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

I present the 11th report of 2020 of the Selection of Bills Committee and seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The report read as follows—

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

REPORT NO. 11 OF 2020

1. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 2 December 2020 at 7.34 pm.

2. The committee recommends that—

(a) the Judges' Pensions Amendment (Pension Not Payable for Misconduct) Bill 2020 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 5 April 2021 (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:

Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Charge (General) Bill 2020

Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Charge (Customs) Bill 2020

Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Charge (Excise) Bill 2020

National Emergency Declaration (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2020

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

(Dean Smith)

Chair

3 December 2020

Appendix 1

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill: Judges' Pensions Amendment (Pension Not Payable for Misconduct) Bill2020

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

To facilitate stakeholder engagement, give opportunity for the profession to contribute, and look the bills impact within the profession.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Courts, legal profession, and court administrative and support staff.

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

Possible hearing date(s): As determined by Committee

Possible reporting date: As determined by Committee, possible reporting date April 2021

Appendix 2

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

- Corporations Amendment (Corporate Insolvency Reforms) Bill 2020

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

- Potential impact on business environment, including supply of credit.

- Potential impact on worker, including payment of wages and entitlements.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

- Academics and think tanks

- Business groups

- Unions

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

- Economics

Possible hearing date(s):

- On the papers

Possible reporting date:

/ - January 2021 (signed)

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:

At the end of the motion, add "except that the Surveillance Legislation Amendment (Identify and Disrupt) Bill 2020 not be referred to a committee".

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would like to make the point that, from the Australian Greens point of view, the Corporations Amendment (Corporate Insolvency Reforms) Bill 2020 should be referred to a parliamentary committee, and it won't be if the Senate accepts the Selection of Bills Committee report. I just wanted to place on the record that the Corporations Amendment (Corporate Insolvency Reforms) Bill 2020 does propose to ease the regulatory burden on businesses. I note that we regulate businesses for many reasons, including to protect our environment and to provide safer workplaces for people, and, ultimately, we regulate businesses in the public interest.

This bill would wind back business regulation. We're not saying that's a bad thing; we're simply saying it is a matter worthy of Senate inquiry, and we are disappointed that the Selection of Bills Committee report does not recommend that that bill be inquired into by the Economics Legislation Committee.

Question agreed to.

Original question, as amended, agreed to.