Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I present the eighth report for 2022 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. 8 OF 2022

1 December 2022

MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE

Senator Anne Urquhart (Government Whip, Chair)

Senator Wendy Askew (Opposition Whip)

Senator Ross Cadell (The Nationals Whip)

Senator Pauline Hanson (Pauline Hanson's One Nation Whip)

Senator Nick McKim (Australian Greens Whip)

Senator Ralph Babet

Senator the Hon. Anthony Chisholm

Senator the Hon. Katy Gallagher

Senator Matt O'Sullivan

Senator David Pocock

Senator Paul Scarr

Senator Tammy Tyrrell

Secretary: Tim Bryant 02 6277 3020

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

REPORT NO. 8 OF 2022

1. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 30 November 2022 at 7.13 pm.

2. The committee recommends that—

(a) the Education and Other Legislation Amendment (Abolishing Indexation and Raising the Minimum Repayment Income for Education and Training Loans) Bill 2022 be referred immediately to the Education and Employment Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 17 April 2023 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(b) the provisions of the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation Bill 2022 be referred immediately to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 28 February 2023 (see appendix 2 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(c) the provisions of the Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Improvements for Families and Gender Equality) Bill 2022 be referred immediately to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 3 March 2023; and

(d) the provisions of the Safeguard Mechanism (Crediting) Amendment Bill 2022 be referred immediately to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 2 March 2023 (see appendix 3 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:

Private Health Insurance (National Joint Replacement Register Levy) Amendment (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2022

Private Health Insurance (Prostheses Application and Listing Fees) Amendment (Cost Recovery) Bill 2022

(Anne Urquhart)

Chair

1 December 2022

Appendix 1

Name of Bill:

Education and Other Legislation Amendment (Abolishing Indexation and Raising the Minimum Repayment Income for Education and Training Loans) Bill 2022

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Complex bill, High degree of public interest

Poss ible submissions or evidence from:

Education and Employment Leg Committee

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Economics Legislation Committees

Possible hearing date(s):

Jan—March 2023

Possible reporting date:

17 April 2023

(signed)

Nick McKim

Append ix 2

Name of Bill:

National Reconstruction Fund Corporation Bill 2022

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Setting up and funding the National Reconstruction Fund is designed to revitalise Australian industry. The National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC) Bill will:

The NRFC will assist Australian industry, including in regional areas, to seize new growth opportunities by providing finance for projects that add value, improve productivity and support transformation rather than enabling expansion of business as usual. Investment in these activities will help create secure, high value jobs for Australians and strengthen our future prosperity. The NRFC will be able to use a range of financial instruments, including loans, guarantees and equity.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Business Council of Australia

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

COSBOA

ACTU

Manufacturing Australia

Law Council of Australia

Australian Banking Association

Australian Investment Council

Financial Services Council

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Economics Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Week of 19 December or 30 January

Possible reporting date:

9 February

(signed)

Anne Urquhart

Appendix 3

Name of Bill:

Safeguard Mechanism (Crediting) Amendment Bill

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

To inquire into the provisions of the Bill

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Entities who submitted to the Department's exposure draft of the Bill. https://consult.dcceew.gov.au/safeguard-mechanism-reform-consultation

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Environment and Communications

Possible hearing date(s):

Late January 2023

Possible reporting date:

17 February 2023

(signed)

Anne Urquhart

I move:

That the report be adopted.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move the following amendment:

At the end of the motion, add "and, in respect of the Public Interest Disclosure Amendment (Review) Bill 2022, the provisions of the bill be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 24 February 2023".

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

I move to amend the government's amendment:

At the end of the motion, add: "but, in respect of the Public Interest Disclosure Amendment (Review) Bill 2022, the provisions of the bill be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 14 March 2023".

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On Senator McKim's amendment: I know it's only a very short difference, but we would prefer 24 February in preference to Senator McKim's amendment because the time frame for this inquiry wouldn't allow for the bill to be considered by the Senate in time for it to be operational in line with the National Anti-Corruption Commission. It would miss that March sitting week, which means we wouldn't be able to implement the laws in line with the NACC. That's the reason we want to push it back, so it can be considered in March.

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

We've heard the government's ask. We want to make sure this is done properly. We're only asking for an extra week; we are prepared to do that. After six years of argy-bargy on this, making sure it's right for an extra week is not too hard an ask.

Question agreed to.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can we record that the government voted no to this amendment.

Andrew McLachlan (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

So recorded. This question now is the amendment to the motion, moved by the minister, be agreed to.

Question agreed to.

Original question, as amended, agreed to.