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

I present the 11th 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

2 September 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. 11 OF 2021

1. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 1 September 2021 at 7.13 pm.

2. The committee recommends that—

(a) the provisions of the Biosecurity Amendment (Enhanced Risk Management) Bill 2021 be referred immediately to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 14 October 2021 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(b) the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Integrity of Elections) Bill 2021 be referred immediately to the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 14 October 2021 (see appendix 2 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(c) the Defence Amendment (Parliamentary Approval of Overseas Service) Bill 2020 be referred immediately to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 30 November 2021 (see appendix 3 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(d) the provisions of the Investment Funds Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 be referred immediately to the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 14 October 2021 (see appendix 4 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(e) the Live Performance Federal Insurance Guarantee Fund Bill 2021 be referred immediately to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 13 October 2021 (see appendix 5 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(f) contingent upon introduction in the House of Representatives, the provisions of the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure (Regulatory Levies) Bill 2021 and Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Bill 2021 be referred immediately to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 14 October 2021 (see appendix 6 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(g) the provisions of the Social Security Legislation Amendment (Remote Engagement Program) Bill 2021 be referred immediately to the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 14 October 2021 (see appendix 7 for a statement of reasons for referral); and

(h) contingent upon introduction in the House of Representatives, the provisions of the COAG Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 be referred immediately to the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 14 October 2021 (see appendix 8 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:

Customs Tariff Amendment (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement Implementation) Bill 2021

(Dean Smith)

Chair

2 September 2021

Appendix 1

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Biosecurity Amendment (Enhanced Risk Management) Bill 2021

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Whether the Bill has an appropriate regulatory balance for managing human health risks and reporting requirements for aircraft and maritime vessels to enable Australia' s borders to reopen safely.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Department of Health

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

open

Possible reporting date:

By 14 October 2021

(signed)

Anne Ruston

Whip/ Selection of Bills Committee member

Appendix 2

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Commonwealth Electoral Act (Integrity of Elections) Bill 2021

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Consider issue of auditing elections "cyber integrity" and voter identification.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Dr Vanessa Teague, School of Mathematics, ANU

vanessa@thinkingcybersecurity.com

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date: 1

4 October 2021

(signed)

Richard Hopkins

for Senator Roberts

Appendix 3

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Defence Amendment (Parliamentary Approval of Overseas Service) Bill 2020

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

This bill deals with issues of significant interest to the public and our democratic processes; therefore, the public should be afforded an opportunity to provide submissions and evidence to the parliament. Particularly as we begin the proc s of reflecting on the end of our longest war, the 20-year long conflict in Afghanistan, and looking in to the future of the changing security dynamics in our region, critical public debate is needed about war powers reform, and in particular, the proposed changes within this bill.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Former Defence and Foreign Ministers (e.g. Fmr Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr)

Academics e.g.

Peter Mulhein (Deakin University)

Dr Andrew Carr (ANU)

Dr Alison Bronowski

Professor David Letts (ANU, Director of Military Law Program)

Professor Ben Saul (Challis Chair of International Law at the University of Sydney)

Australians for War Powers Reform

The Australia Institute

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

September/October 2021

Possible reporting date:

30/11/21

November/December 2021

(signed)

Rachel Siewert

Appendix 4

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Investment Funds Legislation Amendment Bill 2021

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

The impact on the reduction of transparency regarding the Future Fund on investment choices.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Investors

Civil society

Academics

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Economics

Possible hearing date(s):

On the papers

Possible reporting date:

October 2021

(signed)

Rachel Siewert

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of Bill:

Investment Funds Legislation Amendment Bill 2021

Reasons for referral/pri ncipal issues for consideration :

Implications of the proposed changes in the bill, including the proposed FOI exemption and changes to the Medical Research Future Fund

Possible submissions or evidence from :

Department of Finance Department of Health

Future Fund Management Agency

Medical research sector

Public sector unions

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Finance and Public Administration

Possible hearing date(s):

To be determined by the committee

Possible reporting date:

14 October 2021

Senator Anne Urquhart

Appendix 5

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Live Performance Federal Insurance Guarantee Fund Bill 2021

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

There is an urgent need for support for the arts and entertainment sector given the covid situation across the country

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Artists and peak bodies across the arts and entertainment sector

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Environment & Communications Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date:

13th October 2021

(signed)

Rachel Siewert

Appendix 6

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a Bill to a Committee

Name of Bill:

Offshore Electricity Infrastructure (Regulatory Levies) Bill 2021

Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Bill 2021

Reason for Referral:

Referral is consistent with public and stakeholder interest in scrutiny of these Bills.

Possible Submissions or evidence from:

Unions, energy and environment groups, relevant stakeholders, DIS and regulator/s.

Committee to which the bill is to be referred

Environment and Communications Legislation Committee

Possible Hearing date/s

TBC in September

Possible reporting date:

14 October

Senator Anne Urquhart

Chief Opposition Whip

1 September 2021

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Offshore Electricity Infrastructure (Regulatory Levies) Bill 2021

Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Bill 2021

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

This Bill establishes a regulatory framework for a new Australian industry, building on this Government' s strong record of supporting renewables projects and critical grid infrastructure.

The bill will enable the development of an offshore electricity sector.

It will facilitate and regulate the development of offshore electricity infrastructure in Commonwealth waters, including transmission infrastructure and generation.

The Government believes these are important changes and recognises that there is significant interest from the Senate in these issues.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Star of the South

Tasmanian Government (Marinus Link)

TasNetworks (Marinus Link)

SunCable

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Environment and Communications Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

September/October 2021

Possible reporting date:

14 October 2021

(signed)

Anne Ruston

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee member

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Offshore Electricity Infrastructure (Regulatory Levies) Bill 2021

Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Bill 2021

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Adequacy of the proposed regime for supporting investment in offshore renewable energy

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Clean Energy Council

Renewable Energy Investors Unions

Academics

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Environment and Communications Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date:

November 2021

(signed)

Rachel Siewert

Appendix 7

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Social Security Legislation Amendment (Remote Engagement Program) Bill 2021

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Significant policy matters impacting First Nations communities including employment services, income support, mutual obligations, alternative employment models.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Dr Elise Klein, Tangentyere Council Aboriginal Corporation, Aboriginal Peak Organisations of the Northern Territory, Central Land Council, Human Rights Law Centre, North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency, Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of the Northern Territory, Professor Jon Altman, Children's Ground.

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Community Affairs References Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date:

(signed)

Rachel Siewert

14/10

Appendix 8

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a Bill to a Committee

COAG Legislation Amendment Bill 2021

Reason for Referral:

Need to examine impact of provisions noting the abolition of COAG coincided with the creation of the "National Cabinet".

Possible Submissions or evidence from:

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

Attorney-General's Department

Legal academics

Committee to which the bill is to be referred

Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee

Possible Hearing date/s

TBC

Possible reporting date:

Tuesday, 19 October 2021

Senator Anne Urquhart

Chief Opposition Whip

1 September 2021

I move:

That the report be adopted.

Question agreed to.