John Hogg (Queensland, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pursuant to standing orders 38 and 166, I present documents listed on today’s Order of Business at item 12 which were presented to the President, the Deputy President and temporary chairs of committees since the Senate last sat. In accordance with the terms of the standing orders, the publication of the documents was authorised. In accordance with the usual practice and with the concurrence of the Senate I ask that the government responses be incorporated in Hansard.

Ordered that the committee reports be printed.

The list read as follows—

(a)

Committee reports 1.     Finance and Public Administration Committee––Report, together with Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the committee––Superannuation Legislation Amendment Bill 2007 [Provisions] (received 27 July) 2.     Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Committee––Interim report––Communications Legislation Amendment (Information Sharing and Datacasting) Bill 2007 [Provisions] (received 27 July 2007) 3.     Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Committee––Report, together with submissions received by the committee––Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Protecting Services for Rural and Regional Australia into the Future) Bill 2007 [Provisions] (received 27 July 2007) 4.     Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee––Report, together with Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the committee––Aviation Legislation Amendment (2007 Measures No. 1) Bill 2007 (received 30 July 2007) 5.     Employment, Workplace Relations and Education Committee––Report, together with submissions received by the committee [7]––Social Security Amendment (2007 Measures No. 1) Bill 2007 [Provisions] (received 30 July 2007) 6.     Employment, Workplace Relations and Education Committee––Report, together with documents presented to the committee––Higher Education Support Amendment (Extending FEE-HELP for VET Diploma and VET Advanced Diploma Courses) Bill 2007 [Provisions] (received 30 July 2007) 7.     Employment, Workplace Relations and Education Committee––Report, together with submissions received by the committee [7]––Social Security Legislation Amendment (2007 Budget Measures for Students) Bill 2007 [Provisions] (received 30 July 2007) 8.     Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee––Report, together with Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the committee––Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (Terrorist Material) Bill 2007 [Provisions] (received 30 July 2007) 9.     Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee––Report, together with submissions received by the committee [7] and additional information––Migration Amendment (Sponsorship Obligations) Bill 2007 [Provisions] (received 30 July 2007) 10.   Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee––Report, together with Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the committee––Australian Citizenship Amendment (Citizenship Testing) Bill 2007 [Provisions] (received 31 July 2007) 11.   Economics Committee––Interim report––Financial Sector Legislation Amendment (Discretionary Mutual Funds and Direct Offshore Foreign Insurers) Bill 2007 and the Corporations (National Guarantee Fund Levies) Amendment Bill 2007 [Provisions]; Financial Sector Legislation Amendment (Simplifying Regulation and Review) Bill 2007 [Provisions]; and Tax Laws Amendment (2007 Measures No. 4) Bill 2007 [Provisions], Taxation (Trustee Beneficiary Non-disclosure Tax) Bill (No. 1) 2007 [Provisions], and Taxation (Trustee Beneficiary Non-disclosure Tax) Bill (No. 2) 2007 [Provisions] (received 31 July 2007) 12.   Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee––Report, together with Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the committee––International Trade Integrity Bill 2007 [Provisions] (received 1 August 2007) 13.   Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee––Report, together with Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the committee––Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment Bill 2007 [Provisions] (received 1 August 2007) 14.   Economics Committee––Report, together with Hansard record of proceedings and submissions received by the committee––Financial Sector Legislation Amendment (Simplifying Regulation and Review) Bill 2007 [Provisions](received 1 August 2007) 15.   Economics Committee––Report, together with Hansard record of proceedings and submissions received by the committee––Tax Laws Amendment (2007 Measures No. 4) Bill 2007 [Provisions], Taxation (Trustee Beneficiary Non-disclosure Tax) Bill (No. 1) 2007 [Provisions] and Taxation (Trustee Beneficiary Non-disclosure Tax) Bill (No. 2) 2007 [Provisions] (received 1 August 2007) 16.   Economics Committee––Report, together with Hansard record of proceedings and submissions received by the committee––Financial Sector Legislation Amendment (Discretionary Mutual Funds and Direct Offshore Foreign Insurers) Bill 2007 [Provisions] and Corporations (National Guarantee Fund Levies) Amendment Bill 2007 [Provisions] (received 1 August 2007) 17.   Economics Committee––Report, together with Hansard record of proceedings and submissions received by the committee––Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2007 [Provisions] (received 1 August 2007) 18.   Economics Committee––Report, together with Hansard record of proceedings and submissions received by the committee––Trade Practices Amendment (Predatory Pricing) Bill 2007 (received 1 August 2007)

1.

Finance and Public Administration Committee––Report, together with Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the committee––Superannuation Legislation Amendment Bill 2007 [Provisions] (received 27 July)

2.

Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Committee––Interim report––Communications Legislation Amendment (Information Sharing and Datacasting) Bill 2007 [Provisions] (received 27 July 2007)

3.

Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Committee––Report, together with submissions received by the committee––Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Protecting Services for Rural and Regional Australia into the Future) Bill 2007 [Provisions] (received 27 July 2007)

4.

Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee––Report, together with Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the committee––Aviation Legislation Amendment (2007 Measures No. 1) Bill 2007 (received 30 July 2007)

5.

Employment, Workplace Relations and Education Committee––Report, together with submissions received by the committee [7]––Social Security Amendment (2007 Measures No. 1) Bill 2007 [Provisions] (received 30 July 2007)

6.

Employment, Workplace Relations and Education Committee––Report, together with documents presented to the committee––Higher Education Support Amendment (Extending FEE-HELP for VET Diploma and VET Advanced Diploma Courses) Bill 2007 [Provisions] (received 30 July 2007)

7.

Employment, Workplace Relations and Education Committee––Report, together with submissions received by the committee [7]––Social Security Legislation Amendment (2007 Budget Measures for Students) Bill 2007 [Provisions] (received 30 July 2007)

8.

Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee––Report, together with Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the committee––Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (Terrorist Material) Bill 2007 [Provisions] (received 30 July 2007)

9.

Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee––Report, together with submissions received by the committee [7] and additional information––Migration Amendment (Sponsorship Obligations) Bill 2007 [Provisions] (received 30 July 2007)

10.

Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee––Report, together with Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the committee––Australian Citizenship Amendment (Citizenship Testing) Bill 2007 [Provisions] (received 31 July 2007)

11.

Economics Committee––Interim report––Financial Sector Legislation Amendment (Discretionary Mutual Funds and Direct Offshore Foreign Insurers) Bill 2007 and the Corporations (National Guarantee Fund Levies) Amendment Bill 2007 [Provisions]; Financial Sector Legislation Amendment (Simplifying Regulation and Review) Bill 2007 [Provisions]; and Tax Laws Amendment (2007 Measures No. 4) Bill 2007 [Provisions], Taxation (Trustee Beneficiary Non-disclosure Tax) Bill (No. 1) 2007 [Provisions], and Taxation (Trustee Beneficiary Non-disclosure Tax) Bill (No. 2) 2007 [Provisions] (received 31 July 2007)

12.

Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee––Report, together with Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the committee––International Trade Integrity Bill 2007 [Provisions] (received 1 August 2007)

13.

Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee––Report, together with Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the committee––Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment Bill 2007 [Provisions] (received 1 August 2007)

14.

Economics Committee––Report, together with Hansard record of proceedings and submissions received by the committee––Financial Sector Legislation Amendment (Simplifying Regulation and Review) Bill 2007 [Provisions](received 1 August 2007)

15.

Economics Committee––Report, together with Hansard record of proceedings and submissions received by the committee––Tax Laws Amendment (2007 Measures No. 4) Bill 2007 [Provisions], Taxation (Trustee Beneficiary Non-disclosure Tax) Bill (No. 1) 2007 [Provisions] and Taxation (Trustee Beneficiary Non-disclosure Tax) Bill (No. 2) 2007 [Provisions] (received 1 August 2007)

16.

Economics Committee––Report, together with Hansard record of proceedings and submissions received by the committee––Financial Sector Legislation Amendment (Discretionary Mutual Funds and Direct Offshore Foreign Insurers) Bill 2007 [Provisions] and Corporations (National Guarantee Fund Levies) Amendment Bill 2007 [Provisions] (received 1 August 2007)

17.

Economics Committee––Report, together with Hansard record of proceedings and submissions received by the committee––Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2007 [Provisions] (received 1 August 2007)

18.

Economics Committee––Report, together with Hansard record of proceedings and submissions received by the committee––Trade Practices Amendment (Predatory Pricing) Bill 2007 (received 1 August 2007)

(b)

Government documents1.     Report of the second review of the National Environment Protection Council Acts (Commonwealth, State and Territory) (received 2 July 2007)2.     Department of Defence—Special purpose flights—Schedule for the period 1 July to 31 December 2006––Errata (received 9 July 2007)3.     Superannuation (Government Co-contribution for Low Income Earners) Act 2003—Quarterly report on the Government co-contribution scheme for the period 1 January to 31 March 2007 (received 18 July 2007)4.     Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council––Report for 2005-06 (received 23 July 2007)5.     United Nations––Common core document forming part of the reports of States Parties incorporating—Australia’s fifth report under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights for the period January 1997 to June 2006, andAustralia’s fourth report under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights for the period January 1998 to June 2006 (received 25 July 2007).6.     Government response––Final report of the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into waste generation and resource efficiency in Australia (received 31 July 2007)

1.

Report of the second review of the National Environment Protection Council Acts (Commonwealth, State and Territory) (received 2 July 2007)

2.

Department of Defence—Special purpose flights—Schedule for the period 1 July to 31 December 2006––Errata (received 9 July 2007)

3.

Superannuation (Government Co-contribution for Low Income Earners) Act 2003—Quarterly report on the Government co-contribution scheme for the period 1 January to 31 March 2007 (received 18 July 2007)

4.

Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council––Report for 2005-06 (received 23 July 2007)

5.

United Nations––Common core document forming part of the reports of States Parties incorporating—Australia’s fifth report under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights for the period January 1997 to June 2006, andAustralia’s fourth report under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights for the period January 1998 to June 2006 (received 25 July 2007).

6.

Government response––Final report of the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into waste generation and resource efficiency in Australia (received 31 July 2007)

(c)

Government responses to parliamentary committee reports

The documents read as follows—

Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Treaties

Report 66 Review of treaties tabled 7 December 2004 (4), 15 March and 11 May 2005 tabled on 17 August 2005

Introduction

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Treaties has been appointed by the Commonwealth Parliament to review and report on all treaty actions proposed by the Government before action which binds Australia to the terms of the treaty is taken.

Terms of reference

The Resolution of Appointment of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties allows it to inquire into and report upon:

a)    matters arising from treaties and related National Interest Analyses and proposed treaty actions presented or deemed to be presented to the Parliament;

b)   any question relating to a treaty or other international instrument, whether or not negotiated to completion, referred to the committee by:

(i)

either House of the Parliament, or

(ii)

a Minister; and

c)    such other matters as may be referred to the committee by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and on such conditions as the Minister may prescribe.

Report 66

The Committee released its Report 66 Review of treaties tabled 7 December 2004 (4), 15 March and 11 May 2005 on 17 August 2005. The Committee made three recommendations in that Report about the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). These recommendations are addressed below.

Response to recommendations

Recommendation 1

That the Attorney-General advise the Committee in writing of the Australian Government’s intention to meet Australia’s obligations under the United Nations Convention Against Corruption only through the means specified in the National Interest Analysis, particularly as stated in paragraphs 50, 51 and 52.

Response

As detailed in the National Interest Analysis, the Australian Government is confident that Australia meets all of the mandatory requirements of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). The Attorney-General’s Department consulted with relevant Australian Government departments and agencies and with the States and Territories, and determined that no new legislation is required.

Recommendation 2

That the Attorney-General advise the Committee in writing that the Australian Government has no intention of using the external affairs power and the United Nations Convention against Corruption to pass legislation which has not been foreshadowed in the National Interest Analysis.

Response

The Australian Government does not intend to use the external affairs power to pass additional legislation to implement the UNCAC.

The only domestic change that was necessary to implement UNCAC was to make regulations under the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 1987 (Cth) and under the Extradition Act 1988 (Cth). These regulations give effect to the extradition and mutual assistance obligations in UNCAC.

Recommendation 3

The Committee supports the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (New York, 31 October 2003) and recommends that binding treaty action be taken.

Response

The Australian Government completed the final steps required for ratification as a matter of high priority and ratified the UNCAC on 7 December 2005.

Government Response to the Report of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters: Funding and Disclosure: Inquiry into disclosure of donations to political parties and candidates

August 2007

The Report

The Government notes that the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters (JSCEM) did not find the need to add to the recommendations on funding and disclosure that it made in its report on the 2004 federal election.

The Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Electoral Integrity and Other Measures) Act 2006, which received Royal Assent on 22 June 2006, included changes to disclosure requirements. Key changes included increasing the disclosure thresholds to more than $10,000 (indexed to the Consumer Price Index), and increasing the tax deductibility threshold to $1,500 for donations and gifts from individuals or corporations to political parties, independent candidates and independent members of Parliament.

These provisions were part of the Government’s response to the recommendations of JSCEM in its report entitled The 2004 Federal Election: Report of the Inquiry into the Conduct of the 2004 Federal Election and Matters Related Thereto. The Government’s full response to the JSCEM’s report on the 2004 federal election was tabled in the Parliament on 31 August 2006.

Dissenting Report by Mr Michael Danby MP, Mr Alan Griffin MP, Senator Kim Carr and Senator John Hogg, Australian Labor Party

Response

The Government does not support the eleven recommendations on funding and disclosure made in this dissenting report.

Dissenting Report by Senator Andrew Murray, Australian Democrats

Response

The Government notes the twelve recommendations made by Senator Murray in his dissenting report. The Government also notes that these recommendations were made by Senator Murray in his supplementary remarks on the report by JSCEM on the 2004 federal election. The Government response to that report noted that the issues had been raised by Senator Murray on a number of previous occasions and the Government made no further comment on those supplementary remarks. The Government has no further comment on this dissenting report by Senator Murray.

(d)

Reports of the Auditor-General1.     Report no. 48 of 2006-2007––Performance Audit––Superannuation payments for contractors working for the Australian government: Follow-up audit (received 22 June 2007)2.     Report no. 49 of 2006-2007––Performance Audit––Non-APS workers (received 25 June 2007)3.     Report no. 50 of 2006-2007––Performance Audit––The Higher Education Loan Programme: Department of Education, Science and Training (received 26 June 2007)4.     Report no. 51 of 2006-2007––Financial Statement Audit––Interim phase of the audit of financial statements of general government sector agencies for the year ending 30 June 2007 (received 27 June 2007)5.     Report no. 52 of 2006-2007––Performance Audit––The Australian Taxation Office’s approach to regulating and registering self managed superannuation funds (received 28 June 2007)6.     Report no. 53 of 2006-2007––Performance Audit––Australian Federal Police overseas operations (received 29 June 2007)7.     Report no. 1 of 2007-2008––Performance Audit––Acquisition of the Abrams Main Battle Tank: Department of Defence and Defence Materiel Organisation (received 17 July 2007)8.     Report no. 2 of 2007-2008––Performance Audit––Electronic travel authority follow-up audit: Department of Immigration and Citizenship (received 18 July 2007)9.     Report no. 3 of 2007-2008––Performance Audit––Australian Technical Colleges Programme: Department of Education, Science and Training (received 19 July 2007)

1.

Report no. 48 of 2006-2007––Performance Audit––Superannuation payments for contractors working for the Australian government: Follow-up audit (received 22 June 2007)

2.

Report no. 49 of 2006-2007––Performance Audit––Non-APS workers (received 25 June 2007)

3.

Report no. 50 of 2006-2007––Performance Audit––The Higher Education Loan Programme: Department of Education, Science and Training (received 26 June 2007)

4.

Report no. 51 of 2006-2007––Financial Statement Audit––Interim phase of the audit of financial statements of general government sector agencies for the year ending 30 June 2007 (received 27 June 2007)

5.

Report no. 52 of 2006-2007––Performance Audit––The Australian Taxation Office’s approach to regulating and registering self managed superannuation funds (received 28 June 2007)

6.

Report no. 53 of 2006-2007––Performance Audit––Australian Federal Police overseas operations (received 29 June 2007)

7.

Report no. 1 of 2007-2008––Performance Audit––Acquisition of the Abrams Main Battle Tank: Department of Defence and Defence Materiel Organisation (received 17 July 2007)

8.

Report no. 2 of 2007-2008––Performance Audit––Electronic travel authority follow-up audit: Department of Immigration and Citizenship (received 18 July 2007)

9.

Report no. 3 of 2007-2008––Performance Audit––Australian Technical Colleges Programme: Department of Education, Science and Training (received 19 July 2007)