Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of Senator Polley, I move:

That—

(a) where the Scrutiny of Bills Committee writes to a minister it expects a response to be received in time to be considered by the committee and reported on while the bill is still before the Parliament;

(b) if the committee has not completed its inquiry due to the failure of a minister to respond to the committee's concerns, senators should have the right to ask the responsible minister why the Scrutiny of Bills Committee has not received a response; and therefore:

(c) the following amendment to standing order 24 operate as a temporary order from the first sitting day of 2017 to the last sitting day of March 2018:

Add the following paragraph:

"(1) (d) If the committee has not finally reported on a bill due to the failure of a minister to respond to its concerns then, immediately prior to the consideration of government business on any day or immediately prior to the consideration of the bill:

  (i) any senator may ask the minister for an explanation as to why the minister has not provided a response to the committee, and

  (ii) the senator may, at the conclusion of the explanation, move without notice either a motion relating to the consideration of the bill or - That the Senate take note of the explanation; or

  (iii) in the event that the minister does not provide an explanation, the senator may, without notice, move a motion with regard to the minister's failure to provide an explanation."

Question agreed to.