David Bushby (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I present the sixth report for 2015 of the Selection of Bills Committee and I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The report read as follows—

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

REPORT NO. 6 OF 2015

1. The committee met in private session on Monday, 15 June 2015 at 7.19 pm.

2. The committee resolved to recommend—That—

(a) the provisions of the National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2015 be referred immediately to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 23 June 2015 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral); and

(b) the provisions of the Water Amendment Bill 2015 be referred immediately to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 8 September 2015 (see appendix 2 for a statement of reasons for referral).

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

Export Charges (Imposition—Customs) Bill 2015

Export Charges (Imposition—Excise) Bill 2015

Export Charges (Collection) Bill 2015

Energy Grants and Other Legislation Amendment (Ethanol and Biodiesel) Bill 2015

Private Health Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Bill 2015

Private Health Insurance (Prudential Supervision) (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2015

Private Health Insurance Supervisory Levy Imposition Bill 2015

Private Health Insurance (Risk Equalisation Levy) Amendment Bill 2015

Private Health Insurance (Collapsed Insurer Levy) Amendment Bill 2015

Tax Laws Amendment (Small Business Measures No. 2) Bill 2015.

The committee recommends accordingly.

4. The committee considered the following bills but was unable to reach agreement:

Medical Research Future Fund (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2015.

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

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2015

Imported Food Charges (Imposition—Customs) Bill 2015

Imported Food Charges (Imposition—Excise) Bill 2015

Imported Food Charges (Collection) Bill 2015

(David Bushby)

Chair

16 June 2015

Appendix 1

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a com mittee

Name of bill:

National Health Amendment {Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 201.S

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

To allow stakeholders to respond to the proposed changes.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Consumers Health Forum, Public Health Association of Australia, Generic Medicines Industry Association, Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Medicines Australia.

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Economics

Possible hearing date(s):

19 June 2015

Possible reporting date:

23 June 2015

(signed)

Senator McEwen

Appendix 2

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Water Amendment Bill 2015

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

The bill imposes a limit of 1500 gigalitres for Commonwealth buybacks of water across the Murray-Darling Basin. This is despite water purchase from willing sellers widely recognised as the most cost effective means of water recovery for the environment.

The Murray Darling Basin Plan mandates the recovery of 2750 GL of water for the environment by 2019. Water recovery to date is 1951 GL - about 70% of the required total.

The government has expressed a preference for recovering the remaining water through infrastructure projects but has not clarified how this will occur. However it is recognised that buybacks of water are 2 to 7 times cheaper than 'other' forms of water recovery.

The bill will significantly impact key stakeholders and have environmental impacts. An inquiry will allow these impacts to be brought to lights.

Possible submissions or evidence from: Environment Victoria; Inland Rivers Network; Water Services Association of Australia; Aboriginal Land Council; WWF; Wentworth Group of Scientists; Wilderness Society; Queensland Conservation; UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures; CSU Institute for Land, Water & Society; eWater.

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Environment and Communications

Possible hearing date(s):

September

Possible reporting date:

September

(signed)

Senator Rachel Siewert

I move:

  That the report be adopted.