU, NTEU

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

15 and 20 April or 15 and 20 May

Possible reporting date:

June 5

Senator Siewert

(signed)

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee Member

APPENDIX 5

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

Name of bill:

Land Transport Infrastructure Amendment Bill 2014

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

The impact of the Bill in terms of Commonwealth spending on infrastructure and the relationship between Commonwealth and State funding of infrastructure. The impact of the Bill in terms of thresholds that are required to be met before infrastructure projects funded by State or Commonwealth governments are not put out to public tender.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Infrastructure Australia, Public Transport Users Association, Sub-Contractors Association.

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

RRAT

Possible hearing date(s):

28 March

Possible reporting date:

13 May

Senator Siewert

(signed)

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee Member

APPENDIX 6

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

Name of bill:

Land Transport Infrastructure Amendment Bill 2014

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date:

March 24, 2014

Senator McEwen

(signed)

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee Member

APPENDIX 7

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

Name of bill:

Qantas Sale Amendment Bill 2014

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

To evaluate the impact of proposed amendments on the aviation sector and the wider Australian economy.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Qantas, unions covering the Qantas workforce eg. ASU, TWU,

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport

Possible hearing date(s):

31st March/1st April

Possible reporting date:

13th May

Senator Siewert

(signed)

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee Member

APPENDIX 8

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

Name of bill:

Qantas Sale Amendment Bill 2014

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

March

Possible reporting date:

24 March, 2014

Senator McEwen

(signed)

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee Member

APPENDIX 9

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

Name of bill:

Qantas Sale Amendment Bill 2014

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Consideration of the opportunities the Bill will provide for Qantas to increase its competitiveness through the harmonisation of Australia's aviation regulatory framework.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Qantas

Virgin Australia

Regional Express Airlines

Aviation Associations

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Economics Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

To be determined by the committee

Possible reporting date:

17 March 2014

Senator Fifield

(signed)

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee Member

APPENDIX 10

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

Name of bill:

Social Security Legislation Amendment (Green Army Programme) Bill 2014

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Possible submissions or evidence from:

ACTU

ACOSS

Welfare Rights

Job Services Australia

Department of the Environment/Social Services/Employment

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Community Affairs Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date:

25 March 2014

Senator McEwen

(signed)

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee Member

APPENDIX 11

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

Name of bill:

Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency 2014

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Professor Kwong Lee Dow, Professor Valerie Braithwaite, Group of Eight, Innovative Research Universities, Regional Universities Network, Australian Technology Network, Universities Australia, Council for Private Education and Training, Council of International Students, Australian public and private higher education providers.

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Dependent on submissions

Possible reporting date:

16 June 2014

Senator McEwen

(signed)

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee Member

APPENDIX 12

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

Name of bill:

Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Amendment Bill 2014

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

The impact of the proposed de-regulation across the wider higher education sector, particularly on staff and students is the principal issue for consideration. Another issue to consider is the use of legislation to dismiss the TEQSA commissioners.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

National Tertiary Education Union, Universities Australia, TEQSA, National Union of Students.

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Education and Employment

Possible hearing date(s):

11 April

Possible reporting date:

18 April

Senator Siewert

(signed)

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee Member

APPENDIX 13

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

Name of bill:

Trade and Foreign Investment (Protecting the Public Interest) Bill 2014

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Investor State Dispute Settlement clauses are extremely complex parts of trade agreements. There is community concern about what the clauses in the recently signed free trade deal with Korea means for environmental and health regulation. The Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement which Australia is negotiating currently also may include 1SDS cases.

Australia is still fighting a high profile 1SDS case against Phillip Morris regarding plain packaging for cigarettes.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, international trade law practitioners, ACTU, Choice, Business Council of Australia, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Productivity Commission.

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade

Possible reporting date:

June 16 2014

Senator Siewert

(signed)

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee Member

I move:

That the report be adopted.