David Bushby (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I present the 12th report of the Selection of Bills Committee and seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The report read as follows—

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

REPORT NO. 12 OF 2014

1. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 24 September 2014 at 7.34 pm.

2. The committee resolved to recommend:

That—

(a) the provisions of the Automotive Transformation Scheme Amendment Bill 2014 be referred immediately to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 24 November 2014 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(b) the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Foreign Fighters) Bill 2014 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 17 October 2014 (see appendix 2 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(c) the provisions of the Infrastructure Australia Amendment (Cost Benefit Analysis and Other Measures) Bill 2014 be referred immediately to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 26 November 2014 (see appendix 3 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(d) the provisions of the Migration Amendment (Character and General Visa Cancellation) Bill 2014 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 24 November 2014 (see appendices 4 and 5 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(e) contingent upon its introduction in the House of Representatives, the provisions of the Migration and Maritime Powers Legislation Amendment (Resolving the Asylum Legacy Caseload) Bill 2014 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 27 November 2014 (see appendices 6 and 7 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(f) contingent upon its introduction in the Senate, the National Water Commission (Abolition) Bill 2014 be referred immediately to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 24 November 2014 (see appendices 8 and 9 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(g) contingent upon its introduction in the House of Representatives, the provisions of the Rural Research and Development Legislation Amendment Bill 2014 be referred immediately to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 24 November 2014 (see appendix 10 for a statement of reasons for referral); and

(h) the provisions of the Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2014 Measures No. 5) Bill 2014 be referred immediately to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 28 October 2014 (see appendix 11 for a statement of reasons for referral). 

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

Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2014

Health and Other Services (Compensation) Care Charges (Amendment) Bill 2014

Private Health Insurance Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2014.

The committee recommends accordingly.

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

Australian Education Amendment Bill 2014

Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre Supervisory Cost Recovery Levy Amendment Bill 2014

Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre Supervisory Cost Recovery Levy (Collection) Amendment Bill 2014

Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Amendment Bill 2014

Migration Amendment (Humanitarian Visa Intake) Bill 2014

Mining Subsidies Legislation Amendment (Raising Revenue) Bill 2014

Motor Vehicle Standards (Cheaper Transport) Bill 2014

Save Our Sharks Bill 2014

Social Security Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the Job Seeker Compliance Framework) Bill 2014.

(David Bushby)

Chair

25 September 2014

APPENDIX 1

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITT EE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

Name of bill:

Automotive Transformation Scheme Amendment Bill 2014

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Automotive industry companies, industry associations, workers, unions, local and state governments.

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Economics Legislation Committee.

Possible hearing date(s):

To be determined by the Committee.

Possible reporting date:

24 November 2014.

(signed)

Senator Anne McEwen

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee Member

APPENDIX 2

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

Name of bill:

Counter Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Foreign Fighters) Bill 2014

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Law Council of Australia

Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law

Australian Human Rights Commission

Civil Liberties Councils across Australia

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee.

Possible hearing date(s):

October 8 – 10, 2014

November 3 – 7,2014

Possible reporting date:

Monday 24 November 2014.

(signed)

Senator Rachel Siewert

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee Member

APPENDIX 3

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

Name of bill:

Infrastructure Australia (Cost Benefit Analysis and Other Measures) Bill 2014

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Infrastructure Partnerships Australia, BCA and other business/infrastructure peaks

Academics

Regulators (ACCC, PC)

Urban Development Institute of Australia and other urban advocates

East West/Westconnex etc project process critics

Public transport advocates

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee.

Possible hearing date(s):

To be determined by the Committee.

Possible reporting date:

26 November 2014.

(signed)

Senator Anne McEwen

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee Member

APPENDIX 4

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

Name of bill:

Migration Amendment (Character and General Visa Cancellation) Bill 2014

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Australian Customs and Border Protection Service

Department of Immigration and Border Protection

Mental health experts – eg. Professor Patrick McGorry

Law Council

State/Territory law enforcement agencies

Australian Federal Police

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee.

Possible hearing date(s):

To be determined by the Committee.

Possible reporting date:

24 November 2014.

(signed)

Senator Anne McEwen

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee Member

APPENDIX 5

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

Name of bill:

Migration Amendment (Character and General Visa Cancellation) Bill 2014

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Law Council of Australia

Human Rights Law Centre

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee.

Possible hearing date(s):

10 November 2014

Possible reporting date:

29 November 2014.

(signed)

Senator Rachel Siewert

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee Member

APPENDIX 6

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

Name of bill:

Migration and Maritime Powers Legislation Amendment (Resolving the Asylum Legacy Caseload) Bill 2014

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Asylum Seeker Resource Centre

Refugee Council of Australia

Law Council of Australia

Human Rights Law Centre

Department of Immigration and Border Protection.

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee.

Possible hearing date(s):

24 – 26 February 2015

Possible reporting date:

10 March 2015.

(signed)

Senator Rachel 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 and Maritime Powers Legislation Amendment (Resolving the Asylum Legacy Caseload) Bill 2014

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

To consider the reintroduction of Temporary Protection Visas, introductions of Safe Haven Enterprise visa, reinforcing the government's powers to conduct maritime operations and introducing more rapid processing and streamlining review arrangements for illegal maritime arrivals.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Department of Immigration and Border Protection.

Australian Customs and Border Protection Service

Joint Agency Taskforce

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee.

Possible hearing date(s):

To be determined by the committee.

Possible reporting date:

27 October 2014.

(signed)

Senator the Hon Mitch Fifield

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee Member

APPENDIX 8

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

Name of bill:

National Water Commission (Abolition) Bill 2014

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

For consideration of the impact of this Bill on the continuation of robust, independent and transparent monitoring and assessment of matters of national water reform and the management of Australia's water resources.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Water Services Association of Australia

Australian Water Association

Murray Darling Basin Authority

National Irrigators Council

Australian Conservation Foundation

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee.

Possible hearing date(s):

To be determined by the committee.

Possible reporting date:

24 November 2014

(signed)

Senator Rachel Siewert

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee Member

APPENDIX 9

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

Name of bill:

National Water Commission (Abolition) Bill 2014

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

•   The Greens oppose the abolition of the National Water Commission

•   Is only federal independent body to track water policy. Advises COAG and Australian Government on water policy.

•   Audits effectiveness of the implementation of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan

•   Promotes water reform

•   Many organisations have expressed concern at its axing (listed in next point)

Possible submissions or evidence from:

National Water Commission, National Farmers Federation, Water Services Association of Australia; Australian Water Association; Environment Victoria; Australian Conservation Foundation; NCCNSW; EDO; Environmental Farmers Network; Inland rivers Network; Lock the Gate; NSW Chief Scientist & other scientist bodies; Wentworth Group of Scientists; NSW Aboriginal Land Council; Bev Smiles (Inland Rivers Network); World Wildlife Fund; Phil Wallis (Monash University); Dr Richard Kingsford (UNSW); Friends of the Earth; Murray Darling Basin Commission; other states' water organisations.

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Environment and Communications Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

10, 14, 19, or 20 November

Possible reporting date:

First week of December

(signed)

Senator Rachel Siewert

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee Member

APPENDIX 10

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

Name of bill:

Rural Research and Development Legislation Amendment Bill 2014

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

To investigate the financial impact of the budget measure on the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and to investigate what benefit membership to international commodity organisations has to research and development and to Australia generally.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation.

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee.

Possible hearing date(s):

To be determined by the Committee.

Possible reporting date:

24 November 2014.

(signed)

Senator Anne McEwen

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee Member

APPENDIX 1 1

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

Name of bill:

Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2014 Measures No.5) Bill 2014

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Seek key stakeholder feedback on the impact of the legislation on research and development.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Firms affected by the proposed reduction in the R&D concession rate.

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Economics Legislation Committee.

Possible hearing date(s):

To be determined by the Committee.

Possible reporting date:

28 October 2014.

(signed)

Senator Anne McEwen

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee Member

I move:

That the report be adopted.

Penny Wright (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I wish to make a brief statement in relation to the Selection of Bills Committee report. The government's Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Foreign Fighters) Bill is a significant piece of legislation with serious implications for the rights and freedoms of Australians. I welcome the decision to hold a concurrent inquiry into this legislation through the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee. This way, the Greens and the crossbenchers, who represent a significant proportion of Australians, will have the opportunity to scrutinise this important bill.

I will, however, make it clear that the time frame for inquiry and report is simply inadequate. Submitters to the government's first tranche of national security legislation struggled to analyse and provide comment on the complex legislation in the short time frame provided. We must listen to the dispassionate, independent commentators in this space who are expert at understanding the implications of legislation like this. These include the Law Council of Australia, the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law and the civil liberties councils across Australia. Many have serious concerns about this bill and the previous national security legislation. The government must stop trying to rush this legislation through the parliament, whipping up fear in the community and making what are very significant changes to our national security legislation without adequate scrutiny. These organisations say we need two months to do justice to the complexity involved here. I urge the Senate to heed their advice.

Question agreed to.