Senate debates

Thursday, 15 September 2016

Committees

Selection of Bills Committee; Report

11:52 am

Photo of David BushbyDavid Bushby (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I present the 6th report of 2016 of the Selection of Bills Committee and I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The report read as follows—

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

REPORT NO. 6 OF 2016

15 September 2016

MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE

Senator David Bushby (Government Whip, Chair)

Senator Anne Urquhart (Opposition Whip)

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

Senator Derryn Hinch (Derryn Hinch's Justice Party Whip)

Senator Skye Kakoschke-Moore (Nick Xenophon Team Whip)

Senator Rachel Siewert (Australian Greens Whip)

Senator John Williams (The Nationals Whip)

Secretary: Chris Reid

6277 3020

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

REPORT NO. 6 OF 2016

1. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 14 September 2016 at 7.37 pm.

2. The committee resolved to recommend—That—

(a) the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (Rural and Regional Advocacy) Bill 2015 be referred immediately to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 30 November 2016 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(b) the provisions of the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Country of Origin) Bill 2016 be referred immediately to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 10 October 2016 (see appendix 2 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(c) the provisions of the Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Jobs for Families Child Care Package) Bill 2016 and the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Family Payments Structural Reform and Participation Measures) Bill 2016 be referred immediately to the Education and Employment Legislation Committee but was unable to reach agreement on a reporting date (see appendices 3 and 4 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(d) the provisions of the Migration Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) Bill 2016 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 10 October 2016 (see appendices 5 and 6 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(e) the provisions of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Savings Fund Special Account Bill 2016 be referred immediately to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee but was unable to reach agreement on a reporting date (see appendices 7 and 8 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(f) the provisions of the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Budget Repair) Bill 2016 be referred immediately to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee but was unable to reach agreement on a reporting date (see appendix 9 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(g) the provisions of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Enterprise Tax Plan) Bill 2016 be referred immediately to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 10 October 2016 (see appendix 10 for a statement of reasons for referral); and

(h) the provisions of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Income Tax Relief) Bill 2016 be referred immediately to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 10 October 2016 (see appendix 11 for a statement of reasons for referral).

3. The committee resolved to recommend—That the following bills not be referred to committees:

                  National Cancer Screening Register (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2016

                          The committee recommends accordingly.

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

                                        Narcotic Drugs (Licence Charges) Bill 2016

                                                  (David Bushby)

                                                  Chair

                                                  15 September 2016

                                                  APPENDIX 1

                                                  Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                                  Name of bill:

                                                  Australian Broadcasting Amendment (Rural and Regional Advocacy) Bill 2015

                                                  Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                  To continue to investigate the proposed Amendments and to identify any other measures that may promote regional news services and journalism in rural and regional Australia.

                                                  Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                  Regional journalists, Regional; residents, regional businesses, regional representatives.

                                                  Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                  Environment and Communications Legislation Committee

                                                  Possible hearing date(s):

                                                  Various

                                                  Possible reporting date:

                                                  Wednesday 30 November 2016

                                                  (signed)

                                                  Senator Bridget McKenzie

                                                  APPENDIX 2

                                                  Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                                  Name of bill:

                                                  Competition and Consumer Amendment (Country of Origin) Bill 2016

                                                  Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                    Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                    Industry, food producers, consumer organisations.

                                                    Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                    Economics Legislation Committee

                                                    Possible hearing date(s):

                                                    26 September 2016

                                                    Possible reporting date:

                                                    10 October 2016

                                                    (signed)

                                                    Senator Kakoschke-Moore

                                                    APPENDIX 3

                                                    Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                                    Name of bill:

                                                    Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Jobs for Families Child Care Package) Bill

                                                    Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                    To seek information about the impact of the Bill on children, families and providers to facilitate informed consideration of the Bill.

                                                    Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                    Early Childhood Australia

                                                    Australian Child Care Alliance

                                                    National Outside School Hours Care Association

                                                    Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care

                                                    Home Child Care Alliance

                                                    National Association of Mobile Services

                                                    Children and Young People with Disability Australia

                                                    The Parenthood

                                                    Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                    Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee

                                                    Possible hearing date(s):

                                                    To be determined by the Committee

                                                    Possible reporting date:

                                                    22 November 2016

                                                    (signed)

                                                    Senator Urquhart

                                                    APPENDIX 4

                                                    Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                                    Name of bill:

                                                    Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Jobs for Families Child Care Package) Bill 2016

                                                    Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                    The Australian Greens are concerned that the introduction of the activity test will reduce access to subsidised childcare for vulnerable children.

                                                    Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                    Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                    Education and Employment Legislation Committee

                                                    Possible hearing date(s):

                                                    First week of October. 1 day sufficient.

                                                    Possible reporting date:

                                                    21 November 2016

                                                    (signed)

                                                    Senator Rachel Siewert

                                                    APPENDIX 5

                                                    Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                                    Name of bill:

                                                    Migration Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) Bill 2016

                                                    Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                    Potential conflict with Australia's human rights obligations and potential issues with proportionality.

                                                    Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                    Please see submitters to lapsed inquiry into this Bill.

                                                    Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                    Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee

                                                    Possible hearing date(s):

                                                    27 October 2016

                                                    Possible reporting date:

                                                    11 November 2016

                                                    (signed)

                                                    Senator Rachel Siewert

                                                    APPENDIX 6

                                                    Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                                    Name of bill:

                                                    Migration Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) Bill 2016

                                                    Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                    For completion of a report that was previously referred in March 2016, scrutinising the impact of legislative change on the sponsored family visa program.

                                                    Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                    Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                    Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee

                                                    Possible hearing date(s):

                                                    Possible reporting date:

                                                    Monday 10 October

                                                    (signed)

                                                    Senator Anne Urquhart

                                                    APPENDIX 7

                                                    Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                                    Name of bill:

                                                    National Disability Insurance Scheme Savings Fund Special Account Bill 2016

                                                    Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                    Examination of purported argument for linkage between savings measures and NDIS funding

                                                    Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                    People with Disability Australia, Australian Council of Social Services, Australian Cross Disability Alliance

                                                    Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                    Community Affairs

                                                    Possible hearing date(s):

                                                    On the papers

                                                    Possible reporting date:

                                                    7 November 2016

                                                    (signed)

                                                    Senator Rachel Siewert

                                                    APPENDIX 8

                                                    Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                                    Name of bill:

                                                    National Disability Insurance Scheme Savings Fund Special Account Bill 2016

                                                    Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                    More information is required to understand the purpose and operation of the proposed Fund.

                                                    Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                    Department of Social Services

                                                    Department of the Treasury

                                                    Department of Finance

                                                    Disability Organisations

                                                    Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                    Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee

                                                    Possible hearing date(s):

                                                    To be determined by the committee

                                                    Possible reporting date:

                                                    7 November 2016

                                                    (signed)

                                                    Senator Anne Urquhart

                                                    APPENDIX 9

                                                    Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                                    Name of bill:

                                                    Social Services Legislation Amendment (Budge! Repair) Bill 2016

                                                    Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                    More information is required on the impacts of these measures on those affected.

                                                    Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                    Department of Social Services

                                                    Department of the Treasury

                                                    Multicultural organisations

                                                    Welfare organisations

                                                    Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                    Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee

                                                    Possible hearing date(s):

                                                    To be determined by the committee

                                                    Possible reporting date:

                                                    7 November 2016

                                                    (signed)

                                                    Senator Anne Urquhart

                                                    APPENDIX 10

                                                    Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                                    Name of bill:

                                                    Treasury Laws Amendment (Enterprise Tax Plan) Bill 2016

                                                    Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                    To examine the economic impact of the Bill.

                                                    To examine the social impact of the Bill.

                                                    Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                    Economists.

                                                    Business groups.

                                                    Civil society groups.

                                                    Trade unions.

                                                    Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                    Economics Legislation Committee

                                                    Possible hearing date(s):

                                                    Weeks starting 19 September, 26 September, 3 October

                                                    Possible reporting date:

                                                    Week starting 10 October

                                                    (signed)

                                                    Senator Rachel Siewert

                                                    APPENDIX 11

                                                    Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                                    Name of bill:

                                                    Treasury Laws Amendment (Income Tax Relief) Bill 2016

                                                    Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                    To examine the economic impact of the Bill.

                                                    To examine the social impact of the Bill.

                                                    Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                    Economists.

                                                    Business groups.

                                                    Civil society groups.

                                                    Trade unions.

                                                    Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                    Economics Legislation Committee

                                                    Possible hearing date(s):

                                                    Weeks starting 19 September, 26 September, 3 October.

                                                    Possible reporting date:

                                                    Week starting 10 October

                                                    (signed)

                                                    Senator Rachel Siewert

                                                    I move that the report be adopted.

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