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

I present the 10th 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. 10 OF 2023

7 September 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. 10 OF 2023

1. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 6 September 2023 at 6.38 pm.

2. The committee recommends that—

(a) the Electoral Legislation Amendment (Fairer Contracts and Grants) Bill 2023 be referred immediately to the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 4 March 2024 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(b) the provisions of the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Bill 2023 be referred immediately to the Education and Employment Legislation Committee but was unable to reach agreement on a reporting date (see appendix 2 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(c) contingent upon introduction in the House of Representatives, the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Amendment Bill 2023 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by

18 October 2023 (see appendix 3 for a statement of reasons for referral); and

(d) the provisions of the Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Bill 2023 be referred immediately to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee but was unable to reach agreement on a reporting date (see appendix 4 for a statement of reasons for referral).

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

Pacific) Bill 2023.

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

Parliamentary Workplace Support Service (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023

(Anne Urquhart)

Chair

7 September 2023

Appendix 1

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Electoral Legislation Amendment (Fairer Contracts and Grants) Bill 2023

Reasons for referra1/principal issues for consideration:

in the public interest ahead of the next Federal Election.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

12 February 2024

Possible reporting date:

4 March 2024

(signed)

Nick McKim

Whip/ Selection of Bills Committee member

Appendix 2

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Bill 2023

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Complex issue needing wide ranging consultation

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Multiple stakeholders

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Education and Employment Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

September—November

Possible reporting date:

27 November 2023

(signed)

Wendy Askew

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Bill 2023

Reasons for referra1/princi pal issues for consideration:

Significant reforms to workplace relations that need further interrogation.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

unions, employer groups

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Education and Employment

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date:

1 Nov 2023

(signed)

Nick McKim

Whip/ Selection of Bills Committee member

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a commjttee

Name of bill:

Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Bill 2023

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Legislation implements a number of key workplace relations policies.

Possible submi ssions or evidence from:

Business groups, trade unions, academics, Law Council

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Education and Employment

Possible hearing date(s):

To be settled with committee chair

Possible reporting date:

1 November 2023

(signed)

A Urquhart

Appendix 3

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Statutory Declarations Amendment Bill 2023

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Complex issue needing wide ranging consultation

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Multiple stakeholders

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

September—October

Possible reporting date:

18 October 2023

(signed)

Wendy Askew

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a commjttee

Name of bill:

Statutory Declarations Amendment Bill 2023

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Provide stakeholders an opportunity to speak to the measures in the Bill enabling electronic and digital execution of statutory declarations.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Governance Institute of Australia Business Council of Australia Australian Banking Association Law Council of Australia Australian Lawyers Alliance Docusign

Adobe

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

TBC

Possible reporting date:

18 October 2023

(signed)

A Urquhart

Appendix 4

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Bill 2023

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Complex issue needing wide ranging consultation

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Multiple stakeholders

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Environment and Communications Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

September—November

Possible reporting d ate:

14 November 2023

(signed)

Wendy Askew

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Bill 2023

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Matter of public concern and environmental significance.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Environmental, industry and government bodies.

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Environment and Communications Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Mid-Late September.

Possible reporting date:

27 October 2023

A Urquhart

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Bill 2023

Reasons for referra1/principal issues for consideration:

To enable consultation with community members and experts

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Environmental organisations, community members, academics and other relevant stakeholders

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Environment and Communications

Possible hearing date(s):

TBC

Possible reporting date:

14 November 2023

(signed)

Nick McKim

Whip/ Selection of Bills Committee member

I move:

That the report be adopted.