David Fawcett (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of Senator Bushby, I present the first report of 2018 of the Selection of Bills Committee. I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The report read as f ollows—

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Report no. 1 of 2018

1. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 7 February 2018 at 7.21 pm.

2. The committee recommends that—

(a) the provisions of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation Amendment (Carbon Capture and Storage) Bill 2017 be referred immediately to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 8 May 2018 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(b) the National Broadcasters Legislation Amendment (Enhanced Transparency) Bill 2017 be referred immediately to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 26 March 2018 (see appendix 2 for a statement of reasons for referral); and

(c) the Treasury Laws Amendment (Enhancing Whistleblower Protections) Bill 2017 be referred immediately to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 16 March 2018 (see appendix 3 for a statement of reasons for referral).

3. The committee recommends that the following bills not be referred to committees:

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

Road Vehicle Standards (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2018

Road Vehicle Standards Charges (Imposition—General) Bill 2018

Road Vehicle Standards Charges (Imposition—Customs) Bill 2018

Road Vehicle Standards Charges (Imposition—Excise) Bill 2018

Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Fees Imposition Amendment (Near-new Dwelling Interests) Bill 2018.

(David Bushby)

Chair

8 February 2018

I move:

That the report be adopted.

Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend the motion that the report be adopted.

Leave granted.

I move:

That at the end of the motion, add:

"and, in respect of the Enhancing Online Safety (Non-consensual Sharing of Intimate Images) Bill 2017, the bill be referred to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 27 April 2018."

This is Senator Steele-John's portfolio area. He has had a number of concerns raised with him from constituents about some of the provisions in this bill and he wants to refer it to committee. We know it's on the red for today, and I understand that's one of the reasons why the government isn't keen for this to go to committee. But Senator Steele-John feels very strongly that this should have a relatively short inquiry, given the issues that are involved.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I can appreciate Senator Siewert's concerns, but the opposition is concerned that there not be any further delay in relation to these measures. We had agreed with the government to facilitate as quickly as possible bringing in better arrangements to manage these issues. Unfortunately, this could have been referred back in December, and, had it occurred back then, we might've been in a position to address it in more detail. But I'm sure also, in relation to the Greens senator dealing with this matter, there have been many investigations addressing these very serious issues that have informed this legislation now. In the absence of any particular or specific new matters to justify anything that will cause further delay, the opposition is opposed to this motion being amended.

Question negatived.

Original question agreed to.