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

URQUHART (—) (): I present the 11th report of 2023 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 CO MMITTEE

REPORT NO. 11 OF 2023

14 September 2023

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 Lidia Thorpe

Senator Tammy Tyrrell

Secretary: Tim Bryant 02 6277 3020

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

REPORT NO. 11 OF 2023

1. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 13 September 2023 at 7.11 pm.

(a) contingent upon introduction in the House of Representatives, the provisions of the Disability Services and Inclusion Bill 2023, and the Disability Services and Inclusion (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023 be referred immediately to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 9 November 2023 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(b) the provisions of the Identity Verification Services Bill 2023, and the Identity Verification Services (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 9 November 2023 (see appendix 2 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(c) the provisions of the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Credit and Other Measures) Bill 2023 be referred immediately to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 12 October 2023 (see appendix 3 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(d) the Legalising Cannabis Bill 2023 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by

31 May 2024 (see appendix 4 for a statement of reasons for referral); and

(e) the provisions of the Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Bill 2023, and the Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023 be referred immediately to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 22 November 2023 (see appendix 5 for a statement of reasons for referral).

2. The committee recommends that the following bills not be referred to committees:

Parliamentary Workplace Support Service (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023

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

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

(Anne Urquhart)

Chair

14 September 2023

Appendix 1

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Disability Services and Inclusion Act 2023

This Bill will be accompanied by consequential and technical amendment legislation to ensure that the changes in the DSI Bill do not trigger any unintended legislative consequences in other legislative contexts and ensure smooth transition to the new legislative framework this Bill will enable.

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

High public interest. The legislation is a repeal and replace of the Disability Services Act 1986 so it is significant reform.

Proactive engagement with the sector and additional scrutiny by the Parliament will benefit passage of the Bill.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Community Affairs Legislation Committee (CALC)

Possible hearing date(s):

2 hearings (accessible format- online) between w/c 25 October and w/c 16 October 2023)

Possible reporting date:

Have requested 9 November. Subject to broader Senate scheduling and to the agreement of the CALC Chair, we could manage 15 November reporting to have Senate Debate Week 9.

(signed)

Anne Urquhart

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Disability Services and Inclusion Bill 2023

Reasons for referra1/principal issues for consideration:

This repeals the Disability Services Act and replaces it. The consultation has not been made public.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

PWDA, WYDA, FNDN and other disability peak bodies.

Committee to which b ill is to be referred:

Community Affairs

Possible hearing date(s):

Priority is that there needs to be at least one hearing

Possible reporting date:

9 November 2023

(signed)

Nick McKim

Whip/ Selection of Bills Committee member

Appendix 2

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Identity Verification Services Bill 2023 and Identity Verification Services (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023

Reasons for referra1/principal issues for consideration:

Possible submissions or evidence from:

In addition to submissions from members of the public including those impacted by recent data breaches, submission might come from a range of stakeholders:

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Possible hearing date(s):

November

Possible reporting date:

9 November 2023

(signed)

Nick McKim

Whip/ Selection of Bills Committee member

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Identity Verification Services Bill 2023

Identity Verification Services (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Complicated Bill

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Various Stakeholders

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date:

9 November 2023

(signed)

Wendy Askew

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Identity Verification Services Bill 2023 and Identity Verification Services (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Provide stakeholders an opportunity to speak to the measures in the Bills providing legislative authority for identity verification services.

Possible submissions or evidence f rom:

Allens Hub for Technology, Law and Innovation at UNSW Law

Australian Banking Association

Business Council of Australia

Human Rights Law Centre

Human Technology Institute, UTS

Law Council of Australia

Australian Lawyers Alliance

Electronic Frontiers Australia

Tech Council

Telecommunications providers

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

TBC

Possible report ing date:

18 October 2023

Appendix 3

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Interactive Gambling Amendment (Credit and Other Measures) Bill

Reasons for referra1/principal issues for consideration:

Explore scope and impact of Bill and the potential to include other harmful interactive wagering services like, for example, lotteries.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Alliance for Gambling Reform

Charles Livingston, Senior Lecturer and Head of Gambling and Social Determinants Unit, Monash University School of public Health and Preventative Medicine

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Environment and Communication

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date:

12 October 2023

(signed)

Nick McKim

Whip/ Selection of Bills Committee member

Appendix 4

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Legalising Cannabis Bill 2023

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Possible submissions or evidence from:

In addition to submissions from members of the public including those impacted by recent data breaches, submission might come from a range of stakeholders:

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Early 2024, February or March

Possible reporting date:

31 May 2024

(signed)

Nick McKim

Whip / Selection of Bills Committee member

Appendix 5

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Bill 2023

Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023

Reasons for referra1/principal issues for consideration:

Very large changes to Tobacco legislation.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Cancer Council, PHAA, Lung Foundation

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Community Affairs

Possible hearing date(s):

Poss ible reporting date:

22 November 2023

(signed)

Nick McKim

Whip/Selection of Bills Committee member

S ELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Bill 2023

Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Complicated Bill

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Various Stakeholders

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Community Affairs Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

September-November

Possible reporting date:

22 November 2023

(signed)

Wendy Askew

I move:

That the report be adopted.

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

I move:

At the end of the motion, add "and the Defence Amendment (Safeguarding Australia's Military Secrets) Bill 2023 not be referred to a committee.

I just want to explain our position on that. The government recognises the complexity of this proposed legislation and is committed to a thorough, collaborative process of genuine consultation. We want to get this right, so we welcome a close interrogation of this bill to see if sensible amendments can be made to ensure the legislation is fit for purpose. In line with the usual practice involving legislation of this sensitive nature, the government has referred the bill to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security. The PJCIS is the appropriate committee to scrutinise this bill. The nature of the committee is that it can hold classified hearings and receive classified briefings from the security agencies. This will ensure that scrutiny of the bill is informed by the full picture of the security assessments underpinning the need for the legislation.

As we would expect, the government has also asked the PJCIS to hold public hearings and invite public submissions, again to ensure that the bill is scrutinised with the appropriate rigour by the parliament. The Greens Party—and I'm pre-empting some contributions from Senator McKim—does like to make some colourful arguments about these matters, but it's the job of the government and responsible parties of government to act in the national interest and ensure that Australians are safe, and that's what we're doing here. I understand that Senator Shoebridge has a different view, including casting a negative view on some of the good people in Defence, our intelligence agencies and the PJCIS. Ultimately, despite being the Greens' defence spokesperson, he and his party don't think that these bodies should exist.

Question agreed to.

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

by leave—President, I ask that the Australian Greens' opposition to this amendment be recorded in the Hansard.

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

I move:

At the end of the motion, add "and the Ending Native Forest Logging Bill 2023 not be referred to a committee".

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

I move an amendment to the amendment moved by Senator Chisholm:

Omit "not be referred to a committee", substitute "be referred immediately to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 6 November 2023".

I will just speak briefly to that amendment. We all know what's going to happen here, and that is that the major parties are going to collude to prevent the Senate from running an inquiry into the Australian Greens' bill to end native forest logging in Australia. And why are they going to do that? Because they're captive to the native forest logging industry. Why else are they going to do that? Because they don't want Australians to have a chance to discuss and contribute to a conversation about the fact that native forest logging has completely lost its social licence. Why else are they going to do that? Because they don't want to have a conversation in this country about the massive carbon bomb that is native forest logging. Why else do they not want to do that? Because they don't want to talk about the fact that native forest logging is driving species like the beautiful little swift parrot into extinction.

Let's be really clear about this. Native forest logging has no social licence. Native forest logging is a crime against nature. It is a crime against climate. Native forest logging is driving species to extinction. Native forest logging is a mendicant burden on the public purse. If you withdrew the public subsidies to the native forest logging industry, it would collapse tomorrow! It can't survive without the never-ending largesse from the Labor and Liberal parties. That is why the Labor and Liberal parties are going to collude to prevent the Greens' bill to end native forest logging going to a Senate inquiry, make no mistake.

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

It's another day in the Senate, and it's another stunt from the forest-science-denying group of people down the end of the chamber there, aka the Greens political party, as they're now referred to. There is no science behind what that group of people down there are proposing today—this bill to end native forest logging. We've heard about climate bombs, a crime against climate and a crime against nature. All of these things are bunkum. What happens when we end native forest logging in this country, something that is done to world's best standard, is based on science and supports jobs in regional communities? What happens when we ban this industry that is so evil?

Janet Rice (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You're delusional!

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

I cannot even begin to respond to that, Madam President, and I shan't, because it's disorderly. But the point is: when we shut this industry down, what will we do to get the timber we need for the appearance grade products that we demand in this marketplace? We'll get it from places like the Congo Basin. You want to talk about crimes against nature? You want to talk about damage to the environment? That mob down there, forest science deniers, completely abandon fact and science when it comes to propositions like this. You know what? People of Melbourne and Sydney who want their beautiful coffee tables and lovely floorboards, do you know where it's coming from? You're still going to be able to buy it with a little stamp saying it's all okay, but it will be coming out of places like the Congo Basin.

This crew have made an industry out of destroying industries that are sustainable and based on science, all because they tap into the psyche that some people have, and that is that they don't like seeing clear-felled coupes. Forget the science behind it. Forget the facts. Forget the jobs and the economic activity it generates. Forget about all of that, because it doesn't matter.

David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Nobody likes seeing clear-felled coupes.

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

I will take the interjection from Senator Shoebridge: 'Nobody likes seeing clear-felled coupes.' That is the basis upon which this bill is being moved—because it doesn't feel good. I'll tell you what: it is good for the environment. It is based on science. It creates jobs. What isn't good is bringing timber in for the same products that we buy today but, instead of getting it from sustainably managed, science based forestry operations in Australia, getting it from the Congo Basin or other places where they don't give a damn about the environment.

You know what? These forestry operations overseas have tinges of modern slavery attached to them. But apparently it's okay to shut down the forestry industry in Australia, okay to send the economic benefits of these jobs and that industry offshore, okay to offshore forestry operations to jurisdictions where they don't care about carbon emissions. I'll tell you what: as a signatory to the Glasgow declaration on halting deforestation by 2030, I'll guarantee you that none of those countries from which we will be drawing this material are signatories to that. They won't be replanting the trees that are ripped out of the ground as a result of what's happened in Victoria under the madness of the Andrews Labor government and what's happened in Western Australia under the madness of former premier McGowan's government—terrible policies that are not based on science, not based on fact, bad for the economy and bad for the environment. How anyone can stand in this place and say it is good for the environment to do what the Greens are proposing to do is beyond me.

Senator McKim calls it 'collusion'. I call it 'reality'. I call it 'based on science'. I call it 'based on fact'. I'm not going to abandon the people who work in this industry—honest, hardworking people—who rely on science, who back in what this industry does.

Honourable senators interjecting—

There are these silly, emotive questions being asked from the crazy corner of the Senate down there—the forest science deniers. 'Why do you hate gliders? Why do you hate swift parrots?' Apparently, they're mutually exclusive. There is no recognition in this bill, which they're seeking to refer off to this committee for inquiry, of what the industry has done to manage threatened species. It is based on emotion, not based on science, all for a Facebook clip. That's what this is about, and the Greens should hang their heads in shame as a result of this.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I was reluctant to interrupt Senator Duniam, but I do remind everyone in the chamber: if you want to speak, rather than shout out and be disorderly and disrespectful, you seek the call. Senator Duniam, you also made a disparaging remark towards a section of the chamber, so I'm going to ask you to withdraw.

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

I shall withdraw.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the amendment to Senator Chisholm's amendment to the Selection of Bills Committee report be agreed to.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question now is that the amendment to the Selection of Bills Committee report, as moved by Senator Chisholm, be agreed to.

Question agreed to.

Original question, as amended, agreed to.