Dean Smith (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I present the 7th report of 2020 of the Selection of Bills Committee and I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The report read as follows—

1. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 26 August 2020 at 7.50pm.

2. The committee recommends that the following bills notbe referred to committees:

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

Civil Aviation Amendment (Unmanned Aircraft Levy Collection and Payment) Bill 2020

Radiocommunications (Receiver Licence Tax) Amendment Bill 2020

Radiocommunications (Transmitter Licence Tax) Amendment Bill 2020

Recycling and Waste Reduction (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2020

Recycling and Waste Reduction Charges (General) Bill 2020

Recycling and Waste Reduction Charges (Customs) Bill 2020

Recycling and Waste Reduction Charges (Excise) Bill 2020

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

National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2020 (see appendix 4 for a statement of reasons for referral).

(Dean Smith)

Chair

27 August 2020

Appendix 1

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill: Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation amendment (Streamlining Environment Approvals)

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration: This bill would make changes to important environmental approvals processes. It would amend the EPBC Act which is currently the subject of an independent review and the Senate should understand the full recommendations of the independent review before considering this legislation.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Committee to which bill is to be referred: Environment and Communications Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date: 30th November

(Signed)

Senator Siewert

Appendix 2

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill: Higher Education Support Amendment (Job-Ready Graduates and Supporting Regional and Remote Students) Bill 2020

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): no preference — depends on committee schedule

Possible reporting date: Late December 2020

(Signed)

Senator Siewert

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Higher Education Support Amendment (Job Ready Graduates and Supporting Regional and Remote Students) Bill 2020

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

The Bill seeks to fundamentally reform university funding; student fees; student protection and institutional audit measures.

The legislation fails to address aspects of the Government's proposed reforms that have a significant bearing on university purpose and operations.

There has been significant public and expert criticism of the Bill on a range of matters — including the underlying assumptions, the evidence base, unintended consequences and perverse incentives. Key stakeholders have expressed the need for a comprehensive inquiry given the extent and complexity of the reforms proposed and the lack of consultation to date.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Group of Eight

Universities Australia

Australian Technology Network

Innovation Research Universities

Regional Universities Network

individual Universities

National Union of Students

Professional Associations

Deans of Science; Deans of Education; Australasian Council of Deans of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities

NTEU, PSA

Policy experts and academics

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Education and Employment

Possible hearing date(s):

September - November

Possible reporting date:

30 November 2020

(signed)

Senator Urquhart

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee member

Appendix 3

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill: National Commissioner for Veteran Suicide Prevention Bill

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration: to allow for consideration of design of proposed National Commissioner, informed by the findings of the impending interim Commissioner, forthcoming government response to the Productivity Commission's A Better Way report, impacted stakeholder submissions and consultation.

Because the interim Commissioner (as announced February 5 2020) has yet to be appointed, the interim Commissioner's literature review, also announced in February, is also yet to commence. This review, consisting of a comprehensive review of known current and former ADF and Defence personnel suicides since 2001, as well as a progress update on the implementation of recommendations made in various reviews and reports since 2003, should be concluded to inform the design of the National commissioner's proposed functioning.

The expectation offered by the Government in February 2020 was that the interim Commissioner would produce an initial report back twelve months from commencement, with a final report due 18 months from commencement (or six months after the initial reporting date). As this has been delayed, it is reasonable to suggest that the work of the interim Commissioner should inform the consideration of the Senate committee, and such that the work of the interim Commissioner should be allowed to proceed without delay, and without undue haste. The 12-month timeline to produce an initial report should be honoured.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Families, spouses of suicided Defence personnel.

Departments.

Academics.

Legal Experts.

Productivity Commission.

Ex-service organisations.

Veteran advocates.

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

FADT Legislative Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date: August 2021

(signed)

Senator Lambie

Whip Selection of Bills Committee member

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention Bill 2020

National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2020

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Veterans' and their families have made it clear that they want a Royal Commission and that the Government's proposal, which is enabled by this legislation, is not satisfactory. This issue and the functioning of this National Commissioner needs further scrutiny.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Julie-Ann Finney from #SaveOurHeroes

Productivity Commission

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

FADT Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Sept-Nov 2020, Feb-Jul 2021

Possible reporting date:

August 2021

(signed)

Senator Siewert

I move:

That the report be adopted.