Senate debates

Thursday, 6 February 2020

Committees

Selection of Bills Committee; Report

11:45 am

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

I present the first report of 2020 of the Selection of Bills Committee and I seek leave to have the report incorporated into the Hansard.

Leave granted.

The report read as follows—

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

REPORT NO. 9 OF 2019

I. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 5 February 2020 at 7.12 pm.

2. The committee recommends that—

(a) the provisions of the Australian Business Growth Fund Bill 2019 be referred immediately to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 21 February 2020 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(b) contingent upon introduction in the House of Representatives, the provisions of the Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Simplifying Income Reporting and Other Measures) Bill 2020 be referred immediately to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 20 February 2020 (see appendix 2 for a statement of reasons for referral); and

(c) contingent upon introduction in the House of Representatives, the provisions of the Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Flexibility Measures) Bill 2020 be referred immediately to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 19 March 2020.

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

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

                                          5. The committee considered the following bill but was unable to reach agreement:

                                              (Dean Smith) Chair

                                              6 February 2020

                                              Appendix 1

                                              SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                              Name of bill:

                                              Australian Business Growth Fund Bill 2019

                                              Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                              To seek clarity or the governance and operational arrangements of the Fund

                                              To seek views from stakeholders and experts on how best to implement the Fund

                                              Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                              Department of the Treasury

                                              Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                              Senate Economics Legislation Committee

                                              Possible hearing date(s):

                                              To be determined by the Committee

                                              Possible reporting date:

                                              21 February 2020

                                              SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                              Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                              Name of bill:

                                              Australian Business Growth Fund Bill 2019

                                              Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                              To understand the current supply of credit to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), including any particular market conditions and any regulations that are affecting the supply of credit to SMEs.

                                              To understand the possible competition impacts of this Bill, including whether it would give preference to bank capital over other forms of capital.

                                              Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                              Economists

                                              Business associations and industry groups

                                              Financial sector

                                              Shareholders

                                              Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                              Economics

                                              Possible hearing date(s):

                                              Not necessary

                                              Possible reporting date:

                                              April 2020

                                              Appendix 2

                                              SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                              Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                              Name of bill:

                                              Social Security and other Amendments (Simplifying Income Reporting and Other Measures) Bill 2020

                                              Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                        Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                        Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee

                                                        Possible hearing date(s):

                                                        To be determined by the Committee

                                                        Possible reporting date:

                                                        19 March 2020

                                                        SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                                        Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                                        Name of bill:

                                                        Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Simplifying Income Reporting and Other Measures) Bill 2020

                                                        Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                        This bill fundamentally changes the way income is reported and assessed for the purposes of determining income support payments. It will affect 1.2 million income support recipients and generates significant savings from the social security budget. It is necessary to scrutinise and understand the impact this new legislation will have on income support recipients.

                                                        Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                        ACOSS, NSSRN, Anglicare Australia, Jobs Australia, Australian Unemployed Workers Union, Community and Public Sector Union, Accountable Income Management Network.

                                                        Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                        Community Affairs Legislation Committee

                                                        Possible hearing date(s):

                                                        Possible reporting date:

                                                        Appendix 3

                                                        SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                                        Name of bill:

                                                        Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Ensuring Integrity No. 2) Bill 2019

                                                        Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                        The Bill is substantially different from its previous iteration. None of the amendments incorporated by the Government to form the new bill were debated in either House. The potential impact!, of these amendments need to be examined in detail.

                                                        Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                        The ACTU, state labour councils, unions, union members, workplace relations academics and lawyers, employer representatives.

                                                        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:

                                                        Friday, 1 May 2020.

                                                        SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                                        Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                                        Name of bill:

                                                        Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Ensuring Integrity No.2)

                                                        Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                        The Bill is incompatible with International Labour Organisations (ILO) treaties and infringes on the rights of workers and their unions.

                                                        Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                        Unions

                                                        Fair Work Commission Fair Work Ombudsman

                                                        Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                        Education and Employment Legislation Committee Possible hearing date(s):

                                                        Possible reporting date:

                                                        25 June 2020

                                                        Appendix 4

                                                        SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                                        Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                                        Name of bill:

                                                        Treasury Laws Amendment (Research and Development Tax Incentive) Bill 2019

                                                        Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                                Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                                      Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                                      Economics Legislation Committee

                                                                      Possible hearing date(s):

                                                                      To be determined by the Committee

                                                                      Possible reporting date:

                                                                      Friday, 30 April 2020

                                                                      I move:

                                                                      That the report be adopted.

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