Senate debates
Thursday, 25 February 2021
Committees
Selection of Bills Committee; Report
11:46 am
Dean Smith (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I present the third report of 2021 of the Selection of Bills Committee. I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard.
Leave granted.
The report read as follows—
SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE
REPORT NO. 3 OF 2021
25 February 2021
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
Senator Dean Smith (Government Whip, Chair)
Senator Perin Davey (The Nationals Whip)
Senator Stirling Griff (Centre Alliance Whip)
Senator Pauline Hanson (Pauline Hanson's One Nation Whip)
Senator Rachel Siewert (Australian Greens Whip)
Senator Anne Urquhart (Opposition Whip)
Senator Raff Ciccone
Senator Katy Gallagher
Senator Jacqui Lambie
Senator the Hon James McGrath
Senator Rex Patrick
Senator the Hon Anne Ruston
Secretary: Tim Bryant ph: 6277 3020
SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE
REPORT NO. 3 OF 2021
1. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 24 February 2021 at 7.16 pm.
2. The committee recommends that—
(a) the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Save the Koala) Bill 2021 be referred immediately to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 2 December 2021 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral);
(b) contingent upon introduction in the House of Representatives, the provisions of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Standards and Assurance) Bill 2021 be referred immediately to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 1 June 2021 (see appendix 2 for a statement of reasons for referral);
(c) the provisions of the Online Safety Bill 2021 and Online Safety (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Bill 2021 be referred immediately to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 11 March 2021 (see appendix 3 for a statement of reasons for referral); and
(d) contingent upon introduction in the House of Representatives, the provisions of the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Strengthening Income Support) Bill 2021 be referred immediately to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 12 March 2021 (see appendix 4 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:
(Dean Smith)
Chair
25 February 2021
Appendix 1
SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE
Proposal to refer a bill to a committee
Name of bill:
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Save the Koala) Bill 2021
Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:
To investigate the impact of a moratorium on land clearing on protecting the koala and other threatened species.
Possible submissions or evidence from: Environment Stakeholders
Community groups opposing projects in koala habitat Mining and property development industry
Scientists and Ecologists
Committee to which bill is to be referred: Environment and Communications
Possible hearing date(s):
Possible reporting date:
2 December 2021
(signed)
Senator Hanson-Young, Rachel Siewert
Appendix 2
SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE
Proposal to refer a bill to a committee
Name of bill: Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Standards and Assurance) Bill 2021
Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:
To examine the bill, and allow for stakeholder feedback, with regard to the recommendations from the Samuel review.
Possible submissions or evidence from:
Industry and environmental stakeholders
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:
31 July 2021
(signed)
Senator Raff Ciccone
SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE
Proposal to refer a bill to a committee
Name of bill:
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Standards and Assurance) Bill 2021
Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:
Adequacy and effectiveness of legislation to address failures of EPBC Act and issues and recommendations of Professor Graeme Samuel's report into the EPBC Act
Possible submissions or evidence from:
Environment Stakeholders Industry Stakeholders Professor Graeme Samuel
State and Territory Environment Ministers
Committee to which bill is to be referred:
Environment and Communications
Possible hearing date(s):
Possible reporting date:
30 June 2021
(signed)
Rachel Siewert
Appendix 3
SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE
Proposal to refer a bill to a committee
Name of bill:
Online Safety Bill 2021
Online Safety (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Bill 2021
Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:
Scrutiny, human rights, internet governance, regulatory remit, regulatory burden.
Possible submissions or evidence from:
List of submitters available at Government consultation pages:
https://www.communications.gov.au/have-your-say/consultation-bill-new-onlinesafety-act
https://www.communications.gov.au/have-your-say/consultation-online-safetyreforms
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 March 2021
(signed)
Senator Raff Ciccone
SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE
Proposal to refer a bill to a committee
Name of bill:
Online Safety Bill 2021
Online Safety (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Bill 2021
Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:
To establish whether this complex legal framework can adequately protect vulnerable online users whilst also having adequate regard to human rights
To scrutinise the objectives, implications, and obligations of this legal framework for law enforcement agencies
To scrutinise the objectives, implications, and obligations of this legal framework for tech companies
Possible submissions or evidence from:
Academics and thinktanks
Business groups
ICT peak bodies
Community groups
Consumer groups
Other affected stakeholder groups
Committee to which bill is to be referred:
Legal and Constitutional Affairs or Environment and Communications
Possible hearing date(s):
On the papers
Possible reporting date:
6 April 2021
(signed)
Rachel Siewert
Appendix 4
SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE
Proposal to refer a bill to a committee
Name of bill:
Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Strengthening Income Support) Bill 2021
Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:
How decision was made to increase Jobseeker by $50 a fortnight including modelling and advice sought
Impact of changes on people living on Jobseeker, Youth Allowance and related payments
Changes to mutual obligations and new employer hotline
Possible submissions or evidence from:
Uniting Care
Anglicare
AUWU
Social security academics
DESE
Committee to which bill is to be referred:
Community Affairs
Possible hearing date(s):
Possible reporting date:
15/3/21
(signed)
Senator Siewert
SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE
Proposal to refer a bill to a committee
Name of bill:
Social Services Legislation Amendment (Strengthening Income Support) Bill 2021
Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:
Social and economic impacts of the Bill.
Possible submissions or evidence from:
Business and community groups, academics.
Committee to which bill is to be referred:
Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee
Possible hearing date(s):
One hearing in the week of 1 March 2021.
Possible reporting date:
11 March 2021.
(signed)
Senator Raff Ciccone
I move:
That the report be adopted.
Question agreed to.