Senate debates
Thursday, 22 June 2006
Committees
Reports: Government Responses
John Hogg (Queensland, Deputy-President) Share this | Hansard source
In accordance with the usual practice, I table a report of parliamentary committee reports to which the government has not responded within the prescribed period. The report has been circulated to honourable senators. With the concurrence of the Senate, the report will be incorporated in Hansard.
The document read as follows—
PRESIDENT’S REPORT TO THE SENATE ON GOVERNMENT RESPONSES OUTSTANDING TO PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE REPORTS
AS AT 22 JUNE 2006
PREFACE
This document continues the practice of presenting to the Senate twice each year a list of government responses to Senate and joint committee reports as well as responses which remain outstanding.
The practice of presenting this list to the Senate is in accordance with the resolution of the Senate of 14 March 1973 and the undertaking by successive governments to respond to parliamentary committee reports in timely fashion. On 26 May 1978 the then Minister for Administrative Services (Senator Withers) informed the Senate that within six months of the tabling of a committee report, the responsible minister would make a statement in the Parliament outlining the action the government proposed to take in relation to the report. The period for responses was reduced from six months to three months in 1983 by the then incoming government. The then Leader of the Government in the Senate announced this change on 24 August 1983. The method of response continued to be by way of statement. Subsequently, on 16 October 1991 [tabled 5 Nov 1991] the then government advised that responses to committee reports would be made by letter to a committee chair, with the letter being tabled in the Senate at the earliest opportunity. The current government in June 1996 affirmed its commitment to respond to relevant parliamentary committee reports within three months of their presentation.
This list does not usually include reports of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works or the following Senate Standing Committees: Appropriations and Staffing, Selection of Bills, Privileges, Procedure, Publications, Regulations and Ordinances, Senators’ Interests and Scrutiny of Bills. However, such reports will be included if they require a response. Government responses to reports of the Public Works Committee are normally reflected in motions in the House of Representatives for the approval of works after the relevant report has been presented and considered.
Reports of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA) primarily make administrative recommendations but may make policy recommendations. A government response is required in respect of such policy recommendations made by the committee. However, responses to administrative recommendations are made in the form of an executive minute provided to, and subsequently tabled by, the committee. Agencies responding to administrative recommendations are required to provide an executive minute within 6 months of the tabling of a report. The committee monitors the provision of such responses.
An entry on this list for a report of the JCPAA containing only administrative recommendations is annotated to indicate that the response is to be provided in the form of an executive minute. Consequently, any other government response is not required. However, any reports containing policy recommendations are included in this report as requiring a government response.
Legislation and other committees report on bills and the provisions of bills. Only those reports in this category that make recommendations which cannot readily be addressed during the consideration of the bill, and therefore require a response, are listed. The list also does not include reports by legislation committees on estimates or scrutiny of annual reports, unless recommendations are made that require a response.
A guide to the legend used in the ‘Date response presented/made to the Senate’ column
* See document tabled in the Senate on 22 June 2006, entitled Government Responses to Parliamentary Committee Reports–Response to the schedule tabled by the President of the Senate on 8 December 2005, for Government interim/final response.
** Report contains administrative recommendations only – response is to be provided direct to the committee in the form of an executive minute.
Committee and title of report | Date report tabled | Date response presented/made to the Senate | Response made within specified period |
A Certain Maritime Incident (Select) | |||
Report on a Certain Maritime Incident | 23.10.02 | *(interim) | No |
Administration of Indigenous Affairs (Senate Select) | |||
After ATSICLife in the mainstream? | 8.3.05 | *(interim) | No |
ASIO, ASIS and DSD (Joint Statutory) | |||
Private review of agency security arrangements | 13.10.03 | *(interim) | No |
Review of the listing of six terrorist organisations | 7.3.05 | *(interim) | No |
Review of the listing of four terrorist organisations | 5.9.05 | *(interim) | No |
ASIO’s questioning and detention powers — Review of the operation, effectiveness and implications of Division 3 of Part III in the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979 | 30.11.05 | 30.3.06 | No |
Australian Crime Commission (Joint Statutory) | |||
Cybercrime | 24.3.04 | 9.2.06 | No |
Inquiry into the trafficking of women for sexual servitude | 24.6.04 | *(interim) | No |
Examination of the annual report for 2003-04 of the Australian Crime Commission | 23.6.05 | *(interim) | No |
Supplementary report to the inquiry into the trafficking of women for sexual servitude | 11.8.05 | *(interim) | No |
Review of the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002 | 10.11.05 | *(interim) | No |
Community Affairs Legislation | |||
Tobacco advertising prohibition | 16.11.04 (presented 30.9.04) | *(interim) | No |
Provisions of the Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Welfare to Work and Other Measures) Bill 2005 and the Family and Community Services Legislation Amendment (Welfare to Work) Bill 2005 | 28.11.05 | *(interim) | No |
Therapeutic Goods Amendment (Repeal of Ministerial responsibility for approval of RU486) Bill 2005 | 8.2.06 | - | No |
Provisions of the Family Assistance, Social Security and Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment (2005 Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2006 | 27.3.06 (presented 24.3.06) | - | Time not expired |
Community Affairs References | |||
A hand up not a hand out: Renewing the fight against poverty – Report on poverty and financial hardship | 11.3.04 | 27.3.06 (presented 7.3.06) | No |
The cancer journey: informing choice — Report on the inquiry into services and treatment options for persons with cancer | 23.6.05 | 10.11.05 - NHMRC response, 22.6.06 | No |
Quality and equity in aged care | 23.6.05 | *(interim) | No |
Response to the petition on gynaecological health issues | 30.3.06 | Not required | - |
Workplace exposure to toxic dust | 13.6.06 (presented 31.5.06) | - | Time not expired |
Beyond petrol sniffing: renewing hope for Indigenous communities | 20.6.06 | - | Time not expired |
Corporations and Securities (Joint Statutory) | |||
Report on aspects of the regulation of proprietary companies | 8.3.01 | *(interim) | No |
Corporations and Financial Services (Joint Statutory) | |||
Report on the regulations and ASIC policy statements made under the Financial Services Reform Act 2001 | 23.10.02 | *(interim) | No |
Review of the Managed Investments Act 1998 | 12.12.02 | *(interim) | No |
Inquiry into Regulation 7.1.29 in Corporations Amendment Regulations 2003 (No. 3), Statutory Rules 2003 No. 85 | 26.6.03 | *(interim) | No |
Money matters in the bush: Inquiry into the level of banking and financial services in rural, regional and remote areas of Australia | 10.2.04 (presented 15.1.04) | *(interim) | No |
Report on the ATM fee structure | 10.2.04 (presented 15.1.04) | *(interim) | No |
Corporations Amendment Regulations 2003 (Batch 6); Draft Regulations: Corporations Amendment Regulations 2003/04 (Batch 7); and Draft Regulations: Corporations Amendment Regulations 2004 (Batch 8) | 24.3.04 | *(interim) | No |
Corporations Amendment Regulations 7.1.29A, 7.1.35A and 7.1.40(h) | 15.6.04 | *(interim) | No |
Property investment – Safe as houses? | 23.6.05 | *(interim) | No |
Timeshare: The price of leisure | 5.9.05 | *(interim) | No |
Statutory oversight of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission | 7.2.06 (presented 19.12.05) | - | No |
Corporate responsibility: Managing risk and creating value | 21.6.06 | - | Time not expired |
Economics Legislation | |||
Annual reports (No. 1 of 2006) | 30.3.06 | - | Time not expired |
Provisions of the Customs Amendment (Fuel Tax Reform and Other Measures) Bill 2006 and three related bills | 15.6.06 (presented 14.6.06) | - | Time not expired |
Provisions of the Fuel Tax Bill 2006 and the Fuel Tax (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2006 | 15.6.06 (presented 14.6.06) | - | Time not expired |
Economics References | |||
Report on the operation of the Australian Taxation Office | 9.3.00 | *(interim) | No |
Inquiry into mass marketed tax effective schemes and investor protection — Interim report | 25.6.01 | *(interim) | No |
Inquiry into mass marketed tax effective schemes and investor protection — Second report: A recommended resolution and settlement | 27.9.01 | *(interim) | No |
Inquiry into mass marketed tax effective schemes and investor protection — Final report | 12.2.02 (presented 11.2.02) | *(interim) | No |
Consenting adults deficits and household debt—Links between Australia’s current account deficit, the demand for imported goods and household debt | 13.10.05 | *(interim) | No |
Electoral Matters (Joint Standing) | |||
The 2004 federal election - Report of the inquiry into the conduct of the 2004 federal election and matters related thereto | 10.10.05 | *(interim) | No |
Funding and disclosure: Inquiry into disclosure of donations to political parties and candidates | 9.5.06 (presented 31.3.06) | - | Time not expired |
Employment, Workplace Relations and Education References | |||
Bridging the skills divide | 24.11.03 (presented 6.11.03) | *(interim) | No |
Beyond Cole: The future of the construction industry: confrontation or cooperation? | 21.6.04 | 7.2.06 (presented 22.12.05) | No |
Unfair dismissal and small business employment | 21.6.05 | 30.3.06 | No |
Indigenous education funding – Final report | 22.6.05 | *(interim) | No |
Student income support | 23.6.05 | *(interim) | No |
Workplace agreements | 7.11.05 (presented 31.10.05) | *(interim) | No |
Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References | |||
The value of water: Inquiry into Australia’s urban water management | 5.12.02 | *(interim) | No |
Regulating the Ranger, Jabiluka, Beverley and Honeymoon uranium mines | 14.10.03 | *(interim) | No |
The Australian telecommunications network | 5.8.04 | *(final) | No |
Competition in broadband services | 10.8.04 | *(final) | No |
Turning back the tide – the invasive species challenge: Report on the regulation, control and management of invasive species and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Invasive Species) Bill 2002 | 8.12.04 | *(interim) | No |
Lurching forward, looking back: Budgetary and environmental implications of the Government’s Energy White Paper | 14.6.05 (presented 16.5.05) | *(interim) | No |
The performance of the Australian telecommunications regulatory regime | 10.8.05 | *(interim) | No |
Living with a salinity – a report on progress: The extent and economic impact of salinity in Australia | 28.3.06 | - | Time not expired |
Finance and Public Administration References | |||
Staff employed under Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 | 16.10.03 | *(interim) | No |
Regional partnerships and sustainable regions programs | 6.10.05 | *(interim) | No |
Matters relating to the Gallipoli Peninsula | 13.10.05 | *(interim) | No |
Government advertising and accountability | 6.12.05 | *(interim) | No |
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (Joint Standing) | |||
Australia’s maritime strategy | 21.6.04 | 15.6.06 | No |
Australia’s engagement with the World Trade Organization | 3.8.04 (presented 2.7.04) | 2.3.06 | No |
Australia’s human rights dialogue process | 12.9.05 | 2.3.06 | No |
Reform of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights | 12.9.05 | *(final) | No |
Review of the Defence annual report 2003-04 | 11.10.05 | 27.3.06 (presented 23.3.06) | No |
Australia’s free trade agreements with Singapore, Thailand and the United States: progress to date and lessons for the future | 7.11.05 | *(interim) | No |
Australia’s defence relations with the United States | 13.6.06 | - | Time not expired |
Visit to Australian Defence Forces deployed to support the rehabilitation of Iraq – Report of the delegation 22 to 28 October 2005 | 13.6.06 | Not required | - |
Expanding Australia’s trade and investment relations with North Africa | 13.6.06 | - | Time not expired |
Australia’s relationship with the Republic of Korea; and developments on the Korean peninsula | 22.6.06 | - | Time not expired |
Australia’s response to the Indian Ocean tsunami | 22.6.06 | - | Time not expired |
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References | |||
Mr Chen Yonglin’s request for political asylum | 12.9.05 | *(interim) | No |
Opportunities and challenges: Australia’s relationship with China | 10.11.05 | *(interim) | No |
The removal, search for and discovery of Ms Vivian Solon—Final report | 8.12.05 | *(interim) | No |
China’s emergence: implications for Australia | 30.3.06 | *(interim) | Time not expired |
Free Trade Agreement between Australia and the United States of America (Select) | |||
Final report | 5.8.04 | 9.5.06 (presented 2.5.06) | No |
Information Technologies (Select) | |||
In the public interest: Monitoring Australia’s media | 13.4.00 | *(interim) | No |
Intelligence and Security (Joint) | |||
Review of the listing of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) | 9.5.06 (presented 26.4.06) | Not required | - |
Legal and Constitutional Legislation | |||
Provisions of the Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Serious Drug Offences and Other Measures) Bill 2005 | 16.8.05 (presented 15.8.05) | *(final) | No |
Provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Bill (No. 2) 2005 | 28.11.05 | *(final) | No |
Provisions of the Australian Citizenship Bill 2005 and the Australian Citizenship (Transitionals and Consequentials) Bill 2005 | 27.2.06 | - | No |
Provisions of the Family Law Amendment (Shared Parental Responsibility) Bill 2005 | 27.3.06 (presented 24.3.06) | 11.5.06 | Yes |
Provisions of the Migration Amendment (Designated Unauthorised Arrivals) Bill 2006 | 13.6.06 | - | Time not expired |
Legal and Constitutional References | |||
Reconciliation: Off track | 9.10.03 | *(interim) | No |
Legal aid and access to justice | 15.6.04 | 7.2.06 (presented 3.2.06) | No |
The road to a republic | 16.11.04 (presented 31.8.04) | *(interim) | No |
They still call Australia home: Inquiry into Australian expatriates | 8.3.05 | *(interim) | No |
The real Big Brother—Inquiry into the Privacy Act 1988 | 23.6.05 | *(interim) | No |
Administration and operation of the Migration Act 1958 | 2.3.06 | - | No |
Medicare (Select) | |||
Medicare – healthcare or welfare? | 30.10.03 | *(interim) | No |
Second report: Medicare Plus: the future for Medicare? | 11.2.04 | *(interim) | No |
Mental Health (Select) | |||
A national approach to mental health – from crisis to community – First report | 30.3.06 | - | Time not expired |
A national approach to mental health – from crisis to community – Final report | 9.5.06 (presented 28.4.06) | - | Time not expired |
Migration (Joint Standing) | |||
No comments