Senate debates

Thursday, 12 May 2011

Committees

Selection of Bills Committee; Report

11:51 am

Photo of Anne McEwenAnne McEwen (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

I present the fifth report 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. 5 OF 2011

1.   The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 11 May 2011 at 7.36 pm.

2.   The committee resolved to recommend—That—

(a)   the provisions of the Child Support (Registration and Collection) Amendment Bill 2011 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 7 July 2011 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(b)   the provisions of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Amendment Bill 2011 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 7 July 2011 (see appendix 2 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(c)   the provisions of the Migration Amendment (Strengthening the Character Test and Other Provisions) Bill 2011 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 20 June 2011 (see appendix 3 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(d)   the Native Title Amendment (Reform) Bill 2011 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 20 September 2011 (see appendix 4 for a statement of reasons for referral); and

(e)   the Remuneration and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2011 be referred immediately to the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 17 June 2011 (see appendix 5 for a statement of reasons for referral).

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

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

                                      Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Further Election Commitments and Other Measures) Bill 2011

                                      Responsible Takeaway Alcohol Hours Bill 2010.

                                      (Anne McEwen)

                                      Chair

                                      12 May 2011

                                      APPENDIX 1

                                      SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                      Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                      Name of bill:

                                      Child Support (Registration and Collection) Amendment Bill 2011

                                      Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                          Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                          Child Support Agency

                                          Privacy Commissioner

                                          Director of Public Prosecutions

                                          Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                          Legal and Constitutional Affairs

                                          Possible hearing date(s):

                                          Possible reporting date:

                                          7 July 2011

                                          (signed)

                                          Mitch Fifield

                                          Whip / Selection of Bills Committee member

                                          APPENDIX 2

                                          SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                          Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                          Name of bill:

                                          Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Amendment Bill 2011

                                          Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                          Whether provisions as to the delegation of powers are appropriate;

                                          Inquire into oversight of use of coercive powers by delegates.

                                          Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                          Attorney-General's Department

                                          Intelligence and Security Agencies

                                          IGIS

                                          Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                          Legal and Constitutional Affairs

                                          Possible hearing date(s):

                                          Possible reporting date:

                                          7 July 2011

                                          (signed)

                                          Mitch Fifield

                                          Selection of Bills Committee member

                                          APPENDIX 3

                                          SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                          Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                          Name of bill:

                                          Migration Amendment (Strengthening the Character Test and Other Provisions) Bill 2011

                                          Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                          Interaction with existing legislative requirements under domestic laws

                                          Interaction with our international obligations

                                          Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                          Refugee Council of Australia

                                          Refugee Information Law Centre

                                          Australian Human Rights Commission

                                          DIAC

                                          AFP

                                          Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                          Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee

                                          Possible hearing date(s):

                                          9 and 10 June

                                          Possible reporting date:

                                          June 23

                                          (signed)

                                          Rachel Siewert

                                          Whip/ Selection of Bills Committee member

                                          APPENDIX 4

                                          SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                          Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                          Name of bill:

                                          Native Title Amendment (Reform) Bill

                                          Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                          The Bill is complex and raises a range of stakeholder interests - it is important that there is an opportunity to properly investigate and consider these.

                                          Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                          Committee to which bill is to be referred: Legal and Constitutional Affairs

                                          Possible hearing date(s):

                                          Possible reporting date:

                                          September 2011

                                          (signed)

                                          Anne McEwen

                                          Selection of Bills Committee member

                                          APPENDIX 5

                                          SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                          Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                          Name of bill:

                                          Remuneration and Other Legislation Amendment Bill

                                          Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                          The speed with which the bill has been introduced, passed through the House and scheduled in the Senate has left insufficient time to consider the bill adequately.

                                          Particular issues for consideration are the removal of parliament's ability to disallow parliamentary remuneration determinations.

                                          Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                          Clerk of the Senate, CPSU, Remuneration Tribunal, Barbara Belcher or members of the review

                                          Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                          Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee

                                          Possible hearing date(s):

                                          Possible reporting date:

                                          22 June 2011

                                          (signed)

                                          Rachel Siewert

                                          Whip / Selection of Bills Committee member