Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For the information of honourable Members, I present a schedule of outstanding government responses to reports of House of Representatives and joint committees, incorporating reports tabled and details of government responses made in the period between 4 December 2008, the date of the last schedule, and 24 June 2009. Copies of the schedule are being made available to honourable Members and it will be incorporated in Hansard.

The document read as follows—

GOVERNMENT RESPONSES TO PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE REPORTS

RESPONSE TO THE SCHEDULE TABLED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON 4 DECEMBER 2008

Proposed to be Circulated by the Leader of the House

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP in June 2009

FOREWORD

On 4 December 2008 the Speaker tabled a schedule of outstanding government responses to reports of House of Representatives and Joint Committees listing parliamentary committee reports to which government responses were outstanding in the period since 26 June 2008.

This document presents the government’s response to the schedule.

ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER AFFAIRS (HOUSE, STANDING)

Unlocking the future: The report of the Inquiry into the Reeves Review of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976

Speaker wrote to the committee and the committee informed no further response required.

Indigenous Australia at work: Successful initiative in Indigenous employment

The government response is under consideration and will be tabled in due course.

Open for business: Developing Indigenous enterprises in Australia

Several of the report’s recommendations have required extensive consultation with stakeholders. The Government response is currently being finalised and will be tabled shortly.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY (HOUSE, STANDING)

Inquiry into future water supplies for Australia’s rural industries and communities - Interim Report

Speaker wrote to the committee and the committee informed no further response required.

Getting water right(s) - The future of rural Australia

Speaker wrote to the committee and the committee informed no further response required.

Taking control: a national approach to pest animals

The response has been updated from the DAFF portfolio perspective and is to be forwarded to other relevant Australian Government agencies for consideration. The response is expected to be tabled in the 2009 Spring sittings.

Skills: Rural Australia’s need

The government response is being considered as a priority and will be tabled in due course.

AUSTRALIAN CRIME COMMISSION (JOINT, STATUTORY)

Review of the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Examination of the Australian Crime Commission Annual Report 2004-2005

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Inquiry into the manufacture, importation and use of amphetamines and other synthetic drugs (AOSD)

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Inquiry into the future impact of serious and organised crime on Australian Society

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Examination of the Australian Crime Commission Annual Report 2006-07

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Inquiry into the Australian Crime Commission Amendment Act 2007

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

COMMUNICATIONS, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND THE ARTS (HOUSE, STANDING)

From reel to unreal: future opportunities for Australia’s film, animation, special effects and electronic games industries

Speaker wrote to the committee and the committee informed no further response required.

Digital Television: Who’s Buying It?

The Government is finalising policy options in relation to digital television switchover. The Government’s proposals will take into account the report’s findings.

Community Television: Options for digital broadcasting

The Government is committed to ensuring that community television has a future in digital broadcasting. The Government is carefully considering conversion options for community television before a response being tabled.

Report: Tuning in to community broadcasting

The government response is being developed and is expected to be tabled soon.

CORPORATIONS AND SECURITIES (JOINT, STATUTORY)

Report on aspects of the regulation of proprietary companies

The Government is currently considering the report and will respond in due course.

CORPORATIONS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES (JOINT, STATUTORY)

Report on the regulations and ASIC policy statements made under the Financial Services Reform Act 2001

A number of recommendations outlined in the report have been addressed. The Government is continuing to consider the outstanding recommendations and will take appropriate action.

Inquiry into the review of the Managed Investments Act 1998

The Government is continuing to consider the recommendations in this report.

Inquiry into Regulation 7.1.29 in Corporations Amendment Regulations 2003 (No.3), Statutory Rules 2003 No.85

The Government is continuing to consider the recommendations in this report.

Money matters in the bush-Inquiry into the level of banking & financial services in rural, regional & remote areas of Australia

Due to recent developments in policy, the Government is updating its response.

Report on the ATM fee structure

Due to recent developments in policy, the Government is updating its response. This report is a subsidiary report to Money Matters in the Bush.

Corporations amendment regulations 2003

The dollar disclosure requirements in the Corporations Amendment Regulations (No. 10) were implemented in August 2007. The Government is continuing to consider the outstanding recommendations and will take appropriate action.

Corporations Amendment Regulations 7.1.29A, 7.1.35A and 7.1.40(h)

The Government is continuing to consider the recommendations in this report.

Property investment advice - Safe as houses?

The Government has consulted on this matter in a Green Paper dated June 2008 and is continuing to consider the submissions provided by stakeholders.

Statutory oversight of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, December 2005

The Australian Securities and Investment Commission is an independent statutory body. Recommendations relating to ASICs operational arrangements are a matter for ASIC. Recommendations relating to government policy will be considered as part of normal government business.

Corporate responsibility: Managing risk and creating value

The Government is continuing to consider the recommendations in this report.

Statutory oversight of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, August 2006

The Australian Securities and Investment Commission is an independent statutory body. Recommendations relating to ASICs operational arrangements are a matter for ASIC. Recommendations relating to Government policy will be considered as part of normal government business. The Government notes that subjects of recommendation three (of three) were dealt with in the context of Parliamentary debate on the Corporations Amendment (Simpler Regulatory System) Bill 2007 in both the House of Representatives and the Senate; and in the Treasury discussion paper, Review of Sanctions in Corporate Law, released in March 2007.

Corporations Amendment (Takeovers) Bill 2006 [Exposure Draft]

The recommendations were dealt with in the context of parliamentary debate on the bill in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. No further response is required.

Statutory oversight of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, March 2007

The report’s only recommendation, relating to the regulation of promissory notes, is being addressed through the Corporations Legislation Amendment (Financial Services Modernisation) Bill, which is to be introduced into Parliament in June 2009.

Corporations Amendment (Insolvency) Bill 2007 [Exposure Draft]; Corporations and Australian Securities and Investments Commission Amendment Regulations 2007 [Exposure Draft]

Response to the report was included in the Second Reading Speech to the Corporations Amendment (Insolvency) Bill 2007. No further response is required.

Structure and operation of the superannuation industry

The Government is developing its response in light of a proposed review of superannuation and will table in due course.

Statutory oversight of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, August 2007

The Australian Securities and Investment Commission is an independent statutory body. Recommendations relating to ASICs operational arrangements are a matter for ASIC. Recommendations relating to government policy will be considered as part of normal government business.

Better shareholders - Better company: Shareholder engagement and participation in Australia

The government response is under consideration and will be tabled in due course.

Statutory oversight of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, August 2008

The Committee made no recommendations. As such, no Government response is required.

Opportunity not opportunism: Improving conduct in Australian franchising

The government response is under consideration and will be tabled in due course.

ECONOMICS, FINANCE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (HOUSE, STANDING)

Review of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission annual report 2003

The Government is considering the report and an updated response is currently being prepared.

Improving the superannuation savings of people under 40

The Government does not propose to respond to the report. The reports recommendations fall within the scope of the Review of Australia’s Future Tax System and the proposed review of the Operation and Efficiency of the Superannuation System.

Review of the Reserve Bank of Australia & Payments System Board Annual Report 2005 (first report)

No Response Required.

Servicing our future - Inquiry into the current and future directions of Australia’s services export sector

The government response was tabled 4 December 2008.

Australia manufacturing: Today and tomorrow

The government is finalising the response and working towards a completion date of mid-2009.

Inquiry into home loan lending practices and processes used to deal with people in financial difficulty

The Government is considering the recommendations in this report and will prepare a response in due course.

On 27 April 2009, the Government released the Draft National Consumer Credit Reform Package for public comment. The release of this Package is a major step towards delivering credit reform in Australia.

ECONOMICS (HOUSE, STANDING)

Competition in the banking and non-banking sectors

The government response is under consideration and will be tabled in due course.

Review of the Reserve Bank of Australia Annual Report 2007 (Second Report)

No Response Required.

ELECTORAL MATTERS (JOINT, STANDING)

Advisory report on the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Political Donations and Other Measures) Bill 2008

Following receipt of the Advisory Report from the committee the Government made amendments to the bill and it was reintroduced on 23/03/2009. No response required.

EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS AND WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION (HOUSE, STANDING)

Making it work: Inquiry into independent contracting and labour hire arrangements

The government does not intend to respond formally to this report.

Current vacancies: Workforce challenges facing the Australian tourism sector

The government response was tabled 4 February 2009.

ENVIRONMENT AND HERITAGE (HOUSE, STANDING)

Sustainable cities

The government’s response is being considered.

Inquiry into a Sustainability Charter, Review of Green Office Procurement Audit

Speaker wrote to the committee and the committee informed no further response required.

Sustainability for survival - Creating a climate for change: Report on the inquiry into a sustainability charter

The government response is under consideration and will be tabled in due course.

Managing the flow - Regulating plumbing product quality

The government response was tabled on 5 February 2009.

FAMILY AND HUMAN SERVICES (HOUSE, STANDING)

Balancing work and family

The government response is being considered by a number of departments in light of recent Budget decisions and government reviews.

The winnable war on drugs: The impact of illicit drug use on families

The government response is under consideration and will be tabled in due course.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE AND TRADE (JOINT, STANDING)

Inquiry into Australia’s Defence Force regional air superiority

No government response is required as there were no recommendations.

Review of the Defence annual report 2006-2007

The Government is finalising its response.

HEALTH AND AGEING (HOUSE, STANDING)

The Blame Game: Report on the inquiry into health funding

Government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course. (The report is being finalised and updated to reflect Budget and COAG issues)

The best start: Report on the inquiry into the health benefits of breastfeeding

The government response was tabled on 4 December 2008.

Review of Auditor-General’s Report No. 19 (2006 - 2007): Administration of State and Territory compliance with the Australian Health Care Agreements

The committee noted that the review was undertaken on the assumption that the 2008-13 AHCAs would be similar to the current ones and that the recommendations may become redundant if this was not the case. On 20 December 2007, the Council of Australian Government (COAG) agreed to reforms to the architecture for Commonwealth-State funding arrangements. As the framework has changed and the Government has taken steps to address issues raised in this report, it does not intend to respond to the recommendations.

INDUSTRY, SCIENCE AND INNOVATION (HOUSE, STANDING)

Research Training in Australian Universities: An Interim Report

The Government does not intend to table a response to the interim report as the final report of the inquiry, Building Australia’s Research Capacity, was tabled on 1 December 2009. The Government response to the final report is currently being considered and will be tabled as soon as possible.

Building Australia’s research capacity - Final Report

The government response is under consideration and will be tabled in due course.

INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (HOUSE, STANDING)

Rebuilding Australia’s coastal shipping industry: Inquiry into coastal shipping policy and regulation

Response in preparation; Minister has indicated response to all recommendations will be provided in 2009.

Funding regional and local community infrastructure: Proposals for the new Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program - Interim Report

The government response is under consideration and will be tabled in due course.

INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY (JOINT, STATUTORY)

Review of security and counter terrorism legislation

The government response was tabled on 23 December 2008.

Inquiry into the proscription of terrorist organisations under the Australian Criminal Code

The government response was tabled on 23 December 2008.

Review of the re-listing of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)

The government response was tabled on 28 May 2009.

Review of the re-listing of Al-Qa’ida, Jemaah Islamiyah and Al-Qa’ida in the Lands of Islamic Maghreb as terrorist organisations under the Criminal Code Act 1995

The government response was tabled on 28 May 2009.

LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS (HOUSE, STANDING)

The third paragraph of section 53 of the Constitution

Speaker wrote to the committee and the committee informed no further response required.

The long road to statehood: Report of the inquiry into the federal implications of statehood for the Northern Territory

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Inquiry into older people and the law

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Reforming the Constitution: A roundtable discussion

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

MIGRATION (JOINT, STANDING)

Negotiating the maze: Review of arrangements for overseas skills recognition, upgrading and license

The government response has been finalised and will be tabled shortly.

Temporary business visas…permanent benefits: Ensuring the effectiveness and integrity of the temporary business visa program

The Government response is being finalised, incorporating the most recent reform announcements in the temporary business visa program.

Immigration detention in Australia: A new beginning - Criteria for release from immigration detention

The Government response is being finalised in consultation with relevant portfolios.

NATIONAL CAPITAL AND EXTERNAL TERRITORIES (JOINT, STANDING)

The Way Forward: Inquiry into the role of the National Capital Authority

The government response was tabled on 11 December 2008.

PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND RESOURCES (HOUSE, STANDING)

More than honey: The future of the Australian honey bee and pollination industries

The quarantine and biosecurity issues raised in the committee’s report were referred to the Quarantine and Biosecurity (Beale) Review for consideration. The government has agreed in-principle to the reforms outlined in the Beale review report. The government’s response to the committee’s report is being finalised in the context of the Beale review recommendations and is expected to be tabled in the second half of 2009.

PROCEDURE (HOUSE, STANDING)

Encouraging an interactive Chamber

Speaker wrote to the committee and the committee informed no further response required.

Motion to suspend standing orders and condemn a Member: Report on events of 10 October 2006

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Re-opening the debate: Inquiry into the arrangements for the opening day of Parliament

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT (JOINT, STATUTORY)

Progress on equipment acquisition and financial reporting in Defence (Report 411)

The government response tabled on the 28 January 2009.

Audit Reports reviewed during the 41st Parliament (Report 412)

The government response to recommendations 11 and 12 were tabled on 28 May 2009.

PUBLICATIONS (JOINT, STANDING)

Printing standards for documents presented to Parliament

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

SCIENCE AND INNOVATION (HOUSE, STANDING)

Between a rock and a hard place: The science of geosequestration

The government response is under consideration and will be tabled in due course.

TRANSPORT AND REGIONAL SERVICES (HOUSE, STANDING)

The great freight task: Is Australia’s transport network up to the challenge?

The Government’s position on this report is currently being considered and will be made available in due course.

TREATIES (JOINT, STANDING)

The Australia - United States Free Trade Agreement

(61st Report)

Legislation to give effect to the Free Trade Agreement was passed in January 2005. A government response to the recommendations is not required.

Treaty tabled on 12 March 2008

(91st Report)

The government response is being prepared with input from relevant portfolios. The response will be tabled in due course.

Treaties tabled on 12 March & 14 May 2008 (93rd Report)

The government response was tabled on 19 March 2009.

Treaties tabled on 14 May 2008 (94th Report)

The government response is being prepared and will be tabled in due course.

Treaties tabled on 4 June, 17 June, 25 June and 26 August 2008

(95th Report)

The government response is being prepared from relevant portfolios.

Treaties tabled on 16 September 2008

(96th Report)

A government response is not required by the Committee