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

I present the third report of 2021 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. 3 OF 2021

25 February 2021

MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE

Senator Dean Smith (Government Whip, Chair)

Senator Perin Davey (The Nationals Whip)

Senator Stirling Griff (Centre Alliance Whip)

Senator Pauline Hanson (Pauline Hanson's One Nation Whip)

Senator Rachel Siewert (Australian Greens Whip)

Senator Anne Urquhart (Opposition Whip)

Senator Raff Ciccone

Senator Katy Gallagher

Senator Jacqui Lambie

Senator the Hon James McGrath

Senator Rex Patrick

Senator the Hon Anne Ruston

Secretary: Tim Bryant ph: 6277 3020

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

REPORT NO. 3 OF 2021

1. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 24 February 2021 at 7.16 pm.

2. The committee recommends that—

(a) the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Save the Koala) Bill 2021 be referred immediately to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 2 December 2021 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(b) contingent upon introduction in the House of Representatives, the provisions of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Standards and Assurance) Bill 2021 be referred immediately to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 1 June 2021 (see appendix 2 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(c) the provisions of the Online Safety Bill 2021 and Online Safety (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Bill 2021 be referred immediately to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 11 March 2021 (see appendix 3 for a statement of reasons for referral); and

(d) contingent upon introduction in the House of Representatives, the provisions of the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Strengthening Income Support) Bill 2021 be referred immediately to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 12 March 2021 (see appendix 4 for a statement of reasons for referral).

3. The committee recommends that the following bills not be referred to committees:

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

(Dean Smith)

Chair

25 February 2021

Appendix 1

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Save the Koala) Bill 2021

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

To investigate the impact of a moratorium on land clearing on protecting the koala and other threatened species.

Possible submissions or evidence from: Environment Stakeholders

Community groups opposing projects in koala habitat Mining and property development industry

Scientists and Ecologists

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

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date:

2 December 2021

(signed)

Senator Hanson-Young, Rachel Siewert

Appendix 2

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill: Environment

Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Standards and Assurance) Bill 2021

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

To examine the bill, and allow for stakeholder feedback, with regard to the recommendations from the Samuel review.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Industry and environmental stakeholders

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

To be determined by the committee

Possible reporting date:

31 July 2021

(signed)

Senator Raff Ciccone

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Standards and Assurance) Bill 2021

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Adequacy and effectiveness of legislation to address failures of EPBC Act and issues and recommendations of Professor Graeme Samuel's report into the EPBC Act

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Environment Stakeholders Industry Stakeholders Professor Graeme Samuel

State and Territory Environment Ministers

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Environment and Communications

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date:

30 June 2021

(signed)

Rachel Siewert

Appendix 3

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Online Safety Bill 2021

Online Safety (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Bill 2021

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Scrutiny, human rights, internet governance, regulatory remit, regulatory burden.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

List of submitters available at Government consultation pages:

https://www.communications.gov.au/have-your-say/consultation-bill-new-online­safety-act

https://www.communications.gov.au/have-your-say/consultation-online-safety­reforms

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

To be determined by the committee

Possible reporting date:

11 March 2021

(signed)

Senator Raff Ciccone

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Online Safety Bill 2021

Online Safety (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Bill 2021

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

To establish whether this complex legal framework can adequately protect vulnerable online users whilst also having adequate regard to human rights

To scrutinise the objectives, implications, and obligations of this legal framework for law enforcement agencies

To scrutinise the objectives, implications, and obligations of this legal framework for tech companies

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Academics and thinktanks

Business groups

ICT peak bodies

Community groups

Consumer groups

Other affected stakeholder groups

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Legal and Constitutional Affairs or Environment and Communications

Possible hearing date(s):

On the papers

Possible reporting date:

6 April 2021

(signed)

Rachel Siewert

Appendix 4

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Strengthening Income Support) Bill 2021

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

How decision was made to increase Jobseeker by $50 a fortnight including modelling and advice sought

Impact of changes on people living on Jobseeker, Youth Allowance and related payments

Changes to mutual obligations and new employer hotline

Possible submissions or evidence from:

ACOSS

Uniting Care

Anglicare

AUWU

COTA

Social security academics

DSS

DESE

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Community Affairs

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date:

15/3/21

(signed)

Senator Siewert

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Social Services Legislation Amendment (Strengthening Income Support) Bill 2021

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Social and economic impacts of the Bill.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Business and community groups, academics.

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

One hearing in the week of 1 March 2021.

Possible reporting date:

11 March 2021.

(signed)

Senator Raff Ciccone

I move:

That the report be adopted.

Question agreed to.