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

I present the 13th report of 2018 of the Selection of Bills Committee, and I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The report read as follows—

Selection Of Bills Committee

REPORT NO. 13 OF 2018

1. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 14 November 2018 at 7.12 pm.

2. The committee recommends that—

(a) the provisions of the Migration Amendment (Strengthening the Character Test) Bill 2018 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 18 January 2019 (see appendix 1 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:

Customs Tariff Amendment (Peru-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2018

Appendix 1

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Migration Amendment (Strengthening the Character Test) Bill 2018

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

To provide further scrutiny on the impact of this bill on the Australian community

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Department of Home Affairs

New Zealand High Commission and relevant parties

Law Council of Australia and relevant legal representative bodies

Refugee Council of Australia and relevant refugee representative bodies

Other related organisations

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:

Friday, 18 January 201 9

Appendix 2

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Migration Amendment (Strengthening the Character Test) Bill 2018

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

This will lower an already low bar for refusing or cancelling the visas of non-citizens, for reasons such as sharing intimate images, verbally threatening someone, associating with members of a gang, or holding a rock in a threatening way.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Law Council of Australia, Human Rights Law Centre, Civil Liberties Australia, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, Refugee Advice and Casework Service, Immigration and Advice and Rights Centre, and Refugee and Immigration Legal Service.

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

December 12-13, 2018

Possible reporting date:

First sitting week of 2019

I thank the Senate and move:

That the report be adopted.

Question agreed to.