Senate debates

Thursday, 7 December 2006

Committees

Selection of Bills Committee; Report

9:33 am

Photo of Jeannie FerrisJeannie Ferris (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I present the 15th report of 2006 of the Selection of Bills Committee.

Ordered that the report be adopted.

I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The report read as follows

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

REPORT NO. 15 OF 2006

(1)
The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 6 December 2006 at 4.34 pm.
(2)
The committee resolved to recommend—That—
(a)
the provisions of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2006 be referred immediately to the Employment, Workplace Relations and Education Committee for inquiry and report by 20 February 2007 (see appendices 1 and 2 for statements of reasons for referral);
(b)
the Crimes Legislation Amendment (National Investigative Powers and Witness Protection) Bill 2006 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee for inquiry and report by 7 February 2007 (see appendices 3 and 4 for statements of reasons for referral);
(c)
the Cluster Munitions (Prohibition) Bill 2006 be referred immediately to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee for inquiry and report by 29 March 2007 (see appendix 5 for a statement of reasons for referral);
(d)
the Non-Proliferation Legislation Amendment Bill 2006 be referred immediately to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee for inquiry and report by 8 February 2007 (see appendices 6 and 7 for statements of reasons for referral); and
(e)
the Bankruptcy Legislation Amendment (Superannuation Contributions) Bill 2006 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee for inquiry and report by 8 February 2007 (see appendix 8 for a statement of reasons for referral).
(3)
The committee resolved to recommend—That the following bills not be referred to committees:
  • Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change (Kyoto Protocol Ratification) Bill 2006
  • Customs Tariff Amendment (Incorporation of Proposals) Bill 2006
  • Energy Efficiency Opportunities Amendment Bill 2006
  • Royal Commissions Amendment (Records) Bill 2006
  • Statute Law Revision Bill (No. 2) 2006
  • Wheat Marketing Amendment Bill 2006.

The committee recommends accordingly.

(4)
The committee deferred consideration of the following bills to its next meeting:
  • Airports Amendment Bill 2006
  • Airspace Bill 2006
  • Airspace (Consequentials and Other Measures) Bill 2006
  • Australian Energy Market Amendment (Gas Legislation) Bill 2006
  • Electoral and Referendum Legislation Amendment Bill 2006
  • Maritime Legislation Amendment (Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships) Bill 2006
  • Migration Legislation Amendment (Restoration of Fair Process) Bill 2006
  • Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment (Statements of Principles and Other Measures) Bill 2006.
(5)
The committee agreed to reconvene to consider bills deferred from this meeting and bills to be introduced on 7 December 2006, with a view to reporting again to the Senate later today.

(Jeannie Ferris)

Chair

7 December 2006

Appendix 1

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill(s):

Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2006

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration

Examination of the bill as necessary.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Committee to which bill is referred:

Employment, Workplace Relations, and Education Committee

Possible hearing date:

Possible reporting date(s): 20 February 2007

Appendix 2

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill(s):

Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2006

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration

Adverse impact on workers; diminishing compensable grounds for workers.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

ACTU, individuals

Committee to which bill is referred:

Employment, Workplace Relations, and Education Committee

Possible hearing date: 2007

Possible reporting date(s): TBA/2007

Appendix 3

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill(s):

Crimes Legislation Amendment (National Investigative Powers and Witness Protection) Bill 2006

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration

Examination of the bill as necessary.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Committee to which bill is referred:

Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee

Possible hearing date:

Possible reporting date(s): 5 February 2007

Appendix 4

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill(s):

Crimes Legislation Amendment (National Investigative Powers and Witness Protection) Bill 2006

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration

Has not been through Scrutiny of Bills Committee

Bill amends law relating to the investigation of criminal activity

Possible submissions or evidence from:

AFP, Law Council, civil libertarians, state governments

Committee to which bill is referred:

Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee

Possible hearing date: January and February 2007

Possible reporting date(s): 7 February 2007

Appendix 5

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill(s):

Cluster Munitions (Prohibition) Bill 2006

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration

To examine the provisions of the bill.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Medical Association for the Prevention of War;

Amnesty

International Red Cross

Landmine Action

The United Nations Mine Action Coordination Centre

Human Rights Watch

Australian Defence Force

UNICEF

The Australian Network to Ban Landmines

Committee to which bill is referred:

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee

Possible hearing date:

Possible reporting date(s): 29 March 2007

Appendix 6

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill(s):

Non-Proliferation Legislation Amendment Bill 2006

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration

As the bill has not been introduced, we have not had the opportunity to examine its contents and consider its implications. Given the significance of non-proliferation issues the Senate should have the opportunity to inquire into it. Alternatively, consideration of referral should be deferred until Parliament resumes in February 2007.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Australian Conservation Foundation, Friends of the Earth, Wilderness Society, Medical Association for the Prevention of War, Richard Broinowski

Committee to which bill is referred:

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee

Possible hearing date: 19-21 February 2007

Possible reporting date(s): 22 March 2007

Appendix 7

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill(s):

Non-Proliferation Legislation Amendment Bill 2006

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration

Examination of the bill as necessary

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Committee to which bill is referred:

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee

Possible hearing date:

Possible reporting date(s): 31 January 2007

Appendix 8

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill(s):

Bankruptcy Legislation Amendment (Superannuation Contributions) Bill 2006

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration

Inquiry into provisions of the bill and its likely impact

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Stakeholders from insolvency and superannuation sectors.

Committee to which bill is referred:

Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee

Possible hearing date:

Possible reporting date(s): 8 February 2007

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