Senate debates

Thursday, 16 May 2024

Committees

Selection of Bills Committee; Report

11:15 am

Photo of Anne UrquhartAnne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

I present the fifth report of 2024 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. 5 OF 2024

16 May 2024

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 Maria Kovacic

Senator Matt O'Sullivan

Senator David Pocock

Senator Lidia Thorpe

Senator David Van

Secretary: Tim Bryant 02 6277 3020

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

REPORT NO. 5 OF 2024

1. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 15 May 2024 at 7.14 pm.

2. The committee recommends that—

(a) the Airline Passenger Protections (Pay on Delay) Bill 2024 be referred immediately to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 18 November 2024 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(b) the provisions of the Criminal Code Amendment (Protecting Commonwealth Frontline Workers) Bill 2024 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 20 June 2024 (see appendix 2 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(c) the provisions of the Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Quality and Integrity) Bill 2024 be referred immediately to the Education and Employment Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 15 August 2024 (see appendix 3 for a statement of reasons for referral); and

(d) the provisions of the Illegal Logging Prohibition Amendment (Strengthening Measures to Prevent Illegal Timber Trade) Bill 2024 be referred immediately to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 20 June 2024 (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:

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

                                    (Anne Urquhart)

                                    Chair

                                    16 May 2024

                                    Appendix 1

                                    SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                    Proposal to refer a bill toa committee

                                    Name of bill:

                                    Airline Passenger Protections (Pay on Delay) Bill 2024

                                    Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                    To ensure a senate enquiry has the opportunity to scrutinize the current aviation issues that this Bill seeks to address,

                                    Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                    Airline industry, individuals, interested parties and other stakeholders.

                                    Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                    Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee

                                    Possible hearing date(s): June—November

                                    Possible reporting date:

                                    18 November 2024

                                    (signed)

                                    Wendy Askew

                                    Appendix 2

                                    SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                    Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                    Name of bill:

                                    Criminal Code Amendment (Protecting Commonwealth Frontline Workers) Bill 2024

                                    Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                    A short referral for the committee to investigate this legislation.

                                    Possible submissions or evidence from: Interested parties and other stakeholders.

                                    Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                    Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee

                                    Possible hearing date(s):

                                    N/A

                                    Possible reporting date:

                                    20 June 2024

                                    (signed)

                                    Wendy Askew

                                    Appendix 3

                                    SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                    Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                    Name of bill:

                                    Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Quality and Integrity) Bill 2024

                                    Reasons for referra1/principal issues for consideration:

                                    We expect that this Bill contains amendments to the Education Services for Overseas Students Act to give the education minister power to set limits on enrolments for each education provider, including specific courses or locations.

                                    These powers are extraordinary and warrant interrogation.

                                    Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                    Universities, student unions, NTEU, international students

                                    Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                    Education and Employment Legislation Committee

                                    Possible hearing date(s):

                                    Thursday 20 June

                                    Wednesday 24 July

                                    Thursday 8 August

                                    Possible reporting date: 30 August 2024

                                    (signed)

                                    Nick McKim

                                    Appendix 4

                                    SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                    Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                    Name of bill:

                                    Illegal Logging Prohibition Amendment (Strengthening Measures to Prevent Illegal Timber Trade) Bill 2024

                                    Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                    To allow stakeholders the opportunity to comment on this legislation through a committee process.

                                    Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                    Interested parties and the forestry sector. Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                    Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee

                                    Possible hearing date(s):

                                    May-June

                                    Possible reporting date:

                                    27 June 2024

                                    (signed)

                                    Wendy Askew

                                    SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                    Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                    Name of bill: Illegal Logging Prohibition Amendment (Strengthening Measures to Prevent Illegal Timber Trade) Bill 2024

                                    Reasons for referra l /principal issues for consideration: Possible ramifications and considerations for timber/forests standards, supply chain management, illegal logging operations, and modem slavey protections.

                                    Possible submissions or evidence from: Advocates and peak bodies representing conservation, industry standards, trade unions, and human rights.

                                    Committee to which bill is to be referred: Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport

                                    Possible hearing date(s): conduct on the papers

                                    Possible reporting date: 19 June 2024

                                    (signed)

                                    Nick McKim

                                    I move:

                                    That the report be adopted.

                                    Photo of Katy GallagherKaty Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | | Hansard source

                                    I move the following amendment to the Selection of Bills Committee report:

                                    At the end of the motion, add "and, in respect of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard Bill 2024 and New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2024 the bills not be referred to committee."

                                    Photo of Anne RustonAnne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | | Hansard source

                                    I move an amendment to the minister's amendment:

                                    At the end of the motion, add:

                                    "and, in respect of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard Bill 2024 and the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2024, the provisions of the bills be referred immediately to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 13 August 2024."

                                    Photo of Sue LinesSue Lines (President) Share this | | Hansard source

                                    The question is that the amendment as moved by Senator Ruston, which amends Senator Gallagher's amendment, be agreed to.

                                    11:24 am

                                    Photo of Sue LinesSue Lines (President) Share this | | Hansard source

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