Senate debates

Thursday, 9 February 2023

Committees

Selection of Bills Committee; Report

11:16 am

Photo of Anne UrquhartAnne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I present the first report of 2023 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. 1 OF 2023

9 February 2023

MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE

Senator Anne Urquhart (Government Whip, Chair)

Senator Wendy Askew (Opposition Whip)

Senator Ross Cadell (The Nationals Whip)

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

Senator Nick McKim (Australian Greens Whip)

Senator Ralph Babet

Senator the Hon. Anthony Chisholm

Senator the Hon. Katy Gallagher

Senator Matt O'Sullivan

Senator David Pocock

Senator Paul Scarr

Senator Lidia Thorpe

Senator Tammy Tyrrell

Secretary: Tim Bryant 02 6277 3020

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

REPORT NO. 1 OF 2023

1. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 8 February 2023 at 7.15 pm.

2. The committee recommends that—

(a) the COVID-19 Vaccination Status (Prevention of Discrimination) Bill 2022, and the Fair Work Amendment (Prohibiting COVID-19 Vaccine Discrimination) Bill 2023 be referred immediately to the Education and Employment Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 21 June 2023;

(b) the Human Rights (Children Born Alive Protection) Bill 2022 be referred immediately to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 1 July 2023;

(c) contingent upon introduction in the House of Representatives, the provisions of the Housing Australia Future Fund Bill 2023, the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council Bill 2023, and the Treasury Laws Amendment (Housing Measures No. 1) Bill 2023 be referred immediately to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 22 March 2023 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(d) the Migration Amendment (Evacuation to Safety) Bill 2023 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 7 March 2023 (see appendix 2 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(e) the provisions of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Consumer Data Right) Bill 2022 be referred immediately to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 23 March 2023 (see appendix 3 for a statement of reasons for referral); and

(f) the Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Closing the Gender Pay Gap) Bill 2023 be referred immediately to the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 16 March 2023 (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:

                                                    (Anne Urquhart)

                                                    Chair

                                                    9 February 2023

                                                    Appendix 1

                                                    Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                                    Name of bill:

                                                    Housing Australia Future Fund Bill 2023

                                                    National Housing Supply and Affordability Council Bill 2023

                                                    Treasury Laws Amendment (Housing Measures No. 1) Bill 2023

                                                    Reasons for referra l /principal issues for consideration:

                                                    Consultation with stakeholders on detail of package

                                                    Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                    Stakeholders in community and affordable housing and homelessness sectors, tenants' unions, public housing advocates and housing academics.

                                                    Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                    Currently for Finance & Public Admin but we'd like it to go to Economics as the most significant parts of the package are being managed by Treasury.

                                                    Possible hearing date(s):

                                                    Week beginning Feb 27 & April

                                                    Possible reporting date:

                                                    27 April

                                                    (signed)

                                                    Nick McKim

                                                    Appendix 2

                                                    Name of bill:

                                                    Migration Amendment (Evacuation to Safety) Bill 2023

                                                    Reasons for referra l /principal issues for consideration:

                                                    Bill has the potential to save lives

                                                    Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                    Refugee sector, human rights sector, academia

                                                    Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                    Joint Migration Committee or Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee

                                                    Possible hearing date(s):

                                                    23—24 March 2023

                                                    Possible reporting date:

                                                    7 March 2003

                                                    (signed)

                                                    Nick McKim

                                                    Appendix 3

                                                    Name of bill:

                                                    Treasury Laws Amendment (Consumer Data Right) Bill 2023

                                                    Reasons for referra l /principal issues for consideration:

                                                    Complicated issue

                                                    Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                    Various stakeholders

                                                    Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                    Economics Legislation Committee

                                                    Poss ible hearing date(s):

                                                    Feb—March

                                                    Possible reporting date:

                                                    23 March 2003

                                                    (signed)

                                                    Wendy Askew

                                                    Appendix 4

                                                    Name of bill:

                                                    Workplace Gender Quality Amendment Bill 2023

                                                    Reasons for referra l /principal issues for consideration:

                                                    Complicated

                                                    Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                    Various

                                                    Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                    Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee

                                                    Possible hearing date(s):

                                                    Feb—March

                                                    Possible reporting date:

                                                    16 March 2003

                                                    (signed)

                                                    Wendy Askew

                                                    I move:

                                                    That the report be adopted.

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