Senate debates

Thursday, 27 March 2014

Committees

Selection of Bills Committee; Report

11:52 am

Photo of Helen KrogerHelen Kroger (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

I present the fourth report of 2014 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. 4 OF 2014

1. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 26 March 2014 at 7.31 pm.

2. The committee resolved to recommend—That—

(a) the provisions of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (Repeal) (No. 1) Bill 2014 be referred immediately to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 16 June 2014 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(b) the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (Classification Tools and Other Measures) Bill 2014 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 19 June 2014 (see appendix 2 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(c) contingent upon its introduction in the Senate, the Defence Legislation Amendment (Woomera Prohibited Area) Bill 2014 be referred immediately to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 13 May 2014 (see appendix 3 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(d) the provisions of the Health Insurance Amendment (Extended Medicare Safety Net) Bill 2014 be referred immediately to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 16 June 2014 (see appendix 4 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(e) the provisions of the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor Repeal Bill 2014 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 2 June 2014 (see appendix 5 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(f) contingent upon its introduction in the House of Representatives, the provisions of the Migration Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2014 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 6 June 2014 (see appendix 6 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(g) contingent upon its introduction in the House of Representatives, the provisions of the Migration Amendment (Offshore Resources Activity) Repeal Bill 2014 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 6 June 2014 (see appendix 7 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(h) the National Broadband Network Companies Amendment (Tasmania) Bill 2014 be referred immediately to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 26 June 2014 (see appendix 8 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(i) the provisions of the Omnibus Repeal Day (Autumn 2014) Bill 2014 be referred immediately to the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 14 May 2014 (see appendix 9 for a statement of reasons for referral); and

(j) the provisions of the Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Bill 2014 that was considered at meeting 3 of 2014 on Wednesday, 19 March 2014 and not referred, was reconsidered. The committee recommends that notwithstanding its previous decision, that the provisions of the bill be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 8 May 2014 (see appendix 10 for a statement of reasons for referral).

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

                            The committee recommends accordingly.

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

                              Export Inspection (Quantity Charge) Amendment Bill 2014

                              Export Inspection (Service Charge) Amendment Bill 2014

                              Export Inspection (Establishment Registration Charges) Amendment Bill 2014

                                          (Helen Kroger)

                                          Chair

                                          27 March 2014

                                          APPENDIX 1

                                          SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                          Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                          Name of bill:

                                          AUSTRALIAN CHARITIES AND NOT-FOR-PROFITS COMMISSION (REPEAL) (No. 1) BILL 2014

                                          Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                          To thoroughly consider the impacts on Australia's charitable sector of the repeal of the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits commission and ensure adequate stakeholder consultation.

                                          Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                          Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission, Department of Social Services, Australian Tax Office, Community Council of Australia, Australian Council of Social Services, Volunteering Australia, Catholic Social Services,

                                          Church Communities Australia, Philanthropy Australia, Independent Schools Council of Australia, Australian Conservation Foundation, Australian Council for International Development.

                                          Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                          Economics legislation committee

                                          Possible hearing date(s):

                                          Possible reporting date:

                                          16 June 2014

                                          (signed)

                                          Senator McEwen

                                          Whip/Selection of Bills Committee Member

                                          APPENDIX 2

                                          SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                          Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                          Name of bill:

                                          Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (Classification Tools and Other Measures) Bill 2014

                                          Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                              Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                              To be determined by the committee.

                                              Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                              Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee

                                              Possible hearing date(s):

                                              Possible reporting date:

                                              26 June 2014

                                              (signed)

                                              Senator McEwen

                                              Whip/Selection of Bills Committee Member

                                              APPENDIX 3

                                              SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                              Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                              Name of bill:

                                              Defence Legislation Amendment (Woomera Prohibited Area) Bill 2014

                                              Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                              Requirement for further consultation with stakeholders, in particular Indigenous Groups, to ensure concerns are further explored and defined.

                                              Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                              Indigenous Groups

                                              South Australian Native Title Services

                                              Resources industry

                                              Pastoralists

                                              Defence industry

                                              South Australian Government

                                              Northern Territory Government

                                              Woomera Township

                                              Railway owners and operator

                                              Commonwealth agencies

                                              Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                              Senate Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Legislation Committee

                                              Possible hearing date(s):

                                              April 2014

                                              Possible reporting date:

                                              13 May 2014

                                              (signed)

                                              Senator Fifield

                                              Whip/Selection of Bills Committee Member

                                              APPENDIX 4

                                              SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                              Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                              Name of bill:

                                              HEALTH INSURANCE AMENDMENT (EXTENDED MEDICARE SAFETY NET) BILL 2014

                                              Reasons for referral:

                                              To scrutinise the implications of this change on Medicare card holders in the context of other proposed changes by the government to private health Insurance and Medicare.

                                              Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                              Consumers Health Forum, Australian Medicare Locals Alliance, Australian Medical Association

                                              Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                              Community Affairs Legislation Committee

                                              Possible hearing date(s):

                                              Possible reporting date:

                                              16 June 2014

                                              (signed)

                                              Senator McEwen

                                              Whip/Selection of Bills Committee Member

                                              APPENDIX 5

                                              SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                              Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                              Name of bill:

                                              Independent National Security Legislation Monitor Repeal Bill 2014

                                              Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                    Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                    To be determined by the committee.

                                                    Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                    Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee

                                                    Possible hearing date(s):-

                                                    Possible reporting date:

                                                    2 June 2014

                                                    (signed)

                                                    Senator McEwen

                                                    Whip/Selection of Bills Committee Member

                                                    APPENDIX 6

                                                    SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                                    Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                                    Name of bill:

                                                    Migration Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2014

                                                    Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                    to looking into the governments proposed changes to the Migration Legislation.

                                                    Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                    Human Rights Law Centre

                                                    Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre

                                                    UNHCR

                                                    Australian High Commission

                                                    Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                    Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee

                                                    Possible hearing date(s):

                                                    29-30 April

                                                    Possible reporting date:

                                                    6 June 2014

                                                    (signed)

                                                    Senator Siewert

                                                    Whip/Selection of Bills Committee Member

                                                    APPENDIX 7

                                                    SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                                    Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                                    Name of bill:

                                                    Migration Amendment (Offshore Resources Activity) Repeal Bill

                                                    Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                    The previous Migration Amendment (Offshore Resources Activity) Bill 2013 was introduced to protect Australian jobs and provides for regulations and protections for foreign workers in the offshore resources activity Industry and should not be repealed.

                                                    Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                    Relevant unions and stakeholders

                                                    Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                    Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee

                                                    Possible hearing date(s):

                                                    April 2014

                                                    Possible reporting date:

                                                    June 2014

                                                    (signed)

                                                    Senator Siewert

                                                    Whip/Selection of Bills Committee Member

                                                    APPENDIX 8

                                                    SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                                    Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                                    Name of bill:

                                                    National Broadband Network Companies Amendment (Tasmania) Bill 2014

                                                    Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                    Introduction of a specific subsection to the National Broadband Network Companies Act 2011.

                                                    Impact on Tasmanian economic growth and the provision of essential services such as health and education in Tasmania.

                                                    Impact on Retail Service Providers operating in Tasmania.

                                                    Impact on contractors participating in the rollout of the NBN in Tasmania.

                                                    Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                    Civil Contractors Federation, Tasmania

                                                    Digital Tasmania (consumer group)

                                                    TasICT (industry group)

                                                    Unions Tasmania

                                                    Communications Electricity and Plumbing Union

                                                    Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

                                                    Tasmanian Government

                                                    NBN Co

                                                    VisionStream (principal contractor)

                                                    Telstra

                                                    Optus

                                                    iiNet

                                                    Federal Government, Department of Communications

                                                    Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                    Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee

                                                    Possible hearing date(s):

                                                    May 2014 in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie, Tasmania.

                                                    Possible reporting date:

                                                    26 June 2014

                                                    (signed)

                                                    Senator McEwen

                                                    Whip/Selection of Bills Committee Member

                                                    APPENDIX 9

                                                    SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                                    Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                                    Name of bill:

                                                    Omnibus Repeal Day (Autumn 2014) Bill 2014

                                                    Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                    To consider the broad range of decisions that are captured in this bill.

                                                    Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                    To be determined by committee, could be done on the papers.

                                                    Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                    Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee

                                                    Possible hearing date(s):

                                                    Possible reporting date:

                                                    14 May 2014

                                                    (signed)   

                                                    Senator McEwen

                                                    Whip/Selection of Bills Committee Member

                                                    APPENDIX 10

                                                    SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                                    Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                                    Name of bill:

                                                    Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Bill 2014

                                                    Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                    This bill purports to create an extensive framework for regulatory powers exercised by Commonwealth agencies, with many technical provisions about investigation powers, compliance and enforcement.

                                                    Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                    Law Council of Australia and other stakeholders.

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

                                                    Possible hearing date(s):

                                                    during April and May 201.4

                                                    Possible reporting date:

                                                    May or June 2014

                                                    (signed)

                                                    Senator Siewert

                                                    Whip/Selection of Bills Committee Member