Sue Lines (President) Share this | Hansard source

I will now deal with Committee of the Whole amendments to the Commonwealth Parole Board Bill 2025, starting with the amendments circulated by government.

Government's circulated amendments—

(1) Clause 24, page 13 (lines 1 to 30), omit the clause, substitute:

24 Sessional member may participate as Chair or Deputy Chair of the Commonwealth Parole Board in specified circumstances

(1) This section applies if:

(a) the Chair or the Deputy Chair is required by rules made for the purposes of section 29 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 not to be present during the deliberations in a meeting, or to take part in any decision, of the Commonwealth Parole Board with respect to a particular matter; or

(b) the Chair or the Deputy Chair is not readily available to attend a meeting or participate in making a decision of the Commonwealth Parole Board, whether because of a vacancy in the office or for any other reason; or

(c) the Chair considers it appropriate for any other reason to make a request under subsection (2) in relation to a meeting of, or the making of a decision by, the Commonwealth Parole Board.

(2) The Chair may request that a sessional member participate, in the capacity of the Chair or the Deputy Chair, in the meeting, or in making the decision.

(3) For the purposes of a sessional member participating in a meeting, or making a decision, in the capacity of the Chair or the Deputy Chair as permitted by subsection (2):

(a) the sessional member may exercise a power or perform a function of the Chair or Deputy Chair, as the case requires, in accordance with the request of the Chair in relation to the meeting or decision; and

(b) the sessional member is taken to be the Chair or Deputy Chair, as the case requires, for all purposes in relation to the meeting or decision.

(2) Clause 43, page 24 (lines 23 to 27), to be opposed.

I understand the minister has a document to table.