Senate debates

Thursday, 9 March 2023

Committees

Selection of Bills Committee; Report

11:15 am

Photo of Anne UrquhartAnne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I present the second report for 2023 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. 2 OF 2023

9 March 2023

MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE

Senator Anne Urquhart (Government Whip, Chair)

Senator Wendy Askew (Opposition Whip)

Senator Ross Cadell (The Nationals Whip)

Senator Pauline Hanson (Pauline Hanson's One Nation Whip)

Senator Nick McKim (Australian Greens Whip)

Senator Ralph Babet

Senator the Hon. Anthony Chisholm

Senator the Hon. Katy Gallagher

Senator Matt O'Sullivan

Senator David Pocock

Senator Paul Scarr

Senator Lidia Thorpe

Senator Tammy Tyrrell

Secretary: Tim Bryant

02 6277 3020

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

REPORT NO. 2 OF 2023

1. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 8 March 2023 at 7.15 pm.

2. The committee recommends that—

(a) the Governor-General Amendment (Cessation of Allowances in the Public Interest) Bill 2023 be referred immediately to the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 10 May 2023 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(b) the provisions of the Migration Amendment (Australia's Engagement in the Pacific and Other Measures) Bill 2023, and the Migration (Visa Pre-application Process) Charge Bill 2023 be referred immediatelyto the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 19 June 2023 (see appendix 2 for a statement of reasons for referral); and

(c) contingent upon introduction in the House of Representatives, the provisions of the Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Income Management Reform) Bill 2023 be referred immediatelyto the Community Affairs Legislation Committee but was unable to reach agreement on a reporting date (see appendix 3 for a statement of reasons for referral).

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:

                                          (Anne Urquhart)

                                          Chair

                                          9 March 2023

                                          ————

                                          Appendix 1

                                          SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                          Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                          Name of bill:

                                          "Governor-General Amendment (Cessation of Allowances in the Public Interest) Bill 2023

                                          Reasons for referra1/principal issues for consideration:

                                                    Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                    Department of Finance Office of Governor General Blue Knot,

                                                    Bravehearts,

                                                    Survivors,

                                                    The Anglican Church, St James Ethics Centre

                                                    Committee to which bill is to be referred: Finance and Public Administration Committee

                                                    Possible hearing date(s):

                                                    17 or 21 April

                                                    1 or 2 May

                                                    Possible reporting date:

                                                    l0May

                                                    (signed)

                                                    Nick McKim

                                                    ————

                                                    Appendix 2

                                                    SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                                    Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                                    Name of bill:

                                                    Migration Amendment (Australia's Engagement in the Pacific and Other Measures) Bill 2023

                                                    Migration (Visa Pre-application Process) Charge Bill 2023

                                                    Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                    Complicated issue

                                                    Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                    Sector, Groups Individuals that are affected.

                                                    Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                    Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee

                                                    Possible hearing date(s):

                                                    March-June

                                                    Possible reporting date:

                                                    19 June 2023

                                                    (signed)

                                                    Wendy Askew

                                                    SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                                    Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                                    Name of bills:

                                                    The Migration Amendment (Australia's Engagement in the Pacific and Other Measures) Bill 2023 and Migration (Visa Pre-application Process) Charge Bill 2023

                                                    Reasons for refe rra1/principal issues for consideration:

                                                    The Engagement in the Pacific and Other Measures Bill—a 2022 Labor election policy—will provide an entirely novel approach and functionality to the Migration Act 1958, and how visa applications are allocated in Australia.

                                                    Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                    Migration experts and academics, legal experts and academics, foreign affairs experts and academics, relevant community organisations.

                                                    Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                    Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation

                                                    Possible hearing date(s):

                                                    4-6 April 2023

                                                    Possible reporting date:

                                                    19 June

                                                    (signed)

                                                    Nick McKim

                                                    ————

                                                    Appendix 3

                                                    SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                                    Proposal to refer a bill t o a committee

                                                    Name of bill:

                                                    Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Income Management Reform) Bill 2023

                                                    Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                      Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Income Management Reform) Bill 2023
                                                                Abolish the Cashless Debit Card

                                                                Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                                                Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                                                Community Affairs Legislation Committee

                                                                                Possible hearing date(s):

                                                                                Any week in April

                                                                                Possible reporting date:

                                                                                1 May 2023

                                                                                (signed)

                                                                                Anne Urquhart

                                                                                SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                                                                Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                                                                Name of bill:

                                                                                Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Income Management Reform) Bill 2023 (To be Originated in the House of Representatives on 9 March 2023)

                                                                                Reasons for referra1/principal issues for consideration:

                                                                                      Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                                                                Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                                                                Community Affairs

                                                                                                Possible hearing date(s):

                                                                                                TBC by Cttee

                                                                                                Possible report ing date:

                                                                                                16 June

                                                                                                (signed)

                                                                                                Nick McKim

                                                                                                SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                                                                                Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                                                                                Name of bill:

                                                                                                Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Income Management Reform) Bill 2023

                                                                                                Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                                                                Complicated issue

                                                                                                Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                                                                Sector, Groups Individuals that are affected.

                                                                                                Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                                                                Community Affairs Legislation Committee

                                                                                                Possible hearing date(s):

                                                                                                March-June

                                                                                                Possible reporting date:

                                                                                                16 June 2023

                                                                                                (signed)

                                                                                                Wendy Askew

                                                                                                SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE — PRESENTATION OF 2ND REPORT OF 2023 — AMENDMENTS AGREED TO BY THE SENATE ON 9 MARCH 2023

                                                                                                (1) At the end of the motion, add "and, in respect of the provisions of the Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Income Management Reform) Bill 2023, the Community Affairs Legislation Committee report by 6 June 2023".

                                                                                                (2) At the end of the motion, add "but, in respect of the provisions of the Migration Amendment (Australia's Engagement in the Pacific and Other Measures) Bill 2023 and the Migration (Visa Pre-application Process) Charge Bill 2023, the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee report by 13 June 2023".

                                                                                                (3) At the end of the motion, add "and, in respect of the Treasury Laws Amendment (2023 Measures No. 1) Bill 2023, the provisions of the bill be referred immediately to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 26 May 2023".

                                                                                                I move:

                                                                                                That the report be adopted.

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