Tony Sheldon (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I present the first report of 2026 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. 1 OF 2026

5 February 2026

MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE

Senator Tony Sheldon (Government Whip, Chair)

Senator Wendy Askew (Opposition Whip)

Senator Sean Bell (One Nation Whip)

Senator Nick McKim (Australian Greens Whip)

Senator Ralph Babet

Senator Leah Blyth

Senator the Hon. Matt Canavan (Nationals Whip)

Senator the Hon. Anthony Chisholm

Senator Jessica Collins

Senator the Hon. Katy Gallagher Senator Jacqui Lambie

Senator Fatima Payman Senator David Pocock Senator Lidia Thorpe

Secretary: Tim Bryant 02 6277 3020

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE REPORT NO. 1 OF 2026

1. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 4 February 2026 at 7.22 pm.

2. The committee recommends that—

(a) the provisions of the Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025 be referred immediately to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 16 March 2026 (see appendix 1 for statements of reasons for referral),

(b) the provisions of the Defence and Veterans' Service Commissioner Bill 2025 and the Defence and Veterans' Service Commissioner (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025 be referred immediately to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 26 February 2026 (see appendix 2 for statements of reasons for referral),

(c) the Higher Education Support Amendment (Reverse Job-Ready Graduates Fee Hikes and End 50k Arts Degrees) Bill 2025 be referred immediately to the Education and Employment Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 25 June 2026 (see appendix 3 for statements of reasons for referral), and

(d) the provisions of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Supporting Choice in Superannuation and Other Measures) Bill 2025 be referred immediately to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 4 March 2026 (see appendix 4 for statements of reasons for referral).

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

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

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

(Tony Sheldon)

Chair

5 February 2026

Appendix 1

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025

Originated in the House of Representatives on Wednesday 26 November 2025

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

To scrutinize this legislation and to hear from stakeholders.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Interested parties and stakeholders

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Economics Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

FEBRUARY TO MARCH 2026

Possible reporting date:

16 March 2026

(signed) Wendy Askew

Appendix 2

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Defence and Veterans' Service Commissioner Bill 2025

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Independence and accountability of Commissioner

Scope of inquiry powers granted

Family inclusion and accessibility provisions

Possible submissions or evidence from:

RSL

Department of Veterans Affairs AMA

Families of veterans guild Julie Anne Finney

Women in defence association

The National Servicemen's Association Defence Force Welfare Association Trojans Trek

GO2 Health

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

FADT

Possible hearing date(s):

23 April

Possible reporting date:

7 May

(signed) Nick McKim

Appendix 3

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Higher Education Support Amendment (Reverse Job-Ready Graduates Fee Hikes and End 50k Arts Degrees) Bill 2025

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Impact of the job-ready graduates fee hikes, possible policy alternatives to current student and Commonwealth contribution levels, concern of students and sector over cost of degrees

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Universities Australia, Innovative Research Universities, Regional University Network, Australian Academy of Humanities, National Union of students, National Tertiary Education Union, Group of Eight

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Education & Employment Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Early May (noting a number of ongoing EEC inquiries)

Possible reporting date:

Thursday 25 June 2026

Nick McKim

Appendix 4

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Treasury Laws Amendment (Supporting Choice in Superannuation and Other Measures) Bill 2025

Originated in the House of Representatives on Wednesday 26 November 2025

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

To scrutinize this legislation and to hear from stakeholders.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Interested parties and stakeholders

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Economics Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

FEBRUARY TO MARCH 2026

Possible reporting date:

4 March 2026

(signed) Wendy Askew

I move:

That the report be adopted.