Senate debates

Thursday, 11 May 2017

Committees

Selection of Bills Committee; Report

12:30 pm

Photo of Dean SmithDean Smith (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

(—) (): On behalf of Senator Bushby, I present the 5th Report of 2017 of the Selection of Bills Committee. I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The report read as follows

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

REPORT NO. 5 OF 2017

1. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 10 May 2017 at 7.16 pm.

2. The committee recommends that—

(a) contingent upon introduction in the House of Representatives, the provisions of the Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017 be referred immediately to the Education and Employment Legislation Committee but was unable to reach agreement on a reporting date (see appendix 1, 2 and 3 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(b) the provisions of the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Powers, Offences and Other Measures) Bill 2017 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 8 August 2017 (see appendix 4 and 5 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(c) contingent upon introduction in the House of Representatives, the provisions of the Higher Education Support Legislation Amendment (A More Sustainable, Responsive and Transparent Higher Education System) Bill 2017 be referred immediately to the Education and Employment Legislation Committee but was unable to reach agreement on a reporting date (see appendix 6, 7 and 8 for a statement of reasons for referral); and

(d) the provisions of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Legislation Amendment (2017 Measures No. 1) Bill 2017 be referred immediately to the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 13 June 2017 (see appendix 9 for a statement of reasons for referral).

3. The committee recommends that the following bills not be referred to committees:

    ASIC Supervisory Cost Recovery Levy (Collection) Bill 2017

    ASIC Supervisory Cost Recovery Levy (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2017

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

                        National Vocational Education and Training Regulator (Charges) Amendment (Annual Registration Charge) Bill 2017

                            Petroleum and Other Fuels Reporting (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2017.

                            (David Bushby)

                            Chair

                            11 May 2017

                            APPENDIX 1

                            Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                            Name of bill:

                            Australia Education Amendment Bill 2017

                            Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                    Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                    Stakeholders including individual schools; school authorities (eg Independent Schools Council of Australia, National Catholic Education Commission, Association of Heads of Independent Schools); Australian Parents Council; The Mitchell Institute, the Grattan Institute, State School Organisations; Principals bodies such as the Primary Principals' Association of Australia; indigenous education organisations, Representatives for students with disabilities

                                    Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                    Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee

                                    Possible hearing date(s):

                                    5-6 June 2017

                                    Possible reporting date:

                                    By 14 June 2016.

                                    (signed)

                                    Senator Mitch Fifield

                                    APPENDIX 2

                                    Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                    Name of bill:

                                    Civil Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Bill 2017

                                    Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                            Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                        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:

                                                        8 August 2017

                                                        (signed)

                                                        Senator Anne Urquhart

                                                        APPENDIX 3

                                                        Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                                        Name of bill:

                                                        Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017

                                                        Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                        To analyse the government's proposed funding model.

                                                        Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                        AEU, Australian Principals Association (Primary and Secondary), Catholic Education Commission, Independent Schools Association, Australian Council of State School Organisations, Grattan Institute, University of Melbourne Laureate Professor John Hattie Director Melbourne Education Research Institute, Save our Schools.

                                                        Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                        Education and Employment Legislation

                                                        Possible hearing date(s):

                                                        15-19 May 2017, 5-9 June 2017

                                                        Possible reporting date:

                                                        14 June 2017

                                                        (signed)

                                                        Senator Rachel Siewert

                                                        APPENDIX 4

                                                        Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                                        Name of bill:

                                                        Crimes Legislation Amendment (Powers, Offences and Other Measures Bill) 2017

                                                        Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                        This is an omnibus bill which contains a range of measures relating to Commonwealth criminal justice arrangements. The Bill would create new offences, increase penalties for certain offences, expand access to personal information and alter the procedural protections for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the Crimes Act.

                                                        Given the complexity of these areas and the capacity for this Bill to significantly affect individuals' rights and freedoms, it would be appropriate to refer the Bill to committee for careful consideration.

                                                        Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                        The Aboriginal Legal Service, the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Federal Police Association, the Attorney-General's Department, Law Council of Australia, State and Territory Bar Associations, Law Institute of Victoria, Legal Aid, the New South Wales Law Enforcement Conduct Commission, and the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance.

                                                        Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                        Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee

                                                        Possible hearing date(s):

                                                        to be determined by the committee

                                                        Possible reporting date:

                                                        8 August 2017

                                                        (signed)

                                                        Senator Anne Urquart

                                                        APPENDIX 5

                                                        Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                                        Name of bill:

                                                        Crimes Legislation Amendment (Powers, Offences and Other Measures) Bill 2017

                                                        Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                        Amends legislation which is culturally sensitive

                                                        Impacts of increased penalties and disclosure of potentially sensitive information

                                                        Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                        ATSI groups, civil liberties groups

                                                        Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                        Legal and Constitutional Affairs

                                                        Possible hearing date(s):

                                                        Possible reporting date:

                                                        (signed)

                                                        Senator Rachel Siewert

                                                        APPENDIX 6

                                                        Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                                        Name of bill:

                                                        Higher Education Support Legislative Amendment (A More Sustainable, Responsive and Transparent Higher Education System) Bill 2017

                                                        Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                        The Bill underpins the provision of taxpayer funding for higher education

                                                        Proposed amendments implement the Government's commitment to higher education reform to ensure the system remains accessible, affordable, high quality and fair for students and transparent, sustainable and accountable for taxpayers and providers.

                                                        Higher education reform has been the subject of numerous reviews since 2014, including by the Senate Education and Employment committees and the Senate Scrutiny of Government Budget Measures committee.

                                                        Universities have called for certainty following years of deferred implementation of Budget measures and legislative arrangements. Implementation of these proposed higher education reforms will commence from 1 January 2018.

                                                        Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                        Universities and their peak and sub-peak groups, industry organisations, students and institutes

                                                        Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                        Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee

                                                        Possible hearing date(s):

                                                        5-6 June 2017

                                                        Possible reporting date:

                                                        By 16 June 2017

                                                        (signed)

                                                        Senator Mitch Fifield

                                                        APPENDIX 7

                                                        Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                                        Name of bill:

                                                        Higher Education Support Legislation Amendment (A More Sustainable, Responsive and Transparent Higher Education) Bill 2017

                                                        Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                        Analyse the substantial cuts to higher education $3.8 billion

                                                        Impact on students

                                                        Impact on universities

                                                        Reflect and analyse the impact of significant program changes

                                                        Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                        Universities

                                                        Student Groups

                                                        Academics

                                                        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:

                                                        8 August 2017

                                                        (signed)

                                                        Senator Anne Urquart

                                                        APPENDIX 8

                                                        Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                                        Name of bill:

                                                        Higher Education Support Legislation Amendment (A More Sustainable, Responsive and Transparent Higher Education) Bill 2017

                                                        Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                        To analyse the impact of the legislation on students and universities.

                                                        Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                        NTEU, Universities Australia, Regional Universities Australia, Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations, Group of Eight.

                                                        Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                        Education and Employment Legislation

                                                        Possible hearing date(s):

                                                        July

                                                        Possible reporting date:

                                                        9th August 2017

                                                        (signed)

                                                        Senator Rachel Siewert

                                                        APPENDIX 9

                                                        Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                                        Name of bill:

                                                        Prime Minister andCabinet Legislation Amendment (2017 Measures No 1) Bill 2017

                                                        Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                        The legislation has complex implications for a range of portfolio agencies in Indigenous Affairs that necessitates consultative processes to ensure unintended consequences.

                                                        Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                        Indigenous Land Corporation, Indigenous Business Australia, Dept of PM&C, Indigenous Community Housing Organisations, Attorney Generals' Department

                                                        Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                        Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee

                                                        Possible hearing date(s):

                                                        To be determined by the committee

                                                        Possible reporting date:

                                                        20 June 2017

                                                        (signed)

                                                        Senator Anne Urquart

                                                        I move:

                                                        That the report be adopted.

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