Senate debates
Thursday, 30 October 2014
Committees
Selection of Bills Committee; Report
12:25 pm
David Bushby (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I present the 14th 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. 14 OF 2014
1. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 29 October 2014 at 7.21 pm.
2. The committee resolved to recommend—That—
(a) the provisions of the Acts and Instruments (Framework Reform) Bill 2014 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 25 November 2014 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral);
(b) the provisions of the Australian Citizenship and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2014 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 1 December 2014 (see appendix 2 for a statement of reasons for referral);
(c) the provisions of the Broadcasting and Other Legislation Amendment (Deregulation) Bill 2014 be referred immediately to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 9 February 2015 (see appendix 3 for a statement of reasons for referral);
(d) the provisions of the Customs Amendment (Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement Implementation) Bill 2014 and the Customs Tariff Amendment (Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement Implementation) Bill 2014 be referred immediately to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 27 November 2014 (see appendix 4 for a statement of reasons for referral);
(e) the provisions of the Freedom of Information Amendment (New Arrangements) Bill 2014 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 25 November 2014 (see appendices 5 and 6 for a statement of reasons for referral);
(f) contingent upon its introduction in the House of Representatives, the provisions of the Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2014 Measures No. 6) Bill 2014 be referred immediately to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 25 November 2014 (see appendix 7 for a statement of reasons for referral); and
(g) the provisions of the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Deregulation) Bill 2014 and the Telecommunications (Industry Levy) Amendment Bill 2014 be referred immediately to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 9 February 2015 (see appendix 8 for a statement of reasons for referral).
3. The committee resolved to recommend—That the following bills not be referred to committees:
• Albury-Wodonga Development Corporation (Abolition) Bill 2014
• Amending Acts 1970 to 1979 Repeal Bill 2014
• Building Energy Efficiency Disclosure Amendment Bill 2014
• Omnibus Repeal Day (Spring 2014) Bill 2014
• Statute Law Revision Bill (No. 2) 2014.
The committee recommends accordingly.
4. The committee considered the following bill but was unable to reach agreement:
• Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2014
5 The committee deferred consideration of the following bills to its next meeting:
• Australian War Memorial Amendment Bill 2014
• Civil Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Bill 2014
• Corporations Amendment (Publish What You Pay) Bill 2014
• Corporations Legislation Amendment (Deregulatory and Other Measures) Bill 2014
• Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Amendment (Direct Lending and Other Measures) Bill 2014
• Mining Subsidies Legislation Amendment (Raising Revenue) Bill 2014
• Motor Vehicle Standards (Cheaper Transport) Bill 2014
• Save Our Sharks Bill 2014
• Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Caring for Single Parents) Bill 2014
• Treasury Legislation Amendment (Repeal Day) Bill 2014.
5. The committee deferred consideration of the following bills to its next meeting:
• Australian War Memorial Amendment Bill 2014
• Civil Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Bill 2014
• Corporations Amendment (Publish What You Pay) Bill 2014
• Corporations Legislation Amendment (Deregulatory and Other Measures) Bill 2014
• Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Amendment (Direct Lending and Other Measures) Bill 2014
• Mining Subsidies Legislation Amendment (Raising Revenue) Bill 2014
• Motor Vehicle Standards (Cheaper Transport) Bill 2014
• Save Our Sharks Bill 2014
• Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Caring for Single Parents) Bill 2014
• Treasury Legislation Amendment (Repeal Day) Bill 2014.
Chair
30 October 2014
APPENDIX 1
SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE
Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:
Name of bill:
Acts and Instruments (Framework Reform) Bill 2014
Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:
To ensure proper scrutiny of this Bill and its potential implications.
Possible submissions or evidence from:
Relevant agencies, stakeholder groups and the public.
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:
26 November 2014
(signed)
Senator Moore
APPENDIX 2
SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE
Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:
Name of bill:
Australian Citizenship and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2014
Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:
To allow detailed consideration of the provisions of the Bill to ensure it does not have unintended adverse consequences.
To facilitate public submissions to ensure stakeholders views can be taken into account.
Possible submissions or evidence from:
Department of Immigration and Border Protection
Immigration stakeholders
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:
Monday 1 December 2014
(signed)
Senator Moore
APPENDIX 3
SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE
Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:
Name of bill:
Broadcasting and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2014
Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:
The removal of auditing requirements for Australian content has the potential to significantly impact the amount of Australian content in the local broadcast media landscape. In addition, there are significantly concerns over the legislation's change to captioning requirements. Both have the potential to significantly impact the viewing experience of Australian television content for local audiences.
Possible submissions or evidence from:
Television stations (Seven, Nine, Ten, ABC, SBS),
Consumer groups such as CHOICE.
User groups of captioning services.
Media diversity and competition academics.
Committee to which bill is to be referred:
Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee
Possible hearing date(s):
28 November
Possible reporting date:
February 9, 2015
(signed)
Senator Siewert
APPENDIX 4
SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE
Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:
Name of bill:
Customs Amendment (Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement Implementation) Bill 2014
Customs Tariff Amendment (Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement Implementation) Bill 2014
Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:
To enable thorough scrutiny of the provisions of the legislation.
To supplement the inquiry of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties into the Agreement.
Possible submissions or evidence from:
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Australian Customs and Border Protection Service
Customs Brokers and Forwarders Council of Australia
Export Council of Australia
Other industry groups and businesses affected by the Bill [see the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee inquiry into the Customs Amendment (Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2014]
Committee to which bill is to be referred:
Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee.
Possible hearing date(s):
To be determined by the committee
Possible reporting date:
Monday 1 December 2014
(signed)
Senator Moore
APPENDIX 5
SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE
Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:
Name of bill:
Freedom of Information Amendment (New Arrangements) Bill 2014
Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:
To ensure proper scrutiny of this Bill and its potential implications.
Possible submissions or evidence from:
Relevant agencies, stakeholder groups and the public.
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:
26 November 2014
(signed)
Senator Moore
APPENDIX 6
SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE
Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:
Name of bill:
Freedom of Information Amendment (New Arrangements) Bill 2014
Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:
The disbanding of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner will result in a lack of independent review and no statutory body advocating on behalf of information access and open and transparent government. It will result in unaffordable review processes via the AAT. The implications of this bill on the democratic process and on the ability of the media and NGOs to review the decisions of government are unknown and a committee inquiry will help identify them.
Possible submissions or evidence from:
Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance
NSW Council of Civil Liberties
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
Right to Know
Media organisations eg. The Guardian, Fairfax, New Matilda, The Australian.
Human Rights Law Centre
Committee to which bill is to be referred:
Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee
Possible hearing date(s):
November 4
Possible reporting date:
4 December 2014
(signed)
Senator Siewert
APPENDIX 7
SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE
Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:
Name of bill:
Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2014 Measures No.6) Bill 2014
Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:
Consider the appropriate rate of indexation for fuel and ensure fuel tax credit provisions operate efficiently (schedule 4), as do grants calculated by reference to the duty rates (schedule 5).
Ensure that amendments have been effectively designed to remove tax impediments to certain business restructures (schedule 1), provide certainty for foreign pension fund investments in Australian managed investment trusts (schedule 2) and implement tax aspects of the Force Posture Agreement with the United States (schedule 3).
Possible submissions or evidence from:
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Australian Trucking Association
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 Fifield
APPENDIX 8
SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE
Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:
Name of bill:
Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Deregulation Bill 2014
Telecommunications (Industry Levy) Amendment Bill 2014
Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:
This bill contains a number of legislative changes which have the potential to significantly change the operation of the telecommunications industry. Especially concerning is Schedule 5, which will remove a requirement for telcos to divulge the number of warrantless metadata requests they receive from law enforcement agencies. In order to ensure regulatory stability in the telecommunications industry and transparency of warrantless requests, the industry and consumers must be able to provide feedback on this bill in detail.
Possible submissions or evidence from:
Telecommunications industry (eg Telstra, Optus, iiNet, Vodafone)
Consumer representatives (eg ACCAN, Choice)
Civil liberties organisations (eg Civil Liberties Australia, the NSW Council of Civil Liberties
Committee to which bill is to be referred:
Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee
Possible hearing date(s):
28 November
Possible reporting date:
February 9, 2015
(signed)
Senator Siewert
Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I move the following amendment in respect of the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2014:
That the bill not be referred to committees.
Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The Greens do not agree that that bill should not be referred. We did refer it. We think that the Senate committee should be looking into that particular bill on provisions. We are very disappointed that the Senate is deciding not to refer it, so we would like to note our dissent from that call by the Selection of Bills Committee. I obviously did not sway the committee in my arguments last night, and I do not think I will sway the Senate in the arguments now. I do not wish to delay the business of the Senate but I would like it recorded that we dissent from the agreement between Labor and the government that it should not be sent to committee.
12:27 pm
Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The question is that Senator Fifield's amendment be agreed to.
Question agreed to.
The question now is that the motion moved by Senator Bushby be agreed to.
Question agreed to.