Senate debates
Thursday, 21 June 2007
Committees
Reports: Government Responses
John Hogg (Queensland, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
On behalf of the President, and in accordance with the usual practice, I table a report on parliamentary committee reports to which the government has not responded within the prescribed period. The report has been circulated to honourable senators. With the concurrence of the Senate, the report will be incorporated in Hansard.
The document read as follows—
PRESIDENT’S REPORT TO THE SENATE ON GOVERNMENT RESPONSES OUTSTANDING TO PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE REPORTS AS AT 21 JUNE 2007
PREFACE
This document continues the practice of presenting to the Senate twice each year a list of government responses to Senate and joint committee reports as well as responses which remain outstanding.
The practice of presenting this list to the Senate is in accordance with the resolution of the Senate of 14 March 1973 and the undertaking by successive governments to respond to parliamentary committee reports in timely fashion. On 26 May 1978 the then Minister for Administrative Services (Senator Withers) informed the Senate that within six months of the tabling of a committee report, the responsible minister would make a statement in the Parliament outlining the action the government proposed to take in relation to the report. The period for responses was reduced from six months to three months in 1983 by the then incoming government. The then Leader of the Government in the Senate announced this change on 24 August 1983. The method of response continued to be by way of statement. Subsequently, on 16 October 1991 [tabled 5 Nov 1991] the then government advised that responses to committee reports would be made by letter to a committee chair, with the letter being tabled in the Senate at the earliest opportunity. The current government in June 1996 affirmed its commitment to respond to relevant parliamentary committee reports within three months of their presentation.
This list does not usually include reports of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works or the following Senate Standing Committees: Appropriations and Staffing, Selection of Bills, Privileges, Procedure, Publications, Regulations and Ordinances, Senators’ Interests and Scrutiny of Bills. However, such reports will be included if they require a response. Government responses to reports of the Public Works Committee are normally reflected in motions in the House of Representatives for the approval of works after the relevant report has been presented and considered.
Reports of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA) primarily make administrative recommendations but may make policy recommendations. A government response is required in respect of such policy recommendations made by the committee. However, responses to administrative recommendations are made in the form of an executive minute provided to, and subsequently tabled by, the committee. Agencies responding to administrative recommendations are required to provide an executive minute within 6 months of the tabling of a report. The committee monitors the provision of such responses.
An entry on this list for a report of the JCPAA containing only administrative recommendations is annotated to indicate that the response is to be provided in the form of an executive minute. Consequently, any other government response is not required. However, any reports containing policy recommendations are included in this report as requiring a government response.
Committees report on bills and the provisions of bills. Only those reports in this category that make recommendations which cannot readily be addressed during the consideration of the bill, and therefore require a response, are listed. The list also does not include reports by committees on estimates or scrutiny of annual reports, unless recommendations are made that require a response.
A guide to the legend used in the ‘Date response presented/made to the Senate’ column
- * See document tabled in the Senate on 21 June 2007, entitled Government Responses to Parliamentary Committee Reports—Response to the schedule tabled by the President of the Senate on 7 December 2006, for Government interim/final response.
- ** Report contains administrative recommendations—any response to those recommendations is to be provided direct to the JCPAA committee in the form of an executive minute.
Committee and title of report | Date report tabled | Date response presented/ made to the Senate | Response made within specified period (3 months) |
A Certain Maritime Incident (Select) | |||
Report on a Certain Maritime Incident | 23.10.02 | *(interim) | No |
Administration of Indigenous Affairs (Senate Select) | |||
After ATSIC—Life in the mainstream? | 8.3.05 | *(interim) | No |
Review of the listing of six terrorist organisations | 7.3.05 | *(interim) | No |
Review of the listing of four terrorist organisations | 5.9.05 | *(interim) | No |
Australian Crime Commission (Joint Statutory) | |||
Supplementary report to the inquiry into the trafficking of women for sexual servitude | 11.8.05 | *(interim) | No |
Review of the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002 | 10.11.05 | *(interim) | No |
Examination of the annual report for 2004-05 of the Australian Crime Commission | 19.10.06 | *(interim) | No |
Inquiry into the manufacture, importation and use of amphetamines and other synthetic drugs (AOSD) in Australia | 28.2.07 | - | No |
Examination of the Australian Crime Commission annual report 2005-06 | 13.6.07 | Not required | - |
Community Affairs Legislation | |||
Tobacco advertising prohibition | 16.11.04 (presented 30.9.04) | *(interim) | No |
Therapeutic Goods Amendment (Repeal of Ministerial responsibility for approval of RU486) Bill 2005 | 8.2.06 | *(interim) | No |
Community Affairs References | |||
Quality and equity in aged care | 23.6.05 | *(interim) | No |
Workplace exposure to toxic dust | 13.6.06 (presented 31.5.06) | *(interim) | No |
Beyond petrol sniffing: renewing hope for Indigenous communities | 20.6.06 | *(interim) | No |
Community Affairs Standing | |||
Breaking the silence: a national voice for gynaecological cancers | 19.10.06 | 27.2.07 | No |
Funding and operation of the Commonwealth State/Territory Disability Agreement | 8.2.07 | - | No |
National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) Bill 2007 [Provisions] | 18.6.07 | - | Time not expired |
Corporations and Securities (Joint Statutory) | |||
Report on aspects of the regulation of proprietary companies | 8.3.01 | *(interim) | No |
Corporations and Financial Services (Joint Statutory) | |||
Report on the regulations and ASIC policy statements made under the Financial Services Reform Act 2001 | 23.10.02 | *(interim) | No |
Review of the Managed Investments Act 1998 | 12.12.02 | *(interim) | No |
Inquiry into Regulation 7.1.29 in Corporations Amendment Regulations 2003 (No. 3), Statutory Rules 2003 No. 85 | 26.6.03 | *(interim) | No |
Money matters in the bush: Inquiry into the level of banking and financial services in rural, regional and remote areas of Australia | 10.2.04 (presented 15.1.04) | *(interim) | No |
Report on the ATM fee structure | 10.2.04 (presented 15.1.04) | *(interim) | No |
Corporations Amendment Regulations 2003 (Batch 6); Draft Regulations: Corporations Amendment Regulations 2003/04 (Batch 7); and Draft Regulations: Corporations Amendment Regulations 2004 (Batch 8) | 24.3.04 | *(interim) | No |
Corporations Amendment Regulations 7.1.29A, 7.1.35A and 7.1.40(h) | 15.6.04 | *(interim) | No |
Property investment – Safe as houses? | 23.6.05 | *(interim) | No |
Timeshare: The price of leisure | 5.9.05 | *(interim) | No |
Statutory oversight of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission | 7.2.06 (presented 19.12.05) | *(interim) | No |
Corporate responsibility: Managing risk and creating value | 21.6.06 | *(interim) | No |
Statutory oversight of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission | 16.8.06 | *(interim) | No |
Corporations Amendment (Takeovers) Bill 2006 [Exposure Draft] | 26.2.07 (presented 23.2.07) | - | No |
Statutory oversight of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission | 1.3.07 | - | No |
Corporations Amendment (Insolvency) Bill 2007 [Exposure draft]; Corporations and Australian Securities and Investments Commission Amendment Regulations 2007 [Exposure draft] | 29.3.07 | - | Time not expired |
Corporations Legislation Amendment (Simpler Regulatory System) Bill 2007 and related bills | 19.6.07 | - | Time not expired |
Economics Legislation | |||
Annual reports (No. 1 of 2006) | 30.3.06 | *(interim) | No |
Provisions of the Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Bill 2006 | 17.8.06 | *(final) | No |
Economics References | |||
Report on the operation of the Australian Taxation Office | 9.3.00 | *(final) | No |
Consenting adults deficits and household debt—Links between Australia’s current account deficit, the demand for imported goods and household debt | 13.10.05 | *(interim) | No |
Economics Standing | |||
Petrol prices in Australia | 7.12.06 | 21.6.07 | No |
Electoral Matters (Joint Standing) | |||
Funding and disclosure: Inquiry into disclosure of donations to political parties and candidates | 9.5.06 (presented 31.3.06) | *(interim) | No |
Civics and electoral education | 18.6.07 | - | Time not expired |
Employment, Workplace Relations and Education References | |||
Bridging the skills divide | 24.11.03 (presented 6.11.03) | *(interim) | No |
Indigenous education funding – Final report | 22.6.05 | *(interim) | No |
Student income support | 23.6.05 | *(interim) | No |
Workplace agreements | 7.11.05 (presented 31.10.05) | *(interim) | No |
Employment, Workplace Relations and Education Standing | |||
Perspectives on the future of the harvest labour force | 19.10.06 | 21.6.07 | No |
Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References | |||
The value of water: Inquiry into Australia’s urban water management | 5.12.02 | 10.5.07 | No |
Regulating the Ranger, Jabiluka, Beverley and Honeymoon uranium mines | 14.10.03 | *(interim) | No |
Turning back the tide – the invasive species challenge: Report on the regulation, control and management of invasive species and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Invasive Species) Bill 2002 | 8.12.04 | *(interim) | No |
Lurching forward, looking back: Budgetary and environmental implications of the Government’s Energy White Paper | 14.6.05 (presented 16.5.05) | *(interim) | No |
The performance of the Australian telecommunications regulatory regime | 10.8.05 | *(interim) | No |
Living with a salinity – a report on progress: The extent and economic impact of salinity in Australia | 28.3.06 | *(interim) | No |
About time! Women in sport and recreation in Australia | 6.9.06 | *(interim) | No |
Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Standing | |||
Conserving Australia—Australia’s national parks, conservation reserves and marine protected areas | 9.5.07 (presented 12.4.07) | - | Time not expired |
Indigenous art – Securing the future—Australia’s Indigenous visual arts and craft sector | 20.6.07 | - | Time not expired |
Finance and Public Administration References | |||
Staff employed under Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 | 16.10.03 | *(interim) | No |
Matters relating to the Gallipoli Peninsula | 13.10.05 | *(interim) | No |
Government advertising and accountability | 6.12.05 | *(interim) | No |
Finance and Public Administration Standing | |||
Departmental and agency contracts—Second report on the operation of the Senate order for the production of lists of departmental and agency contracts (2003-06) | 27.2.07 | - | No |
Transparency and accountability of Commonwealth public funding and expenditure | 1.3.07 | Chairs’ Committee response 21.6.07 | No |
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (Joint Standing) | |||
Australia’s free trade agreements with Singapore, Thailand and the United States: progress to date and lessons for the future | 7.11.05 | 29.3.07 | No |
Australia’s defence relations with the United States | 13.6.06 | 1.3.07 | No |
Expanding Australia’s trade and investment relations with North Africa | 13.6.06 | 14.6.07 | No |
Australia’s relationship with the Republic of Korea; and developments on the Korean Peninsula | 22.6.06 | 29.3.07 | No |
Australia’s response to the Indian Ocean tsunami | 22.6.06 | *(final) | No |
Review of the Defence annual report 2004-05 | 18.10.06 | 21.6.07 | No |
Review of Australia-New Zealand trade and investment relations | 7.12.06 | 14.6.07 | No |
Australia’s relationship with Malaysia | 26.3.07 | - | Time not expired |
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation | |||
Reforms to Australia’s military justice system – First progress report | 17.8.06 | *(final) | No |
Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Amendment Bill 2006 | 7.9.06 | *(interim) | No |
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References | |||
Mr Chen Yonglin’s request for political asylum | 12.9.05 | 14.6.07 | No |
The removal, search for and discovery of Ms Vivian Solon—Final report | 8.12.05 | *(interim) | No |
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Standing | |||
Blue water ships: consolidating past achievements | 7.12.06 | *(interim) | No |
Reforms to Australia’s military justice system—Second progress report | 29.3.07 | - | Time not expired |
Information Technologies (Select) | |||
In the public interest: Monitoring Australia’s media | 13.4.00 | *(final) | No |
Intelligence and Security (Joint) | |||
Review of administration and expenditure: Australian Intelligence Organisations—Number 4—Recruitment and training | 14.8.06 | *(interim) | No |
Review of the re-listing of Al-Qa’ida and Jemaah Islamiyah as terrorist organisations | 16.10.06 | *(interim) | No |
Review of security and counter terrorism legislation | 4.12.06 | *(interim) | No |
26.2.07 | Not required | - | |
Review of the re-listing of Tanzim Qa’idat al-Jihad fi Bilad al-Rafidayn (the al-Zarqawi network) as a terrorist organisation | 9.5.07 | Not required | - |
Review of the re-listing of Ansar al-Sunna, JeM, LeJ, EIJ, IAA, AAA and IMU as terrorist organisations | 12.6.07 | Not required | - |
Legal and Constitutional Affairs Standing | |||
Unfinished business: Indigenous stolen wages | 7.12.06 | *(interim) | No |
Legal and Constitutional Legislation | |||
Provisions of the Telecommunications (Interception) Amendment Bill 2006 | 27.3.06 | 10.5.07 | No |
Legal and Constitutional References | |||
Reconciliation: Off track | 9.10.03 | *(interim) | No |
The road to a republic | 16.11.04 (presented 31.8.04) | *(interim) | No |
Administration and operation of the Migration Act 1958 | 2.3.06 | 14.6.07 | No |
Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Bill 2005 [Provisions], Corporations Amendment (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations) Bill 2006 [Provisions] and Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Consequential, Transitional and Other Measures Bill 2006 [Provisions] | 9.10.06 | *(final) | No |
Medicare (Select) | |||
Medicare – healthcare or welfare? | 30.10.03 | *(interim) | No |
Second report: Medicare Plus: the future for Medicare? | 11.2.04 | *(interim) | No |
Mental Health (Select) | |||
A national approach to mental health – from crisis to community – Final report | 9.5.06 (presented 28.4.06) | *(interim) | No |
Migration (Joint Standing) | |||
Detention centre contracts: Review of Audit report No.1 2005-06 – Management of the detention centre contracts – Part B | 6.12.05 | 14.6.07 | No |
Negotiating the maze – Review of arrangements for overseas skills recognition, upgrading and licensing | 11.9.06 | *(interim) | No |
Ministerial Discretion in Migration Matters (Select) | |||
Report | 31.3.04 | *(interim) | No |
National Capital and External Territories (Joint Statutory) | |||
Norfolk Island electoral matters | 26.8.02 | *(interim) | No |
Antarctica: Australia’s pristine frontier— Report on the adequacy of funding for Australia’s Antarctic Program | 23.6.05 | 1.3.07 | No |
Norfolk Island financial sustainability: The challenge – sink or swim? | 1.12.05 | *(interim) | No |
Current and future governance arrangements for the Indian Ocean territories | 13.6.06 | 14.6.07 | No |
Review of the Griffin Legacy Amendments | 22.3.07 | - | Time not expired |
Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Account (Joint Statutory) | |||
Report on the operation of | |||