Senate debates
Thursday, 1 November 2012
Committees
Selection of Bills Committee; Report
11:51 am
Anne McEwen (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I present report No. 14 of 2012 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. 14 OF 2012
The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 31 October 2012 at 7. 21 pm.
The committee resolved to recommend—That—
the provisions of the Courts and Tribunals Legislation Amendment (Administration) Bill 2012 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by the first sitting day of 2013 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral);
the provisions of the Fair Work Amendment Bill 2012 be referred immediately to the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 26 November 2012 (see appendix 2 for a statement of reasons for referral);
the provisions of the Migration Amendment (Unauthorised Maritime Arrivals and Other Measures) Bill 2012 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by the first sitting day of 2013 (see appendix 3 for a statement of reasons for referral);
the provisions of the Treasury Legislation Amendment (Unclaimed Money and Other Measures) Bill 2012 be referred immediately to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 19 November 2012 (see appendix 4 for a statement of reasons for referral); and
the provisions of the Water Amendment (Water for the Environment Special Account) Bill 2012 be referred immediately to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 19 November 2012 (see appendix 5 for a statement of reasons for referral).
The committee resolved to recommend—That the following bills not be referred to committees:
Appropriation (Implementation of the Report of the Expert Panel on Asylum Seekers) Bill (No. 1) 2012-2013
Appropriation (Implementation of the Report of the Expert Panel on Asylum Seekers) Bill (No. 2) 2012-2013
Broadcasting Services Amendment (Public Interest Test) Bill 2012
Fair Entitlements Guarantee Bill 2012
Fair Work Amendment (Transfer of Business) Bill 2012
Public Service Amendment Bill 2012
Special Broadcasting Service Amendment (Natural Program Breaks and Disruptive Advertising) Bill 2012
Superannuation Legislation Amendment (New Zealand Arrangement) Bill 2012
Tax Laws Amendment (Clean Building Managed Investment Trust) Bill 2012.
The committee recommends accordingly.
The committee deferred consideration of the following bills to its next meeting:
Anti-Money Laundering Amendment (Gaming Machine Venues) Bill 2012.
Chair
31 October 2012
Appendix 1
SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE
Proposal to refer a bill to a committee
Name of bill:
Courts and Tribunals Legislation Amendment (Administration) Bill
Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:
Consideration of the means by which proposed efficiencies will be achieved, effects on the administration of the Courts and whether the proposed amendments will improve access to justice.
Possible submissions or evidence from:
Federal Court
Family Court
Committee to which bill is to be referred:
Legal and Constitutional Affairs
Possible hearing date(s):
To be determined by the committee
Possible reporting date:
To be determined by the committee
(signed)
Senator Fifield
Selection of Bills Committee member
Appendix 2
SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE
Proposal to refer a bill to a committee
Name of bill:
Fair Work Amendment Bill 2012
Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:
The Bill implements the Government's response to the Productivity Commission Review into Default Superannuation arrangements in Modern Awards. This response would see the continuation of the process where conflicted parties within Fair Work Australia will continue to select default super funds under modern awards.
It is important that the Senate Committee have the opportunity to consider this Bill in detail to ensure that recommendations are faithfully embodied in the Bill and identify any unintended consequences of the Bill.
Possible submissions or evidence from:
Employer and employee representative groups;
Organisations in the Financial Services and Superannuation sector;
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations; and
Treasury.
Committee to which bill is to be referred:
Senate Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Committee
Possible hearing date(s):
To be determined by the committee
Possible reporting date:
19 November 2012
(signed)
Senator 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 (Unauthorised Maritime Arrivals and Other Measures) Bill 2012
Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:
Numerous legal experts and advocates have already raised concerns that this Bill breaches international law. It is an issue that requires thorough parliamentary scrutiny because the bill will have an impact on the legal rights and well-being of asylum seekers and refugees, as well as having an impact on Australia's international reputation.
Possible submissions or evidence from:
AGD
Dept of Immigration
Law Council of Australia
Human Rights Law Centre
Gilbert Tobin Centre for International Law
Any unis with a special International Law focus
UNSW Migrant and Refugee Research Project - Prof Jane McAdam
RILC - David Manne
Asylum Seeker Resource Centre
Committee to which bill is to be referred:
Legal and Constitutional Affairs Possible hearing date(s): Feb 2013
Possible reporting date:
March 2013
(signed)
Senator Siewert
Whip / Selection of Bills Committee member
Appendix 4
SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE
Proposal to refer a bill to a committee
Name of bill:
Treasury Legislation Amendment (Unclaimed Money and Other Measures) Bill 2012
Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:
Specifically, consideration of measures relating to inactive bank accounts and the impact on consumers.
Possible submissions or evidence from:
Banks
CHOICE
Consumer Credit Legal Centre
Consumer Action Law Centre
Committee to which bill is to be referred:
Senate Economics Legislation Committee
Possible hearing date(s):
Possible reporting date:
19 November 2012
(signed)
Senator Siewert
Whip / Selection of Bills Committee member
Appendix 5
SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE
Proposal to refer a bill to a committee
Name of bill:
Water Amendment (Water for the Environment Special Account) Bill 2012
Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:
This bill commits future Parliaments to appropriate $1.77 billion. This approach deserves scrutiny given its impact on the budget.
Possible submissions or evidence from:
State Governments
Key stakeholder groups
Committee to which bill is to be referred:
Environment and Communications
Possible hearing date(s):
6, 7, 8 November, 2012
Possible reporting date:
19 November, 2012
(signed)
Senator Fifield
Selection of Bills Committee member