Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I present Delegated Legislation Monitor No. 3 of 2021 of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation, and I move:

That the Senate take note of the report.

I would like to take this opportunity to draw attention to a number of key issues and developments arising from this monitor. In particular, I would like to provide the Senate with an update on the committee's engagement with the Treasurer in relation to five legislative instruments made by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. These instruments address a range of subject matters within ASIC's portfolio by providing for exemptions from and modifications to the operation of certain provisions of the Corporations Act 2001 and other acts of parliament.

While they alter the operation of primary legislation made by this parliament, these instruments appear to be intended to remain in force for substantial periods of time, ranging from five to 10 years. As I have previously advised the chamber, this contravenes the committee's longstanding expectation that instruments which modify or exempt persons or entities from the operation of primary legislation should cease to operate no more than three years after they commence. The committee considers that a shorter sunsetting period is essential to ensure that there is a minimum degree of regular parliamentary oversight of such instruments. These instruments raise broader systemic concerns about the application of ASIC's exemption and modification powers. The committee acknowledges that there are circumstances where it may be appropriate for ASIC to use delegated legislation to quickly address anomalous or inconsistent outcomes in the application of primary legislation. However, the committee considers that a three-year time frame for such instruments is inappropriate. This allows ASIC to rapidly address such issues while providing a significant period of time, while the instrument is in force, to consider whether the notification or exemption provided by the instrument will be required for a longer period. If it is determined that a modification or exemption is required for a longer period, the committee considers that certainty for business and the market can be best provided by incorporating the modification or exemption on the face of the primary legislation. At a minimum, the committee considers that parliament should at least be given a regular opportunity to review and scrutinise modifications or exemptions to primary legislation that it has enacted. Indeed, the concerns regarding these ASIC instruments raise a much broader systemic problem across government. For this reason, the committee continues to apply its approach consistently.

I take this opportunity to note that this committee has advised the Senate in relation to scrutiny concerns in executive-made law since 1932. It is one of the oldest Senate committees and has played a marked role in the Senate's history. I remind the chamber that the committee is and has always been a non-partisan committee. The committee has consistently considered the technical scrutiny aspects of delegated legislation in a bipartisan manner, to support the Senate in its role in overseeing the lawmaking actions of the government of the day. It is incumbent on the committee to bring these issues to the attention of the Senate in accordance with standing orders and long-established practice. I also remind the chamber that there have been no votes—I stress no votes—in the history of this committee. The committee, in its entire history since 1932, has never had a formal vote. This reflects the gravity and importance of the committee's work to senators from across the political spectrum.

Since October last year the committee has been corresponding with both the Treasurer and the Assistant Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and the Digital Economy to resolve its scrutiny concerns regarding these instruments. The committee has also lodged notices of motion to disallow each of the instruments in order to provide it with additional time to resolve its scrutiny concerns. Most recently the committee drew its scrutiny concerns to the attention of the Senate in Delegated Legislation Monitor 2 of 2021 and requested that the Treasurer amend each of the instruments to ensure that, in effect, they cease to operate three years after commencement.

The committee is concerned that the Treasurer has yet to respond to the committee's most recent correspondence. This lack of timely engagement prevents the committee from fulfilling its vital role of advising the Senate about technical scrutiny issues arising in delegated legislation. The committee is simply asking the Treasurer to amend these five instruments so that they will cease to have effect after three years. This will not preclude the instrument being remade at the end of the three-year period and being renewed thereafter if it is determined that the modification is still required. This is a relatively minor change to each instrument, which would represent a major increase in the ability of the parliament to scrutinise these measures which affect the operation of primary legislation. As the Treasurer has not yet responded, the committee is unable to conclude its examination of these instruments and will keep the Senate informed in relation to any future developments, including whether the committee recommends that the Senate disallow these instruments.

By contrast, I also take this opportunity to emphasise that other members of the executive have continued to engage productively and collaboratively with the committee in resolving its technical scrutiny concerns. In particular, I draw the chamber's attention to a significant undertaking outlined in this monitor in relation to the Veterans' Affairs (Treatment Principles—Rehabilitation in the Home and Other Amendments) Determination 2020. The committee has corresponded extensively with the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and his department in relation to concerns about the lack of independent merits review of decisions made under the instrument. I am pleased to inform the chamber that as a result of this engagement this instrument has been revoked and will be remade to ensure that the committee's scrutiny concerns are addressed. I take this opportunity to thank the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and his department, as well as the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission and the Repatriation Commission for their willingness to engage constructively with the committee to resolve this matter.

The satisfactory resolution of this matter provides a model for how many ministers and agencies can engage with the committee in the future to ensure that delegated legislation is made in a manner that protects personal rights and liberties and ensures effective parliamentary oversight of executive-made laws. With these comments, I commend the committee's Delegated Legislation Monitor No. 3 of 2021 to the Senate.

Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I did wish to take the opportunity to make some comments in relation to Delegated Legislation Monitor No. 3 of 2021. I will be brief; I know others wish to speak on other matters in this place. I did want to commend the wonderful leadership provided to the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation by Senator Fierravanti-Wells and by Senator Carr in his capacity as deputy chair. It is absolutely bipartisan leadership, true to the scrutiny principles which the standing committee is commissioned to consider in discharging its processes. I think under the leadership of Senator Fierravanti-Wells and Senator Carr, and I'm sure—Senator Davey, I don't want to put words in your mouth, but I'm reasonably sure you'd associate yourself with my remarks—

Perin Davey (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Hear, hear!

Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, there you are. You associate with my remarks, that a bright light has been shone on an extremely important issue in our parliamentary democracy, this issue of whether or not the laws that are made that impact all Australians go through this place and all of us sitting here in this chamber have an opportunity—a responsibility—to consider them and either vote for them or vote against them. It is an extraordinarily important principle.

I want to add one final comment in relation to these ASIC notices of exemption from the Corporations Act 2001. I say to whoever is in the department who may be listening to this: surely, it cannot be good practice, and you cannot think it is good practice, to pass instruments which exempt or provide modifications to primary legislation that has gone through this place and for those exemptions or modifications to be in place from five to 10 years. For the life of me, I cannot see why that is necessary. I think it is entirely reasonable and, in fact, consistent and, as Senator Fierravanti-Wells has said, a responsibility of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation to make the recommendation it has made to this place with respect to those instruments. It is simply not good practice, and this matter needs to be addressed. So I, once again, commend Senator Fierravanti-Wells on her contribution.

Question agreed to.