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

I present the fifth report of 2023 of the Selection of Bills Committee and seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The report read as follows—

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

REPORT NO. 5 OF 2023

11 May 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

A/g Secretary: Ivan Powell

02 6277 3020

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

REPORT NO. 5 OF 2023

1. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 10 May 2023 at 7.13 pm.

2. The committee recommends that—

(a) the Customs Legislation Amendment (Commercial Greyhound Export and Import Prohibition) Bill 2021 be referred immediately to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 1 September 2023 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(b) the Defence Capability Assurance and Oversight Bill 2023 be referred immediately to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 7 September 2023 (see appendix 2 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(c) the provisions of the Defence Legislation Amendment (Naval Nuclear Propulsion) Bill 2023 be referred immediately to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee but was unable to reach agreement on a reporting date (see appendix 3 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(d) the provisions of the Family Law Amendment Bill 2023 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee but was unable to reach agreement on a reporting date (see appendix 4 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(e) the provisions of the Family Law Amendment (Information Sharing) Bill 2023 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 14 June 2023 (see appendix 4 for a statement of reasons for referral); and

(f) contingent upon introduction in the Senate, the Murdoch Media Inquiry Bill 2023 be referred immediately to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 16 October 2023 (see appendix 5 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:

(Anne Urquhart)

Chair

11 May 2023

Appendix 1

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Customs Legislation Amendment (Commercial Greyhound Export and Import Prohibition) Bill 2021

Reasons for referra1/principal issues for consideration:

This inquiry would consider the ethics of exporting Australian greyhounds for racing & commercial purposes given multiple reports over the past few years about dogs being put at risk of cruelty, abuse and neglect overseas.

It would also consider the adequacy of existing arrangements to protect greyhounds, including the 'greyhound passport' scheme operated by Greyhound Australasia and the Government's oversight of these arrangements. Recent reports show greyhounds are being exported overseas without Greyhounds Australasia's approval, making it clear that the enforcement system is failing.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Animal welfare experts

Animal welfare organisations

Veterinarians

Greyhound rehoming charities

Greyhound racing industry bodies

Department of Agriculture

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

RRAT

Possible hearing date(s):

14 August 2023

Possible reporting date:

1 September 2023

(signed)

Nick McKim

Whip/ Selection of Bills Committee member

Appendix 2

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMI TTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Defence Capability Assurance and Oversight 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.

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

May—September

Possible reporting date:

7 September 2023

(signed)

Wendy Askew

Appendix 3

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Defence Legislation Amendment (Naval Nuclear Propulsion) Bill 2023

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

For a short inquiry into the bill.

Possible submissions o r evidence from:

Law Council of Australia, Defence Department, legal academics.

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Legislation Committee.

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date:

09 June

(signed)

A. Urquhart

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Defence Legislation Amendment (Naval Nuclear Propulsion) Bill 2023

Reasons for referra1/principal issues for consideration:

Following the release of the Defence Strategic Review that proposed the establishment of a separate agency in Defence to oversee the ADP nuclear submarine program and recent announcements regarding nuclear submarines, public attention on these matters is particularly high.

Given this is the first step toward the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines and the national security interests at play, it is vital that this Bill is subject to oversight and scrutiny before being put before Parliament.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Nuclear power experts

Nuclear and radiation safety experts and organisations

Health and environment organisations

Peace and nuclear non-proliferation organisations

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Standing Committees on Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade

Possible hearing date(s):

Week of the 5th of June

Possible reporting date:

26th July

(signed)

Nick McKim

Whip/ Selection of Bills Committee member

Appendix 4

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a comm i ttee

Name of bill:

Family Law Amendment Bill 2023 and Family Law Amendment (Information Sharing) Bill. (We recommend these bills be referred together)

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

For a short inquiry into the bills, noting the first bill has already been subject to an exposure draft process and the subject matter has been examined through multiple inquiries.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Law Council of Australia Family Law Section, Attorney-General's Department, Women's Legal Services Australia, National Association of Community Legal Centres, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee.

Possible hearing date(s):

2 June

Possible reporting date:

14 June

(signed)

A. Urquhart

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Family Law Amendment 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 he aring date(s):

May-August

Possible reporting date:

24 August 2023

(signed)

Wendy Askew

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Family Law Amendment (Information Sharing) 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 h earing date(s):

May—June

Possible reporting date:

14 June 2023

(signed)

Wendy Askew

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Family Law Amendment Bill 2023

Family Law (Information Sharing) Bill 2023

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Committee to which bill is to be referred.

Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date:

24 August

(signed)

Nick McKim

Appendix 5

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Murdoch Media Inquiry Bill 2023

Reasons for referra1/principal issues for consideration:

To consider details of the bill.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Industry, academics, regulatory bodies

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Environment and Communications

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date:

16 October 2023

(signed)

Nick McKim

Whip/ Selection of Bills Committee member

I move:

That the report be adopted.