Senate debates

Thursday, 1 March 2012

Committees

Selection of Bills Committee; Report

3:34 pm

Photo of Anne McEwenAnne McEwen (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

By leave—I present the second report of 2012 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. 2 OF 2012

1. The committee met in private session on Thursday, 1 March 2012 at 11.19 am.

2. The committee resolved to recommend—That—

  (a) the provisions of the Aviation Transport Security Amendment (Screening) Bill 2012 be referred immediately to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 9 May 2012 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral);

  (b) the provisions of the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (R 18+ Computer Games) Bill 2012 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 16 March 2012 (see appendix 2 for a statement of reasons for referral); and

  (c) the provisions of the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Amendment Bill 2012 be referred immediately to the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 8 May 2012 (see appendix 3 for a statement of reasons for referral).

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

                    The committee recommends accordingly. .

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

                                  (Anne McEwen)

                                  Chair

                                  1 March 2012

                                  APPENDIX 1

                                  SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                  Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                  Name of bill:

                                  Aviation Transport Security Amendment (Screening) Bill 2012

                                  Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                  The privacy and health issues at stake with this technology require input from experts.

                                  Security and counter-terrorism experts should also be surveyed as to whether these invasive scans actually enhance security.

                                  The Information Commissioner's office has been conducting consultations for the Office of Transport Security and given that no material has been released for public discussion, a Senate Inquiry would help to provide more detail about the consultation process.

                                  Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                  Medical professionals expert in millimetre wave body scanners

                                  Civil liberties organisations

                                  Law Council

                                  Information Commissioner

                                  Privacy Commissioner

                                  Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                  Rural Affairs and Transport Committee

                                  Possible hearing date(s):

                                  April

                                  Possible reporting date:

                                  9 May 2012

                                  (signed)

                                  Senator Siewert

                                  Whip/Selection of Bills Committee member

                                  APPENDIX 2

                                  SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                  Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                  Name of bill:

                                  Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (R18+ Computer Games) Bill 2012

                                  Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                  Extent of material currently Refused Classification that would be permissible under the new regime

                                  Likely guidelines to qualify for R18+ and MA15+

                                  Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                  Attorney-General's Department

                                  Classification Board

                                  The Australian Council on Children and the Media Representatives of gaming production companies

                                  Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                  Legal and Constitutional Affairs

                                  Possible hearing date(s):

                                  As determined by the Committee

                                  Possible reporting date:

                                  As determined by the Committee

                                  (signed)

                                  Senator Fifield

                                  Selection of Bills Committee member

                                  APPENDIX 3

                                  SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                  Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                  Name of bill:

                                  Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Amendment Bill

                                  Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                  ensure that it delivers the workplace productivity measures for women that it is allegedly designed to do so;

                                  consider the impact, if any, of the legislation of the EOWW Act and EOWA within the framework of existing workplace-related legislation; and

                                  consider the effects of the proposed legislation on social inclusion, the economy, the labour market and business competitiveness.

                                  Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                  Australian Centre for Leadership for Women

                                  Australian Council of Trade Unions

                                  Australian Federation of Employers and Industries

                                  Australian Federation of University Women

                                  Australian Industry Group

                                  Australian Women's Coalition

                                  Community Employers WA

                                  Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations

                                  Disability Services Australia

                                  Diversity Council of Australia

                                  EOWA

                                  Relevant State & Territory Governments

                                  Relevant employer and industry groups

                                  Submitters to the 2009 review of the Act

                                  Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                  Education, Employment and Workplace Relations

                                  Possible hearing date(s):

                                  To be determined by the Committee

                                  Possible reporting date:

                                  To be determined by the Committee

                                  (signed)

                                  Senator Fifield

                                  Selection of Bills Committee member

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