Anne McEwen (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—On behalf of Senator O’Brien, I present the 18th report of 2009 of the Selection of Bills Committee.

Ordered that the report be adopted.

I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The report read as follows—

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

REPORT NO. 18 OF 2009

1.

The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 25 November 2009 at 6.31 pm.

2.

The committee resolved to recommend—That—(a)   the Food Standards Amendment (Truth in Labelling—Palm Oil) Bill 2009 be referred immediately to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 15 June 2010 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral);(b)   the Plain Tobacco Packaging (Removing Branding from Cigarette Packs) Bill 2009 be referred immediately to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 17 March 2010 (see appendix 2 for a statement of reasons for referral);(c)   the provisions of the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Welfare Reform and Reinstatement of Racial Discrimination Act) Bill 2009 and the Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (2009 Measures) Bill 2009 along with the Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Restoration of Racial Discrimination Act) Bill 2009 be referred immediately to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 9 March 2010 (see appendices 3 and 4 for statements of reasons for referral);

(a)

the Food Standards Amendment (Truth in Labelling—Palm Oil) Bill 2009 be referred immediately to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 15 June 2010 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(b)

the Plain Tobacco Packaging (Removing Branding from Cigarette Packs) Bill 2009 be referred immediately to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 17 March 2010 (see appendix 2 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(c)

the provisions of the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Welfare Reform and Reinstatement of Racial Discrimination Act) Bill 2009 and the Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (2009 Measures) Bill 2009 along with the Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Restoration of Racial Discrimination Act) Bill 2009 be referred immediately to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 9 March 2010 (see appendices 3 and 4 for statements of reasons for referral);

(d)

the provisions of the Tax Laws Amendment (2009 Measures No. 6) Bill 2009 be referred immediately to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 25 February 2010 (see appendix 5 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(e)

the provisions of the Tax Laws Amendment (Confidentiality of Taxpayer Information) Bill 2009 be referred immediately to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 25 February 2010 (see appendix 6 for a statement of reasons for referral); and

(f)

the provisions of the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Strategic Investment Program Amendment (Building Innovative Capability) Bill 2009 be referred immediately to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 25 February 2010 (see appendix 7 for a statement of reasons for referral).

3.

The committee resolved to recommend—That the following bills not be referred to committees:

• Australian Astronomical Observatory (Transitional Provisions) Bill 2009
• Australian Astronomical Observatory Bill 2009
• Australian Capital Territory and Other Legislation Amendment (Water Management) Bill 2009
• Crimes Legislation Amendment (Torture Prohibition and Death Penalty Abolition) Bill 2009
• Fairer Private Health Insurance Incentives Bill 2009 [No. 2]
• Fairer Private Health Insurance Incentives (Medicare Levy Surcharge) Bill 2009 [No. 2]
• Fairer Private Health Insurance Incentives (Medicare Levy Surcharge—Fringe Benefits) Bill 2009 [No. 2]
• International Arbitration Amendment Bill 2009
• International Tax Agreements Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2009
• National Health Security Amendment (Background Checking) Bill 2009
• Tax Laws Amendment (2009 GST Administration Measures) Bill 2009
• Veterans’ Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2009.

The committee recommends accordingly.

• The committee deferred consideration of the following bills to its next meeting:
• Britt Lapthorne Bill 2009
• Fisheries Legislation Amendment Bill 2009
• Health Insurance Amendment (Diagnostic Imaging Accreditation) Bill 2009
• Keeping Jobs from Going Offshore (Protection of Personal Information) Bill 2009
• Therapeutic Goods (Charges) Amendment Bill 2009
• Therapeutic Goods Amendment (2009 Measures No. 3) Bill 2009
• Trans-Tasman Proceedings (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Bill 2009.
• Trans-Tasman Proceedings Bill 2009

(Kerry O’Brien)

Chair

26 November 2009

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

APPENDIX 1

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Food Standards Amendment (Truth in Labelling - Palm Oil) Bill 2009

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

In undertaking the inquiry, the Committee should consider:

1.

The rights of consumers to be provided with accurate and truthful information to enable them to make an informed choice about the food products they are eating and purchasing;

2.

That allowing palm oil to be listed as “vegetable oil” on food packaging is misleading to consumers;

3.

That palm oil is considered high in saturated fats and consumers should be made aware if it is used in foods they are eating for health reasons;

4.

That the impact of palm oil production on wildlife, specifically Orang-utan’s in South East Asia is significant unless it is done sustainably;

5.

That sustainable palm oil can be produced with low impact on the environment and wildlife and with better labour laws on plantations; and,

6.

That manufacturers should be encouraged to use sustainable palm oil in their production process and can subsequently use the status of “Certified Sustainable Palm Oil” as a business benefit.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Zoos Victoria

Humane Society International Perth Zoo

WWF

Royal Zoological Society of South Australia

The Australian Orang-utan Project Palm Oil Action Group

Friends of the Earth Australia

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs (Legislation)

Possible hearing date(s):

February/ March 2010

Possible reporting date:

Thursday 18 March 2010

(signed)

Rachael Siewert

Whip/ Selection of Bills Committee member

APPENDIX 2

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Plain Tobacco Packaging (Removing Branding from Cigarette Packs) Bill 2009

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Smoking is a major health issue in Australia and the measures contained in this bill will go towards decreasing smoking rates in the community

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Australian Heart Foundation, Action on Smoking and Health, Cancer Council Australia, Public Health Association of Australia

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Community Affairs Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

February 16, February 17, March 3

Possible reporting date:

17 March 2010

(signed)

Stephen Parry

Whip/ Selection of Bills Committee member

APPENDIX 3

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Welfare Reform and Reinstatement of Racial Discrimination Act) Bill 2009

Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (2009 Measures) Bill 2009

Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Restoration of Racial Discrimination Act) Bill 2009

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

These are significant reforms to welfare policy which will affect a large number of disadvantaged Australians around which there has been significant community interest.

Assess the effectiveness of the amendments proposed in the bills to:

• improve the social and economic conditions, social inclusion and life outcomes of all the disadvantaged individuals and communities affected by the measures, including but not limited to the Northern Territory;
• deliver measurable improvements in protecting women and children, reducing alcohol-related harm, improving nutrition and food security, promoting community engagement and strengthening personal and cultural sense of value in all affected communities, including but not limited to Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory;
• reinstate the racial Discrimination Act 1975 and deliver on our international commitments under the UN Convention of the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in the operation of relevant legislation, particularly the Northern Territory National emergency response Act 2007;

Assess the evidence that the proposed measures will deliver their stated policy objectives in an appropriate and cost effective manner.

Consider the relative merits of alternative measures in achieving these outcomes. Assess the likely direct and incidental costs of the proposed measures including:

• the cost of administration and delivery of the measures;
• additional costs incurred by those subject to the measures;
• the costs incurred by businesses complying with the Basics Card and potential losses of businesses excluded from the scheme

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Non-government providers of social welfare services; national, territory and state peak welfare sector organisations; Indigenous organisations; welfare rights advocates and social justice organisations; Australian Human Rights Commission (both Race and Social Justice Commissioners); Law Council of Australia; community legal centres; academics and institutions involved in Indigenous and welfare policy issues; child protection and family violence experts; Indigenous health experts; public health, drug and alcohol experts; experts in employment and training with experience with disadvantaged groups; affected individuals and members of the public.

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Community Affairs Legislation Committee.

Possible hearing date(s):

To be determined by the committee

Possible reporting date: 11th March 2010

(signed)

Rachael Siewert

Whip/ Selection of Bills Committee member

APPENDIX 4

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Social Security and other Legislation Amendment (Welfare Reform and Reinstatement of Racial Discrimination Act) Bill 2009

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Assess the effectiveness of the amendments proposed in the bill in meeting the Government’s policy objectives to:

• address the social and economic disengagement arising from long term welfare dependence in disadvantaged regions, and in particular across the whole of the Northern Territory;
• improve the engagement, participation and responsibility of certain welfare
• recipients;
• continue and strengthen the measures to protect women and children, including reduce alcohol-related harm, improve food security, ensure appropriately secure tenure for the delivery of government services, promote personal responsibility and rebuild community norms in Northern Territory Indigenous communities; and
• reinstate the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (RDA) in the operation of relevant legislation, particularly the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Welfare sector, non-government providers of social welfare services, national and NT peak welfare sector organisations, peak Indigenous organisations in the NT and possible elsewhere, the NT Government, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, NT Local governments, Reconciliation Australia, the Law Council of Australia, the AMA, academics and academic institutions involved in welfare policy and Indigenous policy issues. There is also likely to be relatively strong interest from the public.

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Community Affairs Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

To be determined by the Committee Possible reporting date: 25 February 2009

(signed)

Kerry O’Brien

Whip/ Selection of Bills Committee member

APPENDIX 5

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Tax Laws Amendment (2009 Measures No 6) Bill 2009

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Technical piece of law which needs analysis before coming before Senate.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Chartered Accountants Association

Tax Associations

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Economics Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Throughout summer break.

Possible reporting date:

Report 25 February 2010

(signed)

Stephen Parry

Whip/ Selection of Bills Committee member

APPENDIX 6

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Tax Laws Amendment (Confidentiality of Taxpayers Information) Bill 2009

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Technical piece of law which needs analysis before coming before Senate.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Chartered Accountants Association Tax Associations

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Economics Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Throughout summer break.

Possible reporting date:

Report 25 February 2010

(signed)

Stephen Parry

Whip/ Selection of Bills Committee member

APPENDIX 7

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Textile, Clothing and Footwear Strategic Investment Program Amendment (Building Innovative Capability) Bill 2009

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

To examine the extent of support for industry through the grants and subsidies paid under this scheme.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia Textile Industry Association

Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Economics Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Throughout summer break.

Possible reporting date:

Report 25 February 2010

(signed)

Stephen Parry

Whip/ Selection of Bills Committee member