Dean Smith (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I present the eighth report of 2020 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. 8 OF 2020

1. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 2 September 2020 at 7.30pm.

2. The committee recommends that—

  (a) contingent upon introduction in the House of Representatives, the provisionsof the Australia's Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Bill 2020 and the Australia's Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2020 be referred immediately to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 5 November 2020 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral);

  (b) the provisionsof the Civil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft Levy) Bill 2020 and the Civil Aviation Amendment (Unmanned Aircraft Levy Collection and Payment) Bill 2020 be referred immediatelyto the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 4 November 2020 (see appendix 2 for a statement of reasons for referral);

  (c) the provisionsof the Clean Energy Finance Corporation Amendment (Grid Reliability Fund) Bill 2020 be referred immediatelyto the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 4 November 2020 (see appendix 3 for a statement of reasons for referral);

  (d) the provisionsof the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Economic Disruption) Bill 2020 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 10 November 2020 (see appendix 4 for a statement of reasons for referral);

   (e) the provisionsof the National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention Bill 2020 and the National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2020 be referred immediatelyto the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee but was unable to reach agreement on a reporting date (see appendix 5 for a statement of reasons for referral);

  (f) the provisionsof the Radiocommunications Legislation Amendment (Reform and Modernisation) Bill 2020, the Radiocommunications (Receiver Licence Tax) Amendment Bill 2020, and the Radiocommunications (Transmitter Licence Tax) Amendment Bill 2020 be referred immediatelyto the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 4 November 2020 (see appendix 6 for a statement of reasons for referral);

  (g) the provisionsof the Recycling and Waste Reduction Bill 2020, the Recycling and Waste Reduction (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2020, the Recycling and Waste Reduction Charges (General) Bill 2020, the Recycling and Waste Reduction Charges (Customs) Bill 2020, and the Recycling and Waste Reduction Charges (Excise) Bill 2020 be referred immediatelyto the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 30 September 2020 (see appendix 7 for a statement of reasons for referral); and

  (h) the Treasury Laws Amendment (Self Managed Superannuation Funds) Bill 2020 be referred immediatelyto the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 4 November 2020 (see appendix 8 for a statement of reasons for referral).

3. The committee recommends that the following bills notbe referred to committees:

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

5. The committee considered the following bills but was unable to reach agreement:

(Dean Smith)

Chair

3 September 2020

Appendix 1

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill: Australia's Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Bill 2020

Australia's Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2020

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Possible submissions or evidence from:

DFAT

AGD

States and Territories

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Legal and Constitutional

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date: 22 October

(signed)

Anne Ruston

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill: Australia's Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Bill 2020

Australia's Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2020

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

The sort of powers that the Government is talking about to override arrangements that are counter to the national interest require careful examination to make sure it is both workable and consistent with the powers of the Parliament.

Concerns have already been raised by significant stakeholders, such as universities, particularly about lack of consultation.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Attorney-General's Department

State and territory governments

Universities

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Late September/ early October

Possible reporting date: 30 November 2020

(signed)    

Anne Urquhart

Appendix 2

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Civil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft Levy) Bill 2020

Civil Aviation Amendment (Unmanned Aircraft Levy Collection and Payment) Bill 2020

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Possible hearing date(s):

To be determined by the committee

Possible reporting date:

4 November 2020

(signed)

Anne Urquhart

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill: Civil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft Levy) Bill 2020 [and] Civil Aviation Amendment (Unmanned Aircraft Levy Collection and Payment) Bill 2020

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration: Consideration of the level of consultation undertaken, appropriateness of levy thresholds, and use of delegated legislation.

Possible submissions or evidence from: Drone stakeholders and community organisations

Committee to which bill is to be referred: Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport

Possible hearing date(s): Hearing on the papers

Possible reporting date: 29 October 2020

(signed)

Rachel Siewert

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill: Clean Energy Finance Corporation Amendment (Grid Reliability Fund) Bill 2020

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Substantive and controversial change to the CEFC Act, including to financial operation of CEFC, what investments qualify as investments, and how allowable investments are determined.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Clean Energy Council

Australian Energy Council

Smart Energy Council

Investor Group on Climate Change

Former CEFC CEO, Oliver Yates

Climate Council

Climate Works

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:

4 November 2020.

(signed)

Anne Urquhart

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Clean Energy Finance Corporation Amendment (Grid Reliability Fund) Bill 2020

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Seeking the views and intentions of the CEFC Board in fulfilling the legislation, acquire stakeholder views and understand the purpose of the amendments.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Chair and CEO of CEFC, Department of Industry, Science, Energy & Resources, Clean Energy Council, Energy Networks Association, Tesla, Snowy Hydro, APPEA, APA Group, The Australia Institute, Climate Council, State based conservation councils.

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Environment and Communications Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

24 September 30 October, 13 November

Possible reporting date:

7 December 2020

(signed)

Rachel Siewert

Appendix 4

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill: Crimes Legislation Amendment (Economic Disruption) Bill 2020

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Complex legislation including expansion of money laundering and proceeds of crime legislation. Govt has been slow to move on expanding money laundering legislation – this is an opportunity to demonstrate where they have no moved.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Home Affairs; AUSTRAC; AFP; ACIC; Australian Strategic Policy Institute; Australian Banking Association; Office of the Australian Information Commissioner

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Legal & Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

To be determined by the committee

Possible reporting date:

18 November 2020.

(signed)

Senator Anne Urquhart

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill: Crimes Legislation Amendment (Economic Disruption) Bill 2020

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration: concerns regarding human rights and digital rights.

Possible submissions or evidence from: Human Rights Law Centre; Law Council of Australia; Civil Liberties Australia; Australian Lawyers Alliance; Digital Rights Watch, and Electronic Frontiers Australia.

Committee to which bill is to be referred: Legal & Constitutional Affairs

Possible hearing date(s): 30 September-1 October 2020

Possible reporting date: 10 November 2020

(signed)

Rachel Siewert

Appendix 5

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill: National Commissioner for Veteran Suicide Prevention Bill

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration: to allow for consideration of design of proposed National Commissioner, informed by the findings of the impending interim Commissioner, forthcoming government response to the Productivity Commission's A Better Way report, impacted stakeholder submissions and consultation.

Because the interim Commissioner (as announced February 5 2020) has yet to be appointed, the interim Commissioner's literature review, also announced in February, is also yet to commence. This review, consisting of a comprehensive review of known current and former ADF and Defence personnel suicides since 2001, as well as a progress update on the implementation of recommendations made in various reviews and reports since 2003, should be concluded to inform the design of the National commissioner's proposed functioning.

The expectation offered by the Government in February 2020 was that the interim Commissioner would produce an initial report back twelve months from commencement, with a final report due 18 months from commencement (or six months after the initial reporting date). As this has been delayed, it is reasonable to suggest that the work of the interim Commissioner should inform the consideration of the Senate committee, and such that the work of the interim Commissioner should be allowed to proceed without delay, and without undue haste. The 12-month timeline to produce an initial report should be honoured.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Families, spouses of suicided Defence personnel.

Departments.

Academics.

Legal Experts.

Productivity Commission.

Ex-service organisations.

Veteran advocates.

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

FADT Legislative Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date:

24 April 2021

(signed)

Senator Lambie

Appendix 6

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Possible hearing date(s):

To be determined by the committee

Possible reporting date:

(signed)

Senator Anne Urquhart

Appendix 7

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Recycling & Waste Reduction Bill 2020

Recycling & Waste Reduction (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2020

Recycling & Waste Reduction Charges (General) Bill 2020

Recycling & Waste Reduction Charges (Customs) Bill 2020

Recycling & Waste Reduction Charges (Excise) Bill 2020

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration: This package of Bills may see significant reform to waste management and have significant environmental implications.

Possible submissions or evidence from: Recycling industry stakeholders (representing over 60,000 workers), NGOs, packaging and retail industry stakeholders.

Committee to which bill is to be referred: Environment and Communications Committee

Possible hearing date(s): September

Possible reporting date: 30 September 2020

(signed)

Rachel Siewert

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Recycling & Waste Reduction Bill 2020

Recycling & Waste Reduction (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2020

Recycling & Waste Reduction Charges (General) Bill 2020

Recycling & Waste Reduction Charges (Customs) Bill 2020

Recycling & Waste Reduction Charges (Excise) Bill 2020

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration: These bills introduce significant changes to the regulatory framework for the export of waste materials and it will be important to ensure that the measures included are appropriate.

Possible submissions or evidence from: National Waste & Recycling Industry Council, Australian Council of Recycling, Waste Management & Resource Recovery Association, Boomerang Alliance and the Law Council of Australia.

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: 30 September 2020

(signed)

Senator Anne Urquhart

Appendix 8

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Treasury Laws Amendment (Self Managed Superannuation) Bill 2020

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Merits of extending SMSFs to cover six people, issues in SMSF administration arising from larger coverage, operation of SMSFs, prudential matters relating to SMSFs with multiple members, tax implications of larger SMSFs, consumer matters relating to SMSF advice, retirement income impacts of SMSF expansion

Possible submissions or evidence from:

SMSF Association, Financial Services Council, Financial Planning Association of Australia, Association of Financial Advisers, Australian Banking Association, CPA Australia, CA ANZ, Institute of Public Accountants Australia, Prof Deborah Ralston, Prof Susan Thorp, Treasury, ASIC, ATO, APRA, Tax Justice Network, Productivity Commission, Super Consumers Australia

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:

4 November 2020

(signed)

Senator Anne Urquhart

Appendix 9

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill: Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act Amendment (Streamlining Environmental Approvals) Bill 2020

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Possible submissions or evidence from:

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:

11 November 2020

(signed)

Senator Anne Urquhart

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill: Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation amendment (Streamlining Environmental Approvals)

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

This bill would make changes to important environmental approvals processes. It would amend the EPBC Act which is currently the subject of an independent review and the Senate should understand the full recommendations of the independent review before considering this legislation.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Committee to which bill is to be referred: Environment and Communications Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date: 11th November

(signed)

Rachel Siewert

Appendix 10

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Higher Education Support Amendment (Job Ready Graduates and Supporting Regional and Remote Students) Bill 2020

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

The Bill seeks to fundamentally reform university funding; student fees; student protection and institutional audit measures.

The legislation fails to address aspects of the Government's proposed reforms that have a significant bearing on the university purpose and operations.

There has been significant public and expert criticism of the Bill on a range of matters – including the underlying assumptions, the evidence base, unintended consequences and perverse incentives.

Key stake holders have expressed the need for a comprehensive inquiry given the extent and complexity of the reforms proposed and the lack of consultation to date.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Group of Eight

Universities Australia

Australian Technology Network

Innovation Research Universities

Regional Universities Network

individual Universities

National Union of Students

Professional Associations

Deans of Science; Deans of Education; Australiasian Council of Deans of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities

NTEU, PSA

Policy experts and academics

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

September - November

Possible reporting date:

30 November 2020

(signed)

Anne Urquhart

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee member

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Higher Education Support Amendment (Job-Ready Graduates and Supporting Regional and Remote Students) Bill 2020

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s): no preference - depends on committee schedule

Possible reporting date:

30 November 2020

(signed)

Rachel Siewert

I move:

That the report be adopted.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move the following amendment:

At the end of the motion, add "and, in respect of the provisions of the National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention Bill 2020 and a related bill, the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation report on 30 November 2020.".

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Lambie, it's been flagged with me that you might have an amendment to that amendment with a different date? Is that correct?

Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do, Mr President. I move:

At the end of the motion, add:

"but, in respect of the provisions of the National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention Bill 2020 and Veteran Suicide Prevention (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2020, the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee report by 24 April 2021".

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Essentially, I just want to advise the chamber that the government will be supporting a referral of that legislation if the reporting date is 30 November 2020, because we do want the Senate to have the opportunity to deal with this very important bill so that this very important legislation can be passed by the end of the year. We don't think a reporting date next year is appropriate, because it would delay the establishment of this very important standing commission with the powers of a royal commission. I would also like to announce on behalf of the government that we intend to make an announcement in relation to the appointment of a commissioner during the month of September.

Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I say to the government, look, it's as simple as this: you were going to put an interim commissioner in early this year. We are still waiting for you to do that. We still do not know who the interim commissioner is. We are now sitting in September and we've got no idea what you are doing or who it is, and there are no terms of reference. You've got a real problem here. What we're asking is: when that is done, can we overview that and have an inquiry, and watch this going through? I can tell you, you are the same government that still has not responded to the recommendations of the Productivity Commission. What is wrong with you people? My thought is this: the only way you could come up with this is one of two ways. You are using information from the exact same people who are pushing these veterans to suicide—that is, the Department of Defence and the Department of Veterans' Affairs. I can tell you now that I sat on the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee during the inquiries into veterans' suicide and veterans' health. I sat on those inquiries with some of your senators, and I have watched them in tears over the years—and you want to rush this through?

If this is so important to you, why is there still no interim commissioner six months later? What sorts of games are you playing with these lives? Do you think we can do this in a month? Nobody in their right mind thinks we can do this in a month. You are being very unfair and very unjust to these veterans, and you know you are. You could be doing this. You and the Prime Minister are sticking your chests out at me because I won't give you what you want, and those veterans are paying the price. How can you do that to them? You know that one month is not going to cut it, unless you've already got this all down on paper. Have you got this down on paper? That is the question. There has been no discussion with anybody who actually cares and is heavily involved in this about who the interim commissioner should be—none at all. Today, quite frankly, you should be ashamed of yourselves. They're going to know what you are up to. One month!

Who is the interim commissioner? Where is this magic man? Is he going to come to the inquiry? If it's so important, why wasn't this commissioner put in six months ago? If you really care about these veterans, why wasn't the commissioner put in six months ago? If you really care about these veterans, where is your response to the Productivity Commission? Where is all that? This is beneath even you. It is absolutely disgusting that you think someone can do this in just over a month. My God! There is no way you can do this in just over a month. You are kidding yourselves. I bet the interim commissioner is a mate. He'll be a mate of yours. If the interim commissioner is a mate of yours and if he doesn't do the right thing, I will be riding him from day one. God help you! These veterans are suiciding, and you're part of it over there. You've been mucking around with their lives for years. You just throw them around as if they can be used and abused like they're regimental numbers, not human beings. It's absolutely shameful of you people. If you actually gave a stuff about these veterans, you would take my amendment and leave this until April. It's your darkest day yet when it comes to these veterans. It's shameful.

Rex Patrick (SA, Centre Alliance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I urge the government to reconsider its position and give time for this committee to conduct its work, give time for the appointment of the interim commissioner and let the interim commissioner get his or her head around the issue so that they can appear before the inquiry. It's an important inquiry, and we should give it the time it needs.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We have two amendments before the chair, and I will put them in the reverse of the order in which they were moved. On advice from the Clerk, I will interpret Senator Lambie's amendment as pushing out the reporting date in the government's amendment. The government's amendment is for a reporting date of 30 November this year; Senator Lambie's amendment is for a reporting date of 24 April next year. The question is that the amendment of Senator Lambie be agreed to.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Before I put the next amendment, I understand that Senator Hanson would like to speak to the debate.

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

[by video link] In relation to the amendment that was put up by the government, I want to clarify that the reporting date for the inquiry moved to 30 November. It is not in one month. As Jacqui Lambie was saying, it was only going to be in one month.

I do support the government to move the reporting date to 30 November. I have heard from a lot of people who are fed up with inquiries into suicides. A lot of people are calling for a royal commission into it—that is true—but the government have made a commitment to put a commissioner in place. They have given an undertaking that who that commissioner will be will be announced almost immediately. I believe that the commissioner should be given the opportunity to start his work. If we hold this up with another inquiry, that means the interim commissioner cannot do anything and cannot do their job.

People have had enough with inquiries. I think there have been about 17 or 18 inquiries into this. I understand Jacqui Lambie's passion about this. I understand that she's frustrated at the answers hardly met, but we need to give the commissioner the opportunity to start investigating—and it's not about future deaths; it's about deaths in the past—those over 500 deaths have occurred in our Defence Force, and I fully understand that.

I do support Jacqui Lambie having her inquiry. But I think to extend that inquiry out for a year—which was initially until 27 August next year—was not reasonable. Even now, in taking it out to April, I think it needs to be a shorter period of time. As I explained to Jacqui Lambie, we need to get the commissioner working and to start working on this. Therefore I cannot support Jacqui Lambie's amendment—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Bilyk, on a point of order?

Catryna Bilyk (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That's the first time I've heard Senator Hanson refer to Senator Lambie as 'Jacqui Lambie'. It's 'Senator Lambie', and that's how she should be referred to.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This debate has been characterised by a little bit of dancing around the standing orders. It is a matter of some passion. I was going to draw senators' attention to the use of correct titles and addressing comments to other senators through the chair at the end. But I take your point of order; people should refer to others by their appropriate titles.

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do apologise to Senator Lambie. I am very passionate as well about the suicides that have happened in the Defence Force. Answers need to be had. But, to extend an inquiry out—and it was regarded to the terms of reference to a royal commission—there has to be no undertaking that the government will have a royal commission. What I have suggested to the government and to Senator Lambie is to let the commissioner do his job. He will be independent of the government and will do investigations into previous deaths that have happened. Let him come down with his findings. If that is not the case then the Senate can review that, look at how we will proceed with this and then possibly take it to a royal commission. But to have a commissioner in this position has never happened, and I believe that we need to actually move forward with this.

Senator Lambie, you have the opportunity now—a commissioner has been appointed and will be named—for a three-month period to have your inquiry, as you wished, and it's been referred to foreign affairs, defence and trade. So I would suggest that you've got an opportunity now to have that inquiry. I support the government's amendment to this.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the government amendment that has a reporting date for these bills of 30 November 2020 be agreed to. Those of that opinion say aye; to the contrary, no. The ayes have it.

Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The noes have it!

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I heard only one voice there. I will do Senator Lambie the courtesy of doing it again; however, I will point out that that will mean the bill will not be referred to a committee if the noes have this motion. So I'll put the motion again. The question is that the motion moved by Senator Duniam be agreed to.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

At the end of the motion, add "and, in respect of the Higher Education Support Amendment (Job-Ready Graduates and Supporting Regional and Remote Students) Bill 2020, the bill be referred to the Education and Employment Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 25 September 2020".

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

At the end of the motion, add: "and, in respect of the Higher Education Support Amendment (Job-Ready Graduates and Supporting Regional and Remote Students) Bill 2020, the bill be referred immediately to the Education and Employment Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 30 November 2020".

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's good to see that the government has seen some sense in having an inquiry. But you have been dragged kicking and screaming to the table, embarrassed with your tail between your legs.

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, I'm not going to lower my volume. This is a big issue and it's a shame that Senator Pauline Hanson's One Nation has become, even more so during the pandemic, just an arm of the Liberal-National government. We on this side of the chamber want to keep you accountable and transparent and scrutinise your decisions. I thank every single member sitting on this side of the chamber for doing that. We are doing our jobs and you have been pushing against us, pushing against scrutiny.

You gave us six days to look at the exposure draft of this bill—six days, not even one week! What are you afraid of really? Are you afraid that everyone will find out how destructive your uni fee hikes and funding cuts bill is? Are you afraid that everyone will find out your juvenile Murdoch-driven hatred of humanities in universities? Are you afraid that your bill doesn't at all do what you say it does? You are cowards and we will expose you. We will expose you through this inquiry. We want the 30 November date as well, but we will expose you no matter what inquiry we get. We are here to do our jobs, to keep you accountable, to make sure that every single person in Australia finds out how destructive your horrible piece of legislation is.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm going to put the amendment moved by Senator Gallagher first because that pushes out the reporting date. The question is that the Senator Gallagher's amendment for a reporting date of 30 November 2020 be agreed to.

Question negatived.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can we record our vote on that?

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The opposition would like their vote recorded in support of that amendment. Senator Siewert.

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

Please note the Greens' support for that amendment as well.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Siewert.

I'll now put the original amendment moved by the government for a reporting date of 25 September 2020.

Question agreed to.

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

At the end of the motion, add:

"and, in respect of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Streamlining Environmental Approvals) Bill 2020, the provisions of the bill be referred immediately to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 11 November 2020".

This amendment refers the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Streamlining Environmental Approvals) Bill 2020, which is being debated in the House of Representatives as we speak, to an inquiry. It is unthinkable that this government would push through this piece of legislation without allowing the Senate to do its job. If they don't allow this bill to go to an inquiry, not only is this an attack on the environment; it is an attack on democracy and an attack on our children's future, because this is about the health and the sustainability of our planet. If the government don't have the common sense to know that our job in this place is to inquire into pieces of legislation, to scrutinise them, to work out what form the legislation and the amendments should take in order to make sure we actually protect the environment, then I don't know what they think they're doing on the front benches. This act and this piece of legislation require a full-blown Senate inquiry. The arrogance of this government to assume that they don't have to worry because they don't want to have to hear about it! It's just absurd. It's arrogant, it's undemocratic, and it is an attack on Australia's environment and our wildlife.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the amendment moved by Senator Hanson-Young be agreed to.

Original question, as amended, agreed to.